Trans carrier for PPF delete

[dangie71]

Since I'm doing an Ecotec swap and the exhaust is on the opposite side of where it is on the BP, I'm doing the PPF delete to make it easier for a custom 2.5" stainless exhaust.  Buying the K Miata diff brace but I can't seem to find anyone that has a trans bracket for the Miata 5 speed.  Fine with making one custom but wanted to see if there was one on the market already.

[jason82]

Hi, I would seriously re consider doing a ppf delete. That thing takes a load of stress out of the chassis & I am not sure that the chassis is strong enough to be used as a stress member. I have recently come off the back of looking at various engines, keep the Mazda ppf & gearbox, use a flywheel adaptor, then make a front subframe which will house your engine.
Is there any reason for going down the ecotec route ? I know that the 2.2 engine are really bad oil burners.
If I was you, get a zetec engine & get an adaptor plate from retro ford for the engine to gearbox. That ppf is there for a reason & it's heavy for a reason. You can custom make brackets for anything that you want, but if you are set on the ecotec, leave the drive train as is, & make the exhaust work.

[hammy3601]

In addition to Jasons sound advice I can tell you that having built a few RWD Zetec's that they are heavy!! Very tuneable but HEAVY, keep the Mazda lump and FI Charge it or maybe look at a K Series as per the Elise.

Just my 2 pence worth mate.

[dangie71]

Nov 5, 2018 7:16:54 GMT jason82 said:

Hi, I would seriously re consider doing a ppf delete. That thing takes a load of stress out of the chassis & I am not sure that the chassis is strong enough to be used as a stress member. I have recently come off the back of looking at various engines, keep the Mazda ppf & gearbox, use a flywheel adaptor, then make a front subframe which will house your engine.
Is there any reason for going down the ecotec route ? I know that the 2.2 engine are really bad oil burners.
If I was you, get a zetec engine & get an adaptor plate from retro ford for the engine to gearbox. That ppf is there for a reason & it's heavy for a reason. You can custom make brackets for anything that you want, but if you are set on the ecotec, leave the drive train as is, & make the exhaust work.

Yeah, not going to happen as I've already purchased my 2.4 Ecotec and sold my BP engine.  The chassis is plenty strong and K Miata makes a bracket to replace what the PPF does for the diff.  I just need to come up with a solution for the transmission.

Why the Ecotec route?  185hp vs. 129hp, 175tq vs. 122tq.  Variable valve timing, forged rods from the factory, weighs the same as the BP, got a 44K mile engine for free after parting out the donor it came in.

[jason82]

If you can get it to work, fair play to you. Out of interest, what kit have you got ? G Type or normal chassis ?

[jason82]

I have just looked into these kits, the delete secures the diff nose & as you have suggested you need the gearbox brace. My point was that it's an exo chassis. In an MX5 / Miata, the shell becomes the stress member with the delete. With your suggested kit, their is nothing between the gearbox & nose of the diff, I understand that. But my point is, a thin walled exo chassis will not be strong enough to run the power without that support. The Exocet simply is not strong enough. This is proven by the fact that MEV say that it has no towing capabilities. There just is not the strength there to deal with load other than via the ppf skate.
I would confirm this with MEV / Exomotive, my belief is that without the ppf, the chassis will twist.

[dangie71]

I purchased a Sport chassis from Exomotive in Atlanta, GA with double diagonals and full steel welded floor. We will have to agree to disagree on the structural rigidity the PPF offers. You think it is critical yet I think it is minimal at best. With all of the V6 and V8 Exocet swaps I've seen, many have to delete the PPF and use alternate means of support with zero issues and at much higher hp levels than I will ever see.