Engine Performance This section is for discussion on all engine building related questions.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: KPower

K series Miata swap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-21-2013, 10:36 AM
  #121  
Supporting Vendor
 
KMiata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 635
Total Cats: 322
Default

I can tell everyone this much. In order to do this swap, you will need:

Adapter plate
Flywheel
custom crossmember with mounts
header
wiring harness (or DIY it)

Then you will need:
A motor
S2000 manifold
Kpro (price just dropped to $700)
A fuel setup

Then you may need other bits depending on what you want to do with the car, such as an upgraded clutch, oil pan baffle, upgraded radiator (although stock will work). Just depends how serious you want to get with it.

So going to be cheap? Not by some people's standards. Going to be cheaper than a V8 swap? Yes, probably by half. Going to be cheaper than a reliable track-oriented turbo setup? I would imagine so. (I've never built a turbo Miata setup though).

That's why we finally decided to make this happen. Its a great option to add a lot of reliable power for a fair cost (whatever that is, lol).
KMiata is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 10:39 AM
  #122  
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
18psi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,481
Default

That sounds fair. My guess is 10k.
18psi is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 10:41 AM
  #123  
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
imarcr2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 63
Total Cats: -2
Default

Looking forward to seeing the exhaust on the "wrong" side for a Miata....will cause my brain to hurt after looking in Miata engine bays for the past 15+ years
imarcr2 is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 10:44 AM
  #124  
Supporting Vendor
 
KMiata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 635
Total Cats: 322
Default

Originally Posted by 18psi
That sounds fair. My guess is 10k.
That's a safe bet, and similar to a good FF Honda K swap.

If you are resourceful I bet it could get done for closer to 7-8k depending on a lot of factors and part choices.
KMiata is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 11:41 AM
  #125  
Junior Member
 
natedawg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 167
Total Cats: 2
Default

Originally Posted by magicdc2
Yes, I 100% agree that everyone has a different idea of affordable.
It will be affordable as compared to other options for this power with road racing reliability. Let us get the car running first, because I don't have a good answer to this question.
Ill be first in line. I could use a winter project.

Can't wait to see this out at gingerman. Think it will it be ready for may wangfest?
natedawg is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 11:43 AM
  #126  
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Braineack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
Default

Originally Posted by imarcr2
Looking forward to seeing the exhaust on the "wrong" side for a Miata....will cause my brain to hurt after looking in Miata engine bays for the past 15+ years
Ever looked at an NC in the last 7 years?
Braineack is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 12:25 PM
  #127  
Supporting Vendor
 
KMiata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 635
Total Cats: 322
Default

Originally Posted by natedawg
Ill be first in line. I could use a winter project.

Can't wait to see this out at gingerman. Think it will it be ready for may wangfest?
Yeah, thats the plan. Memorial Day Wangfest is our goal, but we hope to take if out at least once before.
KMiata is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 12:35 PM
  #128  
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
 
flier129's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Statesville, NC
Posts: 2,738
Total Cats: 319
Default

Austin, I can't believe you're using a 10AE chassis for this swap. HOW DARE YOU RUIN SUCH A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF A STOCK MIATA!!!!1!!ONE!

As I told you before, I'm anxious to see you guys build this. Especially if you guys can get it all sorted to a full retail swap-kit.
flier129 is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 12:37 PM
  #129  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Leafy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NH
Posts: 9,479
Total Cats: 104
Default

Originally Posted by flier129
Austin, I can't believe you're using a 10AE chassis for this swap. HOW DARE YOU RUIN SUCH A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF A STOCK MIATA!!!!1!!ONE!
lol, Read the caption under the first picture.
Leafy is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 01:11 PM
  #130  
Supporting Vendor
 
KMiata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 635
Total Cats: 322
Default

K swapping a car isn't exactly ruining it... Plus this chassis has seen better days, great candidate to swap. We are doing this car a favor.
KMiata is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 01:16 PM
  #131  
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
18psi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,481
Default

lol I don't think you get the joke about m.net'ers
18psi is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 01:18 PM
  #132  
Supporting Vendor
 
KMiata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 635
Total Cats: 322
Default

Originally Posted by 18psi
lol I don't think you get the joke about m.net'ers
Ahhhh. Now I do. Sounds like the Type R owners of the Honda world
KMiata is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 01:26 PM
  #133  
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Braineack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
Default

burn all of the BRGs and 93LEs.
Braineack is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 01:43 PM
  #134  
Bannisheded
iTrader: (1)
 
GAMO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 203
Total Cats: 9
Default

Will the K-series swap come with Nardi wood controls for the driver? Brushed aluminium door sills? Clearwater speakers?

Thank you.
GAMO is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 02:11 PM
  #135  
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
 
Fireindc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Taos, New mexico
Posts: 6,606
Total Cats: 566
Default

Originally Posted by magicdc2
I can tell everyone this much. In order to do this swap, you will need:

Adapter plate
Flywheel
custom crossmember with mounts
header
wiring harness (or DIY it)

Then you will need:
A motor
S2000 manifold
Kpro (price just dropped to $700)
A fuel setup
Can someone smarter than I am tell me how this is going to work? Will the engine harness alone be controlled by the K-Pro ? Is there potential to use MS3 to control this thing, or would that be a huge pita? The EMS and wiring part of this swap is the only part that really makes me cringe.

