Hi guys! So new here but not new to Miata's. I've been on Clubroadster for a number of years but have not been all that active.

Anyway, I've Been wanting to build a Rotary miata for as long as I've had one. I remember seeing threads on Clubroadster of people saying that's the engine that should have come in Miata's. So once I heard one. I knew In my mind I would build one.

So after getting a free shell, and finally being at a point in my life that I'm not living check to check. This is the time. As my favorite speaker says. "There is never the perfect time to do a great thing" So lets make it Happen.

Said Shell.


It was a Ex Spec Miata that was left for dead. Asked the owner how much he wanted for it and he said "Free and I can deliver anywhere to get my wife off my back" haha so we loaded it up!

So next on the List was of course a engine. I used Tiger JDM out of Canada and yea BIG regret. Long story short. Horrible seller. Gave me Wrong parts, tried to Lie and say they didnt. Charged me for parts that were wrong and incomplete. Zabi is the worst human I've ever dealt with. So NEVER BUY FROM TIGER JDM EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Said engine.


After that, reading a lot of 13B swap threads everyone said the part that they would have done different on almost all of them was getting a V8roadsters Tube Subframe. So i obliged. Fantastic Build quality, only 25lbs, and great customer service. They will have my business again.



Then I had to look at the transmission side of things. I could have gone full FC drivetrain but given that I have a 1.8 diff and 05 axles and the fact that I wont be going over 250hp Stock miata stuff is fine. But in order to do that you need a FC bell housing and Shortening the output shaft. So found a guy local with one and snagged it for dirt cheap.



Ill be giving a machinist this for the measurements.


So the shell literally had nothing in it. Not a Nut or Bolt on it. So I snagged some parts from my old car to get it rolling. And bought another miata for parts from a buddy for next to nothing.







This thing is a heap. But still has great parts. Well Important parts haha


Lastly I need to wire it all up and Need a ECU and ignition. Found another guy that did the swap before and is parting it out. So I snagged a Apexi Power FC Ecu, and meshed miata to Rx7 Harness, and Ignition coils and associated stuff. Paypaling him as I type this and it should be shipped out tomorrow morning!








So this is where I am right now.
Next on the List is
Clutch
Flywheel
Need a 54mm socket.
Radiator + Fans
Intercooler setup.

Thanks For looking guys.

 

Nice intro! Haha. Subframe is looking goood aye Keen to see the progress

 

welcome to the board.

i really like where this seems to be going. i really like that subframe, too. i will be watching for the progress of this build. this is a true, honest-to-God ground-up build. please document as much as you can. good luck.

 

Welcome to the forum, that subframe is awesome. Good luck with the build

 

Great intro! Im loving this, will be keeping an eye ou for updates. What are you planning to use the car for?

 

Mostly a Drift car.

 

So I took a afternoon, to start on the car.

Loaded up with Wheels, wiring, New Clutch.


I decided to start on the front subframe. Needed to switch the control arms and put the new Poly bushings in. Sadly it started raining so I had to take it inside.



Had a little help from Veda







I ended up Bending two Upper control arms trying to take the bushings out but luckily the parts car came in handy.
So Instead of the cheap Home Depot tool. Good ole fashion fire!



Then I pulled the Parts steering rack to use the boots that were still in great shape.








Next I pulled the dash and started labeling as Ill be using most or all of the body harnesses.



And I started to pull the Steering column

 

one can say what they will about Neanderthal, 170,000 years says they couldn't have been that stupid.

 

Are you going to use the stock PPF or build mounts? I used the same subframe with stock PPF on mine. The driveline ends up angled to the point where I had to notch the firewall above the tunnel and the diff bushings are at an angle. I'm hoping to replace the bushing with spherical bearings as the rubber is going to get destroyed.

I think if I were to do it again I would replace the PPF with diff and tranny mounts and move the engine back an inch or two to clear the steering rack.

Good luck with the build. If you have any questions or want any pictures of how I did anything on mine let me know.

 

Looking good! Subscribed to see how this build comes along. If you get stuck or looking for pointers post up. There's a few of us running around that have completed the swap. Also a Rotary Miata group on FB.

Going to be high points and low points of the build, don't let the low points get the better of you. So worth it once it's completed.

