here we go with the super-swap... - Tuner-Junction

drummingpariah · #1 (**permalink**) March 6th, 2008, 02:40 AM

So I'm knuckling down and collecting the necessary information to do my super-swap for a crx. I'm planning to pick up another 2nd-gen CRX sometime in the next few weeks, gut the interior, and take some measurements.

The plan is to gather an s14 rear subframe, a custom driveshaft, a few custom motor mounts, a 2nd-gen CRX Shell and a salvaged s2000. Then I take out most of the CRX bits, weld in a channel for a driveshaft, weld the s14 subframe in, weld the custom motor mounts in, and drop the f20c into my CRX.

It sounds simple on paper, but what I really need are some measurements on the f20c (as I don't have an s2000 yet) so I can get started on determining exactly where (firewall-wise) it's going to get installed. Then I need to get the angles right, try to determine what I'm going to have to do for suspension to compensate for the wacky rwd parts I'm throwing on, and toy with the idea of a Miata steering rack+knuckles+brakes for the front. I want to keep the manual steering rack, but drop the extra weight from the heavy fwd knuckles in the front and replace them with lighter rwd front knuckles/suspension.

It's a massive project, yes. I'm gearing myself up to believe that it's actually possible (I'm still not entirely convinced that I can do it) but if I can get everything reasonably planned out and figure out exactly what parts I'm going to need, I'm going to move forward with this thing.

Any suggestions or words of advice (or specific dimensions, especially) would be much appreciated. I really hope someone can lend a hand here, because of the size of the project. Thanks in advance!

OliVTEC · #2 (**permalink**) March 6th, 2008, 02:02 PM

As you say, it sounds like a massive project, you chosed a hard path.

You should be able to find detailed S2K measurements in the S2K workshop manual, on the frame repair chart. Maybe it's enough for the design work.

Anyway, I can't really be of any help on this, as it's waaaaay too far above my competence, just support and wish you good luck.

Looking forward to see this started.

Calicab · #3 (**permalink**) March 9th, 2008, 12:23 AM

if im out there this summer and your not done...im all for helping

russellrex · #4 (**permalink**) March 10th, 2008, 03:03 PM

Hold on...so if you really do this we're talking about a CRS14+2000Miata-X....sweet. That would be a true Franken-car

. I wish you best of luck in your endeavor.

drummingpariah · #5 (**permalink**) March 10th, 2008, 03:40 PM

Guys, I've been doing oodles and oodles of research, I'm going to keep things up-to-date on my website, but I'll pop in here for questions (of course). I just dropped a pretty massive comment up there that I suppose should have been an article, but whatever. Here it is, for whoever's interested:
Project CRX › Login

Basically, the plan is to take a Miata, cut the front/rear subframe out of it, weld that into the ED chassis, fit the f20c, make+weld motor mounts, have a driveshaft made, and probably megasquirt it (I may keep the stock ecu, but there are wiring issues that I don't particularly want to tackle just yet). So yeah, I'll have an MX-5/CRX/s2000 frankencar. I don't see any reason for this not to be a daily driver (I'll have issues to work out, such as bump steer, but I'm confident that I'll be able to handle them as they come), and I really don't see much reason to tune a 9000rpm 240hp monster of an engine. I might do a cam, but heavy tuning just isn't necessary.

I am a little concerned about the CA smog referee test, but since the s2000 passes smog, I don't see any reason why the CRX won't. I'll have to call them and see if there are any forseeable problems. Oh, and I found out that I'm definitely not the first one to attempt this (I really didn't think it was possible for me to be the first; it's such a great idea). weiRtech started it here:
my RWD CRX project

I hope to get ahold of him soon, I'm sure we'll both encounter the same problems, even though our builds are a bit different.

drummingpariah · #6 (**permalink**) March 14th, 2008, 03:54 PM

I'm hoping to get to check out the 89 CRX DX I'm interested in tonight. It's not running, and the owner was somewhat vague about what the problem could be. If I can, I'm going to show up, get 'er done, and drive her home. Assuming that goes well, I'll pick up the d16y8 I found down the street for $350 and swap that in over the remainder of the weekend, then get it referee'd on Monday.

To make that happen (without towing it) I need to get organized. The tools I'm carrying down there with me are:

tape measure
multimeter
wrench set
vice grips
pying screwdriver
spark plug sockets
ratchet
ratchet exension
nice, cashy money
flashlight(s)
terminal-cleaning tool
cork on a stick (compression tester)
camera (gotta share my findings with you guys!)

The description of the problem is that it tries to crank, but won't run. This leads me to believe that the problem could be caused by:

fuel
spark
timing

For fuel, I'll check the two injectors and make sure I can hear the fuel pump coming on.

For spark, I'll test each plug independently.

