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TII swap: into a GTUs or Miata?

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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 03:44 AM
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TII swap: into a GTUs or Miata?

I was just thinking about the swap I am performing...I gave my buddy 300 bux as a downpayment for his GTUs, but i was aslo entertaining the thought of shoving everything into a really phukt up looking miata. The Miata is lightweight, and a great candidate for the swap, but I love the FC ( the GTUs will be my fourth one).....What are your thoughts?
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 05:24 AM
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If I had the chance to rotary swap a miata...Id be all over it. Thats one of the things I really want to do someday.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 08:44 AM
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Man. Miata + 250rwhp = holy ****.

Plus, don't **** up a GTUs.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 09:19 AM
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i'd go with a miata myself, in fact before i got the 88 TII after i wrecked my 87 TII, i was looking at getting a early 90's miata for a rotary swap
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 09:24 AM
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i love the miata that would be to decide. i still like the FC.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 11:06 AM
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i'd go for the miata
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 11:18 AM
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
gtus = 2750lbs

90-93 miata = 2100lbs


250hp in a miata would be insane! its a really short car so its "twitchy"
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 11:26 AM
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it would be nice but i got stuck last time i tried to get in one 6'2" 275 not a good combo i got my foot stuck behind the clutch. lol
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 12:24 PM
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it is very very hard to put a 13bt engine and drivetrain into a miata. it was hard enough for me and 3 of my experienced mechanic friends to put a whole 13bt engine and drivetrain in my 91 NA.

i'd go with the GTUs just cause it would be wayyy easier and you wouldnt have nearly as much downtime. however a 13bt in a miata would be much cooler, but maybe not worth the 100x more work it would be to get it done...
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 12:26 PM
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If you can do it do the miata swap! That would be killer!
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 12:29 PM
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I'd go with the miata, imagine driving up next to a mustang or something on the road and racing right past him. Imagine the look on his face!
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 12:39 PM
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read around the net on miata forums, it's been done before and I believe people make specialized motor mounts etc.. for the swap.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 12:42 PM
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FYI, in order to install a rotary in a Miata you must do some substantial cutting and welding of the subframe to allow the motor to sit low enough in the car. Check a place called Masport. They post from time to time. they have done the swap and can tell you exactly how time consuming it is for a professional shop to do
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 12:43 PM
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Originally posted by jon88se
read around the net on miata forums, it's been done before and I believe people make specialized motor mounts etc.. for the swap.
Yea, Ive seen it done before, and have heard about certain companies making kits. But.... the miata forums really suck Its predominantly much older guys, or women. There are a few good guys on there that are performance oriented, and know what they are talking about, but the majority are pansy-men who couldnt even change their own oil if they had to.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 12:44 PM
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You could call up Mazdatrix, they've done the swap in a Miata. They could give you some pointers.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 03:12 PM
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sweet...I know what BIGRTII means, I have gotten the side of my foot stuck behind my Gf's miata. Just for a history so you guys don't think I have phukt up all my 7's; the first one was totalled when I got hit head on by a drunk driver, the secong kept destroying throw out bearings so I sold it, The third one I lost to a tree when I swerved to avoid another car coming the wrong way in my lane. So I haven't really purposely hurt the 7's. I fell in love with the RX7 when I was 15 and I have been ever since.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 03:18 PM
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I don't think the miata swap is within your budget bro. =P Stick with the GTUs. The cost is practically nothing.

Steve
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 03:26 PM
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250hp in a miata would be insane! its a really short car so its "twitchy"
500hp in a Miata would be insane!!
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 03:35 PM
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Originally posted by Parastie
I'd go with the miata, imagine driving up next to a mustang or something on the road and racing right past him. Imagine the look on his face!
This happens now!!!
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 03:41 PM
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lol, It's not within my budget as of now but I was still thinking about it as a possibility, Get a really messed up Miata and work on it...... I am still going with the GTUs.... My GF kinda chewed me out when I wrote this letter....she's like; I thought you were not gonna race, I thought you were gonna build a show car!! Oy, She's right tho.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 04:11 PM
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before I bought my 7 I was going to buy a miata and drop a 13bt into it, I emailed rx7store.com and they were pricing it between 7-10,000 for full install. I think it would be bad *** though.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 04:17 PM
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Originally posted by Parastie
I'd go with the miata, imagine driving up next to a mustang or something on the road and racing right past him. Imagine the look on his face!
This happens now!!!
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 04:17 PM
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before I bought my 7 I was going to buy a miata and drop a 13bt into it, I emailed rx7store.com and they were pricing it between 7-10,000 for full install. I think it would be bad *** though.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 04:34 PM
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Originally posted by jacobcartmill
it is very very hard to put a 13bt engine and drivetrain into a miata. it was hard enough for me and 3 of my experienced mechanic friends to put a whole 13bt engine and drivetrain in my 91 NA.

i'd go with the GTUs just cause it would be wayyy easier and you wouldnt have nearly as much downtime. however a 13bt in a miata would be much cooler, but maybe not worth the 100x more work it would be to get it done...
I am NOT a mechanic, with a wife and 2 kids and I just swapped a 13BT and turbo trans. into my vert. in my garage by myself. The only tricky thing was "landing" the engine in and trying to manuever the car, hoist, and engine, all at the same time by myself. But I have done a few motor swaps on different cars and have never had any help. Just my always faithfull crew of me, myself, and I, who always show up and work cheap. It is pretty much plug and play. Doing the Miata would be harder for sure but as long as you are not the first. (It has been done many times), then you can get advice and possibly even custom mounts or other parts from guys who have done the hard work before you.


I SAY DO THE MIATA SWAP, otherwise you will just have another TII, nice car but not all that rare or special in any way. BUT a Miata with a turbo rotary would give the performance and respect to make it all worth while.

Why build what you can already buy????, where is the fun in that? If I could buy a TII vert. I would sell mine and do it, but I now have a rare car. Made even more rare by my custom headlights and body kit.
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Old Jan 19, 2004 | 04:39 PM
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Originally posted by jacobcartmill
it is very very hard to put a 13bt engine and drivetrain into a miata. it was hard enough for me and 3 of my experienced mechanic friends to put a whole 13bt engine and drivetrain in my 91 NA.

i'd go with the GTUs just cause it would be wayyy easier and you wouldnt have nearly as much downtime. however a 13bt in a miata would be much cooler, but maybe not worth the 100x more work it would be to get it done...
I am NOT a mechanic, with a wife and 2 kids and I just swapped a 13BT and turbo trans. into my vert. in my garage by myself. The only tricky thing was "landing" the engine in and trying to manuever the car, hoist, and engine, all at the same time by myself. But I have done a few motor swaps on different cars and have never had any help. Just my always faithfull crew of me, myself, and I, who always show up and work cheap. It is pretty much plug and play. Doing the Miata would be harder for sure but as long as you are not the first. (It has been done many times), then you can get advice and possibly even custom mounts or other parts from guys who have done the hard work before you.


I SAY DO THE MIATA SWAP, otherwise you will just have another TII, nice car but not all that rare or special in any way. BUT a Miata with a turbo rotary would give the performance and respect to make it all worth while.

Why build what you can already buy????, where is the fun in that? If I could buy a TII vert. I would sell mine and do it, but I now have a rare car. Made even more rare by my custom headlights and body kit.
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