oldschool

Hi to all again from sunny South Africa

I am in desperate need of MT.net members' help!

I have been an avid member on this forum for a while now, and although still busy with turbo(euro spec 1.6)1999 miata project, my sitaution and circumstances have changed somewhat and have to get a new DD...

I in the mean time i have acquired an extra accident damaged 2004 miata with the BP 1.8 as a parts car for the 3 miatas in the family.

I will never sell the turbo miata as its a weekend car but have to sell my ford truck due to new found money pitt called (WIFE TO BE) and bought a small russian built "LADA NIVA"(no comments on this as I lost all my dignity allready..be gentle)

I have decided to ditch the low budget fiat engine copy POS and smack the BP miata engine in it, however i kept the six speed for my turbo miata project, so the BP in the russian will be hosting a 5 speed.

My problem is this, I am still using the 3.9 diff in the russian, 215/75/15 tire, and the stock russian speedo cluster which is cable driven, and from what i gathered if my maths serve me correct i need about a 17 tooth speedo drive unit for the gearbox?

The speedo drive I have at the moment is an electronic one and wont work?

I have gathered that the closest speedo drive that will fit is the one of 1984 rx 7 however being from AFRICA, which at that time used carts dragged by an ***, or ox there is no chance of me getting the speedo sender over here?

Can someone please point me to somewhere where i can get ANY speedo drive that will fit in the 5 speed which is mechanical with 17 or 18 teeth (3.9 diff ratio)?

I have searched for weeks with no luck!

oldschool

Hope the pictures show..its one with engine fitment being done...and the other is the stripped version of the car in its finished painted colour.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Wow. That is one of the most unique places I have ever seen a BP engine.

I assume you're already familiar with the drivetrain interchange guide at SoloMiata. Sounds like you're looking for the right part, but I'm sorry to say that I don't have any lying around.

oldschool

Yes thank you.

It is where I gathered my info regarding the speedo sender unit..like I said if my Maths are correct (which is qeustionable) i think the 17tooth will be as close a standard or oem part Im gonna get...from which i gather came from the 1984 rx7...or even a 18tooth from a b2200 truck..

I would very much appreciate any direction or link as to where I can find one of these units....

Another problem with this bastardly build is the temp sender unit on miata engine and that of the original engine differ in thread size...miata m12x1,5 and Lada with m16x1,5...

I have to find a temp sender unit that has the same ihm and volt measurements as that of the lada but wil fitt the miata thread as not f*%* up the temp readings on the instrument cluster...

ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED

please excuse bad english as its not my mother tongue or first language.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Unfortunately, I don't have the electrical specifications for the temp sensor in a Russian SUV handy, however I can think of a possible alternative.

Here in the states, it's relatively easy to find metal adapters which are spliced in-line with a rubber hose, and provide a place to install a temperature sensor. Here is an example of one: Auto Meter

You may be able to either purchase or fabricate something similar to this, which will allow the Lada temperature sensor to be installed inline with the heater hose, between the engine and the heater core.

oldschool

Thanks Mr Perez

I will have a look into that as an alternative..here are the temp sender specs of the vodka bottle as I call it..
specifications of the temp sensor on the lada is this..

Coolant temperature sender specification
Temperature, Supply voltage, Resistance,
C volts Ohm
30 8.1 350-1880
50 7.6 585-820
70 6.85 280-390
90 5.8 155-196
110 4.7 87-109

but the thread is wrong needs to have the same values but m12x1,5 thread

I am in the process of a coolant reroute and the spacer is being fabbed at my father in laws shop so its a bit of sticky and potentially messy situation for me to tell him at the end of fabbibg that some of the holes is the wrong size in the spacer...I then look like a retard...so id rather see if I could find a different sensor which has more or less the same values...

Still open for direction on my speedo sendor unit please guys, I cant believe that there is not a single place in the US or rather on the net that has stock, neither can it supply me with some kind of replacement part on the 84 rx 7 (17 tooth) speedo sender unit?

oldschool

I have figured thus far that the cts from the miata will be off between 2 - 35 ohms on the operating temps from that of the Lada cts...which i think is not that far fetched and will therefor work just fine...

I hope so.

However I would still hugely appreciate any help in getting a mechanical speedo drive for the 1984 rx 7 (17 tooth) or second best the (18 tooth) from the Mazda B series pickups also mid 80s models.... to fit in my frankestein build...

