so i started this in winter of last year 2008...its now july 2009....just nearly done......everything was home made in my garage...no fancy equipment or welder...just a small miller MIG. Hacksaw, drill, and die grinder (used it to notch tubes)....that was a pain....any way here it is




this intercooler looks small but it is 4 inch thick..lol fit real nice though

i know ugly it is...but strong it will be ( my yoda impresion)

nice settrab cooler





cant wait to be done and drive this.....

 

i know it isnt all bling and clean, but i was just interetsted in getting it to fit, i will try to clean up next.....lol

 

Who cares how it looks, that thing will MOVE!!!

 

thats waht i am hoping....the sleeper of a life time....lol

 

awesome man, I can't wait to see some video.
Please find a commercial insulation company and have them make you a exhaust blanket for that turbo! Maybe even a blanket to cover the uim and lim. Even if you spend $200 to $400 it will be worth its weight in GOLD!
Goodluck!

 

It'll be one hell of a ride.

 

I love it. As light as miatas are, and as well as they handle, you just found the perfect combination right there when you coupled it with a rotary. Good luck getting it finished, I know all about how frustrating it can be waiting for parts and having to fabricate your own at times.

 

Thats awesome man, one of my favorite engine swaps! Do you have any idea how much its cost you?

 

i am definitely going to wrap the header/down pipe and even fab some kind of sheild for the Intake mani.....as soon as i get her running I will post some vids of runs and dynos...no crappy start up vids i promise..i am building her to run untill she breaks..lol

total cost i paid 1700 for it running (miata 1.6 engine) blew a head gasket in december so that forced my hand on the swap date..
engine was build and ported by me and cost was about 600 in kit...
turbo 200
intercooler 125
blow off free
wastegate 100
injectors 250
halteck 500

figure in some other things like fittings and lines maybe 1500 bucks...!!!!!!

i did this as low budget as possible for all the guys that said it would cost anyone wanted to do it ...thousands of dollars....

heck i even fabed my own subframe using a wooden jig i screwed together in my front yard..then a mig machine and dremmel to notch the tubes...all free...screw buying a 2500 subframe!!!!lol

thanks for you post guys....hope she is everything i built her to be..hopefully we willl know in a couple weeks

 

how hard was mounting the engine?

 

engine was easy to mount..off my custome subframe
it was a really tight fit and I had to do a little trimming on pan......the hard part was turbo fittment and downpipe..brakes lines..etc. that took me the time

anyway ..UPDATE started the car today..finally....its not drivable yet...have to finish exauhst to the back and some minor plumbing..ss brake lines and intercooler pipe....but it runs...LOL
yaaaaa
I saw a little smoke ( more than usauall) but it only run for a min...well seee

 

To the OP: Are you the one that I met at superfly that had the white gc8 impreza, and is building a rotary miata? You are from ohio, so I was wondering if it was you...

Regardless, thats going to be one badass car once it is completed!

 

hey nizzan ....I am from ohio..........but never owned an impreza...I do have a student of mine from findlay that has a impreza and rx7..but no miata like mine.....
lol and yea I hope this is gonna rock!!!!!i cant wait maybe a couple weekends of work left

ohh UPDATE....not only got it started but i pulled trans back out and hopefully will get my super fly light weight flywheel modified to fit.....sweeet