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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Miata engine!? In a 914!?
Posted by: purple Feb 20 2008, 01:21 PM
Hey guys, I found this on another site that I lurk on.
The OP is restoring a civic hatch to some new hotness, but he mentions seeing a 'sweet 914' come up with a carbed miata engine on it!?
I'm intrigued!
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2700112&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=2
Anyone have info on this?
-Purple
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Posted by: smontanaro Feb 20 2008, 02:50 PM
Kinda cool, but then you run this risk:
(not that there's anything wrong with that, of course...)
Skip
Posted by: Loser_Cruiser Feb 20 2008, 03:36 PM
I had a 91 ford escort gt with the 1.8 liter mazda bp motor which was also used in the miata at one point. It was a good strong engine. I ran it hard for the two years i owned it. The only problems I had were old coolent lines had to be replaced every now and then. It had just under 180,000 miles when i got it. Theres a two turbo models of the same engine rated at like 185 and 210 depending on which one the gtx or gtr engine. Personally i would rather have a subie engine though if i were going water cooled. newer, more powerful, better center of gravity and what not.
Posted by: 7TPorsh Feb 20 2008, 04:34 PM
Kinda cool, but then you run this risk:
(not that there's anything wrong with that, of course...)
Skip
Posted by: Demick Feb 20 2008, 08:31 PM
Not a great choice. Maybe great for reliability, but miata engine is more anemic than a 914-4 motor. Subie would be a much better choice if going to all the trouble to convert and add radiators.
Posted by: KaptKaos Feb 20 2008, 08:39 PM
If you are going to add a small watercooled motor, why would you add anything other than a subaru? Its a flat 4 and that alone makes more sense than just about any other modern engine.
Am I missing something?
Posted by: boxstr Feb 20 2008, 09:55 PM
I have had many Miatas and I have one now. I agree, you would be better off putting in the Suby or a V8.
CCL
Posted by: purple Feb 21 2008, 11:19 AM
The best reason i could think of for putting one in is the sheer amount of cheap and readily available parts.
I mean you can pick up a miata engine for maybe 600 cash. you can put forged internals on it and TEH TRUBO for $4k and you have 200hp right there. Methinks shitting on the miata engine is not advised :-)
Posted by: Joe Ricard Feb 21 2008, 11:36 AM
I would not give a plugged nickle for a Miata engine. Unless it was pushing 15 PSI and making 300 HP. They do exist. and it might push a 914 fairly good.
Stock motor ?? don't waste your time.
Posted by: sean_v8_914 Feb 21 2008, 12:50 PM
I hereby officially take a big cyber crap on that miata engine. suby is 165 normally aspirated HP. turbo suby is well developed with a long history of hot shoe happiness. dont forget teh CG advantage of the suby. one 914club member installed a suby with the rad IN the eng comp then drove it from MD to CA and back only a day after completing the installation.
BTW I have owned a Miata. I like Miatas.
Posted by: Todd Enlund Feb 21 2008, 01:32 PM
The best reason i could think of for putting one in is the sheer amount of cheap and readily available parts.
I mean you can pick up a miata engine for maybe 600 cash. you can put forged internals on it and TEH TRUBO for $4k and you have 200hp right there. Methinks shitting on the miata engine is not advised :-)
That $4K buys a stock STi engine that makes 300 HP.
Posted by: purple Feb 21 2008, 03:37 PM
and cheap parts for said STI engine are....where exactly?
Just because it's different doesnt mean its wrong guys, keep an open mind. I was just amazed to find something other than a run of the mill subie/v8/f6 conversion. I guess by all the bitching i should have just kept it to myself.
tradition : 1
originality : 0
Posted by: Rand Feb 21 2008, 04:18 PM
It's cool purple. To each his own. And we respect anyone doing their own thing.