The stock Lada SUV reach 60mph in or around 18,5 secs, thinking the BP will push it to 60 in or around 10 - 11 sec...should be better with A/C and electric windows, Im rather excited with the progress on the little comunist vodka bottle!

NiklasFalk

iTrader: (1)

The Niva is one of the better things from that factory, a really capable no-frills 4x4.
OEM spare parts are really cheap.

oldschool

I agree on the vehicle however it is famous for not being a reliable drivetrain....so i think by getting the miata engine in with a nice standalone..reliablilty will be the order of the day...just to find the right mazda parts to go with it...desperately need the speedo sender unit!

Zaphod

This is soooo cool!

As a former G.D.R. (Kids go google it) member I am quite used to the unique Lada Niva. Great cars, no power, thursty as hell...

@oldschool - why don't you put in a Miata gauge cluster, spares you of all the other problems...

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Wow this is really cool. I would try emailing Bill at miata roadster to see if he'd ship out to you, pretty sure he has or can get the speedo sender you need.

oldschool

Thanks for all the support guys...

I am really excited about the build as well...regarding the stock miata cluster, i can for arguments sake put it in, but I really like the "oldschool" look and feel of the inside of the car!

I would just appreciate the added ponies and the A/c....therefore I require the Speedo drive, it woul also require a rather extensive amount of electrical work to be done and keeping the stock PnP cluster and switches and making the gearbox drive mechanical seem alot less hassle!

I would appreciate any help in getting the above mentioned speedo drives guys!

Zaphod

Will you be keeping the AWD?

Also we do need more pics!

oldschool

I ditched the AWD although pondering putting it back...I did putt a air locker at the back, and will mostly be using it as a DD, but should be able to tow my excuse for a bass boat or quad bike, and maybe a trailer in hunting season....In my home language we call it "Dans, kerk en werk" meaning fun enough to for going dancing, nice enough to drive to church, and reliable enough to go to work!

The miata is just a toy and also the reason along with $$$$ for not being finished yet...although I am forged allready engine is built, just need a police clearance on my car before doing some final painting touches and assembly...

In South Africa, the current corrupt and genocide driven goverment has banned all places where you were normally allowed and normally used 4x4, like the beaches and fishing hotspots...so you have nowhere to take or use 4x4 anymore and since whe pay US $ 5,48 a gallon for fuel I didnt see the use of keeping it...

Funny thing is that we were the first country in the world creating mogas from coal, and whe even mine tons of the **** here, yet we are not able to keep fuel prices stable to sustain a shitty goverment? Funniest of all we export fuel to the rest of the southern tip of Africe, ie we SELL them OUR gas and yet if you drive there and do the currency change after paying for the gas you end up paying only 75% of what you pay for the same product in South Africa!

I really laugh when they feed the rest of the world this propaganda about how South Africa has changed, this poor country which was so opressed by the previous goverment and are now blossoming and everybody is farting lavender!

They forget to mention that...we have the Highest murder % in the world,
the goverment is repossesing land exactly like in zimbabwe and nothing is done about it..
8 - 10 ratially motivated farm murders very week...and motivated OPENLY by goverment officials on national television...
They forget to mention we are on the HIGH PRIORITY WATCH LIST of UNITED NATIONS for GENOCIDE!

just some info ...here some more pics of the lada!

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

I wonder how good they are at technology. Hope that post didn't get you put on the "political dissidents to kill list".

oldschool

some phots of the build so far...

oldschool

I am lawyer by trade thats how Im clued up on this **** so much...

regarding the to kill list...our president openly anounced on television and to the INTERNATIONAL media on a charge of rape! that hes not worried about aids because after the incedident he took a cold shower thus preventing him from getting the virus...

so computer literacy is a bit much asked

So I reckon im ok...

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Ah he used the wrong preventative measure, you're supposed to towel off the unit with a brand new white terry cloth towel and then throw it in the fire place in your master bedroom while burning hardwood. That method is also an effective contraceptive. As proven by Hugh Hefner.

oldschool

nice...

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

The funny thing is that, after reading the previous message were you were pointing out how shitty things are under the current government, I was going to say "Well, at least Botswana still has a higher rate of AIDS than you guys."

(For those who don't know, almost 25% of the adult population of Botswana, which is a neighboring country to South Africa, has AIDS. Seriously, one in four.)