Intro and Info

[lechnoid]

Well, since I've already poked my newbie nose into a couple threads, I figured I may as well introduce myself...

My gf and I have what is now my 2nd black SVX. My first (which may have been purchased through here initially) was foolishly sold because I wanted something else. Stupid me, but at least I'm back again. There are some things that I will periodically have pop up with it that I will consult you guys on and offer advice on. Most likely the only forums I will spend much time in is the technical section and the motorsports section.

I am an experienced technician. I've worked in independent shops my whole career as a mechanic, never a dealership. There's positive and negative to that, but overall I'm a competent wrench.

I also have a "spare" EG33 that I'm researching on putting into my '91 Miata. I'm consulting with the Miata community on fitting it in there, but I'm sure I'll be hitting you guys up with thoughts, ideas, and problems on the rest of it. I'm pretty sure I'll need to make a custom intake and still have no clue what tranny to bolt up to it yet.

For the most part though, I just wanted to stop in and say hi to everybody.

[YourConfused]

Hi.

Putting an eg33 into a Mata sounds interesting. They are freaking fun to drive, but just way too slow no matter what you do to the stock motor. It sounds like an interesting project.

[ensteele]

Welcome to the site. Keep us posted on the project. It sounds very interesting. Good luck.

[Hondasucks]

Yay, another tech I'm a Subaru tech, not certified yet though, but I have the privilege of working next to a guy with 30+ years experience with Subaru, so I pretty much have a walking Subaru repair manual at my disposal

That's just the thing with Miatas, they are built on the British sports car principle: Not fast, quick enough to be fun, but handle really well... My problem is I'm 6'2" so Miatas and MR2s don't work for me unless the top is down

[lechnoid]

Yeah, I'm 6' but still manage to stuff myself into that car. Love how it handles (some suspension upgrades) but it has the same size balls as a 4-month-old girl.

[YourConfused]

Originally Posted by lechnoid

Yeah, I'm 6' but still manage to stuff myself into that car. Love how it handles (some suspension upgrades) but it has the same size balls as a 4-month-old girl.

"but it has the same size balls as a 4-month-old girl"
I just gotta quote that some time.

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by lechnoid

Well, since I've already poked my newbie nose into a couple threads, I figured I may as well introduce myself...

My gf and I have what is now my 2nd black SVX. My first (which may have been purchased through here initially) was foolishly sold because I wanted something else. Stupid me, but at least I'm back again. There are some things that I will periodically have pop up with it that I will consult you guys on and offer advice on. Most likely the only forums I will spend much time in is the technical section and the motorsports section.

I am an experienced technician. I've worked in independent shops my whole career as a mechanic, never a dealership. There's positive and negative to that, but overall I'm a competent wrench.

I also have a "spare" EG33 that I'm researching on putting into my '91 Miata. I'm consulting with the Miata community on fitting it in there, but I'm sure I'll be hitting you guys up with thoughts, ideas, and problems on the rest of it. I'm pretty sure I'll need to make a custom intake and still have no clue what tranny to bolt up to it yet.

For the most part though, I just wanted to stop in and say hi to everybody.

Nice to have you on board.

We could be picking your brains for some help either maybe.

Have you considered using the front wheel drive 4EAT with the EG33 for the Miata?

It will have the advantage that you don't have to route a selector mechanism around the universe with ball joints etc. It is a straight bolt in solution if you have enough room in the engine bay.

Naturally it will have the disadvantage that you are using an automatic in a sports car, and the automatic box will be heavier and bulkier than a manual, but it would be plenty quick with the low overall weight.

If you are against autos for the project then the first place to look for advice could be Smallcar Performance. They convert Vanagons using EG33s, so they may have experience with using VW manual boxes.

Joe

[YourConfused]

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

Nice to have you on board.

We could be picking your brains for some help either maybe.

Have you considered using the front wheel drive 4EAT with the EG33 for the Miata?

It will have the advantage that you don't have to route a selector mechanism around the universe with ball joints etc. It is a straight bolt in solution if you have enough room in the engine bay.

Naturally it will have the disadvantage that you are using an automatic in a sports car, and the automatic box will be heavier and bulkier than a manual, but it would be plenty quick with the low overall weight.

If you are against autos for the project then the first place to look for advice could be Smallcar Performance. They convert Vanagons using EG33s, so they may have experience with using VW manual boxes.

Joe

While the miata is a rwd car what are you getting at other than smallcar may have some flanges available for the exhaust?

Did I miss something?

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by YourConfused

While the miata is a rwd car what are you getting at other than smallcar may have some flanges available for the exhaust?

Did I miss something?

I'm not sure what you're confused about.

