Rotary Midget project by Dutch 1960

5 minute(s) of a 97 minute read

Don't want to chase you off, Tom. I really do appreciate the ideas you have and the interest you are taking in the project.

I am going for externally stock, including the interior, but I want the engine room to both look like the engine belongs there (simple and fitting well in the space with minimal reworking of things) and also to have some interesting things that people haven't seen before. The little intercooler is one of them.

I am stumped on the air cleaner, it is the first thing people see when you open the bonnet. It needs to be both attractive and appropriate for the application (and fit the space). Any ideas on the air cleaner assembly are especially welcome.

8-24-2014

Finally getting a bit more done, finishing the radiator mount and opening up the front bodywork (photo 1). Due to the full width of the radiator, I have cut out the panels either side of the stock inlet. I have also cut an opening under the stock opening, which will sit largely behind the front bumper. Rotaries like lots of air flow to the radiator. I have removed the small post that goes from the slam plate to the inlet floor, to give maximum unobstructed room for a "pusher" electric fan.

The exhaust header parts have been collected (photo 2). I used Racing Beat out of Anaheim, as they sell the header flanges, appropriate rotary spec gaskets, and some serious thick wall 2" pipe. Further back, I will use standard muffler pipe, but I want the front section to be sturdy and heat resistant. The "U" shaped pieces will be cut into pieces to provide the twists and turns. I will use short primaries for max midrange torque. I have collected some RX7 exhaust pipe shielding, I do not know if I will adapt this or come up with something else. I would prefer an additional panel between the floor and the hot exhaust.

The car is starting to look like a car (photos 3 and 4)! Brake and clutch master cylinders and the pedal assembly are done. Cleaned up wheels and new tires. Cleaning up of the trim and rocker panels.

A couple other changes of plans and ideas. I am going to install a removable aluminum plate between the footwells, where the heater and battery go. That way, most of the area is covered, but can be removed for engine changes. The air cleaner will be one of those rectangular boxes from a newer fuel injected car, and it will mount on the passenger footwell, over the access plate. The inlet will draw from the RF wheel well, and the outlet will go straight over a few inches to the carburetor. The outlet will "T" to the heater fan (old style, separate from the heater box). The heater fan outlet will "T" to the heater box and to the footwell vents. That way cool air can be pushed to the footwells, while the heater box can stay hot all the time, and help cool the oil. The exit for the heater box will just dump straight down onto the long Mazda bellhousing. Space is at a premium, but it looks like it will all fit just fine.

The tub is supposed to be body color, but I am going to paint it all machinist's grey, and choose the exterior color later. That way I will not need to re-do certain things yet again as I go. I plan to paint the car a lighter color someday, though the current patchy primrose is sort of cool, if I could get the LF fender to somehow work with it.

I plan to stay with the stock Midget rear end, but change the axles to new hardened pieces. This is not a slalom car and the tires are hard and skinny, so I hope I will be OK (100hp, not a ton of torque). What do I need to do to the center section (the differential or the ring and pinion), if anything, to make it last? The driveshaft will be the midget piece with the Mazda splined piece on the front.  

Next up is to install the "for real" engine, so the engine room and transmission tunnel need to be detailed out and turned grey. That way, when I get the header welded up and fitted, it will match the car exactly. After that comes the driveshaft mod, and we start getting very close.