Picked up a new toy this weekend..

Matt Blehm

Matt Blehm

Moderator


Picked up Mike Hart's old EP car on Sunday from a guy that was going ChumpCar racing with it. Given this history of this car, I just couldn't let that happen.

Still needs an engine and tranny, but I have a line on an engine. Now just need to find a tranny for it. If anyone has a spare that will fit, I'm happy to look at what you've got!

Hoping to have it back on track sometime in the spring. Need to clean up and prep the STU car for sale, and find room to stack all the spares I bought with this car. garage is already full and now I have another car to put in it!
 
If you got it for the price I heard, it's a really great buy. Your cheapest and easiest trans will be Miata gears in an RX7 box, that's what Tom T used to use for local races. Don't what I have in the shop or what customer's might have for sale, but I'll look around. What motor are you going to use 12A or 13B?
Welcome to Mazda
George
 
I have 2 used RX7 trans and one very low mileage Miata trans, left in my remaining inventory of RX7 parts. Used them as spares for my RX7.

RX7 trans $350
Miata trans $450
 
I knew John when he was in Houston, if he has a Miata gear trans for $450 it's a good deal. You ideally want to use 94 or later parts.
 
Yeah, the price was definitely a factor. basically there's no way I could build a car this fast for this price, and I was shopping around for something better than my 240SX. It was just going to cost too much money to be able to catch up to Rivera and McClughan in STU. It was either find a better STU car or switch classes.
I'd shopped around Houston at the available cars and basically decided to kepe the 240SX for another year and see what came up-- then I saw Mike's car for sale again and pretty much instantly decided I was going to switch to EP. It's a healthy class in SOWDIV with plenty of good competition, and now I have a car that can actually keep up. win-win!

I'm going to look at what's left of Mike's spares (and engine) this weekend, and I'm pretty sure he said it was a 13B he had.

John, thanks for the offer. I've got a few feelers out in Houston for some parts and if nothing comes out of the woodwork locally, I'll consider shipping from SC.
does the Miata box already have an RX7 bellhousing on it, or will I need to source one?
 
Just curious.... So a miata transmission in a rx7, that comes with the first weight penalty, and dog box etc is the second weight penalty?
 
You need to talk with Paul CPAMAN7 he bought a lot of the parts from Mike. Now that he also has a RX8,you might be able to pick up what you need. I have his contact info just call me. I will be at MSRH Wed if you want to stop by.
Read the GCR?, i have seen you race did not know you could read. More than glad to help you with that starting with 6.11.1A. Can also make sure you know all the flags at the Dec race,just come ask- always willing to help you. :twisted:
Need for you to bring me your year end trophy at the Dec race.
thanks
Larry
 
Larry Svaton":jl72w8yw said:
You need to talk with Paul CPAMAN7 he bought a lot of the parts from Mike. Now that he also has a RX8,you might be able to pick up what you need. I have his contact info just call me. I will be at MSRH Wed if you want to stop by.
Read the GCR?, i have seen you race did not know you could read. More than glad to help you with that starting with 6.11.1A. Can also make sure you know all the flags at the Dec race,just come ask- always willing to help you. :twisted:
Need for you to bring me your year end trophy at the Dec race.
thanks
Larry
Click to expand...

please do send Paul's info over (I don't have your number). I understand he runs the same basic setup in his car. matt at mattblehm dot com
I wouldn't need to know 6.11.1A if those slow arse Prod cars would learn to carry some speed through the corners!
Dec? But I just got the thing in August! (I blame Andrew!) BTW, I polished it for ya. that thing looked like a recovered Titanic relic... (I blame Darryl for that one).
 
Matt, I would just take John up on his awesome offer. Last Miata trans I build, my cost was way more than what John is selling his for, hell it cost me $200 and change for a late model Miata trans from the junkyard, then Jesse did the conversion for me. My RX-8 has been converted to run a PBS, and it will also take the first gen transmissions I've got in a pinch.

The only other parts I got from Mike is 12a stuff. I don't know what you gave for that car, but I'm sure it was a steal. I tried several times to convince him to come back but such is life.
 
Welcome, great to see another EP car in SOWDIV. Take John up on his Miata trans offer as that is a steal... when you want to spend the money get the dog box.
 
Congrats on the new purchase! Mike was always a great guy, just lost interest after Tom died. It will be great to see the car back on track again.
 
Thanks for the welcome guys.

I've talked to Mike a few times in the last year or so when he's come to the track to visit friends, and that's the same story he's told me then as well- just doesn't care to race anymore and wants the garage space back. So I'm heading over there on Sat to help him clean out his garage, and I'll see where I am on parts then.

Will probably pick up John's trans and then find a spare Miata box locally or something. my 240SX boxes don't take but 15-20 minutes to swap bellhousings and input shafts, and these don't look much different.
 
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