datsunrides Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Well, seems I have a self imposed problem. Sold the engine/trans out of my 1200 last week to a fellow member. Decided on a newer engine to swap into her. 1994 Miata 1.8 BP engine w/ an automatic (I prefer autos FWIW) with 160k on the clock. Picked it up for 1K and drove it home an hour and a half and it ran great. Also got 15 years worth of service records so I pretty confident this is a solid drivetrain even with somewhat high miles. The plan is to drop the engine/trans into the 1200 and sell of the body to recoup some of the cash outlay. Or maybe I should keep it and swap in a LS1! :hyper: Anyways, probably going to yank the engine next week and start the process of the swap. Only thing that worries me right now is the size of the trans tunnel. Don't really want to mess with that if I can avoid it. Mark Quote Link to comment
Z chopper Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 maybe after you swap the Miata engine into the 1200, snag a rotary to pop into the miata Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 the man to hit up is Bob3 hes the resident expert in mazda to datto swaps (look up the "MX520") Quote Link to comment
KELMO Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Subscribed X 2. Was that car orignially a Std trans? the tunnel looks small...just wonderin Quote Link to comment
datsunrides Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 the man to hit up is Bob3 hes the resident expert in mazda to datto swaps (look up the "MX520") Well, not going to the extreme like he did. Just a simple motorset swap, not a whole suspension and motorset. Subscribed X 2. Was that car orignially a Std trans? the tunnel looks small...just wonderin Yes, original standard, and it is small. Mark Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Well, not going to the extreme like he did. Just a simple motorset swap, not a whole suspension and motorset. aside from datsuns he races Miata's hes gonna be the go to guy for it Quote Link to comment
RedBanner Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Those motor shipped to your house are less than a thousand with trans and ecu and harnes, ive ben lookung into the motor and it seams to have a great fan base, my 2 pennies, sell the miata and get the import low mile package with the profits, Im watching this one for shure go go go Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 The 1200 tunnel is the smallest of any Datsun. No way you're going to get a Mazda 5-speed in it without some modifications. The most elegant way is to fit a tunnel from an automatic-equipped 1200. It's as big as the 610 tunnel or any other Datsun tunnel. Quote Link to comment
datsunrides Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Those motor shipped to your house are less than a thousand with trans and ecu and harnes, ive ben lookung into the motor and it seams to have a great fan base, my 2 pennies, sell the miata and get the import low mile package with the profits, Im watching this one for shure go go go I prefer to do it this way for a few reasons, 1) I know it is a running engine, with no electrical issues. I know everything is there to make it run. The benefit of this particular one is I have almost all service records since new, so I am not worried about the mileage. PO actually just had the timing belt and water pump (among other things) replaced about 10k ago, saving a few $$$$ there. 2) I can probably sell off/part out the rolling chassis for at least $500, if not more, making the "true" cost about $500. That is about what a motor only goes for. Mark Quote Link to comment
RedBanner Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 I prefer to do it this way for a few reasons, 1) I know it is a running engine, with no electrical issues. I know everything is there to make it run. The benefit of this particular one is I have almost all service records since new, so I am not worried about the mileage. PO actually just had the timing belt and water pump (among other things) replaced about 10k ago, saving a few $$$$ there. 2) I can probably sell off/part out the rolling chassis for at least $500, if not more, making the "true" cost about $500. That is about what a motor only goes for. Mark good point, I thought youd be cutting the harness out making it hard to ditch the shell Quote Link to comment
RedBanner Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Found the 1.8 in japtiger w/trans and ecu complete for 795, I might have to get one, just wondering what the actual wieght is, if its light enoughf it could be an epic swap Quote Link to comment
b210in Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 can you take pics of the miata all around. im interested in the shell after you remove the engine and tranny. i live about three hours from you. i use to 4 wheel there a lot there in holister. Quote Link to comment
datsunrides Posted August 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2011 Started the process of killing the Miata. :lol: Got it mostly unbolted and hope to yank it this coming weekend. Spending some time this week tracing out the wiring. The Miata, I found out, does not have a "standalone" type harness. It is integrated into the main harness, making this task a little bit harder as I have to cut the fuel injection wires out of the main harness. Going to be soldering wire back together for a while. :frantics: Mark Quote Link to comment
datsunrides Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 I had pulled the Miata motor out like a month ago and checked the fit in the 1200 and was not all that pleased. I decided to step back and check some other options. After considering some other engines, including going back to an A series, I finally decided to go ahead and get this done with the Mazda. It will not be a drop in conversion, and will require a fair bit of fabrication, but it should turn out to be pretty nice when all is said and done. (I hope :huh: ) Here is the motor/trans as pulled, There was no way the trans was going to fit in the tunnel, so with a deep breath and a cut off disc in the die grinder, I prep the tunnel by scraping off the tar paper. (look, no rust! :P ) Kinda hard to turn back now. Still need to do a little more minor trimming to the tunnel to clear the dipstick tube and cooler lines. Looks like the trans will clear the steering linkage, but I will need to find (ideally) a mid sump pan. A front sump will most likely require a custom sway bar, so I hope to avoid that. Going to obviously need to do a custom trans and motor mounts once I sort the oil pan issue. Probably going to have to relocate the battery to the drivers side also. The intake takes a lot of the room there. Mark Quote Link to comment
Supra510 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Nice. It's easy, just keep cutting 'til it all fits.....:) Quote Link to comment
goes2fast Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Update please?? Quote Link to comment
fisch Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 I fear for this 1200! Update needed. Are you pressing forward with it? Quote Link to comment
exit64 Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Fear not, oh faint of heart. After seeing his Roadster at Canby, I'll bet good money that Mark has one of the nicest 1200's on the road at the end of this process. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Get a tunnel out of an automatic-equipped 1200 and fit it. It will allow the largest transmissions and still the factory heater will work. Quote Link to comment
datsunrides Posted January 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 It's still progressing, slowly. Got a pan from a Protoge' that clears the crossmember, fabbed up new motor mount brackets on the crossmember, and am in the process of modifying the extension housing to accept a trans mount as the Miata does not have one per se' and I can not find an interchange. Radiator is my next pressing issue. The BP engines look pretty compact until you try stuffing it into a 1200 bay. :lol: Fear not, it will be back on the road as I hope to take this to Canby this year. I have owned her for over 15 years and she's going nowhere. Of all the cars I have, this would be the last to go. Oh, and I thank you Mike for the kind words. :thumbup: Mark Quote Link to comment
goes2fast Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 Update???? :confused: Quote Link to comment
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