Very powerful miata

[Mustang]

found this whilst searching before, the pics will explain everything :p

http://www.diamondmotorsport.com/IMGP0266.JPG

http://www.diamondmotorsport.com/IMGP0268.JPG

http://www.diamondmotorsport.com/IMGP0269.JPG

[escort mexico]

They produced something similar over here in oz, it had a V8 of some sort, but someone has also turbo'd one, and it is just as quick

[Matra et Alpine]

Handling ? Or didnt' the guy care :)

That block is now quite forward of the centre. ( also looks high )
Suspicion that it will understeer like hell goin into corners and lack grip on the rear coming out.
There's a reason most put that block well back into the bulkheads :)
Fantastic job fitting it in though. Superb engineering.

Sorry, I'm always the critic :)
But you need to see the engineering in a BTCC car. the block is down where the gearbox was, hell knows where thaey put the gearbox and diff !! ( Annoyed, was sure I had image of the BTCC winning Primera when it was at Knokhill showing the almost empty engine bay till you looked WAY back adn down :)

[Coventrysucks]

MX-5 (Miata) + Rotary from RX-7 ;)

[DiabloVT]

yeah some guys over in brisbane dropped a V8 into an MX-5 a few years ago actually, it was the previous model i believe. and ive also seen pics of a MX-5 with a 13B turbo rotary! with its brakes in a scary stock position.

[Quiggs]

Handling ? Or didnt' the guy care :)


There was a thread about this car on the Vortex, and someone listed fully dressed weights of the Corvette motor (aluminum) against the iron block of the Miata. The weight gain was insignificant. Something like 30 pounds.

[Matra et Alpine]

There was a thread about this car on the Vortex, and someone listed fully dressed weights of the Corvette motor (aluminum) against the iron block of the Miata. The weight gain was insignificant. Something like 30 pounds.
It was the position.
That is WELL forward and higher of the CoG of the stock.

CoG is more important than weight.
Adding 100 pounds at the cars CoG will have little effect on the handling.
Adding it away from the CoG will cause under/over and even roll steer - BAD

[Quiggs]

It was the position.
That is WELL forward and higher of the CoG of the stock.

CoG is more important than weight.
Adding 100 pounds at the cars CoG will have little effect on the handling.
Adding it away from the CoG will cause under/over and even roll steer - BAD

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1523814

From what I've read about Miata swaps, if done right, the handling is nearly the same. And with uprated tires/wheels and brakes, you're right back on track with the cornering ability of a stock Miata. With a lot more power.

And a correction; the LS2 gain is ~90 pounds.

Here's a post made on www.miata.net by the guy who built the car.


It's not tiny anymore... It's wider.

Lets say it gains 500 pounds just to keep everyone happy. So what? It's still a light car. A bmw Z4 weighs in at over 3000 pounds. So does and S2000, so does a boxter. The 350z is almost 3500 pounds.

It'll be considerdably less than that. The right tires and suspension will EASILY compensate for the weight and give better traction to boot. So long as you have sufficient power, weight is not an issue.

This obscession with weight is very confusing to me. Especially for V8 guys. It's not a 4 banger anymore. Bigger engine, bigger tires, wider rear.

Just for the record. The weight gain in the rear is only 115 pounds - TOTAL. That includes all the assemblies I made. The weight gain in the front will be almost exactly the same. Less if I remove the AC.

As for bigger tires, wheels, and flares (all three pounds of them) etc. Add another 75 pounds total. Total weight gain is 300 pounds. So yes, that's everything.

I've weighed every single part, I have added to the vehicle. I did that not because I'm afraid of weight, but because I want the balance.

I know what every single part weighs. Numbers quoted from web sites are not real life. They include all sorts of accessories, I didn't use. The weights I've quoted are ON THE SCALE weights and include original miata accessories, where I could.

No one is saying that an LS1 or a T-bird rear end is the best route, least of all me. ...But it's not a BAD route.

It is just an option that may have been overlooked and has its benefits. Weight is not that severe a disadvantage. But, even if there was SOME minor weight gain over other conversions, it comes with a lot benefits.

I would really love to see actual weights of some of these vehicle. With all due respect, all I see are estimates based on quotes by others...

It would be very nice, if some of you drove down to to local gravel yard and nicely asked to have your vehicle weighed. I'm sure they would let you.

So what am I getting for my 300 pounds?

A 400 HP LS1 (now with an LS6 cam and springs, corvette headers, LS6 valley cover).

275's in the rear, 225's in the front spaced 1.5 inches to match the rear better.

The wider stance which will improve aspect ratio in the vehicle. In terms of handling, it ought to do really well.

It's also not going to break very easily. That rear was designed to handle a lot more power. It is very strong compared to the miata rear and adds stiffness to the vehicle.

Was the conversion easy, NO. It was difficult and I doubt many here are equipped well enough to do it. But for those that are, this is an option. It's certainly not for everyone. Relocating the strut mounts was not fun. Welding them back without a spot welder was also not fun. Moreover, I wasn't able to buy replacements from Mazda, so I had to use the ones I took out, they were welded back in with a MIG welder. Removing them would require grinding them off rather than simply drilling out spot welds.

In addition, the spring caps that I had to make for the coilovers were compound angled and I had to think long an hard as to how they could be made with a Lathe and a mill and not an NC machine.

Not for everyone.

http://forum.miata.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=34;t=001706;p=

[Guibo]

That is WELL forward and higher of the CoG of the stock.

You might be right about the second part. Don't think so about the first.

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/433/E2.jpg
Miata engine should have only slightly lower CoG. Any differences will probably be minimal, I think.


Looks like a fun car!

[Matra et Alpine]

You might be right about the second part. Don't think so about the first.

Miata engine should have only slightly lower CoG. Any differences will probably be minimal, I think.

Looks like a fun car!
Yeah, from the links they were saying that the LS1 block is short.
I'd still like to here seom real comments on handling.
There are a lot of "should" and "will" types of comments.
But they also made the point that if the used the rear transaxle then it will have a good balance with all the cogs in the rear and I hadn't thought about that assuming it to be too much effort.

Does look fun, agreed. I like cars that look 'stock' but will act a little 'hotter' :)

[DodgeNitroBIRM]

Kinda reminds me of what people are doing to Foci. "Crammer" motors or the 32-valve V8 with 6-speed and making it RWD. I've seen Jackson Racing take the entire powertrain and drivetrain (save for the driveshaft) from a SVT (supercharged) Cobra and put it into a Focus!! It was wild looking.