Returning to rotary after an all to long break...
04-01-12, 01:34 PM
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Returning to rotary after an all to long break...
Hello all! Long time reader, first time poster.
My name is Brad and I live in the suburbs of Cincinnati. I've always been a complete rotary fan as my first car was a 1987 turboII purchased when I was 15 for $1800. Unfortunately that car was totaled about a year later. Not my fault. But being unable to locate a decent turboII in my area for a reasonable price, I went away from rotarys.
Fast forward about 10 years and I now own a 1996 Miata M-Edition. What a great little car! I'm now getting into some local auto cross events with an Austin Healey club. I totally love how this car handles, it's pretty ridiculous. Even though the engine it quite weak (130hp, I know), the 2200 lb curb weight and close ratio gearbox makeup for that pretty decently. There are other cars at these events too, including other miatas(some turbo, some new), s2000s, and an rx-8.
Now my car is closing in on 190,000 miles and leaks about 2 quarts of oil a month. My throw out bearing on the tranny is going and the 3rd gear synchro is gone. The engine needs a rebuild and the tranny needs work. But I'm now in the search for more power. I'd like to get around 200whp as that's double what the stock motor produces. The problem comes when I find that to do that with the miata's 4 it'll need a $3000+ turbo kit. Plus the cost of a rebuild and transmission work is gonna be $5000+.
That's when it hit me. Engine swap!
About 5 years ago I bought a 1973 mg midget shell and a busted 1987 turboII planning on someday mating the two. So I started looking into the possibilities of putting the rotary in the miata. Turns out it'll be 5x's easier.
I hope to get this project in motion soon and hopefully have a build thread on here.
Oh Happy Days!!!
My name is Brad and I live in the suburbs of Cincinnati. I've always been a complete rotary fan as my first car was a 1987 turboII purchased when I was 15 for $1800. Unfortunately that car was totaled about a year later. Not my fault. But being unable to locate a decent turboII in my area for a reasonable price, I went away from rotarys.
Fast forward about 10 years and I now own a 1996 Miata M-Edition. What a great little car! I'm now getting into some local auto cross events with an Austin Healey club. I totally love how this car handles, it's pretty ridiculous. Even though the engine it quite weak (130hp, I know), the 2200 lb curb weight and close ratio gearbox makeup for that pretty decently. There are other cars at these events too, including other miatas(some turbo, some new), s2000s, and an rx-8.
Now my car is closing in on 190,000 miles and leaks about 2 quarts of oil a month. My throw out bearing on the tranny is going and the 3rd gear synchro is gone. The engine needs a rebuild and the tranny needs work. But I'm now in the search for more power. I'd like to get around 200whp as that's double what the stock motor produces. The problem comes when I find that to do that with the miata's 4 it'll need a $3000+ turbo kit. Plus the cost of a rebuild and transmission work is gonna be $5000+.
That's when it hit me. Engine swap!
About 5 years ago I bought a 1973 mg midget shell and a busted 1987 turboII planning on someday mating the two. So I started looking into the possibilities of putting the rotary in the miata. Turns out it'll be 5x's easier.
I hope to get this project in motion soon and hopefully have a build thread on here.
Oh Happy Days!!!
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