ATL Ecocet Build

[nakedbee]

So i've finally got around to gathering up enough parts to start this Exocet journey.  I picked up my chassis about eight months ago and immediately got to work on the floors and bulkheads.  It only took a few hours when I had nothing else I could do   without the miata bits.


Picked this beaut up for $500, 203K on the odometer, non runner.  I never intended to use the Miata drivetrain so this was perfect.


Four hrs later...

[nakedbee]

Not too bad looking for a 27year old car.





After some degreaser and a light coat of paint...

[nakedbee]

Managed to get the entire wiring harness out in one piece, although I'm probably only going to use some of the connectors.


Suspension mostly installed.








These dampers are completely shot, I'm just mocking it up so I have a roller.  Any recomendations on coilovers?

[nakedbee]

So whats going in here you ask...


As per the name of the thread my intentions are to use a GM 4cyl Ecotec motor and to utilize the entire drivetrain from a solstice/sky.  My goal is to find the Kappa platform that uses the "PPF", generally I'm seeing them on late 2007+ models.  Now I know there is swap kits for the engine utilizing that gawd awful oil pan and the motor mounts from ecotecmiata.net which hopefully I will not have to use but if I have to then so be it but @ $750 for an oil pan! I hope I can just modify the miata subframe.  

Now for the remainder of the drivetrain I plan to modify the the Kappa parts to fit.  During my research I have found that the Kappa platform to be both longer in wheelbase and wider.  So hopefully I can just cut down the PPF, have the driveshaft shortened and have the axles modified and shortened as well.  As many of you may know, the rear diff used in these cars are the sameish as the other Getrag models just geared to a 3.73 in the G80 model.  I may use the getrag mount offered by V8 Roadsters but I hope to be able to fab my own.

[nakedbee]

Over this past weekend I picked up a 2.4 LE5 out of a 08 Malibu with 26K miles on it.... $500!


I quickly got to mocking up the fitment.

[nakedbee]

It's a darn close fit but If i get the billet T-stat housing and just run a remote T-stat that will free up at least 2.5" in the back.  Now up front if I cut away at the stock subframe or get the V8 Roadsters LW subframe the oil pan will slip right behind the steering rack.  To gain a little more clearance I should be able to slightly modify the oil pan on the driver side to get me another inch of up/down clearance.  

[gwnwar]

Nice ideas and build so far.. What kind of gains will you get in HP and weight and balance..What add on are available for engine??
Just what are you going to do to the front sub frame looks like you will need to cut a large section out of the whole middle.
You will be playing around with structure and steering.. Might be worth buying a proven kit to same time and headaches..

[nakedbee]

The LE5 will put out 200whp 200wtq with minor mods, I'm not exactly sure the engine weight but it's full aluminum. The aftermarket for the Ecotec engines is huge and cheap to boot. Initially I just want to get it up and running on a stock tune, I have HP Tuners so disabling the VATs and other CEL stuff is no problem. After I get her shook down end goal would be a healthy 450-500whp.

Subframe whoes, well either I cut and weld, cheapest option or 1. buy the ecotecmiata oil pan or 2. possibly try and use the V8 roadsters mountless subframe.

Next step from here would be to grab an AR5 transmission and recheck clearances.

Stay tuned.

[nakedbee]

Back from the dead!

The new wheels, forget the model but their 15x9 et 0



Seats, steering wheel and belts





Battery mount and cable in one



Picked up a set of  V-Maxx coilovers



Fuse block



Mocking up the "cluster"

[nakedbee]

Extra stuff...



Getting the engine harness ready



Security system all installed...lol

[gwnwar]

FYI.. The pics in your last 2 posts are not showing up. photobucket is charging you not to post pics now. Please get another site to use.. This has been covered in the General Chat Section

[nakedbee]

Yeah sorry about that, all fixed now.

[rc58]

That looks Great. Amazed at your wiring tray and how clean it is. What exactly is your cluster?

[nakedbee]

I'm using a 10" Windows tablet running HP Tuners.  Thanks for the kind words, I kind of get OCD about wiring and hate to have even one wire I don't need.

[bornwild]

That cluster is awesome. I'm planning on doing the same thing but running tunerstudio on a raspberrypi and a 7" touchscreen.