RWD 1st Gen

Discussion in 'Mazdaspeed 3 Transmission/Drivetrain' started by PandaMS3, Aug 6, 2022.

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  1. PandaMS3

    PandaMS3 @pandams3 Greenie Member

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    Been thinking about a rwd swap. 2.3 stang transmission, have to do a lot of custom fab for the rear suspension, fuel cell in the trunk, motor mounts. Relocating the exhaust routing would suck but once that’s moved and the fuel tank you have good routing for the driveline. turbo would be cooler on the side. Tear apart the block and fully build it, FBO, aux fuel, big turbo. Go for about 550 wheel? I know this would take a long long time and a lot of money but I’d like to make it happen someday.
     
    PandaMS3, via an iPhone, Aug 6, 2022
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  2. Easter Bunny

    Easter Bunny Professional Engineer Motorhead Platinum Member

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    There were lots to convert the previous gen focus to rwd. I would start by looking at what that entailed. You dont need a mustang motor you can use the stock motor and a Miata transmission to make it rwd
     
    Easter Bunny, via a mobile device, Aug 6, 2022
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  3. Raider

    Raider Administraider Administrator Platinum Member

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    How are your welding and fabrication skills? How much money budgeted? I ask, as I remember this being tried on a Speed 6 multiple times, resulting in the vehicle partout, cut up, and scrapped.

    Also factor state inspection and smog legalities on how you would get this to pass after.

    Lastly, it may be easier to consider the MS6 AWD conversion and go buckwild.
     
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  4. Easter Bunny

    Easter Bunny Professional Engineer Motorhead Platinum Member

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    https://kugelkomponents.com/focus-v-8/

    Weirdly in Maryland at least as long as the obd port was still hooked up and still read as a ms3 it would be fine. In MD you can also swap in any motor from an equal or newer model year car and be legal
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2022
    Easter Bunny, via a mobile device, Aug 7, 2022
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  5. L337TurboZ

    L337TurboZ World Class Truck Squatter Greenie Member

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    If you want a RWD Mazda just buy a Miata. You can find a decent NC chassis for a good price and do a 2.5 swap/build and spend a lot less money than it would take to make a MS3 RWD

    Or even find a blown up RX8 for less than 3k, swap to a inline 4 (the NC and RX8 are a similar chassis)
     
    L337TurboZ, via a Motorola device, Aug 7, 2022
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  6. PandaMS3

    PandaMS3 @pandams3 Greenie Member

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    Yes but then I’d miss out on those beautiful MS3 body lines. And RWD hatches are the shit. I’d love to use RX8 parts though

    The Miata transmission would work for the 2.3? I wasn’t thinking mustang motor I would stay MZR and use the trans since it’s RWD. I’ll check out the focus thanks for the intel.

    The county I’m smogged in is no smog till I sell it so I’m good. Never welded before but three of my brothers own welding business and I’m a very fast learner. This is planed out in like 5-10 years so I’ll be saving up for a while. By the time this actually happens it’ll be my swan song build before I have to drive an electric car till i die dreaming about three pedals.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 7, 2022
    PandaMS3, via an iPhone, Aug 7, 2022
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  7. Easter Bunny

    Easter Bunny Professional Engineer Motorhead Platinum Member

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    You have to use the NC Miata transmission it also used an mzr
     
    Easter Bunny, via a mobile device, Aug 7, 2022
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  8. Code Monkey

    Code Monkey Platinum Member

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    You mean V6
     
  9. L337TurboZ

    L337TurboZ World Class Truck Squatter Greenie Member

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    The LFX series V6 isn't a bad choice at all. They suck in Camaro's due to the cars weight but a lighter chassis such as a Miata/RX8 is a much better option.
     
    L337TurboZ, via a Motorola device, Aug 7, 2022
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  10. Cold Lotion

    Cold Lotion Mold Ocean Gold Member

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    Negative, abort mission.
     
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  11. PandaMS3

    PandaMS3 @pandams3 Greenie Member

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    Well by the time I get the tube frame and stuff done with race stripping and all itll be pretty light.
     
