1995 Miata V-6 Checkbook Build

I thought I would maintain a build thread for my 95 Miata. I've had a 1990 Miata for about four years now and decided it was time to add to the fleet. I've sold off most of my spare cars and trucks, that I meant to sell anyway, and decided as I approached retirement I would trim down and refine my car habit. Currently we have a Toyota Tacoma, a Volkswagen Jetta, the 90 Miata, a spare 95 Miata for parts, and the car up I plan to build, the red 95 Miata. Not being an experienced mechanic and with health limitations I have changed my approach from earlier builds. I have been influenced by the Freakonomics blog, particularly one called The Upside of Quitting. Influenced by the Freakonomics thinking I have sold my V-8 RX-7 and my wife has sold her 1968 Triumph TR 250. I could never get the RX-7 to run like I wanted and we never committed to restoring the Triumph.

So I decided to take a different approach to my next car. Instead of starting a project and scraping along for months and years I would go b ig and try to finish the car up to a certain point in a short period of time. With the Miata this meant engine work, suspension, and brakes. Within a month the car should be drivable and enjoyable. This will allow us to do simpler task as time allows.

To accomplish this I decided to use more checkbook building than I had in the past. Yesterday I took a 560 mile round trip and delivered the Miata to Royston Georgia for modification by superfastmiatas.com. They will install an Acura V6 over the next 10 days or so. I will retrieve the car and have the brakes and suspension upgraded so that by the end of August I should have a safe functioning V6 Miata.

I was very impressed with Benjamin and the guys at Mini-Tec (superfastmiata) and to this point the process has been simple, quick, and clean.

I talked to those guys for a bit at the Mitty. Do you mind sharing a balpark figure of how much you expect the job to cost? I look forward to your updates on how this turns out!

I'll kep an eye. A honda v6 miata is on the project list!

I enjoyed meeting the Mini-tec guys at the Mini56 back in April. Seeing a couple of the Minis they built with an Acura V-6 mounted between the rear wheels made me want one badly.

I don't have the exact costs of everything yet, but I am glad to share the reasoning and ballpark figures. Found a 95 Miata in good shape, with air conditioning, with power steering and only minor cosmetic issues for $2,500. The kit from superfastmiatas.com is 3,500. I wanted to get the complete kit. When I did the RX-7 with the Chevy small block I piecemealed and took baby steps. This build is to be whole hog. Found a bunch of the engines on ebay for around $500 and they were located on the route I would take if I went to Superfastmiatas to pick up the kit. I figured I could save $500 or so shipping by driving around and picking up the kit and engine. When I was figuring the ecu (AEM Series 2 Plug & Play Engine Management System) and wiring was about 1,500. I figured around $500 for miscellaneous, stuff I couldn't do, etc. That made the conversion around $8,500 with me doing the work. When I talked to BJ at Superfast I found that for only a little more they would do the conversion. And you know, they invented the kit, they have successfully done it before, I wasn't totally sure I could do it myself, and then I got spooked a little by the Titus' build. Titus' build of a beautiful yellow Miata (thread is in this forum) appeared to reach the wiring and ecu stage and then stall. I wanted to start then in short order complete the build.

My conversation with BJ was I would bring the car down (200 miles), leave it about 10 days, come back and get the car and drive it home (with the V6 installed). When I get it home I plan to upgrade (TEIN)the suspension and install new brakes and rotors. Then as time and money allow I will upgrade the interior, fix the radio, and upgrade the wheels and tires. At this stage of life I have a birthday, anniversary, and Christmas where nobody knows what to get me. I figure I can leverage those occasions.

When I took the car to Royston and delivered it I was impressed with the shop, setup, and people I met. The process was friendly and informal. Johnny (my friend who followed me down in the Tacoma) and I toured the shop, checked out the other builds underway, and came away with a good feeling. BJ did let me know they had sourced an Acura TL engine as they had a slight preference for them over the Odyessy unit.

Now I am on pins and needles waiting for the phone call telling me it's ready.

My wife (ever the eternal optimist) did ask: Just in case you die, Johnny does know how to get back where you left the car, right?

Yes dear.

Just a note: I have a problem with this New Reader tag. I have been on the board for years. Subscribed for years. Participated in the 2007 and 2009 (I missed 2008 with a heart attack) Challenges. Is there any hope of ever advancing to Reader?

And another thing. How will I be able to post pictures so seamlessly like other posters? Or is that locked until you are an Ultra Dork?

Rant off.

