Plan Z Weigh-In FAIL!...And A Slanted Miata?

[@markyocum8249]

🤣That slant 6 Miata idea is Dr. Frankenstein levels of genius, I love it 🙌

[@longjohn77]

Fine line between genius and crazy, I'm not sure what side this falls on 😀

[@redgreen6436]

If something like this was around when I was young I would have been happy to hang around and work for free just to learn stuff.

[@danielmcgarry6215]

That's what I did back in the day. Hung out with the motorheads on my block when I was 11-12 year's old in the sixties. I remember sitting in the engine compartment of a guys 57 Chevy pounding pistons in during a ring and valve job. I loved it. I'm 63 now and the magic hasn't gone away. Uncle Tony is the real deal. I love Mopars too from the sixties and seventies as long as they have points in the distributor, I work on them.

[@Rico_G]

I said it in the first Miata vid. A slant 6 in a Miata is the funniest freaking thing I've ever heard. I want to see it!

[@twill454]

Love the slanted Miata idea.

[@baileyhatfield4273]

Him calling it weird and kinky made it better lmao. I think its a good idea, no hate on the little what 1.8 engine in there or 1.6 BUT a slant seems like more his style. I'd love one of those little cars and just have a peppy little scooting car.

[@nicholasagnew2792]

He's gunna do it no matter what, but its not going to be an autocross car anymore when you add 175lbs to the front and even have the weight further forward, but relocating the battery to the trunk and putting racing seats in the front would help...hole saw?

[@mccoma11]

A slant 6 in a miata? That's a terrible idea. I love it.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@nicholasagnew2792 heavy battery in the trunk and some fiberglass or even carbon fiber hood and fenders should balance back out.

[@OverlandOne]

@@nicholasagnew2792 The engine weight will be more toward the rear than the stock engine because part of the engine actually sits in the passenger area of the vehicle. He had to cut out a nice hole in the firewall to allow this to happen. Of course, your comment was made 1 month ago and he may have done all that to the Miata since then. I just watched a recent video on it and, it fits...barely...but it does.

[@Beandiptheredneck]

2109 pounds is pretty stinking light for that car, even if it never goes fast its still dripping cool all over the shiny shop floor. The slant miata idea is a great one. I want to see it come to life

[@SmokeyRam]

Ive never been so stoked for a miata build!

[@ChrisdeHaan]

Lol I was waiting for him to realize the prop rod 😆

[@AtZero138]

I didn't spot it.. I know he won't do it.. cause it's not what Plan Z "is" using stock ish parts etc.. the Intake is at least 10lbs.. using a Clifford or Aussie Speed intake would help.. check the price if you don't know what I mean. Man are they Nice.. Holy Shit are the expensive!! .. peace Brother..

[@davidleonard8369]

@@AtZero138 the Clifford intake is not ten pounds lighter than a weiand.

[@AtZero138]

@@davidleonard8369 it's a slant6 intake.. I never said it was ten lbs lighter.. I also said it's not what Plan Z is about.. no worries bud

[@davidleonard8369]

@@AtZero138 it's all cool. I don't think I called out the right manifold on plan z. I think it's an offenhauser.

[@stuffandjunkandthings364]

Lighter wheels. The factory steelies aren't the lightest, and the rears might be lighter if you went with a circle track wheel.

[@thomasburch2944]

Magnesium slots are what he needs.

[@DougsterWolverineGarage]

Basset wheels are the lightest steel wheels at 19lbs ea. They use them in NASCAR

[@AtZero138]

Yes to lighter wheels.. but.. them Mopar wheels don't weigh much.. he could always drill more holes in them Center lines.. that's a terrible idea those are rare as F, there 5 on 4 bolt pattern.. the Classic Dart owners Bane.. hahaha trust me I know..

[@jamessharp9790]

Thomas Burch spot on . Also , would that car hook on a 7” slick ? Very skinny front runners . Make his own carbon fiber lift off only hood and deck lid. Since track only , could rear discs be used and front brakes removed ? Cast aluminum valve cover / then file off all but the minimum to seal . Is there an aluminum slant 6 head available? Or was all unnecessary weight removed from it like it was from the block?

[@hemidart7]

@@DougsterWolverineGarage Remember this is a poor man build, people keep forgetting that!