    PandaMS3, via an iPhone, Aug 8, 2022
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  12. PandaMS3

    PandaMS3 @pandams3 Greenie Member

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    Smogged till I sell it, so as long as my names on the pinks it won’t get checked

    Fully built DISI engines can handle 500+ easily, 88mm bore Mahle 2618 Pistons, eagle conrods, keyed crank, ARP studs, crower cams, decked, bored, 8th port, BSD, new springs, retainers and valves, ported and polished, custom DTP headers, throttle body, Xona Rotor X3 turbo V-band, EWG, Mishi front mount with custom piping, custom intake mani. If I’m going this far with the build I’m thinking stand-alone ECU, I believe motec makes one that supports our engines

    Won’t the mustang Getrag 6spd mount with an adaptor plate? I figured it would be able to handle the power better than a Miata trans, and gives me more options for higher power drivelines, diffs etc
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 17, 2022
    PandaMS3, via an iPhone, Sep 17, 2022
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  13. Awafrican

    Awafrican Moderator Gold Member

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    Multi Posts merged, that +quote button to quote multiple posts, is great, click it on all the posts you want to quote and an insert quotes button will appear on the reply box then you can insert them and reply to them all in one post
     
    Awafrican, via a mobile device, Sep 17, 2022
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  14. SyntheticAtmosphere

    SyntheticAtmosphere You only get ONE ride, ONE ticket, ONE time! Silver Member

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    Dont half-ass it, I say. Haha. Ill be watching!!! ...even in 5-10 years.
     
  15. Easter Bunny

    Easter Bunny Professional Engineer Motorhead Platinum Member

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    Transmission has no impact on what diff you run with rwd
     
    Easter Bunny, via a mobile device, Sep 17, 2022
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  16. L337TurboZ

    L337TurboZ World Class Truck Squatter Greenie Member

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    Something to consider with transmission choice is the size of the transmission. An NC Miata trans is the same as the RX8 if I recall correctly. Seeing as how those are both built on the same platform.

    It also comes down to what ratios you want for the transmission and the rear end.

    For example my NA chassis Miata came with a 4.3 rear end and a 5 speed trans. This made me drive down the interstate at 4k rpm at 80 mph.

    I then swapped to a 6 speed trans with a 3.63 rear end and now I'm at 3200-3500 rpm at the same speed. It doesn't sound like much but when you're literally cruising in slight boost it can affect fuel economy. Plus it's a little more quiet than it was.

    Another transmission to consider is the BMW ZF series transmission. They are short, cheap, and easy to find. Some places make adapters to bolt to different engines such as the BP, MZR, K series etc.
     
    L337TurboZ, via a Motorola device, Sep 17, 2022
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  17. PandaMS3

    PandaMS3 @pandams3 Greenie Member

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    When’s it’s finished, you’ll know. My career path is engineering so I intend to use this to teach myself, take my time and do it right. RWD hatchback Porsche killer.

    Like this Awa? L337 that’s another reason I didn’t want to go with the Miata, as I’m fairly certain it would be harder to find the optional 6MT, and the gear ratios would limit me. The ZF might be my best bet, thanks for mentioning it. In any case I would like to change the gearing to be pretty close in the lower gears for the twistys but still let me break 160 without bouncing redline. Though I figure would have to take into consideration since I’m reducing rotating mass, and the weight of my pistons, rods etc with more wall clearance I could probably get more revs out of the motor, since I’m not increasing piston size too much. Thanks for the reminder bunny.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 17, 2022
    PandaMS3, via an iPhone, Sep 17, 2022
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  18. Easter Bunny

    Easter Bunny Professional Engineer Motorhead Platinum Member

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    You don't really want close gears in a turbo car you want to be able to run it out a bit once the boost hits. Otherwise your going to
    Punch it
    Turbo lag
    Boost starts
    Peak boost
    Shift
     
    Easter Bunny, via a mobile device, Sep 17, 2022
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  19. PandaMS3

    PandaMS3 @pandams3 Greenie Member

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    Very true, too close and you can’t take advantage of your boost. I’ll take a trip down some gearing rabbit holes and see what I come up with as optimal for track. The amount of godforsaken rabbit holes I’ve gone down, I feel like Alice. Another thing I’m considering is with the silicon nitride ball bearings on the rotor I’m opting for, and the size of the compressor I’ll be able to make boost slightly lower on the RPM range, keeping in mind our bottom ends don’t like full boost below 3k. Also, if I increase the rev limit of the engine, I can make boost slightly higher in the RPM’s and still have enough room to push boost for a bit. Also, by opting for IWG and recirc instead of BOV I should be able to maintain more boost throughout the RPM’s. By balancing my internals and supporting mods, hopefully I can end up with a boost number that allows me to maintain BAP and not send all my compressed air out the hood. Also, for my motor build I would be looking at a heavier duty crank if possible and uprated head studs, hopefully I can lower my boost rpm’s without ZZB.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2022
    PandaMS3, via an iPhone, Sep 17, 2022
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  20. PandaMS3

    PandaMS3 @pandams3 Greenie Member

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    The block is 21” long with the belts and pulleys, and with about 33” from firewall to front clip. I’ll have to cut and fab some of the firewall anyway to make the transmission tunnel, how much depends on how far back I want the motor for the weight distribution
     
    PandaMS3, via an iPhone, Sep 17, 2022
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