Track Cars.. On a Budget.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by MisterSheep

I have emissions in my state as well. I'm not saying I'm willing to do it but you got to realize we live in a world of what if's and people wanting to try new things. Maybe people have the skills of custom fabbing equipment and skills for any engine their heart desires.

If I didn't have to worry about emissions and my FA20 let go, I'd be working on a 13B swap purely out of stubborn rotary love.

As it stands I'd rebuild it, upgrade the known weakpoints and run it again until it lets go because nothing else makes sense for this chassis to me.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Carlysh

So after some research on the miata , i found that with 8k or less you can put a k motor on that miata and you retain you drive line and everything else, i must say for a weekend warrior and street car this is very interesting given the fact that the K motors from honda are really reliable and high revving what you guys think?

K-Miata. They sponsor ITR expo as well. Good guys!

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Is that really worth the effort over just getting an S2000?

Miata is lighter, cheaper consumables and has better aero from the factory. I'd k swap a Miata over buying another S2000 but I'm one of the seemingly rare group that didn't really care about the S2000. I haven't missed mine since I sold it.

[Carlysh]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohh2XYpKfVQ"]K24 Miata Mid Ohio testing - 217whp street car - YouTube[/ame]

[Carlysh]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Many many many hours of effort (maybe fabrication work?) and troubleshooting to get everything harmoniously working, Florida is super lax on motoring laws so that shouldn't be an issue.

After seeing project cars do unexpected things and owners scrambling for hours and missing runs and sessions, it's a labor of love with small reward. My money is on reliability, keep it simple stupid and maximize seat time, keep it stock.

While a Civic Si or TSX motor would be awesome, (~200hp @ 7k rpm) and reliable, the potential issues won't be the block itself but rather all your wiring, sensors, everything mating up well mechanically (no rubs or unforeseen stresses), and ECM. Custom dashboard or a bunch of stick on gauges? Custom exhaust setup? This is not a summer project unless it's your full time job and you have access to a good shop, most people spend years on these kinds of setups before everything is dialed in.

I'd spend the $8k on setting up the Miata real nice, good chassis to start spending up to $5k, nice set of revalved koni/bilsteins with quality springs from any of the half dozen companies that offer them off the shelf, go through all the bushings, roll bar, quality tires and brakes, full fluid flush. Assuming this is a casual track/autox car I'd say maintain DD-ability so you can drive it to the track without stressing yourself out and avoid the costs of a tow vehicle because you've gone full stipped and caged.

For me the name of the game is seat time, you want zero excuses to not go out and flog the car.



No, S2k uses an F20C

Wiki is a fantastic resource for stuff like this, the K Series is primarily used for higher trim Integra/RSX/Civic, and Accord/TSX/ILX with a few larger cars/cuv using it as a base engine from the early 00's onwards. Good for 160-220 hp depending on what model which should be a solid upgrade for an NA/NB

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_K_engine

Yeah I would start with the Miata handling first them power, I put a video so you can see it when you have the chance oem cluster work and everything else. I have to look up on hardness maybe the k Miata guys already sell them

[Carlysh]

I Check yep the sell the wiring hardness conversions, it like a plug and play only you have to spliced for the length if I am correct from the description

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by MisterSheep

I was waiting for a

"get out of here! a Honda engine in the FRS???" @finch1750

Damn right. That's almost as bad as a LS swap. Beams or bust. Lol

[MisterSheep]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Damn right. That's almost as bad as a LS swap. Beams or bust. Lol

Rotary swap?

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by MisterSheep

Rotary swap?

20B only. 13B isn't worth it.

[Chrisgalactic]

Toyota Ae86

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900AZ using Tapatalk

[funwheeldrive]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Miata is lighter, cheaper consumables and has better aero from the factory. I'd k swap a Miata over buying another S2000 but I'm one of the seemingly rare group that didn't really care about the S2000. I haven't missed mine since I sold it.

Aside from consumables, why didn't you keep your S2000? I always wanted one, but by the time I could afford one the 86 was out and I didn't want to pay 15k for a ten year old convertible.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Miata is lighter, cheaper consumables and has better aero from the factory. I'd k swap a Miata over buying another S2000 but I'm one of the seemingly rare group that didn't really care about the S2000. I haven't missed mine since I sold it.

Yep good points. I would guess though that some portion of the Miata's weight and consumables advantages are eaten up by adding Honda F power and supporting mods, no? The S2000 chassis also has its own pros (more rigid, 50/50 weight distribution) and was OEM designed for the F20/F22 (theoretically more reliable, easier to work on).

I can see the benefits to a F powered Miata, but still seems like a lot of time/money when the S2000 chassis isn't too shabby in its own right. Just my thoughts without having done any substantial research on this

EDIT:

Just found someone who did an F20 swap NA Miata. I'll admit the weight and corner balance is actually quite impressive:

By the way, corner weights of the car were as follows with 7 gallons of gas:
562 575
508 473
2118 lbs total, 53.7% front (with me in it, 2345 and 51.8% front)
This was before moving the motor back 1", replacing the full exhaust and shorty header with a longtube side-exit, eliminating the PPF and e-brake, switching to a 1.8 Torsen and the Driveshaft Specialists driveshaft. I expect the current weight to be the same (the Torsen was 17 lbs heavier than the 1.6 VLSD), but the front/rear distribution to be closer to 51/49. Keep in mind my car has a 0.120" thick cage with a full halo, side bars, dash bars triangulated on the firewall, and a few extra bits. It also of course has a factory hardtop not shown in the above pictures, but with the lexan rear window it only weighs 32.2 lbs.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=362605

[Icanfaptothis86]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer

This

also might want to take a look at Mini coopers

but MR2 is a good answer as well

but really .... the answer is miata


ps I am a bit biased as I have a R53 Mini Cooper S track car

[Sideways&Smiling]

Swapping a Miata is not worth it. Turbo the S2000 and call it a day.