what is the cheapest way to get a rear end in a miata that will hold 225whp?
 

I'm having a really tough time finding a solution aside from just buying a swap 01+ car...which is my best option but hard to find one at a salvage auction and be sure it has an lsd.

I have a 1.6 btw.

The standard 1.8 open dif will handle that much power and is considerably cheaper than an LSD. But if you have to have LSD, then the 1.8 is the way to go. You can get a total package inlcuding drive shaft, axles, and pumpkin from planetmiata for around $1000 I think. They pop up in the classifieds occasionally. I've seen them for about $700 a couple times. But the best way is to find one in a junkyard and hope they don't know what it's worth.

I bought a 1.8 driveline (diff, half shafts, drive shaft) for under $500 shipped to ATL from TX. Just picked up an rx7 clutch lsd for $100 which will drop in to the 1.8 diff. That's about the cheapest. Add another $250 to replace the lsd disks/plates.

Dude, where'd you buy the disks/plates for $50? Mine were like $200 shipped from Mazdaspeed.

That was supposed to be $250. fixed. sorry.

yeah, I'll just hold out for the swap car, or a salvage yard find.

can you drop the rx7 diff into the miata open diff ring? What years and model of rx7?

Yes. 84-88 for the clutch type (what you want). If it's first gen, make sure it is "large axle" to fit the Miata.
Pdf file on the rx7 diff swap

Yes, it's been talked about ad naseum, especially on the Miata forum, so go over there and search and read Randy's pages here: http://members.aol.com/solomiata/MiataCSP.html

Long story short, you can drop any '86-'91 RX-7 diff. internals into any '94-'05 Miata diff. housing.

:inout:as long as it's not a turbo rear :bigtu:

Yeah, I meant to add that...thanks :)

I got the whole rear suspension off a 95M miata for 400. Yes, I got lucky:) I kept the axles, Torsen, Driveshaft and sold everything else.

Since when is a driveshaft, def and axles labeled as suspension parts?

I ended up paying $400 for a type-2 swap open diff, with a loose torsen.

not bad at all!

FYI, a call to Mazda (800-222-5500) with the VIN will tell you if the car came with an LSD. Now whether somebody already harvested it or not....

or I could just look at them.

FYI, he started this post over a year ago and just mentioned a couple posts up that he ended up buying a Type-2 Torsen for $400.

^Exactly. Danimal, while using the search function, don't forget to check out the date. Dredging up a year old post for no reason takes you back to NOOB status.

ok so here's my deal, there's an 88 anniversary edition rx-7 sitting in my friends garage. the engine doesn't work but everything else works. should i buy it for 500 bucks and use anything on it to build a solid foundation for my 97 miata? i'm planning on turbo later and probably want somewhere around 250hp. any suggestions or should i buy the rx7 and fix up the engine ($? for that)...decisions decisions....any help welcome

ohh and the car is non turbo...if that makes much of a difference

If you have access to an rx7, and it has the big ones, then I recommend you get two of them. Usually you have to get them overnighted from Japan.

search. It matters.

so...
 

i'm pretty much a noob, got my miata a week ago and are trying to learn just as much as i can as far as interchangeability and have been reading forums like crazy. i know i know people say search and i would if i knew specifically what i was looking for but i'm not asking too much, just some simple basic questions so i can go on my way. non turbo 88 for 500 seems like a bargain, even without the engine working. will any of the parts on it, ex diff, tranny, be usefully in my na miata? :confused: even some ideas that have been done are appreciated

As far as differential is concerned, the rear housing and differential guts are interchangable. If you want to know what the "guts" are, any performance vendor with LSD's will have pics of a similar piece. As far as hubs, axles, brakes, etc, i have no idea ... but i do know that the hubs are 5 lug.

nice, thanks. i think i'm gonna go look at the car again and then go from there. i'll c what i can do as far as fixing the engine and then might swap that in there who knows i heard it's a popular swap....

so are you saying you want to install a 13b into a miata? I mean, its been done before, but it is a completely different engine in every possible way. If you have a 97 with an open differential, the NA RX7 7" clutch type differential guts is great to have for traction, but thats the only thing you need to worry about since the 94+ cars have the 7" ring gear rear end. The 7" ring gear can hold up to mild drag racing builds and any track or autocross needs. If your car already has a torsen LSD, I say dont even bother with rx7 parts at all. Just boost the 97 motor to 13psi and you will get your 250whp with a good tune and a medium sized turbo.

You're a self declared noob and you are going thinking about swapping the motors because you heard it is a popular swap? thats just rediculous ... do you even know the difference between a rotary and a standard crank/rod/piston motor? If you dont ... its a huge difference and it is more than a simple bolt on affair. It requires an understanding of what is going on under the hood, internally in the engine, and the electronics (i.e. ignition) systems as well.

And if you're looking for popular swaps, the Ford 302, BOPR 3.5L and GM's LSX motors are far more popular.

Make sure and get new rings and stronger rods for the 13b.

STFU :gay:

I hear those 13B "H" beam rods are a JDM only item.

back to the topic of this thread, having just purchesed a 1.8 open diff, I plan to install the RX7 clutch type LSD. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda...spagenameZWDVW
Is this the item I need?
Thanks Milton Tucker

that's the one. you can see the clutch plates in the picture.


i believe he messed up the year that he listed it, the only non-turbo lsd that year was supposed to be a vlsd, however that looks correct. if you are unsure have him measure the diameter of the plate the ring gear bolts to.

yes, but you can get the renesis rods, and they're just as strong. You can use the renesis girdle too.

please, everyone knows that the renesis rods aren't nearly as strong as the 20B rods

There is a Cummins spark plug wire retrofit for the 20B thats a nice bump in power. I also heard that a Powerstroke throttle body works as well.

Those chrome sparkplug wires on my F250 really made a difference in power. Had to get some crossdrilled brake lines so I'de be able to slow it back down. Been looking for some JDM sparkplugs for it... but there hard to find :confused: I'm sure I'll find them one day...

i think you misunderstood me or maybe i didn't explain myself right (akaryrye) i know it's a whole different thing, i'm just saying im new when it comes to knowing all the advantages or subtle differences that can make or break what is already a good car. of course swapping out an engine is hard and i would definitely get help or hire labor somewhere for that...and even more (imo) going from std engine to a rotary. and yeah i just read it's expensive to fix a rotary, especially in my area, so 13b is out the window. i am aware of the fsb swap and having a 351w sitting in my garage...i was considering but i know there will be hood clearance issues...so that's out the window. i guess it's time to look for some pieces to start a turbo application.....and FINALLY i've been looking crazy for something that will help me change my headlights, i don't like pop ups or big round lights....anyone got a really good link?

If you can't find one of the multitude of people selling low-pro headlights online for this car, you fail at searching completely. We are more than happy here to answer your technical questions or discuss which big-ass turbo will get you to 300whp while still being efficient and driveable, but after a while we really get tired of the noob-ass questions, like "what turbo r besttt" and "ill just drop a rotary in it".

yes 97 it isn't that we don't care it is just we get this shit everyweek man. So just chill out, we can help you turbo the shit out of your BP or we can talk you through a swap or point you to who ever has done it before. We are not here to hold the hands of the newbs atleast not in the public threads that is why we have pm's :gay: If you need any more specific help or just have off the wall shit you wanna spout out pm someone who seems to be of a like mind set. :D GL man

well deserved and understood, i'll post when i run into trouble with turbo issues:sadwavey: