I'm thinking my next car should be an '01+ with an LSx in it.

Where would be a good place to look for the donor car? I don't need the drivetrain, so I figure I could save a bunch of money by buying a car that somebody blew up. I have checked out Ebay but there don't seem to be many no-motor or blown-motor cars there, just whole ones and crashed ones. I will keep an eye out on Craigslist, but I don't really think I'll find just what I'm looking for there either. The classifieds on here also have whole cars, and a lot of NAs.

Are there any places that might have more of this type of thing than where I'm already looking? Or would I even be better off to buy a whole one and sell the engine, trans, diff, and other parts?

I don't plan to start this project for another few months, but I would like to get some feelers out the car.

 

Since Miata owners are mostly gays, senior citizens and women, there aren't many cars out there that have blown motors that are otherwise in good condition. More likely the motor is still good and the rest of the car is trashed/wrecked/rusted. Those that do have wrecked motors are ones that are extremely poorly cared for and therefore fall into the aforementioned trashed/wrecked/rusted categories. Your best bet is to just buy a cheap, running, driving Miata and then sell off the drivetrain.

 

I bought the one that I am swapping off of CL. Paid $2500 with a rod through the pan. It does need some bodyork, but not much. They are few and far between, though. Haven't seen one since and mine was bought 14 months ago. I could never start on it because I hadn't received the title. FINALLY got the title last week. Started pulling the motor last night.

 

I bought my 03 tub from Tom at The Parts Group (The Partsgroup - Mazda Miata & RX8 Used Parts) for $400. I am swapping over parts from a wrecked 99 to the 03, have less than $2000 in the whole project so far.

 

How much do you think I will be able to get for a drive train? I know I can get more if I buy a car with a 6spd. What is the most valuable diff to get in those cars? Still a torsen?

 

You want a 1996 shell? Come and take mine.

 

Thanks but I'm looking for an NB.