Two stroke Miata (Team Idiotarod) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

spdrun · #1 10-26-2013, 09:21 PM

Title speaks for itself... I want one of them things, hot-pink cylinder head and ALL!

LeMons Good/Bad Idea of the Week: Two-Stroke Miata! | Car and Driver Blog

Mölyapina · #2 10-26-2013, 10:50 PM

Hot pink cylinder head? The nice men with the white jacket are on their way...

Mölyapina · #3 10-26-2013, 10:53 PM

Holy cow -- just read the article -- wow! Wonder how it would do as a DD?

t walgamuth · #4 10-27-2013, 05:50 AM

Cool! I have to disagree though with the statement that the Miata engine and tranny weighs anything near 800#. The engine is about 350, the tranny no more than 60. If they saved 1200# they took out a lot more than the engine and tranny. I believe the car with that setup could weigh 1300 though that would be tough to do. I have seen a Miata stripped out with its original power that supposedly weighed 1600# over on the Miata forum.

TwitchKitty · #5 10-27-2013, 09:59 AM

I love the pull starter. Two stroke direct injected engines are pretty amazing. Don't know if the one is the Miata is DI.

Miatas get mentioned here on a regular basis so I am guessing we have some people with Mazda experience.

I just bought a 1988 323 with a 1.6L engine and a five-speed. Can't explain why but it happened. Maybe cause it runs like a scalded ape. This thing is like a roller skate with a race car motor.

I will probably put a timing belt on it and tensioners, seals, water pump. What else goes with that job? Any good sources of parts or a Mazda forum?

The shifter could be a lot tighter.

The Clk Man · #6 10-27-2013, 10:31 AM

Idiotarod has the word Idiot in it.

t walgamuth · #7 10-27-2013, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

I love the pull starter. Two stroke direct injected engines are pretty amazing. Don't know if the one is the Miata is DI.

Miatas get mentioned here on a regular basis so I am guessing we have some people with Mazda experience.

I just bought a 1988 323 with a 1.6L engine and a five-speed. Can't explain why but it happened. Maybe cause it runs like a scalded ape. This thing is like a roller skate with a race car motor.

I will probably put a timing belt on it and tensioners, seals, water pump. What else goes with that job? Any good sources of parts or a Mazda forum?

The shifter could be a lot tighter.

There may be bushings that can be replaced.

ramonajim · #8 10-27-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

There may be bushings that can be replaced.

That's the same 1.6 that went into the NA Miata's, isn't it?

If so (and even if not, probably same on other Mazda 1.6 variants), you should consider the front main and camshaft seals as well.

Also - you'll want a new crankshaft bolt. Early Miata 1.6's have a history of the bolts being stretched by overzealous mechanics when earlier TB replacements are done, resulting in the dreaded Short Nose Crank failure (search for that at Miata.net if you want to learn more).

t walgamuth · #9 10-27-2013, 11:39 AM

It is basically the same engine I imagine. Different details on various stuff.

TwitchKitty · #10 10-27-2013, 03:42 PM

Miata Crankshafts

Thanks this is a good start.

Mazda 323 BF (1986-1989))

spdrun · #11 10-27-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Cool! I have to disagree though with the statement that the Miata engine and tranny weighs anything near 800#. The engine is about 350, the tranny no more than 60. If they saved 1200# they took out a lot more than the engine and tranny. I believe the car with that setup could weigh 1300 though that would be tough to do. I have seen a Miata stripped out with its original power that supposedly weighed 1600# over on the Miata forum.

NA Miata was more like 2200-2250 lb, so they're only going down 900-950 lb. I do still find 1300 lb hard to believe since they also had to add a rollcage.

t walgamuth · #12 10-27-2013, 04:05 PM

Looking at the picture, clearly there is a lot missing from what was once a Miata!

You're right on the stock weight. I had brainfarted and was thinking 2500.

4x4_Welder · #13 10-28-2013, 01:18 AM

The pink cylinder head is OE Polaris, they used a lot of pink. That particular setup was three Mikuni carbs, look to be 34s, but later versions used a rudimentary EFI setup. No battery, no starter, but fairly reliable if you could pull them over far enough. They needed about three revolutions in a row to actually start. That actually looks like an awesome setup, I nearly put an A/C 500 twin on my Honda MT250 chassis. I may throw it on my Yamaha DT400 if I can't find a good jug for it-

cmac2012 · #14 10-28-2013, 04:22 PM

First I'd heard of the 24 Hours of LeMons. Pretty wild. I saw mention of an E30 325i with a Chrysler slant 6 installed. Oh man. Not completely nutty, the E30 chassis is good, the slant 6 has almost 3.7 liters and is reliable as hell - cheap too, no doubt, not that I've looked into buying one. I had a Dodge van once that had one. Good van but had electronic gremlins.

LeMons Good/Bad Idea of the Week: E30 BMW 325i With Chrysler Slant-Six Power | Car and Driver Blog

t walgamuth · #15 10-28-2013, 05:29 PM

I bet that slant six is at least 100# heavier than the biggest bmw engine available that year!