Rather than one giant build thread, I decided to break it up a bit. With a big project like this, it will make it easier to read, and find information later.

One of the big "problems" with the Exocet is that there really isn't a place to put all the electrical stuff. There's no dashboard to hide stuff behind. So you have to be a bit creative, and build the stuff you need.

I started by making a tray to put the ECU, fuse panel, etc, in. Not very difficult, even with nothing but minimal hand tools. I rolled a couple of beads in the bottom; and punched beaded holes in each end for wire to pass through. The beading around the holes and on the bottom does not add strength. But does make the whole thing stiffer.


The color schem of the car is red and blue. And Up until now I'v been a Ford guy. So I used Old Ford Blue.

The Megasquirt ECU is mounted on vibration studs for protection.

Under the red covers are circuit breakers. I like breakers instead of fuses. They're bigger and more expensive, but I don't have to carry spares for the critical stuff. I may make a top cover for all of it. The hood should cover everything, but I don't have that yet.


I used the front of the box as a dashboard for the few switches and buttons I need.


I don't need gauges. I'll be using an MXL Pista data logger and dash. AiM Sports - The World Leader in Data Acquisition In theory, it will connect to the Megasquirt ECU via CAN bus. In the dash picture, you can see the mounting plate I made for it sitting on top of the steering column.

 

It's not often I don't have something to say but all I can come up with is wow... Just WOW!

 

Getting there.

 

Nice work Bob.... I was never a fan of wiring but having removed and replaced two complete harnesses in Miatas I now have an understanding of how they work. My Exo will have a custom harness from front to back. I just wish they ran a channel or conduit for everything to hide in. Looks like that will be one of my tasks!

 

Wiring gives me a headache. Tedious, technical, and exact. Of course, after I start building my Megasquirt harness, I find a ready made one for not much more money. I would have purchased that instead, just to save me money.

I also found a small module to be able to use the MXL Pista to monitor fuel level. Pretty much everything else will come through the Megasquirt via CAN. I hope.

 

What I found is after about 8 hours of looking at a pile of wire all colors except orange look the same. Still if you can follow a string and tell colors apart you can wire the world!

 

Making a little more progress. Electronics tray and engine harness are finished (I hope).





I'm placing the battery behind the passenger seat. No need for a fancy tray, just some angle aluminum to hold it in place. I'm using a small, light weight Braille battery.



Obviously, the main battery switch will be right next to the battery. I attached an extension handle, and then I'll attach an actuator handle leading up to near the gear shift where I can reach it. I painted the battery switch plate and the handle safety orange, for obvious reasons.

 

You have a great attention to details.

 

Building this car is a lot more involved than I thought it was going to be. My original intention of this thread - and others like it - was to document the differences from dropping a V8 into a Miata. I wanted this information to be easily found and referenced for the next guy. But keeping these threads updated and organized isn't working out all that well.

So, I built a web site. Racing the Exocet

This site only documents those steps, problems, and solutions specific to the Exocet. I'm sure some of it will apply to a Miata. But since I've never owned one, I can't say. I'll still read this site nearly every day, like I have been. And I still think this is the best site not only for V8 Miata's, but Miata performance in general.

No, this is not a commercial web site. It's for information only. I'm not selling anything, promoting anything, or asking for anything. Peruse the site at your leisure. Or not.