My mind is so open, my brain keeps falling out. But I would still have to say, when going through all the work to do a water-cooled transplant, it seems really odd to choose a Miata engine. I mean, it's the same amount of work, so it boils down to comparing the motors head to head: Subaru puts out more power per dollar than the Miata motor AND has lower center of gravity, AND has as good or better aftermarket support for HP performance parts. I can't see any possible argument that would make the Miata a better choice.
But again.... To each his own and I give props to anyone who is doing custom work. I give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he chose that powerplant because he knows it intimately and loves it, he had it, etc.
Posted by: purple Feb 21 2008, 05:50 PM
I thought it was just neat to see something other than a chevy v8 or subie engine back there. I didnt think you could put an inline 4 in that engine bay. I guess I should have assumed since a v8 is two inline 4's at a rudimentary level. What would be neat is if you could fit a bmw straight 6 back there. Another thing that would be neat is a turbo rotary engine from an RX-*
In my opinion, the more different stuff we can put back there, the better. Who cares?
The real problem with the 914 is the transmission anyway! If you could EASILY retrofit a modern cable shifter back there it would make for a much better driving experience. Or at least a NEWER tranny would make things nice, if just for having brand new syncros and a proper H pattern without a dogleg. People look at me funny when I tell them the way the shift pattern works on the 914.
I wish i had new syncros in my tranny. #1 and #2 are both grindy if i'm not slow as hell with the shifts.... lame. in my 07 MINI cooper I can really bang through the gears...
OH, and boosted brakes.
the stopping power of the MINI spoils me for this car
Posted by: purple Feb 21 2008, 05:53 PM
It's also noteworthy to me because if I'd bought a miata for the 3500 i paid for the 914, I'd have a car i could actually drive when I wanted to.
Miatas arent gay either. that shit needs to stop. it's ignorant
Posted by: Brando Feb 21 2008, 05:55 PM
If it fits, is reliable, and doesn't leak oil, what's the problem?
Maybe the person had a scrapped miata lying around and a blown engine in his 914?
Not a bad conversion... Not what I would do, but not a bad conversion.
Posted by: Todd Enlund Feb 21 2008, 07:43 PM
It's also noteworthy to me because if I'd bought a miata for the 3500 i paid for the 914, I'd have a car i could actually drive when I wanted to.
Miatas arent gay either. that shit needs to stop. it's ignorant
I test drove a Miata last week. I liked it. But I didn't fit in it
I won't knock the guy for doing the Miata swap in the Teener, because I don't know his situation. I just don't think that it is anywhere near the best option.
He's driving his 914 and I'm not. I'm looking for an engine.
Posted by: smontanaro Feb 21 2008, 07:52 PM
Oh, puhleeze. I added three smilies and a reference to Seinfeld. What part of my post didn't you understand was a joke?
Skip
Posted by: Brando Feb 21 2008, 07:54 PM
Seinfeld isn't funny... that's probably why. 
Skip
Posted by: purple Feb 21 2008, 11:32 PM
Seinfeld isn't funny... that's probably why.
Skip
correct!
Larry David is funny. ever notice how seinfeld (the show) got up it's own butt the last couple years after Larry david left? because seinfeld was doing the writing
like alan alda with mash
i knew it was *supposed* to be a joke, but stereotypes get perpetuated with jokes like that. just sayin...
Posted by: Porcharu Feb 21 2008, 11:38 PM
I thought it was just neat to see something other than a chevy v8 or subie engine back there. I didnt think you could put an inline 4 in that engine bay. I guess I should have assumed since a v8 is two inline 4's at a rudimentary level. What would be neat is if you could fit a bmw straight 6 back there. Another thing that would be neat is a turbo rotary engine from an RX-*
In my opinion, the more different stuff we can put back there, the better. Who cares?
The real problem with the 914 is the transmission anyway! If you could EASILY retrofit a modern cable shifter back there it would make for a much better driving experience. Or at least a NEWER tranny would make things nice, if just for having brand new syncros and a proper H pattern without a dogleg. People look at me funny when I tell them the way the shift pattern works on the 914.