Mark

Mark to post pics you need to host them somewhere on the web and the put the URL of the pic in the box that pops up when you click the camera icon, or you can put it like this

Img src="pic URL goes here" /

You need one of these < on the front and this > on the end

I think you need 100 posts to change from 'new reader'. spend some time in the 'off topic' forum and you should be there in no time.

Can't wait to see the finished product! I've been around a Miata that had an S2000 motor in it and it was simply amazing...both in performance and in sound.

Also, I just read a relevant article on another magazine's website that was a review of a Honda-swapped Miata.

Matt Farrah review

So I've got about 80 posts now. If I do a good job of documenting the build I should get close.

Hmmmm ... Not that I have any miles on the stock power train quite yet, but that K24 conversion in my (soon to be on the road) Exocet would sound fantastic!!!

Keeping momentum. Just ordered a TEIN kit and front and rear brakes from MossMiata. They should be here before/around the time the car gets back. The current goal is to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway the last week of the month.

m_walker26 wrote: Keeping momentum. Just ordered a TEIN kit and front and rear brakes from MossMiata. They should be here before/around the time the car gets back. The current goal is to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway the last week of the month.

I am going to be very impressed if you hit this deadline.

Ten days to do the swap would be a huge sales-driver for this kit if it is possible. (I think that was the figure you quoted from the supplier.)

NOHOME wrote:

m_walker26 wrote: Keeping momentum. Just ordered a TEIN kit and front and rear brakes from MossMiata. They should be here before/around the time the car gets back. The current goal is to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway the last week of the month.

I am going to be very impressed if you hit this deadline. Ten days to do the swap would be a huge sales-driver for this kit if it is possible. (I think that was the figure you quoted from the supplier.)

Yeah, but then that's why I had them do the swap instead of learning new skills myself. I have nightmares of half finished projects that lost steam. So I did this one as more of a management exhibition with goals, timelines, deadlines, CPM, and a BUDGET. So far so good. But we are still on step one.

First kink just showed up. BJ called. My 95 Miata has a 6" rear end. That works OK but they prefer/recommend the later 7" and higher (lower numerically) gears. Turns out not to be a big thing. I have a 95 in the garage I am planning to part out. I will check that it is a 7" rear end and after I retrieve the car swap the rear ends and gears. Target date for completion is now August 24.

Thats weird someone put a 1.6 differential in your 1.8 car

SWMBO has jumped in and suggested that if we swap rear ends between the two 95 Miatae we will have the wonderful V-6 Miata and a spare (read redundant) Miata. She suggests (ha) that the extra Miata should leave as soon as we get the V-6 Miata going. Actually I kind of agree. So I will be listing it on the 2015 Classifieds later today. It's a 95 Miata, hail damage, blown/leaking head gasket, rough interior, leaky top, and I'm thinking of a $1,000 price. Maybe a little high.

SWMBO also mentioned (and you know how that goes) that she is off next week and maybe we could ride down together to retrieve the V-6 Miata. That means we'd take the truck, load the old engine, and drive back separately. Should I be afraid that she will snooker me into driving the truck so she can have the Miata?

Trying the photo loading. The car before conversion.

And I will try this ....

< https://goo.gl/photos/Ec3oY6LmP8diCumx9 >

So that's the best I can do. I have shared the Google Pictures Album and I will update it as I get the car back. Johnny's been here just now asking if we can go get it tomorrow. I haven't heard from BJ so I think not. Johnny's GMC lost it's differential this weekend. He probably just wants to get away.

m_walker26 wrote: < https://goo.gl/photos/Ec3oY6LmP8diCumx9 >

I suppose that's why you are an Uberdork and I am inadequate. Thanks.

m_walker26 wrote: I suppose that's why you are an Uberdork and I am inadequate. Thanks.

That looks like a clean platform for the swap. I am really looking forward to the reports on the driving experience and what you think of the swap in general.

I have an MGB GT that I have stopped driving because the drivetrain is not good enough to qualify as E36 M3ty. Bolted to a Miata gearbox, this looks like a reasonably easy swap into the MGB. What final drive are you running in your swap? The MGB is a 3.9 that I figure should work well with the Honda engine and Miata gearbox.

What can you tell us about the engine controls? How many modules need to get dragged over from the Honda? Are you expecting the gauges and AC to work?

Yes, I expect the gauges and AC to work. I'm expecting an itemized list when I pick up the car and will post info from that.
TEIN Street suspension parts arrived yesterday. Brake kit arrived today. Pedal covers also came today. The metal pedals could get slick. Not good. 95 Miata with 7" rear end is in the garage ready for surgery. Sold the 95 parts car before I even got it listed.