 

So finally an update!
I've been ordering up parts for this and my daily and just trying to find time to get to the car since It's been raining really every single afternoon so cant really get to the car as its just under a carport and not the Garage yet as we still have another project 240 in there.

But here is my lunch and a few parts from the other day.
Got a ISIS radiator plus fans for dirt cheap
SS brake lines
Brand New Starter.
And A new OEM intercooler

But i am super excited about my knuckles i just got from the same guy that I got the ECU from.
They should be here Tomorrow!

 

Subscribed! Always wanted to do this with my NB

 

So I got to work on the car today! I got the knuckles in so got to instal them. I didn't do any measurements but Its a obvious difference.

But also got my dash in and all the steering together. The previous owner was a idiot and I almost couldn't save the shaft but I ended up being able too. Glad I could finally have the car start looking like a car.

Next up is changing the gas tank
also found out I got the wrong starter, so Ill have figure out if there are differences in years. Cause the rx7 bellhousing I've got, I don't have any info on the year.

 

Just a reminder before anyone says anything. This build is not to be Pretty in any way. Or be a 400hp insane bridgeport huge turbo. Stock motor should be just fine for me! I used to drift a Stock 1.6 perfectly fine, so 215+hp is going to be a treat! I'm building this to have loads of fun with my friends at our local drift events. The outside will be all one color but as for painting the bay, and prepping everything just so. That is not in this builds immediate future. I just want to have fun and shoot some flames.

 

Alright so more updates! Been slowly chipping away at the car. I started to tear into the transmission bellhousing swap I found out that the Rx7 turbo II and Na transmissions are a little different, 20mm different. So now in search for one of those.

Said issue. Its a setback but I also learned something. No big deal.


Then I got on the new rear wheels on as well!


Today was super productive getting rid of the parts car. A buddy with a trailer came haul her off to the scrap yard!

When I checked the mail I was greated with my new steering wheel hub, New Hardtop bolts and my fuel pump!





And I retapped all the fender bolts because they had alot of surface rust in them



HArdstyle for days.


And a old photo of switching drivetrains.

 

So I finally have my shell in town! Can't wait to get started on everything!
When we got it on the forklift i was having some anxiety. I DID not want it to fall.

But Its at my work, along with most of my parts so first things first is getting it rolling. The front will be cut off for the tube front and thinking of going full cage now. May as well at this point.


Still on the list is finding a FD intake Mani with Throttle body sensor. I found a few new sensors but they are running about $200 on atkins rotary.

 

Got some more work done the last few days. Found a FD upper and lower intake manifold for a steal on a rx7 Facebook group so jumped on it quick!

I have the subframes and wheels on the car now, and will be bringing it to the shop to start the tube front and mounts!

I'll have photos of the subframes going on soon.

Today I test fitted the intake manifold with the adapter and it looks good. Ill need to find a solution for the oil fill cap cause it wont clear the intake piping.


The Full "Wiring harness" that was claimed the engine came with.


Emissions and old Upper Intake Manifold





More pictures soon.

 

Wait a minute, your not worried about how the car looks, but you retapped the fender bolts?

Oxy much? Lol

 

Yea makes zero sense.
I now care about looks though. Full Painted Bay, and respray of the whole car is happening now.

 

Ok so as promised some photos of getting the subframes on.
I wanted to make sure all the bolts and nuts were clean of rust and would go on smooth. This chassis had been sitting behind my parents house for about a year. Better safe than sorry.

miata day-8 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr

miata day-13 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr


miata day-16 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr



miata day-20 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr


miata day-22 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr

miata day-1 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr



miata day-3 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr

miata day-4 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr
miata day-34 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr

miata day-35 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr



miata day-44 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr

miata day-45 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr




:icon_cheers:

 

And my Buddies Mazdaspeed3
We just went out and shot for a bit since it was a nice day.

miata day-62 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr


miata day-72 by Andrew Storm, on Flickr

Downtown3 by Ethan Castille, on Flickr

Downtown5 by Ethan Castille, on Flickr

Downtown7 by Ethan Castille, on Flickr

Downtown17 by Ethan Castille, on Flickr

Downtown20 by Ethan Castille, on Flickr

 

Then today. I got the car under the cover and copped that front end off and prepped the bay by making a little more room.