I wish i had new syncros in my tranny. #1 and #2 are both grindy if i'm not slow as hell with the shifts.... lame. in my 07 MINI cooper I can really bang through the gears...
OH, and boosted brakes.
the stopping power of the MINI spoils me for this car
Just watch my thread on swapping the Suby transmission into the 914. The hard part is already done.
Steve
Posted by: Phoenix 914-6GT Feb 21 2008, 11:44 PM
Yeah, but it is the same as saying that a cab is for chicks. It's just something to give someone crap for. A guy pulled up in front of the shop I worked at in a Miata about six years ago. He was really proud of it and the owner of the shop walked out and said, "Isn't that cute." It really did look rather sissy. However, the Miata at our local AX that has over 300hp and kicks my ass every time I just hate because it is allowed to be in the same class as a car with 100hp and is 30 years older
Posted by: So.Cal.914 Feb 22 2008, 12:13 AM
Seinfeld isn't funny... that's probably why.
Skip
correct!
Larry David is funny. ever notice how seinfeld (the show) got up it's own butt the last couple years after Larry david left? because seinfeld was doing the writing
like alan alda with mash
i knew it was *supposed* to be a joke, but stereotypes get perpetuated with jokes like that. just sayin...
Gay? Naaaaah...
Posted by: boxstr Feb 22 2008, 12:24 AM
Personally I don't care what anyone thinks about Miatas I like this car and it is fun to drive. 30 miles to the gallon on reg. gas, heater works great, brakes are power assisted, power steering,and
NO RUST.
CCL
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Posted by: Phoenix 914-6GT Feb 22 2008, 12:29 AM
That body style is much better than the earlier. I absolutley hated the first generation body style. Looked like a bar of soap. A guy up here in the NW has an MX-5 body style with 285s all the way around. He is very tough to beat. Thank God he's not in my class.
Posted by: So.Cal.914 Feb 22 2008, 12:53 AM
ooooop's 
Posted by: sean_v8_914 Feb 22 2008, 11:07 AM
the most common engine swaps are just that for a reason. it is not driven by pride or taste. it is size, available parts and function. the american v8 is cheap. many available HP parts. chevy is prefered because its shorter than a ford. it fits easy and produces tons of power for pennies on the Porsche dollar. the suby fits well and has very low CG. it too produces tons of power and is easy to fit. there are many JDM drop in suby options. Miata engine is tall and long. it requires internal mods to handle power adders. conversion parts are not readily avail. I would not consider putting an engine in a given car just because few others have done it. if you want to be different put a twin turbo deisel in a Yugo. if you want a higher power 914 that handles well go suby or 914/6. I respect those who get it done even if its not my cup o tea but dont just be another blah blah. build something and call it your own.
Posted by: purple Feb 22 2008, 11:12 AM
engine swaps are nice and all, but i'm so unhappy about the state of affairs at the FLAPS these days. it seems like a majority of them are staffed by shadetree flunkies that look at you funny if you need a VW beetle part (since our engines are somewhat similar) or sync snails or whatever. if you have a stupid chevy v8 you're covered. ANYTHING ELSE and you're f***ed. god i hate auto parts stores more for every wasted trip to the jungle of snake oil parts for chevy v8's like chrome f'n valve covers, chrome throttle body spacers, billet turned gauge rings, or some other stupid crap. wtf happened? where are the actual USEFUL parts for cars these days? all I see is a bunch of rice-a-roni
sheesh, i'm pissy all of a sudden
Posted by: Ferg Feb 22 2008, 01:23 PM
Personally I don't care what anyone thinks about Miatas I like this car and it is fun to drive. 30 miles to the gallon on reg. gas, heater works great, brakes are power assisted, power steering,and
NO RUST.
CCL
Yeah, what Mr. Bahama said
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Posted by: So.Cal.914 Feb 22 2008, 02:16 PM
Aaaah now Ferg, you know better...
Posted by: Ferg Feb 22 2008, 03:20 PM
I was waiting for it 
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