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Miata engine into a RX7?

Old Mar 3, 2007 | 03:27 AM
  #1  
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I'm sure that this has been covered here before, but what about going the "other" way and putting a 1.6 or 1.8 miata engine into a 7? I know that I'll get a lot of whys and stuff but it's late, im bored, and Im benchracing. I know that mazda's transmissions weren't a whole lot different from model to model so I'm sure that a solution could be found for the tranny. Has anyone ever done this? they are actually pretty stout engines from what I understand and with a set of pistons and some turbo love they can put down some ponnies. I'm thinking that a megasquirted and turboed 1.8 would be nice in my GSL-SE! Any ideas you guys have would be great
Old Mar 3, 2007 | 06:27 AM
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isnt it usually the other way around? most people put the 7 engine in a miata
Old Mar 3, 2007 | 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by jwteknix' post='861943' date='Mar 3 2007, 04:27 AM

isnt it usually the other way around? most people put the 7 engine in a miata




That is the same thing I thought! My dad has a Miata and is thinking about putting a 13B in it.....I've never heard of putting a Miata engine in an RX7!
Old Mar 3, 2007 | 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by josh...just josh' post='861940' date='Mar 3 2007, 04:27 AM

I'm sure that this has been covered here before, but what about going the "other" way and putting a 1.6 or 1.8 miata engine into a 7? I know that I'll get a lot of whys and stuff but it's late, im bored, and Im benchracing. I know that mazda's transmissions weren't a whole lot different from model to model so I'm sure that a solution could be found for the tranny. Has anyone ever done this? they are actually pretty stout engines from what I understand and with a set of pistons and some turbo love they can put down some ponnies. I'm thinking that a megasquirted and turboed 1.8 would be nice in my GSL-SE! Any ideas you guys have would be great


I'm sure it could be done, but unless you have a strong preference for "boinger" engines, it seems backwards to be thinking about putting a piston engine in an RX-7.
Old Mar 3, 2007 | 09:49 AM
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I've never heard of the Miata engine being considered strong. Remember Miata people consider 300 hp a lot of power.





If you're going to go to the trouble, I would look for an aluminum block motor, or it ends up weighing more than you hoped for.



Think Ecotec. CNC ported heads available through your local GM parts counter. Motor pulled out of some smashed up Cavalier or Cobalt at your local junkyard.
Old Mar 3, 2007 | 10:07 AM
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me and a buddy thought about droppin in a miata 1.8 into a fc along *** time ago but the plan fell threw as we both lost interest. we where goin to build a all motor not turbo or n20 just something like a 13-1 motor with 4tbs and what not. would have been an odd sound but i think it would be cool. ever think about a KLZE motor?



randy
Old Mar 3, 2007 | 10:17 AM
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The miata engine (at least the 1.6) is the same engine as the 323 gtx turbo engine save for the pistons. The block is fairly stout and has piston oil squirters. A rotary is a had engine to tune to turbo from what I understand, detonation kills them real quick. I'd like to do a turbo engine and the miata engine would take some knock so it would be more likely that I could tune it myself. I'm really just wondering if it has been done
Old Mar 3, 2007 | 01:11 PM
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hmm, having looked at a rotary miata, a miata engine fc is cake. use the 1.8, the 1.6 is not all that strong in a miata. you can only use the na style transmission as the turbo trans doesnt have a miata bellhousing.



so best way (easiest), get the miata motor, and trans. put the fc bellhousing on the miata trans, and then the engine mounts on the fc are 1" further apart, so you need to **** the holes. then the engine is in the car. exauast is on the wrong side, so you need to re route that, theres tons of room though. clutch slave is in a different place too, but you just need a really long clutch hose. radiator hoses are smaller on a miata, but thats not a big deal, use the miata radiator.



miata engine is heavy, its iron block, and stupid (its got uppy downy parts), so you're prolly adding more weight than a 3 rotor swap. and the miata guys get excited about 125rwhp without the turbo, which is basically what an s4 fc puts down stock....
Old Mar 4, 2007 | 10:42 AM
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So the bellhousing is the same on a miata and n/a rx7?
Old Mar 4, 2007 | 10:43 AM
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no but u can bolt the bell housin on to the miata trans

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