WTF Friday: A Second Kick at the Mazderati Can

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Late last year, when following up on the Maserati Quattroporte powered Miata build I posted in October, I was saddened to learn that project appears to have been permanently moth balled.

No answers from the owner in the thread, and it showed up on kijiji for a quick spell.

Surprisingly someone else has taken up the challenge, this time with an NC chassis Miata instead of an NA.

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To think that this will eventually emit Maserati noises is a pleasant thought

The process this new builder is taking couldn’t be more different than the last, focusing on the motor and transmission bits first instead of immediately getting busy with an angle grinder.

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The motor chosen for this project is the 4.2L V8 out of a 2008 Quattroporte
Because the Maserati transmission is really fairly complex (and missing a pedal) a six speed out of a  2007 BMW 335i was chosen instead
Because the Maserati transmission is really fairly complex (and missing a pedal) a six speed out of a 2007 BMW 335i was chosen instead

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Of course a BMW transmission and Maserati motor don’t bolt together so an adapter plate had to be made
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Once the adapter plate was done a custom flywheel had to be machined out of 12” 6061 Aluminum
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Which was a lengthy process generating lots of scrap aluminum

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New flywheel and old bolted together and waiting for friction material

The build is very much still in its infancy so that’s about all that has happened so far (minus the front end coming off the Miata) but progresses on the ‘Miaterati’ project can be followed here.

This Mazda Maserati mash up actually isn’t all that far away from me so I might have to try and get in touch with the owner and go check it out.

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