Fun idea - mid-engined Miata powered dune buggy

I called on this and it's already gone, but it sure looks like an interesting idea:

http://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/1604909756.html

Anybody know what frame that is? I love the mid-engine buggy frames. I'm assuming it uses a Kennedy engineering adaptor. Those sell for $450 by themselves so it sounds like someone got a good deal, although I do wonder why there is a head gasket in the picture of extra parts!

Looks like a good deal. I would spend some time addressing the overhead roll cage, maybe take another look at where the driver is. There seems to be cross bracing or something missing. Maybe I'm just safety anal.

Dan

I wonder how they mated the engine to the tranny?

I just wish there was a way to mate it to a good street tranny, something like that would be fun and well balanced.

I've thought about building a light dune buggy using Miata parts. I'd probably just use a 323 transmission, though. Much easier.

I don't see any provision for cooling or air filtration. I suspect this is a partially finished project. But if it was local, I would have been all over it.

Kennedy Engineered Products makes adapters to mate just about any engine to the VW Transaxle (LS1 anyone?).

It looks like it has a radiator mounted sideways on the driver's side, but it's not hooked up. Definitely a work in progress.

While looking for the chassis maker online, found a similar unfinished project here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=892803

Looks like a similar chassis. Just makes me wish I had seen that Miata powered one earlier!

Keith wrote: I've thought about building a light dune buggy using Miata parts. I'd probably just use a 323 transmission, though. Much easier. I don't see any provision for cooling or air filtration. I suspect this is a partially finished project. But if it was local, I would have been all over it.

Does the Miata engine bolt right up to the 323 transmission? Or, forgive me, do they use the same engine?

That might help those of us considering Miata engines for our Formula cars.

Yep, same BP engine if you go 1.6

The BP is a 1.8, the B6 is the 1.6. But the bellhousing is the same. The intake manifolds are probably the biggest difference, as one's designed for transverse installation and one's designed for longitudinal.

Miata engine interchange info: http://solomiata.com/Mx5Engine.html

For reasonably priced chassis kits check out http://www.berrienbuggy.com

I had been looking at using a sandrail chassis to build something akin to a 2 seater formula vee for autocross at one point and they had some of the best deals going.

If you really like the idea of a Mazda engine, imagine one of these frames set up for the street with a 265 HP Speed3 engine and 6 speed transaxle mounted back there. With appropriate additional reinforcing, of course.

In reply to JThw8:

Nice site, now to find who can weld for me. And how to set up the rest of it.

I beleave that is a Fugitive frame i have owned 2 of them and they look the same to me, its a nice frame

Deleted. How much was it?

If I remember he was selling the unfinished buggy for $900 or so.