Bindon

Hey guys,

Im currenty in my 2nd year of mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo.

I have a design project coming up in my 4th year, and myself, along with other people in my group decided to get a head start on it.

We plan to take an older miata (one we can get scrap for cheap) and we're basically going to redesign it into a completely barebones racing car.

Were going to drop a 13B into it, and turbo change it as well.
Ideally, we want to put out anywhere from 300 - 400 hp at the wheels.

The main aspect of the design project will centered around the engine drop and frame. Although we are going to be getting new coilovers for it, and all kinds of new goodies, there is not much design to it other then fitting the engine in place.

Thus, we are going to design our own frame, and manufature it out of either tubular steel or aluminum, not sure yet, we still have to do the analysis.

Basically I want to know if this has ever been done before, and if so where?

Thanks

-Bryan


P.S. Sponsors are welcome :D

cas2themoe

Thats going to take alot of work if you want to get 300-400HP at the wheels! Good Luck!

Bindon

Yeah it will be difficult,

But with the number of FD's with at least 300 at the wheels it shouldnt be too bad.

The 13B is definately capable of those numbers, as long as we get it tuned properly.

I know a guy on the rx-7 forums is putting out 430 or something at 12 PSI, so I have complete confidence that we can make high numbers.

the hardest part will be the frame... but after its done...

It will be crazy fast.

therm8

As far as anyone doing it before...Plenty of people out there have built/are building one off's. I've seen some use 13Bs or other rotary engines.

This one is mostly Lotus 7 clones, but the mid-engine forum has some one off's:
http://locostbuilders.co.uk/index.php

This one is a ground up build (chassis, suspension, everything), no rotary, but still ...
http://www.grabercars.com/Mambosite/index.php

A Miata donor should make the suspension design a little easier. I'd love to build a lightweight (~1600lb), mid-engined, rotary powered roadster myself, though cooling and exhaust might be an issue. Good luck with the project.

shelleys_man_06

Bindon, you're an engineering student and you didn't know that?! Lousy sophomores. Sounds like an expensive project. Unless your school is willing to dole out some change, you're screwed. I wanted to do an automotive design/analysis project for my final design class, but since I'm broke, and I just want to graduate, I'm sticking with something that's already made, and I'll just do some bullshit analysis and a presentation. Easy A.

You're only in your second year, but once you get near the end, you just want to finish. Trust me. I'm there.

If you're looking for another example, try finding Laminar Concepts SRX-7. That was a cool one-off, but mechanical gremlins kept it from being a contender in SCC's 2002 (?) USCC.

Actually, you can build a car from the ground up for cheap by using an OHV piston engine. A 13B-REW sounds like a good idea, but sourcing a nice one might be a challenge. If you're wanting to get into something easier with a rotary, find an old carbureted one. I personally find them a lot more fun to work with. Good luck with your design project. Hopefully we won't graduate the same year. I want out!

XDEEDUBBX

sounds like a crazy project...good luck

rabinabo

Look up mazsport's webpage. They have a miata rotary conversion.

Bindon

Yeah, sponsorships will be very key.

Ill shell out some cash for it, but I will need some help along the way.

Well see how it goes!

zoom44

mazsport sells a kit for droping a rotary into a miata

djgiron

I have a buddy that dropped a second gen turbo motor into a sandrail frame, that thing is insanely fast!

Bindon

I just saw that conversion kit...

That makes my life SO much easier.

They elimaintes alot of things we haev to make and fit, which is a very good thing.

hmm, I wonder how much a jet engine would cost....

BlueEyes

If it's an engineering project, how does eliminating the engineering help your case?

babylou

No kidding. I am amazed that any professor(s) would approve this project. There is very little design or techical analysis involved. Most importantly there is no commercial aspect to the project; Not exactly good training for a job. Could be fun though.

My project was a postage sorting end effector for a robot. We had to present our projects to a delegation from the US Postal Service. They were a bunch of SOB's. These guys were nit picking each little detail which is just dumb considering we had 4 person teams and were full time students. Luckily just before it was my teams' turn to present a guy with the team before us got sick of the nit picking and rightfully ripped the Postal guys a new one. They were silent during my presentation. :D

Bindon

As I said before, the bulk of the design aspect is the new frame and rollbars were creating out of aluminium. The engine drop and such is more so just for fun, and to try to lure in sponsors like the ones that sponsor our formula cars here at the school. The thing that going to occupy the chunk of our time, is designing the frame, because tons of analysis and testing has to go into it.

I just feel that whats the point to a superlightweight aluminum frame....if there isnt a superfast rotary on top or it! :D

BlueEyes

I guess man. I don't think making a frame out of aluminium is all that difficult. Certainly a joke for a group project. I designed a tube frame for an ultralight aircraft in a couple weeks by myself. Then built it in another couple weeks.

shelleys_man_06

I'm sorry I have to return to this thread.

So, um, what's the entire purpose of building your aluminum frame, rotary-powered vehicle?

howardteets

Why not do the Formula Car? Waterloo's a pretty big school and has been doing the Formula Car for years. You should have pretty good sponsorship base by now. Reading between the lines here means no $$$ out of your own pocket.

I did the Formula Car for my 4th year project in 2002. I went to school in Windsor and it was only the 2nd year we entered the competition. We spent a lot of time trying to get sponsor's. It's a pain in the ***** and this was for an SAE event where sponsor's would get a lot exposure. I don't know what you plan on doing with this car but you may have a difficult time trying to get sponsor's if there's nothing in it for them.

I can't remember who wrote it but I agree that this would be very difficult project to get approved. I sounds like the bulk of the design is done for you. Especially if you get a conversion kit from MazSport. If I were you I'd get on the Formula Team if you can. It's fun as hell driving an overpowered go-cart.

Bindon

To get credit for my 4th year of engineering,
To occupy some free time with the guys on weekends,
and to go really, really really fast.

That pretty much sums it up.

If you designed that frame that quickly then a group of 4 should get it done in no time. Which is really a good thing, that way we can design something else. Hmm any ideas? Aerobody? Maybe make it mid engine?

Just fishing for ideas, anyone got some good ones......and dont say a different project. :D

The formula team is a good idea, but how did you do it as your project? I know that here its basically a team of guys of all ages who work on the car, so did you basically picka component and do it, or how did you do it?

KYLiquid

sounds like a fun project. I can tell you that with an early miata and just 250hp at the wheels its like driving a bullet. 300+ is getting into being stupid fast but sounds like an AWSOME PROJECT!

Good luck. Ive seen a few 13b/12a miatas in the past, its a lot of work but nothing imposible.

my big question....when its over, who gets to keep the car in your group?

shelleys_man_06

Here's an idea: make a B16-powered dune buggy and race it. If I had time and a little bit of spare change lying around, that's what I'd do. You can substitute for a rotary engine if you wanted to.

Bindon

hmm.. Dune buggies are AWESOME!

Id be the one keeping the car after, my idea, plus, Im very likely to put the most money into it.

and the otehr guys are from nosa scotia, deep rivier, and albera... so im local :-)