I am currently getting ready to start my swap on my miata. I understand and i am prepared for the challenges that will rise. My biggest concern is what engine should i go with ? Im not the most familiar with these engines and exact models but i believe i have a good idea ( have seen a few pulled apart and good friends who build them down in fl) The one i was most fimiliar with was what i believe was a 12a that had a carb. Would i be better swapping in a non fuel injected for the simplicity or should i go with a single turbo out of an FD? is the ecu simple? I can consider going with an aftermarket ecu if need be? Any info and constructive criticism is greatly apreciated

 

why do you want to swap out the Miata motor?

 

As much as the 1.8 is a blast when turbo'd i want to build something not to many people have done, and i believe it shoud have come with a rotary ro begin with. I thought long and hard about lsx swap or the k swap but nothing really tickles my fancy like a rev happy rotary.

 

rotary is an expensive game, i'll trade u a 350hp turbo setup for your 1.8 and 10 grand. i would love some MPG and reliability right about now

 

Rotary doesn't have to be super expensive if you stay NA (and discount the expense of filling the gas tank- LOL).

13B-REW is the best 2 rotor rotary Mazda built by both performance and reliability bench marks.

If you take the twin turbos off and megasquirt it you will have ~180-230rwhp of very very reliable rotary power and ~250lbs weight.

Bummer is even the newest 13B-REW is 14 years old now, so unless you get really lucky on a JDM engine or buy one out of a running 3rd gen state side- it will likely need a rebuild.

If you want a bit more reliable NA power, you can bridge port it and put on a cheap 4150 style intake manifold/throttle body with bigger primary injectors only and make ~250rwhp+ as well as more power under the curve than stock port/street port.

If you crave that turbo power rotary does get expensive and less reliable fast.

 

what is your budget for the swap?

 

Well i dont know if you have ever diven a 250hp miata but its more then enough power! I wouldnt mind staying away from the turbos if that meant more reliability. I have some good friends who stick by rotary engines so rebuilding one and doing a port wouldnt be an issue. My main concern is if its worth trying to wire in an ecu. As much as i have seen good things from megasquirt im just no wiring wiz and trouble shooting would kill me if it came down to it.

 

I dont have a set budget, im willing to take my time to do it right so the cost would be spread out but i do figure it to be close to 5-7k doing the work myself. Thats the very very low side of an lsx swap and about where a K swap would put me.

 

im doing like 3 ms3-pro wiring harnesses 2 for FC one n/a mostly bare/ one with enough sensors to control sequential twins, he other a VK45DE
i could make one for your miata... im coming to like making the wiring...

 

I ran with an NA miata with a street port 12a at Barber a few weekends ago. He was in STU class and my miata is in ITA so the weights are very similar, but he was 5 seconds faster on a track with no long straight. It was a pro built car and said it made 200hp, my 1.6 makes 130.

It had a weber carb, tubular subframe and very simple ignition system so the engine bay looked empty and awesome.

 

I'm glad someone has a thread about this because I was wanting to do the same. I live in redneck haven and can not find a turbo 13b engine, my question is, can I take an N/A engine and put a turbo ll turbo and waste gate on it? will there be any reliability issues with this? Or should I just keep looking for a turbo engine?

 

Keep looking.

 

JOIN louisville rotary... but dont let them tell you mike lawson is the goto engine builder.. he has them all fooled into thinking hes a tech, hes a damn o reillys counter person!
so watch out for there click, as a builder myself, they all side with mike on any disagreement, its crazy childish. but there are some good people and stuff.

 

.................."why are you writing down your address with a O Reillys pen, Dude?"..
.....I just met a guy who builds engines.....and HE says that...(blah,blah,bluh blah,blah blah!)
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