Not your typical Miata engine swap

Reminds me of the Berkley with the riding mower engine: WHY? So much work for such poor results. That said, I would pay him $500 for it.

integraguy wrote: I would think that after spending all that time/money on the swap, I would start looking for ways to cut weight out of this car....like maybe a lighter hood and trunk lid? Heck, even lighter wheels would help.

Or the AC? Or PS? Or PB, whatever that is?

integraguy wrote: Ironically, Mazda sold a diesel engine to Ford (not sure if it was ever used in the old "B" series truck or not) that would have been a nicer swap and would have had double the horsepower of the Yanmar before a turbo is added. I would think that after spending all that time/money on the swap, I would start looking for ways to cut weight out of this car....like maybe a lighter hood and trunk lid? Heck, even lighter wheels would help.

From some reason I think it was used in some Escorts.

IIRC, Ford Rangers also had a diesel option in the early-mid 80's.

In reply to SVreX:

I would be intrested. PM more details of just post here.

integraguy wrote: I would think that after spending all that time/money on the swap, I would start looking for ways to cut weight out of this car....like maybe a lighter hood and trunk lid? Heck, even lighter wheels would help.

The OE hood on that vintage Miata is aluminum. The wheels are roughly 10lbs a piece. The gas milage limiters in a 93 Miata are short gearing and aerodynamics.

In reply to Type Q:

...and pretty poor computer tuning from the factory.

MrJoshua wrote: In reply to Type Q: ...and pretty poor computer tuning from the factory.

You're right. I forgot that piece of the puzzle when I posted before.

Even good computer tuning isn't going to make a massive difference in efficiency - but it can help. We've seen a Miata pull as high as 39 mpg on the highway without trying, pacing (not drafting) a truck with a race trailer so it had a pretty constant speed. Still, that's nothing spectacular for most cars with engines under 2.0. Although the Miata in question was a 2.0 with a big turbo and was packing some serious horsepower Ironically, we can get very similar mileage on one of the LSx conversions on the highway despite a 6.3l engine and ridiculous performance.

We've got a little 1992 here that's still pretty virgin. I've been trying to convince the boss that what it needs is a 1.3 engine converted to a 4-valve head with a small turbo, good suspension and fairly skinny tires. Good fuel economy, decent performance and a low enough grip threshold that it's fun to dance with at public road speeds. Responsible Fun. It might happen, although someone stuck some 205/50-15 Star Specs on it and I'm afraid someone's going to bond with that combo...

Hmmm, decent fuel economy with tiny wheels/tires or gawd awful fuel economy on monster sized wheels and tires?

If the buyer is a guy over the age of 2, I'm thinking, no contest.

It's not quite that simple. If I remember correctly, we've seen the upper 30's in a Miata running on 245/45-16 tires. That's better than the car could do stock.

I get 47mpg in my heavy TDI Jetta. Swapping that engine into a Miata would be great. Acme Adapters makes something that should allow it to mate to either a Samurai or a Toyota W58 tranny. Couple that with the right rear end ratio and that would be a fun econo car. Run biodiesel and enjoy the french fry smell as you drive with the top down.

I'll just leave this here: http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/2226931655.html

So what we have here is a Miata that needs the engine replaced...

So he improved fuel economy by 50%. How much more expensive is diesel fuel now? 20%? So his fuel costs don't go down that much and he sacrifices 80% of his horsepower!

I just checked and diesel is only 10% higher right now, but it still minimizes much of his fuel savings.