5.0 subframe question- keep this one or scrap it?
 

Hey folks,
I've got a 5.0 Miata that I purchased from someone else. I have a thread somewhere explaining the experience, and how I got pretty screwed due to my ignorance of the builds at the time. But alas! We are turning over a new leaf. I pulled the old tired 5.0 out and I'm putting in a more recently rebuilt one. However, upon pulling it out, I can see now the subframe I'm working with. Despite being uber hacked up, the mounts aren't in the same place I see all the other subframes.
I really don't want to pour a ton more into this, I'm thinking of getting her running decent, and selling her. So should I buy a new subframe and cut it up? Or just utilize this existing one? Maybe have it welded up a bit? Thoughts on these mounting points?
The motor sits high, he put a hoodscoop in so the intake would clear, and the oil pan seems unmodified..
Thoughts?
Throw in new motor as is? Modify existing pan and subframe? Get new subframe and modify? Cry in a corner? Open to all ideas. ;)
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1460740831

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Thoughts?

If the motor sat in there that way you wanted it to, then I don't see any reason to change it. If it works, don't fix it.

I'd probably clean up those nasty edges, and weld in some bracing. But that's only because of my OCD. :)

Thanks for the reply!
The engine was a bit high.. The hood on it has a big scoop and I was hoping to go back to stock.. But it's not the end of the world.
You're right though, maybe I should just leave it. It could use some bracing though for sure. Any suggestions on how/where to brace it for optimal strength??

Can't help you there. I'd have to stand there and look at it for a bit. Keep in mind that the weakest structure is a square, and the strongest is a triangle.

That's a good thought. I might drop the engine in, see what I need and don't, mark it, pull it out, and add some bits in. Much appreciated.

Is the exhaust on the passenger side routed through the subframe? It looks like there's a lot of material cut out there that would concern me. I would want to reinforce that as much as possible before running that subframe.

Yup that's exactly what's going on unfortunately. I plan to get that reinforced. This guy really hacked it up :/