[@KidKey59]

Psy : don't worry, Uncle tony is not real, he can't hurt you ... Uncle Tony : I'M GONNA PUT A SLANT 6 IN A MIATA !!!!

[@ogonbio8145]

Lmaoo I want someone to clip the part where he’s saying the slant 6 fits in the engine bay better than the oem engine

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

"It's wrong, its kinky" -UT 2021

[@codydaniel3239]

@@baby-sharkgto4902 that needs to be on a t-shirt from uncle Tony

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

@@codydaniel3239 I'd buy 1 or 2

[@Madigan101st]

sick old bastard

[@sczuylevch13]

Tripple Webbers on the slant in the Miata please!

[@davidleonard8369]

Absolutely! Then it becomes very easy to make different runner lengths to move the torque peak up or down. You can also make and test individual runners vs one, two, or three plenums. Maybe team up with holdner and do dyno testing.

[@brocluno01]

@@davidleonard8369 I'd even be happy with SU's :-)

[@davidleonard8369]

@@brocluno01 never liked any cv carb. But I have tuned many of them. And many types of vehicles have been manufactured with them. Sure fixed a lot of motorcraft vv 2700 carbs back in the eighties.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@davidleonard8369 I think the shop took the VV in my old 79 LTD out back and shot it. They could either get it to pass emissions or run right, not both.

[@freemanautomotivedesign8536]

I might still have a aluminum slant 6 block in my parts pile some where if that will help.

[@Aaron-TheHandsome]

Yes!! Quick, send it out to Uncle Tony!👍🏽😎💯✌🏽

[@AtZero138]

Keep in Touch Brother.. that's Cool.. Mention it on the Sunday live stream.. or Wednesday.. 😉👌

[@ScottKenny1978]

That would really help the Miata. They're very finely balanced, dropping a big V8 in there totally messes them up for road racing.

[@davidleonard8369]

@@ScottKenny1978 yeah 427 cobra had a terrible weight bias. That's why no one likes them.

[@DerrangedGadgeteer]

Lighter wheels, and lighter tires in particular. Go to some really little skinnies on the front. You'll lose the rotating mass as well.

[@lb9gta307]

You went through all that work to remove the scoop and patch the hole just to put the scoop back on? Lol I'd want to put a Mopar DOHC 2.0 or 2.4 engine in that Miata.

[@taskmaster58]

You did say you were running a heavier battery, that should be a couple of pounds easy.

[@danielkustra9071]

i'm so happy for Uncle Tony. Let's all do everything we can to help Uncle Tony keep making AWESOME VIDEOS!!!

[@CanIbeFrank]

Lighter battery. The really nice ones only weigh 5 pounds

[@tjvaichus]

Oh man uncle Tony, that place is purdy. So clean you can eat off the floor. Great job and good luck 👍

[@Z_732]

Sweet slant 6 updates! So close to making weight! Maybe its time to jump on slim-fast UT.. lol. And slant miata sounds wild! Going to make a lot of ricers mad. PERFECT! Haha

[@johnjenkins8782]

Drag lite rims? A diet for the driver? A tiny battery? A diet for the driver?

[@brocluno01]

Plan-Z - battery - remove the lead acid battery and replace it with a Li-ion staring battery. You'll loose 40# easy :-) Steel wheels on the front have to go. Pro-Stars weigh half. Look for lighter tires ... More drilling - backing plates, sides of the brake drums, I'm sure you can find things to drill ... You are not going to be stopping in the rain ... CrMo tube tie rod and other steering bits ... On the Miata, slant hell yes (do you have an aluminum one?). Chrysler four speed, or full manual valve body TQ-Flite. Gotta have side draft carbs (sports car you know). Some bling would be nice. Set the engine back as much as possible to help with weight distribution. Ultra heavy fronts do not help on the Auto-X. It'll be a ton of fun. Nothing out there will have the TQ to weight ratio, except full on race cars ... :D

[@aussiebloke609]

A slant in a Miata is just wrong. And that's why we do stuff like that - _because_ it's wrong. :-D

[@clembob8004]

I think I'd go with a 318, but even a slant 6 should produce a fast car, small and lightweight.

