miata engine swap?
 

So, i know this probably sounds crazy, but here's what I've got:

My team is lining up to race in some 24h lemons enduro races, as per the rules you can't spend more than 500$ on a car in any way other than safety equipment. We found an 83' for cheep but the engine hasn't ran in 2 years. I'll try to get it going again but I'm near sure that's a lost hope.

I'm stuck at around 200$ for an engine replacement then and what we found was a local miata bp 1.8 engine.

Has anyone, ever seen this done before? In a crazy ideal situation the transmission bell housing on the first gen is the same on the miata. Otherwise I assume it's the same procedure as installing a 13b or v8 in terms or modifications required.

Anyone? I know it's lame.

if you were doing ANYTHING other then lemons its a bad idea.

take the miata trans, and put the rx7 tailhousing on it.

the miata engine mounts are very close to stock FC mounts, so the mount on the chassis is further forward.

hood clearance might be fun too, as the boinger is tall and vertical, and the engine bay is wedge shaped.

rx7 radiator is huge for the miata engine, exhaust is ok too, although the miata exhaust is on the WRONG side.

prepared to be slow! hp is similar, but i bet the rotary has a flatter torque curve, and the 1.8 is iron block, so its heavier, and higher up.

You can get a junkyard 350 for less than a miata block.

Still worth trying to get the RX fired up. Even if it has a thrown seal it should still run... somewhat :)

yeah if its blown, turbo it!

all that unburned gas = great spooling!

AND the best part! if its blown already, then it can't blow again. just don't turn it off

lol, thanks for the help guys. Lets hope she turns over and i don't have to commit blaspheme

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HP numbers will be higher. 12a-101hp, 1.8~130hp, depending on which year. The 1.8 has much more low end as well.

A KL-DE/KL-03 from a probe or mx6 would be another option.

They would but they cost too much.

look into a kia sportage motor. is a 2.0L DOHC F-series mazda motor and in some cases has a getrag transsmission mounted behind it.

wow.. a kia with a mazda motor.. now I've heard of everything..

^^i think those are the same motors from older probes??

anyways, the BPZE (the 1.8L miata engine) is a good motor, just not an ideal swap candidate for an rx (i realize you have constraints tho). i have a 94 miata and it has this motor and its very reliable, rev happy and delivers good (not great) tq throughout the rpm band. i would still invest money into getting your 12a running vs swapping tho. gl man

It's a Mazda with a Kia motor. Now you've heard of everything...

After some deliberation we are probably going to go with a totally different setup that won't involve committing blaspheme against and rx7. Thanks for all the help though guys!

Keep us posted. I have always wanted to run in lemons and would like to know the outcome and what setup you end up running. One of my vavorite races ever as assholes can't take temselves too seriously.

Now I'm tempted to surf ebay for $500 cars. LeBaron anyone?

Haha I used to have an 88 lebaron 4 dr when I was like 15...inherited it from my great aunt when she died...sad..