Also in regards to the fuel setup, is the stock return style system not going to work? Or do you need to wire up something custom that the K-pro will control?

I just realized theses questions will undoubtedly be answered in your build thread, so I'll try to be more patient.
Fireindc is online now  
Old 03-21-2013, 02:19 PM
  #136  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Full_Tilt_Boogie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 5,155
Total Cats: 406
Default

K-Pro is a daughter board that goes inside the K series ECU. So you will need the ECU and some kind of harness (Id probably just make one), and you will have to do the ECU modifications to allow the installation of the K-Pro. I think most people get it done at Hondata.

Also, I think you will need an immobilizer and the VIN number associated with it so that you can reprogram the ECU to match the immobilizer. Or maybe you can disable the immobilizer all together. Not really sure.

I think MS3 would work really well for this. They just have VVT on the intake cam. Plus, everything is there to do speed-density with OEM parts, since the K series were still speed density at one point (and I think they mainatined a map sensor even after they went mass airflow).
Attached Thumbnails K series Miata swap-kprov3%255b1%255d.jpg  
Full_Tilt_Boogie is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 05:03 PM
  #137  
Newb
 
toppertee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 39
Total Cats: -14
Default

Originally Posted by magicdc2
good questions, but neither of those options meet our goals.

S2000 is going to be 600 lbs. heavier at race weight, and a clean Miata is about 25% of the cost of a clean S. Miata is going to be a lot cheaper and faster for a K swap. Not to mention the high cost of parts/consumables of the S vs. an NA or NB.

As far as the NC, same problem. Lot higher cost for the car, plus turbo, which is something we are not interested in for road racing at this time.

We've all heard "cheap, fast, reliable, pick two." Well this is our best attempt to pick all three.

2200 lb. with driver, and 230 whp, 190 wtq with 100% OEM Honda engine/reliablility. Thats not going to happen with an S or NC, especially at the price point we are going for.
Game on then!
toppertee is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 05:34 PM
  #138  
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
baron340's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lompoc, CA
Posts: 577
Total Cats: 13
Default

Kpro can disable the immobilizer so you don't have to worry about that. I still think it would be easier to use ms3 and adapt the engine harness rather than have to adapt the harness from the ecu and use Kpro. But maybe there is something I'm missing. The biggest advantage I see about Kpro is that you can fake obd2 readiness codes.
baron340 is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 05:36 PM
  #139  
Supporting Vendor
 
KMiata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 635
Total Cats: 322
Default

Originally Posted by Fireindc
Can someone smarter than I am tell me how this is going to work? Will the engine harness alone be controlled by the K-Pro ? Is there potential to use MS3 to control this thing, or would that be a huge pita? The EMS and wiring part of this swap is the only part that really makes me cringe.

Also in regards to the fuel setup, is the stock return style system not going to work? Or do you need to wire up something custom that the K-pro will control?

I just realized theses questions will undoubtedly be answered in your build thread, so I'll try to be more patient.
For fuel, yes you will need a fuel pressure regulator and some lines. Older Honda chassis are like Miatas with the return fuel system, but the K uses a returnless system. Like an EG, EK, DC swap, you convert the car to returnless. You just need a $150 regulator, some AN lines, and a bigger fuel pump most likely. For our first swap we are using the stock S2000 fual rail and injectors.

For the ECU, yes, a Kpro’d ECU disables the immobilizer, and there is no need to obtain a VIN# to do so. We talked about using MS for this, but that’s not going to be possible for a few reasons. The whole car will run on a Kpro ECU.

FTB – the K has VVT (variable valve timing) on both intake and exhaust cams, but it has VTC only on the intake cam. This allows for continuous VTC cam angle adjustment to optimize power/torque at any point in the power band. It used oil pressure to either advance or retard timing by 25 degrees in either direction. Until VTC existed, tuners were limited to one set cam angle for the entire powerband, such as other DOHC VTEC B series and F series engines. A K engine tuner can set the intake cam advance at any angle at any place on the MAP.

I don’t believe MS is able to control VTC, which is one reason why a K series EMS must be used.
KMiata is offline  
Old 03-21-2013, 05:45 PM
  #140  
Supporting Vendor
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
emilio700's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,325
Total Cats: 2,377
Default

Originally Posted by magicdc2
..FTB – the K has VVT (variable valve timing) on both intake and exhaust cams, but it has VTC only on the intake cam. This allows for continuous VTC cam angle adjustment to optimize power/torque at any point in the power band. It used oil pressure to either advance or retard timing by 25 degrees in either direction. Until VTC existed, tuners were limited to one set cam angle for the entire powerband, such as other DOHC VTEC B series and F series engines. A K engine tuner can set the intake cam advance at any angle at any place on the MAP.

I don’t believe MS is able to control VTC, which is one reason why a K series EMS must be used.
Assuming VTC is just an on/off MAP/RPM table MS3 should do it. The VICS for the 99-00 Miata intake manifold is also just an RPM switch we run off a 1D table but there are extra 2D tables. I assume it's just a simple grounding/5V circuit and not PWM or PID. VVT on two cams also no problem. If we build a K5 it will be with an MS3pro. If VTC is PID then it might be an issues because I think the MS3pro can only run two cam PID's, not three.
__________________


www.facebook.com/SuperMiata

949RACING.COM Home of the 6UL wheel

.31 SNR
emilio700 is offline  


Quick Reply: K series Miata swap



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:51 PM.