Miata Drivetrain in a SAAB 96
#82
Don't think he has one, but I'll encourage him to start.
Yeah weight is our enemy, but having a modern bellypan+all the stuff to mount suspension/etc stuff to is truly great, so I'd carry over as much as I could get away with.
Besides, an extra couple hundo pounds can always be offset with MOAR BOOST
My dilema is how far to carry it. I've added the firewall to carry all of the pedals, plus grommets for wiring harnesses, etc and the HVAC system if I want. Then I was carrying through the front frame rails to pick up the front subframe mount. THEN I figured, why not keep the stock shock pockets in place? It now appears that I could keep the entire Miata fender UNDER the existing fender. We will see.
I also cut out the entire rear center section of the car that holds the rear subframe and the gas tank. I just have to watch weight. It's easy to add weight when grafting in other parts.
I also cut out the entire rear center section of the car that holds the rear subframe and the gas tank. I just have to watch weight. It's easy to add weight when grafting in other parts.
Besides, an extra couple hundo pounds can always be offset with MOAR BOOST
#83
the thread is started...
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...522#post844522
not a Spitiata... its the spit and shove... named for the raping it will be dealing out...
awesome build so far... i luck out...the spitfire has a frame so bracing doesnt have to be too extensive.
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...522#post844522
not a Spitiata... its the spit and shove... named for the raping it will be dealing out...
awesome build so far... i luck out...the spitfire has a frame so bracing doesnt have to be too extensive.
#84
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My dilema is how far to carry it. I've added the firewall to carry all of the pedals, plus grommets for wiring harnesses, etc and the HVAC system if I want. Then I was carrying through the front frame rails to pick up the front subframe mount. THEN I figured, why not keep the stock shock pockets in place? It now appears that I could keep the entire Miata fender UNDER the existing fender. We will see.
I also cut out the entire rear center section of the car that holds the rear subframe and the gas tank. I just have to watch weight. It's easy to add weight when grafting in other parts.
I also cut out the entire rear center section of the car that holds the rear subframe and the gas tank. I just have to watch weight. It's easy to add weight when grafting in other parts.
What are the prospects of doing a body swap on the miata? You've seen pictures of naked miatas before:
It seems (from my limited ability to see your project up close) that just popping the bodies off both cars, trimming the miata's extremeties, and slapping the Saab back down onto the miata chassis would be ... logistically possible?
#94
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Buying a new toy today at lunch! I've always wanted a plasma cutter and this project justifies one. On top of that I stopped at my local Linweld shop for some .023" wire for my welder yesterday and they were having an open house. Hypertherm is the best brand out there for plasma cutters but they were always $1,400 and sometimes $1250 on ebay. They have them on the open house for $1,033 and included a $180 air filtration system for free. Picking one up today. They had the Thermal Dynamics unit for $872 but the Hypertherm is the best unit and you can drag the tip. Helpful when working in a cramped area. I'm very happy.
#97
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Got to play with my new plasma cutter tonight. The question is: How did I get along without one for so long? This thing is awesome! More rust than metal? Cuts right through it. Undercoating? Like it isn't even there. I even had some 1/8" thick tar paper sound deadening sheet inside of the car on the fenders. Strike the arc and cut through it even with the tar paper on the inside of the cut. I was worried that it would need clean metal. Chuck Testa.
I haven't cut anything thick yet. The guy said it would be a rough cut but it can do 3/4" thick. It's rated for 3/8" on a fine cut.
I got the floor pan into position and measured out where I need to cut for the front subframe rails. I laid it out with a sharpie. Then measured again. Then drank a beer looking at it and measured again. I get one shot at cutting this so I decided to wait until tomorrow.
I haven't cut anything thick yet. The guy said it would be a rough cut but it can do 3/4" thick. It's rated for 3/8" on a fine cut.
I got the floor pan into position and measured out where I need to cut for the front subframe rails. I laid it out with a sharpie. Then measured again. Then drank a beer looking at it and measured again. I get one shot at cutting this so I decided to wait until tomorrow.
#99
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Got a bit more done today.
Marked out where I need to cut the unibody/fender liners to fit with the floor in the location needed to position the front wheel in the middle of the fender as well as lowering the car from 4x4 ride height.
Cut away the offending metal.
One side of the front subframe mount tacked into place. After I tack in the second one I'll bolt in the subframe. It takes eight bolts in widely spaced locations to bolt it in place so that will help locate everything for final welding. Depending on how the weekend goes the motor/trans may be in place by Sunday night, at least for a test fit. Everything is lining up really well.
Marked out where I need to cut the unibody/fender liners to fit with the floor in the location needed to position the front wheel in the middle of the fender as well as lowering the car from 4x4 ride height.
Cut away the offending metal.
One side of the front subframe mount tacked into place. After I tack in the second one I'll bolt in the subframe. It takes eight bolts in widely spaced locations to bolt it in place so that will help locate everything for final welding. Depending on how the weekend goes the motor/trans may be in place by Sunday night, at least for a test fit. Everything is lining up really well.