Mazda B-Series (B2200/B2500)

[duskylim]

Dear rna800:

Its good to hear na ayos na ang pickup mo! Hoping that there will be no more problems (knock on wood). Keep on trucking!

Dear cbgavin:

I also haven't been able to find WLT-31's with the manual transmission. As far as I am aware, the only possible sources are older Mazda B2500's or Ford Rangers.

I think that the local Ford Everest (which also has a WLT-31 on it and is made in Thailand) only comes with an automatic (though I'm not sure).

Important Note: the latest Ranger and Everest models (2007 and up) also come with a 3.0 liter, common-rail, direct-injection (CRDi), variable-geometry (VG), turbo-diesel engine (Duratorq model), so if you can wait a little longer, you may be able to get your hands on a real monster!

I have less of a problem as B2500 ang pickup ko. Meron na akong 5-speed manual tranny.

As a last resort you can bring it to an experienced shop and try to have a tranny modified to fit it.

In these cases I recommend getting a Toyota truck transmission unit as they are usually very reliable and relatively inexpensive.

Best Regards,

Dusky Lim

PS: A high-performance fueling kit for the B2200 and B2500 is now available! Inquiries are welcome. Just PS me.

[ar_moj]

dear cbgavin..

bro..saan banda ung dynaace sa taft..dun ba sa may mga auto parts malapit sa pasay rotonda un? and alam mo ba how much ung clear na halogen na headlights dun and ung park lights..and if meron sila ibang design na lights dun..

[cbgavin]

yup dun un bro. the clear lenses will depend whether you get the taiwan or china made one. i suggest going for the taiwan made ones. I'm not sure how much these lenses are now a days though.

btw dyna ace is the shop closest to the small caltex station along taft in that area.

* duskylim

i know what you mean! although i do envy your tranny, the only engine that can fit on it is the WL or WL-T. As for the 3.0 crdi engine you are referring to, the WE, i think, the tranny issue is again present. Although no one of the surplus shops i go to carry these engineering gems as of yet, i think that that elusive manual tranny equipped one will be as scarce as the WL.

But in case you do hear someone or a shop that has it do inform me!

And have you seen a toyota tranny fitting on to a WL engine?? If it does what specific tranny from which engine does it come from??

[duskylim]

Dear cbgavin:

To be frank wala pa akong nakitang nag-adapt ng Toyota transmission for the WL-series of engines, but I do not doubt that it is possible to have them swapped in.

I recommended the Toyota transmissions because of my experience with our own 1995-1996 HiLux. Its really old, but reliable and unlike the Mazda is easy to shift.

Sorry for the mix-up.

Regards,

Dusky Lim

[jjmd3_787]

Mga bosing, baka pwedeng magpa-advise? Balak naming bumili ng 2nd hand B2200/B2500 (depende sa budget) for our farming business. Ano ang masasabi niyo in terms of performance, durability, and maintenance cost? Thanks a lot!

[duskylim]

Dear jjmd3_787:

I have a 1998 Mazda B2500 that I got from Francisco Motors as a prototype vechicle (assembled in Japan not locally).

In terms of performance, comparing it to similar naturally-aspirated (non-turbo) diesel pickups of its time, masasabi ko na kapag well-maintained siya its definitely in the upper half in terms of power and performance, especially if you know a few tuning tricks with the motor.

I consistently get 11-12 km/liter in the city, driving it from Fairview to Binondo twice a week, the rest around QC. Kahit puro hataw ako sa traffic it doesn't go below 10 km/liter. Fuel economy is even better on the highway, I average 13-14 km/liter if I keep it around 100 kph going to Baguio or Dagupan.

Sa durability well, I used it for 2 years to haul cement, soil, lumber and rebar steel etc. when our house was being renovated, at wala naman akong complaints, its bed could be filled to the brim with soil or cement bags at dapang-dapa na ang leaf-springs (muelle) and still it hauled everything around without problems or repairs.

Sa maintenance cost, well I've had several cars as well as pickups over the years and I can tell you that it shares most chassis and suspension components with the B2200 which makes the parts relatively inexpensive (cheap!). You just have to take care of the engine and be religious in replacing your oil, and all your filters and fluids (clutch, brake, gear and differential) and you'll be fine.

Since you're buying second-hand a lot will depend upon the care given by the previous owner. There's the rub. If your not that familiar with cars bring along a good mechanic when you check it out.

I have driven, but never owned a B2200, and from my experience when it comes to the driving they are very similar to the B2500 but mas mahina talaga ang makina.

I don't have any experience with the B2200 motor so I can't give any advice there.

By the way we also have a 1996 Toyota HiLux 2.4 diesel. Comparing it to the Mazda, I can say that its much more of a practical work truck. Its smaller outside, but roomier inside!

Mas matigas ang suspension nya but its more controllable, comfortable and stable especially if you load it up with 2-3 sacks of rice! Hindi sya kasing tulin pero malakas din sya humatak.

Wala akong masabing masama sa kanya except for an alternator tension belt that's almost impossible to adjust, and the fact na iba ang parts nya kaysa locally-assembled na HiLux (also imported by the dealer, as a prototype - 1st batch pati battery nya Japan).

Compared to the HiLux the B2500 is much more car-like, mas malambot ang suspension nya and there's a lot more padding. But the Toyota is definitely the more 'classic' pickup.

Good Luck with the hunt!

Best Regards,

Dusky Lim

[jjmd3_787]

Thanks a lot sir duskylim for the infos. Point well taken!