My Miata motor is toast....convert to Diesel? V-8? turbine? Wankel?

[Mr.Kenny]

My daughter was commuting in my lame automatic 91 Miata with 200,000 miles; head gasket blew and motor overheated, i milled head, replaced headgasket and still has very low compression & won't start.
I really dislike the idea of fixing it and having it still be an automatic.
Any Suggestions for realistic daily driver Engine transplant?

Otherwise I am holding out for a used motor with 5 speed.
(The body and paint is great and has new tokico shocks so i don't want to sell it.)

[rscurtis]

I believe there's an outfit that makes a kit to repower that with a 5.0 Ford engine.

[spdrun]

Convert to 5 speed, plz -- some cars are OK with an automatic, but a Miata loses all of its charm with a f*cking slushbox.

However, if you just want to get the car running, why not replace the head gasket after checking the head for warpage and having it milled if needed? Not a hard job -- those cars are childishly simple to work on.

Once fixed, you could add a turbo if/when desired.

[tbomachines]

From the number of swaps going on, you should have absolutely no problem finding a Miata engine to replace it with.

[Mr.Kenny]

Originally Posted by spdrun

Convert to 5 speed, plz -- some cars are OK with an automatic, but a Miata loses all of its charm with a f*cking slushbox.

However, if you just want to get the car running, why not replace the head gasket after checking the head for warpage and having it milled if needed? Not a hard job -- those cars are childishly simple to work on.

Once fixed, you could add a turbo if/when desired.

I had the very warped head milled, because i thought it was just a head gasket job. Nothing looked overheated at all; but alas the rings are collapsed.
Not really childishly simple to work on though.....(an old b2b volvo or willys is simple)

[tjts1]

Better cage that bad boy.

[chasinthesun]

It would be intersting what a mb 2.2 diesel would do its economy ,I owned a 190d with a stick and if it was in frt of a little car like the miata you could play and pay ,just not much at the pump.It would get 50 mpg and steer around like a go - cart.

[The Clk Man]

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

My daughter was commuting in my lame automatic 91 Miata with 200,000 miles; head gasket blew and motor overheated, i milled head, replaced headgasket and still has very low compression & won't start.
I really dislike the idea of fixing it and having it still be an automatic.
Any Suggestions for realistic daily driver Engine transplant?

Otherwise I am holding out for a used motor with 5 speed.
(The body and paint is great and has new tokico shocks so i don't want to sell it.)

That's what you get for buying a girlyman car.

[Edward Wyatt]

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

That's what you get for buying a girlyman car.

What in the he!! does this biased and derogatory comment have to do with the serious question posed by the OP? Adding a smiley face doesn't make it ok or funny. I'm tired of the stereotype bashing of people based on the cars they drive. This isn't the first time with the girlyman comments, I guess my wife is right when she talks about the inverse proportion of penis size and car size.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by Edward Wyatt

What in the he!! does this biased and derogatory comment have to do with the serious question posed by the OP? Adding a smiley face doesn't make it ok or funny. I'm tired of the stereotype bashing of people based on the cars they drive. This isn't the first time with the girlyman comments, I guess my wife is right when she talks about the inverse proportion of penis size and car size.

It may have been meant in jest -- anyone who's actually driven a Miata knows that they kick a$$ despite their reputation. Not to mention easily lasting 250k+ miles.

[Edward Wyatt]

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

My daughter was commuting in my lame automatic 91 Miata with 200,000 miles; head gasket blew and motor overheated, i milled head, replaced headgasket and still has very low compression & won't start.
I really dislike the idea of fixing it and having it still be an automatic.
Any Suggestions for realistic daily driver Engine transplant?

Otherwise I am holding out for a used motor with 5 speed.
(The body and paint is great and has new tokico shocks so i don't want to sell it.)

You could always throw a set of rod bearings and rings in it. That what all the used car guys used to do when they bought an overheated Mazda/Honda/Toyota. Seemed to work out pretty well for short money.

Make sure you use a ridge reamer if you go this route, or else the new rings will snap in short order.

[Edward Wyatt]

Originally Posted by spdrun

It may have been meant in jest -- anyone who's actually driven a Miata knows that they kick a$$ despite their reputation. Not to mention easily lasting 250k+ miles.

Very true about Mazda quality.

This isn't the first time with the girlyman comments from the non MB driving poster however, so I am starting to think it's a not a joke.

[ramonajim]

Originally Posted by Edward Wyatt

Very true about Mazda quality.

This isn't the first time with the girlyman comments from the non MB driving poster however, so I am starting to think it's a not a joke.

Oh c'mon - it was CLKMan. EVERYTHING he says is a joke!

~said in the most supportive, loving way possible friend~

[ramonajim]

Mr. Kenny - if you're interested in a used yada motor (ready to drop in or ready to build), let me know. Got good buds who are in the biz (spec racers who fund their addiction buying, dismantling, and selling Miata bits), can hook you up.

A motor + 5 speed tranny can be sourced most easily. Is a pretty dang simple drop in.

[SwampYankee]

5.0L kits at Monster Miata. Kinda like an everyman's Cobra.

Me want!