Author Topic: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.  (Read 3958 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline group44

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Michigan
  • Posts: 10
Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« on: Sunday,February 22, 2015, 06:17:34 PM »
Hi all.
Just thought I would share my progress from yesterday night. I've been working along time to get to this point. Finally put an engine back in my car after almost 14 years without.

New engine is a 1.8l miata engine. I've made a custom bell housing by welding part of the Miata and part of a Twink bell housing together. Also made a Weber intake an installed a distributor from a 88' Ford Festiva ( going old school).

I've posted some pictures. Let me know your thought.

FYI: If someone is interested in this conversion I have a spare adapter ring that I made that I will sell. This way you don't have to cut up bell housings. This adapter is for a Renault powered car.
Too Many cars:
-3+ Europa Twinks
-Lotus 7 (SCCA FP)
-2 Honda S2000 (Street car and SCCA EP)
-Acura TL Type S
-Ford F350 dually
-RWD MK1 Mini
-1967 Jag S type
-Cal Ace (AC Ace replica)

Offline BDA

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Jul 2012
  • Location: North Carolina
  • Posts: 9,554
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #1 on: Sunday,February 22, 2015, 08:13:29 PM »
That looks really good! Are you going to keep the stock rear suspension, make your own, use Richard's twin link? What other plans do you have for the car?

Please keep us informed about how the conversion goes!

Offline Grumblebuns

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Aug 2012
  • Location: San Diego area
  • Posts: 1,492
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #2 on: Monday,February 23, 2015, 10:48:37 AM »
Hard to tell but engine and tranny seem to fit up quite nicely in the engine bay. It looks like the tranny is mounted in the stock location so that the output shafts are aligned per stock setup. Looks real good. If this works out, we'll have another alternate engine for swap outs.

Have you measured the difference in width between your hybrid bell housing and the TCs?

Offline blasterdad

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Aug 2014
  • Location: SW Michigan, USA
  • Posts: 406
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #3 on: Monday,February 23, 2015, 05:01:54 PM »
Nice work!  :welder:
I'm hoping Michian is a typo, & you're from Michigan...
Down around Kalamazoo myself, nice to find someone local-ish... 8)

Offline Runningwild

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Jun 2014
  • Location: Watertown, ny
  • Posts: 345
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday,February 24, 2015, 03:00:59 PM »
Looks great. I PM'd you about the plate.  Give me a call.

Offline group44

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Michigan
  • Posts: 10
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #5 on: Saturday,February 28, 2015, 05:13:15 PM »
BDA,
For now I'm going to keep the stock suspension and make my own twin link but eventually I am going to swap the entire rear suspension  and the front spindles and brakes from a Miata into the Europa.  As this is just going to be a street car for me and I have three sets of 13" wheels and tires (Panasports, Mini lites and Minators plus the stock wheels). I don't want to have to buy different wheels just yet. (anyone need a set of wheels?)

As for future plans....NG3 and turbo the Miata engine possibly or just build another Europa with a transverse Honda engine.  Or possibly build a vintage race car as I have a full Omni Tech Twink motor (with Weber conversion) and a Hewland LD 200 trans axle sitting on the floor in my shop. I currently race with SCCA in a Lotus 7 or my Honda S2000, so I don't really need another race car. For now I just want to get the car back on the road.  All in all, I have about 3+ cars worth of parts.  I really need to start condensing as I just have to many cars and parts and not enough time.

Grumblebuns,

What do you mean width of the bell housing?
  I set up my new hybrid bell housing to put the input shaft in the same location as the stock Miata.  I pressed out the pilot bushing holder from a stock Europa flywheel and turned it down slightly and it will press into the Miata flywheel now.  Overall width (side to side) of the new bell housing is almost identical to the twink bell housing, depth (measured front to back) is slightly bigger buy less than an inch and I have more room between the firewall with the Miata engine than with the Twink motor.
« Last Edit: Saturday,February 28, 2015, 05:21:44 PM by group44 »
Too Many cars:
-3+ Europa Twinks
-Lotus 7 (SCCA FP)
-2 Honda S2000 (Street car and SCCA EP)
-Acura TL Type S
-Ford F350 dually
-RWD MK1 Mini
-1967 Jag S type
-Cal Ace (AC Ace replica)

Offline blasterdad

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Joined: Aug 2014
  • Location: SW Michigan, USA
  • Posts: 406
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #6 on: Saturday,February 28, 2015, 05:30:31 PM »
Might be interested in the stock wheels, just something to roll it around in the garage during the winter...

Offline Grumblebuns

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Aug 2012
  • Location: San Diego area
  • Posts: 1,492
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #7 on: Sunday,March 01, 2015, 12:31:59 PM »
I meant the distance front to back which you answered. I'm very interested in seeing the completion of this project.

Offline JLs67s1

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Joined: Dec 2015
  • Location: San Diego
  • Posts: 11
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #8 on: Saturday,May 21, 2016, 01:37:10 AM »
I like the classic look of this Mazda TC much more than the 4AGE 20v.
Is that coolant line a firewall issue?
Sorry to chime-in so late here...

Offline TCS4605R

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Jul 2014
  • Location: USA
  • Posts: 218
Re: Europa 1.8L Miata engine conversion.
« Reply #9 on: Saturday,May 21, 2016, 10:03:17 AM »
I will be in Ann Arbor this summer - are you anywhere near there - I'd like to see your conversion.  In addition to my 74 TCS, I also have a 1991 Miata that has 240,00 miles and on its 3rd engine.

Tom