[gmichael52]

That was my concern Frank- the exhaust for one, and to retain a hydraulic clutch. The latter can be improvised, but I may be wrong, but the last Metro 1 liter I looked at had the exhaust manifold on the left with the outlet facing the front. Can probably pick up a cheapy Pacesetter header for a flange and cut the pipes off, but I'd really like to know if this is (1) doable and (2) not too expensive- prior to seeing this post, I was figuring upwards of $4K- 800 for a motor to my door, 200-600 for a Samurai transmission, depending on how much I need to spend to remedy the sellers "selective ignorance", new clutch, a driveshaft- shorten one or have to get one made (500), a custom radiator (500), a header (if needed) and the pipe tubing to build one, to include repiping my exhaust, materials (steel that I can't steal, throttle cable, hoses, etc)and everything that I didn't plan (approximately $1000 or half of everything that I did plan for, whichever is higher)

all those little trips to the machine shop, etc. really add up when you start messing with stuff that engineers get paid to design- that is why they are engineers - that's the big kill on this idea. Nimblemotors is already in it deep, so I hope he chimes in.

However, I've seen Rover (Buick) V8's and GM V6's stuffed into them. Rotary's are an easy drop with the right mix and match of Mazda transmissions/tailshafts, and in all cases fuel economy isn't all that hot, besides overpowering a chassis that wouldn't dream of ever seeing 100 horsepower, no mater what bridge in England it was built under.

As for aero- keep it Brit. No reason to spend a lot of effort to make it look like a Miata, when in fact- a Miata is a better deal overall. I stripped off the rubber bumpers (that was at least 120 pounds), and run a 'glass hood. It's a 1600 pound vehicle .