Smallcar may have information on the bellhousing, on what [FWD] manual boxes may bolt up to the EG33.

The Miata in my view is a mid-engined car, rather than a RWD car, even though the rear wheels are driven.

It is common practice to drive mid-engine cars using a front drive set-up from another donor. An actual rear drive gearbox will not work because the drive is off the back rather than from the sides, as in FWD.

What exactly are you missing?

Joe

[b3lha]

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

The Miata in my view is a mid-engined car

[Hocrest]

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

The Miata in my view is a mid-engined car, rather than a RWD car, even though the rear wheels are driven.

I thought the engine was up front????

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by b3lha

Quite right Phil.

Apologies guys, I am mixing up my Italian names. I was actually thinking of the Pontiac Fiero

Five letters, finishing in a vowel, Italian...

I actually think of the Mazda as the MX5, which is what it's called in this market.

You might still get some gearbox information from those guys, as the standard engines tend to be horizontally opposed.

See:

http://volksweb.relitech.com/helmut/GEARBOX.HTM

Joe

[YourConfused]

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

Quite right Phil.


I actually think of the Mazda as the MX5, which is what it's called in this market.

You might still get some gearbox information from those guys, as the standard Vanagon engines tend to be horizontally opposed.

See:

http://volksweb.relitech.com/helmut/GEARBOX.HTM

Joe

Are you smoking something over there? Whatever it is it must be good.
A mazda miata is a rear drive, stick shifted, front engine 4 banger, a strait 4.

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by YourConfused

Are you smoking something over there? Whatever it is it must be good.
A mazda miata is a rear drive, stick shifted, front engine 4 banger, a strait 4.

I have already admitted my mistake in confusing the Miata with a Fiero.

What you say above is correct. However, he is planning to replace the straight four with a horizontally opposed six, and has admitted that as yet he has no clue what transmission to bolt in.

The website I listed has information on transmissions that bolt up to horizontally opposed fours.

What help have you put forward, aside from sarcastic remarks?

Joe

[lechnoid]

An automatic is out of the question for a number of reasons, the first one being a matter of principal. Auto + sports car (to me) = family/geezer car that would like to be a sports car. When they released the RX-8 I was REALLY hoping that they wouldn't make an automatic. My only joy when I found out that they did was that the auto had reduced power...hehe. The best is the 3000GT VR-4...available only in manual. Gotta love it. Alas, I digress.

Another factor is weight distribution. The EG33 isn't much heavier than the stock miata 1.6L, but it will sit a bit further back, keeping very close to the factory front/rear balance.

The last major factor is I am quite sure it would be impossible to squeeze this engine in and convert the front to hold driveline that isn't there. If there were a way, I'd make it easy on myself, just put in a 5MT and make it an AWD miata. Unfortunately, that just isn't going to happen. Though I will admit, that'd be way cooler than just putting this engine in.

I'll look deeper into the vanagon guys to see what I can come up with for transmissions. One factor is going to be not only what will bolt up to the engine, but also what will fit into the miata's tranny tunnel.

I tore down the EG33 today to basically the bare engine. I still have the lower intake manifolds on as well as the exhaust manifolds. Pretty much everything else is on the bench. With it tore down, I measured it side to side and came up with a width of about 31". This poses a problem, as the unmodified miata space is about 27" wide. I'll be able to modify it to get some more space out of it, but holy buckets will that be a tight squeeze. I'm going to have to drill holes just to be able to change the plugs. I may also have to modify the sub-frame to get the exhaust run back. I'm working with the miata guys to try to figure out solutions to this.

For a question more geared towards you guys is engine management. The engine is out of a '92, so I'm guessing (more like hoping) that some of you will have pretty tricky way for me to keep the engine and sensors as simple as possible. I know I will need (based off of common engine management):

MAF Sensor
IAC Motor
O2 Sensors
2x Crank Sensors
Cam Sensor
Throttle Position Sensor
ECT Sensor
Oil Pressure Sending Unit (unless this ONLY connects to the light, which I suspect might be the case because of the single-wire setup)

There are a number of solenoids under the upper intake that appear to mostly emissions-related, but honestly didn't feel like taking the time to look it up in All Data. I'm guessing it'll be no biggie to remove the EGR system.

I'm trying to figure out a way that I'd be able to run each bank's intake as it's own setup. For the most part this isn't too difficult, but I'm not sure how to set up for the MAF or IAC to be properly read by the computer. I'm thinking it may be possible to have those on just one bank and have the other bank sensor-free, but I'm not positive on that.

Ok, I lost my train of thought and will have to come back later. I'll let you guys poke around and discuss what I've tossed out there already. I'm gonna scrub up, eat some food, grab a drink, and kick back for now.