[@crazylarryjr]

I agree, personally I'd put a 2.2 out of a 80's Daytona in it

[@DougsterWolverineGarage]

But the slant is mucho torquey AND high revving! I think the slanty is a better choice than a v8 for this application

[@crazylarryjr]

@@DougsterWolverineGarage Slant 6 High revving? Have you ever seen one? they are flow limited to about 4-5,000 RPM. There is no way possible to over rev one, except rolling downhill in 1st gear, starting in 2nd gear

[@clembob8004]

@Tony Ross Right on! That's about a 2400 lb car, and with a dose of the UTG weight-loss program, that could be a real screamer.

[@renzo1382]

Greetings from Argentina. I love your videos and they're a big inspiration, im 20. Congratulations for the shop

[@stevemowat4294]

Plan Z? remove the REBAR hood prop. there's 3 or 4 pounds!

[@ralfbond258]

that would work

[@wallbanger1968]

He thought of that after he weighed it

[@karlkapanke2582]

If you're going to keep the hood prop on the car make it out of wood.

[@codyedgington6852]

I seen the hood prop too lol. Least that's some..... Piece of mind

[@mikehagen3785]

The slant Miata is going to be a perfect 24 hours of Le Mons car...

[@alvon911]

How about swap out the iron master cylinder for a newer aluminum one? Plexiglass door windows?

[@karlkapanke2582]

I like the master cylinder idea, but Uncle Tony has always said that he wants to keep the glass intact, and the body steel.

[@stanburton6224]

If he insists on a steel body, the only thing to do is acid dip it.

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

That thing is waaaaay light than what I guessed. Get a nice light weight battery. That will shed 9lbs and then some.

[@sccarguy8242]

You said you wanted to SCCA the Miata, a slant will mess up its weight distribution, and make it super nose heavy. Not that it would not be neat, but it’s a go cart the way it is. Replace the clutch and run her for a bit first.

[@jameskrys5286]

I just posted that he need to look at the SCCA rule book before he does ANYTHING. I wonder if he has ever heard of Formula Drift?

[@TinManKustoms]

Change the leaf spring packs. I'm sure you can find the right combo and shave 20lbs a side there

[@billbaskin7904]

Fiberglass leaf springs. Early Chevy Astro Van's had them.

[@enjoythesho1992]

A slant six in a miata would be Awesome would be one of a kind and the sound of a healthy slant pushing a miata down the track would be music to my ears ..

[@TwoLotus2]

Take the aluminum radiator out of the mazda. Use it if it is lighter.

[@rodney1818]

It's funny you guys weighing this car and you talking about the amount of gas in it remind me that my dad always used to leave his truck running when he went across the scales he said that the oil that was flying around inside the engine didn't weigh anything cuz it was flying through the air he would always then turn the truck off when we got back on the scale so all the oil was in the pan

[@DreadHeadHayden]

shop is looking great uncle tony, and so is the plan Z dart! glad to see mr john out there with you. 2 living legends 🤘🏼

[@TargaWheels]

Helium in the tires and helium balloons in the trunk/interior. 😁👍

[@forthwithtx5852]

That’s what I was going to say.

[@theinsaneshecklador6598]

All the helium balloons are being sent to the Suez Canal.

[@snake_eyes_garage]

Just commenting - not telling you what to do. :D I'm sure you could pull weight out of those seats, use a Borgeson steering box and maybe a lighter steering column, replace the battery with a 'stereo amp' LiOn battery, drag shocks...

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

I don't care if they're "out dated", I still LOVE the look of those rear wheels on Plan Z! Since Cragar SSTs apparently aren't available anymore, I just ordered a set of American Racing Outlaws for my current project, 15x10s for the rear and 14x6s for the front to get a bit of "rubber rake". I'm planning to strip off the clear coat and polish them to a mirror finish.

[@Rexars]

Slant 6 miata sounds like an amazing idea. Can't wait to see this build!

[@AntonioMackay]

We want to see the HELLVEDERE!!

[@oldtimerf7602]

Thank GOD you came to your senses with the Miata.

[@bigbear5510]

I always thought that he paid too much for it, I would have offered them half of what they were asking just to see what they had to say. From what I heard they had it for sale for quite a bit of time and now we know why.

[@oldtimerf7602]

@@bigbear5510 Yeah, but I just mean.... OUR uncle Tony, zoom zooming around in a 4 cyl Miata? What next? Will he go vegan too?

