Exocet Build Advice
#1
Exocet Build Advice
So, I have decided to build an Exocet and I was just wondering if any of you old dirty goats have any good advice? I have already started gutting the donor and I have been watching videos but I want to make sure I keep everything that I need to keep. Also, act as though you are replying to someone who knows absolutely nothing about this or working on cars.... because i dont haha. First project
#2
If you know nothing about working on cars and want to take this on as a journey to learn then that's great! Keep in mind that though there is a helpful community of owners / builders, there will be many long hours alone in your garage struggling to figure wiring / ect out yourself. More than a few have given up half way through and resold their project as at a loss.
If you prefer driving to wrenching and learning to build a car from the ground up isn't on your bucket lists, I would just sell your part out for cash and look into buying someone's finished project. I would also stay away from "almost running" projects if you have little experience.
GL !
If you prefer driving to wrenching and learning to build a car from the ground up isn't on your bucket lists, I would just sell your part out for cash and look into buying someone's finished project. I would also stay away from "almost running" projects if you have little experience.
GL !
#3
Moderator
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
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Look for the Exocet build thread from Garman on this forum. He did it by himself in his garage and can tell you things none of the rest of us would know. His came out well.
Where are you located? I see a California tag.
@Garman
Where are you located? I see a California tag.
@Garman
#4
If you know nothing about working on cars and want to take this on as a journey to learn then that's great! Keep in mind that though there is a helpful community of owners / builders, there will be many long hours alone in your garage struggling to figure wiring / ect out yourself. More than a few have given up half way through and resold their project as at a loss.
If you prefer driving to wrenching and learning to build a car from the ground up isn't on your bucket lists, I would just sell your part out for cash and look into buying someone's finished project. I would also stay away from "almost running" projects if you have little experience.
GL !
If you prefer driving to wrenching and learning to build a car from the ground up isn't on your bucket lists, I would just sell your part out for cash and look into buying someone's finished project. I would also stay away from "almost running" projects if you have little experience.
GL !
#6
The wiring is not so bad; there are complete chassis diagrams, by year, online, and you just focus on the section you need, like what wire hot's up the fuel pump, etc., find the color, and label it. I was not looking forward to doing it during my LFX swap last Winter, but during the months in advance of the build, I'd look up the various sub-sets of the harness, made a list of what circuits I needed to tap into, and which ones were going to be deleted, and it started to become easier to see. It same together and fired up without any issues. You'v already got the mechanic's methodical approach to tear down and re-build, so you'll pick it up fast, and have also been around lots of first rate wiring technique from your day job to know how to isolate, shrink wrap, etc. Press on!
#7
Two things I wish I would have known before my build...
1) skip the miata engine and go straight to a honda k series or camaro LFX engine. Great swap kits are available for both.
2) screw using a donor car, way more work than it is worth. Just buy what you need used or new as you need very little off of a miata for either of the swaps mentioned above
1) skip the miata engine and go straight to a honda k series or camaro LFX engine. Great swap kits are available for both.
2) screw using a donor car, way more work than it is worth. Just buy what you need used or new as you need very little off of a miata for either of the swaps mentioned above
#8
Two things I wish I would have known before my build...
1) skip the miata engine and go straight to a honda k series or camaro LFX engine. Great swap kits are available for both.
2) screw using a donor car, way more work than it is worth. Just buy what you need used or new as you need very little off of a miata for either of the swaps mentioned above
1) skip the miata engine and go straight to a honda k series or camaro LFX engine. Great swap kits are available for both.
2) screw using a donor car, way more work than it is worth. Just buy what you need used or new as you need very little off of a miata for either of the swaps mentioned above
#11
The only oem miata parts left on my car after the lfx swap are below and even then, most of this can be replaced with new or improved aftermarket items.
diff and axles (going away soon though)
rear subframe
gas tank
front control arms
steering rack and column
brake booster and master brake cylinder
Everything else was bought as a new upgraded aftermarket version or just removed.
diff and axles (going away soon though)
rear subframe
gas tank
front control arms
steering rack and column
brake booster and master brake cylinder
Everything else was bought as a new upgraded aftermarket version or just removed.
#12
The only oem miata parts left on my car after the lfx swap are below and even then, most of this can be replaced with new or improved aftermarket items.
diff and axles (going away soon though)
rear subframe
gas tank
front control arms
steering rack and column
brake booster and master brake cylinder
Everything else was bought as a new upgraded aftermarket version or just removed.
diff and axles (going away soon though)
rear subframe
gas tank
front control arms
steering rack and column
brake booster and master brake cylinder
Everything else was bought as a new upgraded aftermarket version or just removed.
#13
I think I could recreate my car for about $30k in parts with me doing all the fab and labor. Buy a decent tig welder and do all your own fabrication. It will save you thousands and you'll learn how to weld for free.
$10k - powder coated exocet chassis w/ delivery
$10k - drive train and everything engine related
$10k - everything else
$10k - powder coated exocet chassis w/ delivery
$10k - drive train and everything engine related
$10k - everything else
#20
mkturbo.com
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I don't think you can buy a brand new harness from Mazda, but I have never checked. I can't think it would be cheap. For a new to you but used harness you are going to run into a ton of the same problems. At this point even the newest NB wiring harness is 15 years old. NA's much older then that. So any pulled harness out of a car very may well have issues.