I have the option of picking up a wrecked 99 donor for engine, tranny, diff, basically a rolling chassis, minus body.

My question is, are the subframes bolt-in? I know that the 90 doesn't have all the holes for the later bracing, and those I plan on installing myself, but is it at all possible via bolting in the subframes?

 

you may have to fab it up yourself, but look foward to seeing your results...

 

you may be going into uncharted territory, or at least for the purposes of our group of people, and likely most of the miata folks who go online altogether. That said, i bet it could be done, but it might not be easy.

 

Considering these are uni-body cars, good luck getting the body off the '99 "chassis."

Oh, you mean just swapping the sub-frames over? Yeah, that's totally do-able. If you really wanted, you could also bring over the firewal-to-tranny-tunnel gussets from the NB, as those are stouter, although that would require ripping the whole interior apart.

 

Rolling chassis by my definition: Front subframe/arms/wheels/engine/trans mated to rear end/arms/wheels via PPF.

Basically a 'chassis'


Can that entire thing be swapped over? From what I've gathered, the NB's have a different wheelbase. Is that due to the PPF being longer/shorter, because obviously NB 5/6speeds and rear ends have been swapped into NA's, so it's a possibility.

Anyone know anything?

 

a recent "in the shop" picture from FM:



it's a pre NB but I'm not an expert on 1.6/1.8 from that far away.

 

Truenos, the PPF is identical for all years, '90-'05. The wheelbase should also be basically idential. The differential changed in length a skoach in '94, and, consequently, so did the driveshaft. But everything should swap from one Miata to the next, regardless of year. I can't think of anything that wouldn't swap.

 

its a 1.6 its got a CAS

 

OK, I'll ask the stupid question:

Is there anything that requires grinding/welding to accomplish the above? Is everything in the picture bolt-on? Could I pick up my chassis by the roll bar and drop everything shown.

Just a question for clarification, not going to do it.

 

1.6, coils are on driver's side.

on 1.8s the coils are on the passenger side.

 

Right, and also the 1.6L CAS is on the pass. side. Plus, the rear sub-frame doesn't have the extra tabs on the underside of the alignment bolts to attach the brace that showed up in '93 or '93, so it's definitely, without a doubt, '90-'91.

 

olderguy, good one, lol...
i always wanted to pick my car up by the rollbar when i bearly got it
installed, lol...

 

Basically I want what's pictured, except not a 90-91, but in 99 flavor.

I know that the specific bracing that showed up in 92 will need mounting points, and I plan to get those made, but the main question remains. Is that 'frame' bolt-in to the 90 body?

 

Again, which frame? Are you referring to the front and rear sub-frames? If so, then yes, and I already answered this several posts ago.

The PPF, tranny, diff, sub-frames, engine and everything on the '99 car will bolt right up to an earlier car. A few of the braces won't bolt up without the corresponding holes/tabs.

 

It all bolt on. Subframes have only a few bolts each, shocks are bolted of course, and youd have to unhook/cut all wiring and PS/brake lines etc

 

Thank you, that was all the information I needed. Brian and miatanutz, thank you for wasting your time. I feel dumber, yet smarter at the same time.


Muahahahahahhahaaha

 

happens alot around here for some reason :gay:

 

I have a magnetic CAS, what year is mine?

 

The frame is definately 1.6 -- 1.8 M1s have the CAS on the other side.

99's have the pickups... off the crank wheel (To answer Y8S's question).

So to "swap" your body on to another rolling ( PPF connecting both front and back). You'd be looking at:

remove subframes + PPF, Diff, wiring, shock (attachments) etc...
Install back
Grounds....
Any body attachments -- hoses, etc....
Shocks....
Brake stuff,

Depending on year of motor vs. body, you'll have to do wiring, etc..... since stuff won't match up (sensor's etc).

Do-able... but definately time-consuming. <G>

Dave.

 

Sweet.

Now thinking this through, I'm thinking of jacking up the 90, putting it on jackstands, and unbolt the PPF first. (After all the wiring to engine, PPF, all that BS) then, drop the rear subframe, then front, and the reinstalling the 99's subframes in its place. Am I thinking this through properly? I mean it would be kind of hard to roll the 'frame' away with all four wheels attached.