[@bigbear5510]

@@oldtimerf7602 Polka music. LOL

[@beniamino939]

With all of those mopars you could open a museum in that new building!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Love the slant 6 Miata idea. It should definitely have a manual transmission. Nothing fancy. Just an old 3 or 4 speed from an old Mopar. And with the weight you'll be saving getting rid of all the wiring and computer crap, it should be pretty quick. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Wish I didn't live so far away. I'd love to come wrench with you guys

[@SorryGuys-eighty-8]

Love the new shop. Everything inside and A five second walk to get to them. Bad weather not a problem anymore. Now things are going to go quick !

[@stanburton6224]

Suggest welding the passenger door on and dispense with the hinges. Use pins on the hood, and eliminate the hinge brackets. Same with the trunk.

[@carlcarlamos9055]

When Slant swapping the Miata, please use the smaller engine so it will rev. Also, I believe a few videos back you were talking about wanting an inexpensive light weight piston for the six. I vaguely remember from decades ago, a guy in one of the thick, specialty issue mags was using pistons from the little compact front wheel drive commuter cars Chrysler used to sell in the slant six. I can’t remember what rods he was using. Maybe one of your viewers has a copy. I haven’t been able to find it in digital form. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

[@HarleyHawk1]

Very cool with the Miata. I thought my '86 RX7 had a rat's nest in there when I first got it, wow was that miata cluttered. Should be a unique and cool build. Look forward to it.

[@modelnutty6503]

decades ago a buddy's RX rotary was toast, we married a Datsun A-15 engine into it, pretty big power drop but nice driving and 35+ mpg no problem.

[@waiting4aliens]

On some light weight Dart race cars the window raising mechanism was a piece of cloth that you pulled up to raise the window and there was a hook to affix it to.

[@Chevyguy-1984]

You said something about you had a larger than normal battery in the car, maybe a battery for a older Honda ( civic or accord ) they're pretty small so that might help shave a few pounds, or maybe a dry cell battery but they're expensive. BTW I love the slant powered miata idea

[@Zchef85]

I'm impressed it actually weigh that little. I want to get my corvair down to 1800 lbs.

[@austinmason5452]

Jesus you're trying miracle work😂

[@richarda996]

The vw bug was 1890#.

[@Zchef85]

It's a 63 monza so it should be around 2300 stock.

[@01trsmar]

YES!!! Slant 6 the Miata...it will be one of one!!

[@MrBrombomb]

Congratulations on getting your new shop & best of luck settling in. At least now you have the work space & conditions you need. The Miata project sounds interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing how that turns out. The Gambler car also looks to be an interesting build.

[@theherbert2141]

Use the BUICK 215 in Miata - keep the weight low!

[@timothykeith1367]

The Buick/Rover V8 would be my choice given his love for Buick.

[@theherbert2141]

Yep - had an MGB with Rover 3.9 for quite a while - my ride is now a 62 Buick Skylark Convertible with 4B-10.25 Buick 215 - LOVE IT - my wife will have to flick my ashes in the unused ashtray when I "cruise out"!

[@kurtmccarthy6733]

Tony ! Love the Shop and Love the Slant Six for the Miata. Excellent idea Maan !!

[@davepotanko5514]

Front wheels/aluminum, radiator/aluminum with plastic tanks, all weight off the nose. Win, win

[@thomasburch2944]

Thoughts: 1) 2300 at the line ain't bad, but it won't work. Time to drill some more holes. 2) I'm jealous of the room you have! Well done. 3) You need more stuff in there. Way too sanitary.

[@ewconway]

Uncle Tony, I recommend removing the hood scoop. You can run the car without the hood scoop. That would probably remove at least 10+ pounds. Also, love the idea of making a Mazda Miata into a Dodge Valiant with installing a slant six.... 👍

[@Sedan57Chevy]

Putting a slant in the Miata makes me so happy :D And you've got it, getting that couple pounds out of Plan Z! Video looks great in the new shop, btw...

[@hunterpetrovich1154]

I say take the hood and trunk hinges completely out and just use (aluminum? Steel?) Pins or bolts.

[@stevekuhns793]

A slant six miata! That's awesome! Love the new shop!

[@Whiep]

HOLY SHIT, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A SLANT SIX MIATA EVER SINCE YOU BOUGHT THAT CAR!

[@jonatesrides]

Yes!! I love the idea of a Slant 6 Miata!! I have been playing with the idea of putting an old school engine in a modern car.

