FC engine and transmission in MX5 MK1 HELP!!

[Spectre26]

I am thinking about starting a project car. Basically Putting a FC engine and tranny in a MK1 MX5.

I know it has been done b4, which is good news for me:) as hopefully i can find some sort of "Fc 13B into a MK1 MX5 conversion kit" out there. Pls point me in the right direction if u know of 1 or any any useful info to aid in my lil project.

Was chatting with the guy helping me do the swap and he feels confident but only bit he is not sure of is if the gear stick is on the FCs gearbox will line up with the hole for the gear stick on the MX5s transmission housing?

Thats my biggest question for now. But in general if any1 out there knows of any infos that i could use with regard to the project in general it would b greatly apprecited.

[mattmaclennan]

it will with an angle grinder... just get it in there

[Ricco_04]

Doesn\'t help you in your quest for info but I remember seeing a vid of one on the quarter mile running 10.9\'s :yes    (cant find it at the mo   )

[Martiny]

Bud, the gearstick is the LEAST of your worries!!!!

Apparently, the steering box on the 5 gets in the way of the exhaust!  You have to change the steering somehow.

I think you have to move the steering rack!  Imagine the calculations involved in doing that !!

[Spectre26]

Bud, the gearstick is the LEAST of your worries!!!!

Apparently, the steering box on the 5 gets in the way of the exhaust!  You have to change the steering somehow.

I think you have to move the steering rack!  Imagine the calculations involved in doing that !!

it does!!!???:2eek Does it make a difference that my MX5 is left hand drive???

Hate to be downed at the first hurdle...

[Spectre26]

Doesn\'t help you in your quest for info but I remember seeing a vid of one on the quarter mile running 10.9\'s :yes    (cant find it at the mo   )

oooohhh....:evillaugh  fueling my fantasies u r.... but guess i would b happy to have it run close to the 14s.

As the project hasnt really begun yet (not bought the MX5 yet) I am still in fantasy mode... Dreaming of all the stuff i could do :p ahhhh, the power of dreams as the advert says...

But on a down to earth note really need advice on fitting the FC\'s transmission into the MX5 (LH drive)as my partner in crime feels this would b the only bit he is not too confident in fitting.

I\'m viewing the car tomorrow so b4 i stump up the cash, need to know if the project is a go or just gonna flop. Know i should have posted sooner but well... thats me... late as usual..:p

cheers all :wave

[stuart wizy]

only 1 way to find out!
get the motor and box out and drop a 13b in there with gearbox and see how much room you have! then like matt said get the grinder and welder out and make some custom mounts and get cutting tunnel out if u need to.

[Martiny]

Some info.. but not much..

http://www.rx7club.com/archive/index.php/t-26906.html

http://www.dragtimes.com/Mazda-Miata-MX5-Timeslip-6202.html

Gearbox stuff

http://members.aol.com/solomiata/Drivetrain.html

Do a google search, it has been done many times.

The LAST thing i want to do is put you off. I hope you go ahead with it!

[oldone]

Being left hand drive you have probs bro............:3gears-lh

[Spectre26]

CHeers for the info Martin. WIll traul thu it once i get off shift today. Think my collegue found a conversion kit for sale. But its i nthe US and is going for 2000 pounds dunno if  i should just work at it or save the hassle and buy the conversion kit... as buying the kit will put me well outside my budget for this project:(

Any other infor is most welcome. Easiest thing woudl be if i could contact any1 who has done it b4 and pick their brains bout probs encountered.

Thanks for all the help so far guys:) most useful:)

[Martiny]

Spectre, I have a magazine somewhere with an article on this....  if I could just find it !  

There is also a place in Aussie that does a conversion, but I reckon that will be expensive, too. I kow it includes a space frame, and I dont know if thats just the front suspension that is "space frame".

Lets keep searching, we will find the info eventually.

Dont know exactly what Oldone means when he says left hand drive means you have problems?  Era, can you be more specific?

[Spectre26]

Maybe Era left out the "no" to the probs... as in saying "no probs" judging by his very happy driving simile

Fingers crossed u can find the article, as it would be great:) cos i am shying away from the conversion kit from the US as i really dont wanna exceed my budget of 4500 for this project. Fingers crossed the Aussie kit is cheaper then the US kit:) 2000 is basically half my budget. Still gotta fork out for the car, engine and tranny yet, dont even talk about labour yet.

[oldone]

Being left hand drive you have probs bro............:3gears-lh

Should have read    NO PROBS...:3gears-lh  reason being,most of the conversions we have done are for right hand drive cars....and its been one prob after the other.Always remember me saying to myself \'just wish this car was left hand drive !\'.......:yes