I finally have the engine positioned where I want it. The front mount is welded on and I have bushings to make the new right-side mount that was cut off. I'm also modifying the strut mount to move the strut out a touch. The tube going upward from the mount will be replaced with one that runs more horizontal before it bends down to the mount. This allows me the room to fit both mufflers at matched heights. I will now be able to run the dual GSX-R exhaust. The front bank fires out the right muffler and the rear bank out the left. I don't think I can manage equal lenght pipes but I'll try. I'm dying to hear what it'll sound like.

 

Yesterday I traced the engine/ECU harness and located everything needed to run the engine. I might have it fired up later today if I can find a fuel pump laying around.

Does anyone know of an OEM pump that can be used outside the tank with hoses?

 

I've run one outside of a car as a water pump but my thoughts were that outside of a fuel tank the pump would be at a high risk of rusting in an auto app. The begi aux pump for example has a plastic(?) coating and oem is just anodized.

 

I can always paint it.

I'm still searching for a cheap inline pump for testing but in the end it'll be in the tank. The '88ish BMW 325i uses one. Not sure how well it'll work though.

The shifter is finished... finally. The one that was in it was a joke. I used the shift lever and socket from a Protege and cut it off the Protege brackets and made my own. It's now a 'universal' bolt-on shifter. The throw seems a touch long but I'll have to put some drive time on it and see how I like it. Easy enough to fix later.

I'll record a video of it's first time starting. I hope all goes well.

 

Thanks. I think I'm underestimating it. 0-60 just calculated out at 3.09sec

 

Assuming traction of course lol. On a 9K rpm KL, you'd have a lot of second gear left too! (626 trans right?)

For added high-speed stupidity you could add aero-friendly bumper (custom, CRX, Miata) fenders, sideskirts & even roof or undertray for highway supercar/bike kills...

Less than 3 pounds per WHP = Fast as F#CK!

 

Last Monday I passed a similar vehicle on the way to the cottage the driver seemed to like my seadoo. He promptly roared up beside me pointed at it, gave me a thumbs up and zipped away, very quickly. His sounded like a v8 but I couldn't really see and it was a rear transverse mount so it would likely be a caddy v8 if it was.

I've been working on a rear/mid engine kit car design with a buddy for years and we've never decided on a power plant, maybe some vids (and detailed pics) would sway things?

 

The donor 626 had an automatic. I bought a junkyard manual from the Probe GT because it offered a lower final drive ratio of 4.388. First is 3.307. 14.5:1 total with 160 at the crank puts 2320 on the tires. I think it'll hook up fine since there's nothing much to resist acceleration. I have a set of 295/50/15s for the rear also. They stick.
I don't want high speeds. If it'll do 75mph I'll be happy. I do want gut wrenching hill climbing torque though.

The KL has incredible potential for making -serious- horsepower. Aluminum block but a 2-piece design with 4-bolt 'mains'. Light and powerfull that's for sure. I'll get vids once it's up and running. I'd love to do an boosted KL based Atom some day. -drool-

 

Engine runs! First shot! woot woot -rejoyce-

I have to finish the rear a-arms (almost complete), strut mounts, exhaust, button up the wiring, correctly mount the fuel pump, and put the seats back in and it'll be good to drive.

 

Vehicle wiring completed. Started on exhaust. Radiator is mocked up but I still have to wire in the relays. I measured a Miata radiator and it'll fit and mount better then what I have in there now. Maybe a nice aluminum aftermarket Miata radiator would work ok.

Anyone have a Miata radiator forsale?

 

In for wheelie videos!

 

In for a simple strong RWD KLDE trans solution that will fit in a miata. I know I won't get it here but whatever.

 

He installed it. It's the fwd trans, driving the rear wheels and pushing 1,000 lbs. less.

 

Yeah I know, it's a sand rail. I want one in my miata and want someone smart to figure it out for me.

 

Ahhh- you want a longitudinal front engine rwd transmission solution.

 

Use a vitara 2.5 and 2wd trans and live with truck gears? Wasn't there a limited run ice racing miata that had a kl or was it some 3L v6 (not to mention awd)?

I too would like this. If mazda had put a klze or dare I say it a tuned up klze in the miata it would have certainly drawn the people who buy Porsche's for their performance.

(...now back to our regularly scheduled thread...)

I'm ready for vids, especially exh growl!

 

Depends on if it would be strong enough for a bunch of power. If you run one of the typical V8 conversion rear end setups you could probably find a rear end ratio that would work with the truck trans gears as long as the trans won't explode with a couple turbos worth of boost on there.

Yahhh back to laser and some fuking sweet music please.

 

I haven't done too much to it yesterday or today. Just trying to get wiring out of my way and the rear suspension tacked in straight. I wish I had some sort of square frame rack to bolt this too. All I can go off is the frame rails which I'm only assuming to be straight.

Tim, I heard the RX7 trans has been mated to a K series in the past. I'm pretty sure it was with an adaptor plate. I -almost- grabbed an RX7 trans from the yard last week just to see how it would line up to the K. Adaptor plates aren't that hard to make and I'm in good with a shop that could jet one from aluminum if I made cad drawings of both the K, B, or 13b bell housings.

Here's some KL Miatas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toughTZ9PIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocQ_R5MO7Vc&feature=fvw

 

The problem I have with adapters is how do you get a clutch to work? space out the flywheel the same amount as the adapter plate? Do you use a flywheel from teh engine or from the trans? Etc. it's probably simple. I made a cad layout of the BP and have the same info emailed to me somewhere on the KL, but the clutch issue I dunno about.

EDIT: he said in his video he uses an RX7 bellhousing & flywheel with the miata trans. Should be able to use the entire RX trans then. Sounds beautiful. I can't wait to hear yours!

 

Since we all seem to be like minded on the subject, some light reading:

KL MIATA BUILD 1

KL MIATA BUILD 1.1 (pics of kl to 13b adapter here)

KL MIATA BUILD 2

I'd like a way to still use my new 6 speed please, if there is to be an adapter made. I'm sure starter location forbids this though .