[@unclesquirrel6951]

Personally I blame squirrels

[@bigbear5510]

Dang bushy tailed tree rats always causing trouble!

[@ericschumacher5189]

Remove the hood and trunk hinges for aluminum pins and clips, go to a small aluminum radiator (steal from Miata), remove fan and put on electric one from Miata, look into lighter weight seats (aluminum sand rail buckets will weigh the least), lawn mower battery, Replace steel wheels with aluminum or mags, look at the efficiency of the leaf spring pack (given the output you could probably use less leafs or cut leafs).....that should get you to well under 2100lbs....probably under 2050lbs.

[@gregfielder4763]

RIP the floors in your new shop. I spent a week doing epoxy and urethane floor paint in a garage I had a few years ago. It was beautiful, but after working on it a couple years it started to look like it. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Burt Munro bought a brean new 1920 Indian Scout.. capable of going 58 MPH stock .. He worked on that bike his whole life until he had it going 200 MPH as a streamliner by 1963 -1967 or so

[@FredsRandomFinds]

If the original 4 cylinder is good just chuck a turbo on it and get more power than a slant for less weight?

[@ohnoitisnt]

While i fully support the slant 6 idea, whats stopping you put a fast 318 in it :P

[@johndevries8759]

Totally agree, it's shorter and more weight to the rear wheels!!!

[@ScottKenny1978]

300lbs in the nose?

[@GnarshredProductions]

@@ScottKenny1978 the slant really isn't gonna be lighter than a small block v8 they are both big cast iron engines. V8 miata's don't handle bad that is just a rumor.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@GnarshredProductions it's still another 300lbs in the nose, which will mess up the balance. Nobody driving a v8 miata is doing autocross.

[@GnarshredProductions]

​@@ScottKenny1978 I agree with you but an old cast iron slant six is also probably just as heavy as a small block and it will be worse because its longer so the weight would be further forward over the nose. Im an import guy if it were my car I would keep the 1.6L miata engine run on a standalone ecu like megasquirt and it would be getting a turbo but I think that new technology is above tony's level of understanding he is old school so for an older hot rod guy like him a small block v8 would probably be the easiest and best/cheapest option. Could even put a 4 speed behind it and install a hydraulic handbrake so when he gets bored of autocross he can go drifting.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

As someone else said, a smaller battery will definitely get you down to your weight goal. Or, if you take a generator to the track, you could lose the alternator and charge the battery between rounds.

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

I love this garage it’s all cars a work in progress

[@seanfagan6998]

Put the maita back were you found it.

[@lilmike2710]

Two words... Aluminum and plexiglass. Replace side windows with plexi, go with all aluminum master cylinder. Then crawl around it and 86 whatever you can shave off. Maybe come off a few bucks and have a composite hood and trunk lid knocked up. That might put it under 2000.

[@ScottKenny1978]

What took you so long to make the decision on the Miata, Uncle Tony?!? 😆 Gonna play hell with the balance for autocross if you can't find an aluminum slant block, though.

[@douglasnicholls1366]

Love the Slant Miata. Probl'y can't mention eyes, though. Build it as a Feather Duster and I'll come and get it. Hard to believe a Slant fits under there.

[@86OEd]

Love your new shop!

[@DefconMaster]

The idea of a slant 6 in a Miata both horrifies and intrigues me! Gonna have to boost or spray it if you want to make it worth it performance-wise, though, since the slant only makes around 30hp more than the stock motor while weighing a good bit more. As for the Plan Z Dart, the logical next step would probably be a fiberglass hood/trunk lid and replacing the glass with lexan. That seems pretty antithetical to the build, though, so... maybe lighter wheels?

[@donaldfrederick1557]

Slant 6 was the first car I put rings and bearings in. My mother's car and did not take the motor out.

[@vb7037]

I'm so excited for that Miata build omg

[@roadrunner4404]

Take out half a quart of oil. 1/4 gallon of antifreeze, maybe a bit of gear grease too.

[@JimmyLoose]

It would be easier to take 10lbs off the driver. Two weeks of Keto...bam you're there.

[@Zchef85]

True

[@kcaj_tf6750]

get a 265 hemi, you won't regret it. You can ship them from Australia, plenty of people are shipping barras

[@jimmyford271]

The new place is sweet.

