Hey all,

I've just stumbled across this site after looking for information on Miata's. I'm going to be building a Lotus 7 Replica soon and will be using a wrecked Miata as the donor. As much as the car will be used as possible. I just need to decide which year will be the best for me to look for. I'd like around the 200hp mark, smooth & RELIABLE. I don't really want to mess with anything too old, probably 1999 will be the oldest i want to get. Not sure if i want turbo set up or not. Space will be an issue & I love the Webber style throttle body trumpets.

So, i'm sure i'll be hanging around these parts for a while and i look forward to learning more about these cars.

 

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Get a 94-97 with a LSD. I know you say you want a wrecked car, but the chances of it still having everything you need undamaged is slim to nil. The 94-97 are just as easy if not easier than the 99+ and are just as realiable. You can pick one up all day for $2500 or scrounge around and get one for $1000-1500.

 

Also go here www.locostusa.com . They have all the info you will need to do this. The easiest way is just to use the entire rear subframe form the miata.

 

yeah, i've seen some of the threads on there. I originally wanted to use a S2000, but the engine is quite tall and sits awkward, and as you say, the miata subframe will bolt right in.

What's the differences dimensionally from the 1.8 to the 2.0? I can;t really afford to go much taller than the 1.8 without putting a hood bulge in

 

2.0L what? Are you talking about the engine from the current miata or the s2000? I have no idea on either what size difference there is between it and the 1.8l miata engine.

 

Yeah, the current miata. I'm thinking to get something relatively new with low miles as i will be using the whole drivetrain, brakes etc, and if i do go to F.I in the future it will be a good strong platform.

 

We don't know anything about the new miata and it's 2.0. It's completely different than the 89-05 miata.

 

Finding a donor 99 will not be very cheap.
I saw this 96 today thinking it would make a good donor:
http://ocala.craigslist.org/cto/1748817144.html

 

Pretty much any year will work for you (90-2005), but don't expect to hit 200HP without some sort of forced induction or a bunch of nitrous.

 

To be honest, cost isn't that much of a problem. I'm thinking around $5K donor budget, and when i'm primarily looking for insurance salvage, i should find something decent i think for that.

200 hp is a "in the end" goal i suppose. It's a VERY small and light car i'm building, the stock power will be ok to start with. After a bit more research i think it may be worth searching for a salvaged mazdaspeed car. harder to find and more money, but i'd have to pay the extra for a turbo set up anyway on a stock motor, so it may balance out.

Nothing is set in stone, just bouncing ideas around. I have a while to find a donor, the chassis build will take a long time in itself.

 

Search for HRK's thread here. He was running a turbo Miata powered locost in NASA tt and pretty much running away from everything. I think he was making 240whp with a t2x and 1.8.