Miata TR3? Doing wierd things with a scrap Miata

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I'm guessing even the Volvo SI6 (Short I6) might still be too long... Perhaps a VR6 would be an acceptable alternative?

looks great so far,  considering all of the conflicting form caused by keeping the stock bonnet, superb

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I think there's some weird Kia I6 that sits transverse in it's car. That's gotta be a pretty short crank.

In reply to thatsnowinnebago :

You're probably thinking Daewoo, sold here as the Suzuki Verona. The Volvo SI6 is also used transverse.

Keith Tanner said:

APEowner said:

Man! Someone needs to take this over and finish it.  Preferably with a V8 swap.

With that look, I'm thinking straight six. Who builds a compact straight six that isn't a mile long?

At that point why not v12? Maybe a jag engine?

#noconesgrmchallenge2023

Yeah, I knew someone would come up with a V12 once I posted that :)

I've seen pictures of the Skyline engine (RB something something, whatever it is) in a Miata and it was a functional, finished car with air filters and everything. I'm taking that as my proof that it can be done without doing anything really goofy. And sorry V6 people, but they don't sound as good or as era appropriate as the straight variety.

Driven5 said:

In reply to thatsnowinnebago :

You're probably thinking Daewoo, sold here as the Suzuki Verona. The Volvo SI6 is also used transverse.

That's the one! Thanks for getting there from my completely wrong clue, haha.

Volvo claims the SI6 out of the 2007+ S80 is 625mm long:

https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressreleases/5098

That would be just about 24" which seems incredible. Height would be the only question mark if that's true, as 24" is well within the Miata's engine bay dimensions.

In reply to dculberson :

That engine hangs the accessories in wierd places.  Some are driven off the back of the engine and hung over the transmission others are driven in the MIDDLE of the front side of the engine.  The engine has no pulley in the front of the crankshaft just a plug.  It's very strange.

Thanks for the reaction everyone.  I know it's not for everybody but its been fun to put it together.  

Apparently I have learned a company called Retrocarstyle has a bumper that has some common features in the UK.  It's different but similar.  

I think it would be really cool to do some kind of build of the car and agree a straight 6 would be a neat way to go.  I think realistically this particular car would have the biggest potential future in LeMons where the only I6 that should be considered is the Jeep 4.0L and just cut the firewall until it fits.  

For Lemons duty, maybe you could just spray the cardboard stuff with resin.

Keith Tanner said:

Yeah, I knew someone would come up with a V12 once I posted that :)

I've seen pictures of the Skyline engine (RB something something, whatever it is) in a Miata and it was a functional, finished car with air filters and everything. I'm taking that as my proof that it can be done without doing anything really goofy. And sorry V6 people, but they don't sound as good or as era appropriate as the straight variety.

I'm good with an I6 or a V12 but it was the length that kept me from suggesting that in the first place.  How about an era appropriate V8 like the Rover/Buick?

dculberson said:

Volvo claims the SI6 out of the 2007+ S80 is 625mm long:

https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressreleases/5098

That would be just about 24" which seems incredible. Height would be the only question mark if that's true, as 24" is well within the Miata's engine bay dimensions.

A 1.8 Miata engine is right about 19" from bellhousing to front pulley. I think we could arrange for another 5" with some creativity. Given similar stroke, I expect height would be in the ballpark unless the intake manifold wraps over top or something. 

dculberson said:

For Lemons duty, maybe you could just spray the cardboard stuff with resin.

I wonder how bedliner over cardboard would hold up to on-tract contact?

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Daewoo XK straight six, designed for transverse installations so it's pretty short.

so this little project is popping up all over the Miataverse. Mostly the doors because I think GRM featured it in an email. I don't think many have noticed the nose yet, which to me is the really successful part. I am very much looking forward to seeing it evolve.

Agree....the door was amusing......the nose has real potential.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Lol any links?  I'm always amused when things go "viral".  Now I wish I tried harder on the doors.

In reply to nocones :

Well, this is the link that keeps getting shared..
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/news/did-someone-really-put-triumph-tr3-doors-miata-your-projects/

It showed up in the Miata Club Canada facebook group and (I think) the Underground Miata Network. I suspect it's in Miata Club but they're all 12 years old.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I've often fantasized about putting a Toyota 1G-GE straight six into a Miata. It is an eighties 24-valve, 2-liter straight six with a 75mm bore, so I imagine it is fairly compact. Precursor to (and shares many design features with) the 4A-GE, but I think the head flows the other way. One of these with a rack of 6 ITBs and a header would sound so glorious!

Nocones, this is awesome. 
 

Wasn't that Daewoo I6 engineered by Porsche?

Amazing full 60s coupe bodyshell build -Miata based

this guy takes it to the next level

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Yeah, I had to mention the v12. ;)

I am a big fan of inline 6's though. 

nocones said:

LeMons where the only I6 that should be considered is the Jeep 4.0L and just cut the firewall until it fits.  

Yes. 

In reply to Rigante :

....and our very own Nohome is in that thread.