What do you guys think of this project?

Take this wagoon,and add one part Miata driveline,mix in a lower stance,and a dash of cool paint. Sound like a goo recipe???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330456099797&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Chris

OMFG a Luce.

That is one of my white whales.

My dream includes a Miata suspension and a FD3S drivetrain.

Is it wrong I want to fly to Texas just to steal the awesome oil filler cap? I bet it fits a Miata

Could this be done on a small budget? The car is cheap at around $1000,but getting it from TX to MA is a bit pricey as a non-op car. What is the going rate for a Miata driveline? You guys think one could put the frontt suspension of the Miata in it as well? I am guessing the rear would be too tough.

-C

Mazdax605 wrote: What is the going rate for a Miata driveline? -C

I'm not sure on the price yet but I'll be selling my supercharged 1.8 from engine to rear end sometime this winter.

Whatever you do, keep the trailer hitch!

You might be better off trying a mazda pickup drivetrain, i.e. B2000/2300. The way mazda seemed to build their cars the front crossmember just bolts in allowing for cross engine swaps. The drivetrain will probably be the easiest part to figure out. I'll bet an RX2/3/7 rear axle will bolt in with little change if it is actually needed. Again this probably has the rear axle out of a pickup so gears, etc should be easy to find.

Now, figuring out how to improve/update the front suspension, steering, etc. could be much more difficult. I say do it but I'm a weak minded person with a short memory.

I think it would be way more awesome with spinning triangles.

96DXCivic wrote: I think it would be way more awesome with spinning triangles.

Exactly my thoughts. Maybe a little turbo to help things spin better too.

Well I do have plenty of spinning triangles laying around. I could build a wicked 4-port 13B using a GSL-SE engine cross-pollinated with some 12A plates. I could do that pretty cheap as well.

Didn't the Mazda Luce come available with a rotary anyways?

best to buy a complete running miata and part it out after you've completed the swap. that's the cheapest way to go.

AngryCorvair wrote: best to buy a complete running miata and part it out after you've completed the swap. that's the cheapest way to go.

but that increases the price of complete running miatas for the rest of us...

RexSeven wrote: Didn't the Mazda Luce come available with a rotary anyways?

I think Luce's did come with rotaries,but this isn't a Luce officially as near as I can tell.

Chris

That's pretty cool, never seen one 'in the flesh'.

Man, I coulda used a rear axle from one of those recently. Turns out it's narrow enough to go under a Jensen Healey and accepts all the first gen RX7 limited slip etc. But I wound up with an RX2 piece that works just fine.

is that right? looks like the master cylinder is on the right side?

Is that front or rear wheel drive?

The '69-72 Luce was front wheel drive. It had the super-rare 13A engine in it.

I noticed that as well Strizzo,but I think it is just a mirror image picture. I saw an RX-3 a year or so ago,and the pics were the same way. It was clearly a LHD car,but the pics made you think it was RHD. There are pics in that listing that show it is a LHD car.

John Brown wrote: OMFG a Luce. That is one of my white whales. My dream includes a Miata suspension and a FD3S drivetrain.

Never heard of them before. Looks kinda like an Opel Kadet wagon. I approve of the dream.

Dude, go for it. That said, I think 1st gen RX7 suspension would be an easier swap and I agree with hobiercr on the engine. Rotors would be cool too.