For spark timing, I'll adjust the distributor by ear (I don't have a working timing light right now). I'm not going to mess with the timing belt on the street.

If none of that straightens it out, I'll bite the bullet and have it towed, but I'd really prefer not to. I'm looking at around 30 miles, and @ an average of $5/mile, I'm looking at around a $150 tow. If it's avoidable, I'll avoid it.

Is there anything that I'm missing?

Calicab · #7 (**permalink**) March 14th, 2008, 06:15 PM

well, i have a distributor, if the spark ends up being the problem...it only needs a rotor

we could make a deal on it

drummingpariah · #8 (**permalink**) March 16th, 2008, 09:48 PM

I broke down and bought another. I spent today stripping it down a bit. Check the progress here:
Picasa Web Albums - Jesse O'Brien - CRX 2.0

$800

stjohnscrx · #9 (**permalink**) March 25th, 2008, 07:25 AM

that crx is well worth the $800 you paid

drummingpariah · #10 (**permalink**) March 25th, 2008, 05:46 PM

Well, after digging in and gutting a bit more, I found some rather serious wiring issues. The underdash harness is pretty well hacked apart. It has a different guage cluster and whoever wired up the stereo was a fucking moron. Pics to come.

Calicab · #11 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2008, 02:01 PM

drummingpariah · #12 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2008, 12:01 AM

Bam, it's awfully hard to disagree with that.

On a more serious note:
I went down and checked out some donors today. It looks like the organ bank has been busy!

Donor cars « Project CRX

ATISTANG · #13 (**permalink**) April 1st, 2008, 01:28 AM

i thought i remember someone else wanting to do this and they found out that the tail end of the trans sat so far back that there really wasn't any room for the rear end

i can't remember where i read that though

drummingpariah · #14 (**permalink**) April 1st, 2008, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATISTANG

i thought i remember someone else wanting to do this and they found out that the tail end of the trans sat so far back that there really wasn't any room for the rear end

i can't remember where i read that though

At this point in time, I can neither confirm nor deny that statement. I can certainly see it being possible, but I believe the transmission is nothing more than a t5 with a custom bellhousing. If that's true, I shouldn't have any problem whatsoever swapping it with something else (say, a 4-spd manual). We'll see how it works out. Shifter location has been a consideration of mine for awhile now, though.

ATISTANG · #15 (**permalink**) April 2nd, 2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummingpariah

At this point in time, I can neither confirm nor deny that statement. I can certainly see it being possible, but I believe the transmission is nothing more than a t5 with a custom bellhousing. If that's true, I shouldn't have any problem whatsoever swapping it with something else (say, a 4-spd manual). We'll see how it works out. Shifter location has been a consideration of mine for awhile now, though.

idk what it is but i can tell you that its not a t-5 bolt pattern to the belhousing, on a t-5 they bolt to the belhousing using four bolts, in the pics it looks like a s2000 trans uses a lot more than that

thats your run of the mil t-5

drummingpariah · #16 (**permalink**) April 2nd, 2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATISTANG

idk what it is but i can tell you that its not a t-5 bolt pattern to the belhousing, on a t-5 they bolt to the belhousing using four bolts, in the pics it looks like a s2000 trans uses a lot more than that

I did a lot of research on the t-5 and t-56 when I was planning out the JagV12 260z, but I have yet to do any real research on whatever transmission(s) came on the 13b. Apparantly there was a whole mess of bellhousings, bolt patterns, and gearings available, and they're essentially all interchangeable.

I still need to dig in and take some hard measurements of the engine outside of the car, but I haven't heard back on my offer of $1000 for the pair of RX-7's. There shouldn't be too much fabricating for this, especially since I'll have a full (running) donor car.

ATISTANG · #17 (**permalink**) April 10th, 2008, 12:42 AM

13b?

when did you decide to put a wankel in it?

drummingpariah · #18 (**permalink**) April 10th, 2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATISTANG

13b?

when did you decide to put a wankel in it?

The same day I measured the f20c and found that it's far too long to fit. The 13b fits.

The owner of the 2 rx7's wants $5000 for the pair. One runs and drives and is legal, the other is a salvage title. I'm debating whether it's worth it.

ATISTANG · #19 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummingpariah

The same day I measured the f20c and found that it's far too long to fit. The 13b fits.

The owner of the 2 rx7's wants $5000 for the pair. One runs and drives and is legal, the other is a salvage title. I'm debating whether it's worth it.

ahh ok, so the rumor was true

drummingpariah · #20 (**permalink**) April 11th, 2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATISTANG

ahh ok, so the rumor was true

Yar. I think when this next check comes in I'm going to offer him $3k for the pair. Cash talks (and so does his wife, who just wants them out of the damned yard).