[@slobodandraca2337]

Uncle tony has worked his ass literally .

[@vicmccartin]

Love the new garage but what about the chickens !!!!

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

Let’s see Plan Z!! In paint!!!!

[@oscarwalton1188]

Use a light weight battery like a optima it will easily shave 9 pounds +

[@davidleonard8369]

Lithium battery. Way lighter. While we're at it let's put helium in the tires!

[@oscarwalton1188]

@@davidleonard8369He only needs to lose 9 pounds a light weight battery will easily do that as for the heliem really🙄

[@davidleonard8369]

@@oscarwalton1188 I was making a joke about the tires.

[@entropy156]

But it's shaving weight in the wrong place. You want that heavy battery in the back. Ideally, the weight should come off the front.

[@davidleonard8369]

@@entropy156 ok I had no idea that the battery was moved to the rear for a good reason. Ha ha. So maybe he can use a lithium battery and put the engine behind the driver. Re name plan z cock eyed six popper under not so much glass.

[@mtjeeves1234]

I like the slant, but I did offer you an R1 motor with 180hp for free. You were sure you were gonna keep it stock you said lol. If the offer still interests you. The motor is sitting on a pallet in the back of my garage. We just have to get it to ya.

[@OllamhDrab]

I think some of those fancier modern batteries could save you six or more pounds pretty easy.

[@henryescat1104]

Needs more speed holes...

[@jamessouthworth1699]

The hood has no structural support. I would drop a fiberglass hood on it and a fiberglass deck lid. Maybe some Centerline convo Pros up front. Are you still running drums up front?... maybe some lightweight aftermarket disc setup up front.

[@morelanmn]

Tony, on your next \6 think about removing weight from the block. A very old super stock and road racing "trick". In the past Jaguar had body men smooth out the outside of their blocks with body filler because most of the I-6 block was visible.

[@yourmom4784]

Happy that my slant 6 Miata idea is coming to fruition

[@Snakeman1985]

You can also do a battery delete, and just jump it, let the alternator run everything

[@MrBiggerdaddio]

Video quality is 10x better!

[@jonathangehman4005]

I WANT THE ENGINE OUT OF THE MIATA FOR MY HOMEMADE LOTUS 7!!! Sure I can go to the wreckingyard and drag one off the pile but I think it would be cool to have the motor out of what's about to become a KZbin sensation. I'll come get it if it's in any kind of decent shape. I dig the Miata transmogrification into a 63 Valiant. If they made a run of Valiants back then w IRS and and aluminum hood, trunk and doors they'd be worth 100k now.

[@portalbucket5365]

Yes! I was hoping you would put a slant 6 in the miata. Cant wait for that👍

[@HotRodSwede360]

If the dart needs to loose weight, drill tiny holes between the big holes in the fenders.

[@michaelatkins9780]

If you ever ask what would Tony do, put a slant 6 in it.

[@jameskrys5286]

Uncle Tony, You have to think about what class that Miata will run in before you change the engine. SCCA Solo 2 isn't Run What You Brung.. Before I moved from the Chicago area I used to help a friend compete with his Toyota MR-2. There was a guy who was a National Solo 2 Champion with a TR-8. He told me his car's gearing was so high he couldn't drive it on the street and also he said automatic transmissions are the way to go. With a slant 6 it might be a better Formula Drift car.

[@bigbear5510]

From what I can find about the base weigh of this car, it shows 2,705 to 2,855 lbs, so at 2,100 lbs, that's a pretty good amount shaved off this car.

[@codyramos3200]

Car came out to 2109lbs . W Tony 2305lbs .. but yeah good amount of weight was removed.

[@bigbear5510]

@@codyramos3200 Thanks, I did see the video. I must have not proof read my comment before clicking the button. LOL then subtract 3 lbs for the prop rod.

[@Jim_M_75]

I was 4lb out on your weight Uncle Tony, guessed 200lb (sorry :p) but I was way out on Plan Z though haha. Love the idea of the slant 6 mx5, cant wait to see it.

[@dh1240]

For the Miata, here's something to consider: it's not a Mopar engine but maybe more obscure. How about a 200/250 Ford 6? Very stout, very compact & with some neat power adders available.

[@duncanmacrae6384]

That's it Tony, forget the Miata. Build a slant 6 Ark.