:(
why the hate

Sounds really cool... but it sounds like you could have everything you want (roadster, light weight, 302, IRS) if you just built a monster miata. Seems like it could also be a lot less work and if you got a good deal on a body, potentially more money since you wouldnt be doing as much R&D as this project would require.

Either way, I think its cool as hell and look forward to seeing more progress on it!

give you $100 to let me drive that thing around the parking lot on a milk crate ;)

You can drive mine for 100 bucks.

Nothing wrong with 4 bangers :) See website

http://www.eville140.com

Later
Randy

If you are going with the roadster concept for weight loss, you may need to rethink that. If it's for a visual statement, fine.

With the torque of a V8, and the loss of the roof structure, you will have a lot of twisting and flexing. By the time you get the body finished off with some sort of rool bar or cage, the frame strengthened and a rear deck fashioned, chances are the car will be heavier than leaving the roof intact.

well to anwser that make it a hard top that is removeable and have the cage in there for strength...........man im all up for whatever u do when my motor goes to heaven im droping my friends trans am engine in or his spare camaro engine by what i have heard and seen of u this will turn out bad ass lookin

Well, I understand and respect you desire for more HP and originality. I have a 93' ranger that I converted over to v-8. (hence my username). I don't know how much you know about the 302's, but I have been eating, drinking and sleeping them for the last 6 years, so I can give you lots of good info on them. Just pm me!
Ken

indeed, a first gen turned to a convertible, if done properly, will gain at least 80-100kg. Plus the extra wheight of the engine, in this case.
but a roadster will be highly original indeed... just a pitty this one will be no Seven anymore: Miata/MX5 supension, V8 engine, tranny/diff non-RX,...

I agree fully that I could build a better car than the RX-7. I do have some problems with the V8 miata's, mostly involving engine placment. The FB is a much better platform for the V8, plus I already have the car with the V8 installed, and it's been great for over a year now. Really, this project is to see how far I can go, both to challenge myself, and to build a serious machiene in the process. I may not take a national title, but I'll be there, that's for sure.

As for the roof, I think you guys are missing out on the logic behind some stuff. The car isn't purely an E-mod vehicle. It's also going to be used for track days, drift comps, and general street driving. I don't know about you, but I have ZERO intentions of driving a 2000lbs, 400hp car without a cage installed. So, the cage is going in, regardless of the roof. Now, with that said, the roof, windshild, door and back glass are all coming out. This makes for a nice weight reduction, and should counter the weight added from the cage, if not more. The only real sacrafice I'm making here is to install a full cage vs. the 6 pnt. I could technically get away with. As I said earlier, for what I intend the car to do, I'm opting to go for the larger cage for saftey. I figure it'll cost me about 100lbs, but I'm willing to make that sacrafice. You must understand a convertable requires much more metal for support because of the less than ideal location of the braces. The cage will essentially act as the roof, and because of it's location, can be more effectivly used with less of a weight penalty. Also, there are no previsions for windo glass, nor is there a roof assembly, or windshield. These alone account for aprox. 180lbs worth of material that would normally be on a convertable. The swap I'm doing is hardly compairable IMO to some of the amazingly complex things that go into a convertable FB.

If it makes anyone feel better, I'm going to test cut the roof off one of my parts cars and weigh it to get the hard numbers before I proceed. I should have numbers from that sometime next week or so.

I cant wait to see this done. Im not a big fan of piston powered RX7s, especially American V8s, but this will be very unique. Good luck man.

I think its a cool buildup.. tests your fabrication skills as well :)
Daryl

i saw u at us drift and u kicked dirt in my face...lol either way its a seven and this project will be tight

sounds like a great idea, and ya got tha respect, build that V8 and then race a built seven for sh!ts and giggles. V8 vs PP13b or 20b ? who would win

Time for some new pictures.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_16_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_23_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_17_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_18_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_15_full.jpg

You can see where the frame rails are going to be in the way. I removed the upper metal to expose the rail underneath. Soon I'll be extending the frame outward so I can install the IRS.

Be like me, I drive what car depending on the meet. My LE for the rotary meets, my Nova for the muscle car meets, and my DSM for the import meets. Sometimes I switch it up, show the import guys what happens when you have a 350 reving up and smoking them off the line in an automatic. they get pissed.

What if you just had one car for all three meets? ::evil laugh::

i just want to take the time to say.. your my god damn hero.

your car is amazing

What happens when you give a skinny kid a body saw and some free time?








































http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_33_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_34_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_35_full.jpg


I think I just added "pray to God" to my to-do list....

:eek: Im praying for you too. Good luck.

I've watched the vid that he had posted on here about 5 months ago. Anyone who is against piston engine swaps should watch it. The way the car is so easily manipulated is amazing. Just with a slight change of pedal pressure, you can control the car to any extent. I love the rotary, but if your one to do crazy burnouts and doughnuts all the time, use a V8.

I did some test drawings today. One is in "street mode" with the passenger seat and windshield installed, the other is in "race trim".

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_39_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...89_40_full.jpg

What do you think? I'm liking it.

Thats going to look sweet.

yea I saw that vid too, very impressive. And those drawings look pretty cool too. One thing I'm sure you're aware of but I feel the need to say anyway, is be VERY careful not to tweak the frame (or lack of in this case) when reinstalling things. Having cut that much out that car must be about as flimsy as a piece of cheese right now. You better brace everything up before you go welding that sub frame in. Anyway, I'm done :D

You may want to think about putting in a large amount of the cage (or vast quanitites of bracing, anyway) before you cut the roof off.

Lookin' good so far, tho.