LS2 V8 Miata

I added some new photos to my gallery and a sub-album with a few of our older performance projects you might find interesting http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/LS2V8Miata

I'm not impressed by old ideas here's the blown Cobra we did over 25 years ago (one of the first ever done)

I appreciate everybody taking serious interest in this thread's premise, but I gotta tell ya, Crispy Chicken is OFF THE HOOK!! When I saw those pictures of the LS block on the supermarket scales and the look on that perturbed women's face . . . Priceless! I almost fell outta my chair laughing:lmao: Nobody should ever take themselves too seriously.

My son-in-laws shop in Gilbert Arizona has 11-12 complete LS1s, LS2s, LS6s and LSXs on hand at any one time. I know he's got 4 new crate 2005 GTO LS1s right now and at least 3 new crate Camaro F-body LS1s complete, with exhaust manifolds, coil packs, intakes, throttle bodies, injectors, fuel rails, water pump, harmonic damper, flex plates. Anyway, we don't have digital scales. If you guys can round up anybody in the Phoenix area with digital scales that will bring them by I will uncrate one of each, LS1s GTO and F-body and weigh them. I'll take digital pictures to document what goes on. That's all I can do, how bad do you wanta know? - Lee

The problems I've always seen is just how and what everybody's trying to weigh. If you Yahoo or Google (The Google) "What does a Chevy 350 V8 weigh?" you get about 26,000 results. Closer review indicates they are almost 100% opinion, IE this is from a V8 Vega conversion site. How much more weight will I add to the front of my car? You figure it out! 2300 OHC: 336 lbs Iron Duke 2.5L: around 350 lbs Buick 3.8 V6: 435 lbs Chevy 350 V8: 621 lbs Aluminum components help reduce weight. These numbers are for factory OEM (mostly iron) engines. And the response of a few minutes ago from GM; LSX Series Turn Key Weights "We appreciate your e-mail regarding the weight of our engines. The approximate weight of our L-series GM Performance Parts engines, as ordered, you requested is as follows: LS1 = 558 lbs. (part number 25534322 - discontinued) LS2 = 550 lbs. (part number 19156261) LS6 = 544 lbs. (part number 17801268) LS7 = 528 lbs. (part number 19165058)" Thank you for your interest in our products. - GM Performance Parts That's all, have a good one, Jon:burnout:

That's all I've got for now, sorry I pushed your buttons. Maybe I need to hone my communication skills. - Lee

Adhering to your own rules, mister administrator, like#10. I haven't attacked anyone, nor called you a "Jerk" either. I guess if you're out of meaningful ideas & responses, next you should further abuse your administrator status and punish me for disagreeing with you and the shade-tree rationale. Here's info from GM Performance parts about 3 minutes ago, let 'er rip! I've only "seen" other people's weight comparison attempts is why I didn't claim that as definative information of my own, I didn't do it, that's the point in not quoting it. If bathroom scales are good enough for you, here are the GM published numbers (note the term "approximate" used by GM); LSX Series Turn Key Weights "We appreciate your e-mail regarding the weight of our engines. The approximate weight of our L-series GM Performance Parts engines, as ordered, you requested is as follows: LS1 = 558 lbs. (part number 25534322 - discontinued) LS2 = 550 lbs. (part number 19156261) LS6 = 544 lbs. (part number 17801268) LS7 = 528 lbs. (part number 19165058)" Thank you for your interest in our products. - GM Performance Parts

Digital scales are $999.95 (Speedway Race Catalog) and isn't that exactly the point of this kind of discussion, to avoid exageration, who drives their car around with only a short block in it? I avoided quoting numbers myself based on exactly the kind of reactions I've been reading in this thread. - Lee

I found it interesting to see the exact same long term argument by thread going on here as I've seen in other forums, which engine weighs less. As if that difference was the deciding factor of superior performance alone, irregardless of HP and torque, car set-up or the driver. The majority converting V8 Miatas use Ford 5.0 V8s because there's a conversion kit available. About 5 of us have built LSX V8 Miatas and the Ford SB guys always argue that we (the LSX guys) have wasted our time and money based on their belief the SBF and accessories are lighter, as if it were true, that would matter far more than any engine's performance. The OEMs put out "discriptive" specs information on engine weights but never clarify just "what" it is they're weighing. This is the food for argument intiation amoungst enthusiasts, not empirical proof. Look at the testing methodology used to arrive at a gross conclusion; "a measly 4 Lbs". The pictures tell us a little. We observe a used SBC balancing on a stack of metal (aluminum tube, steel?) on two "different" bathroom scales (typically 300 Lb max reading capability, typically, complete engines can weigh between 350-550 Lbs) the attachment fixture for the one engine stand is still in place on the SBC, an aluminum water pump is piled on top instead of the OEM cast iron one. Is the SBC full of oil or not, how about the LS1? We don't see any pictures of how the LS1 was weighed, but it really doesn't matter because common sense tells us this is not empirical proof of anything. It leads us to believe a greasy used engine (carboned piston tops) can be balanced on two different bathroom scales. The only reliable weighing attempts I've ever seen posted before came from a "trusted", independent engine shop that employed four corner digital scales (for corner weighing cars) and they documented complete engines, with similar accessories, in place, wet (with oil & filter) Even though I have a life-time of building and racing cars with a variety of engines, there are folks that will say I'm biased because of my current project's engine choice, so I refrain from quoting my own thoughts as to approximate engine weight comparisons. My comments were not intended to offend anyone's sensibilities, however in the words of a famous Statesman; "you're intitled to your own opinions, but you're not entitled to your own set of facts". Sorry for the long post, but I thought I could help clarify my previous post. - Lee:)

I love it, you guys never fail to entertain! News Flash . . . The Billions spent in Detroit by GM, Ford and Chrysler attempting to engineer more HP per pound via lighter aluminum engines was all wasted!!! Definatively proven by the Walgreens bathroom scale! What a HOOT! You guys are great, great I tell ya! It's Halloween, paint a Pumpkin black and tell us it's a Bowling Ball!!!!

Thanks a lot Davy, your organization and all the players are great! I've just turned my pent up frustrations to getting this car done. I'm close to finishing all the mock-up fabrication details, so then I'll be able to take it all apart, paint everything and start putting it back together. Sorry I haven't been able to spend more time online with you guys, I'll try to keep some fresh pictures up on the photo site to help keep everybody up on where the progress is. Again, Thanks - Lee

I haven't been around for awhile and I've gotten quite a few PMs asking me, what I'm doing and how I'm doing on my project. Even though I'm retired I've spent more time than usual helping out friend's businesses in automotive design, engines & engine management, custom machining, etc. and officiating at Pro Autosports events (road-racing). It hasn't left much time for my project, so now I'm re-focusing, back at it. I won't be in here much for a while but if you're interested in seeing what's going on with my V8 Miata project check out http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/LS2V8Miata/ Also if you're interested in seeing a few of the past projects I've been involved with click on the "More High-Performance Projects" icon to see the fun old stuff. Thanks again for your interest! Regards - Lee

Yeah Keith, my photo site is; http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/LS2V8Miata/?sc=1 And if you decide to turbo, Flyin' Miata www.flyinmiata.com are the smartest people to turbo Miatas and they package great turbos with the most reliable, developed HP and more important, without turning the wife's Miata into a smokin' grenade. - Lee

Ron Davis aluminum radiator for Chevy or Ford V8 (inlets & outlets placement) $209.95 Two-core with 1" tubes, more efficient than 4 core with 1/2" tubes. Dimensions 19" tall, 2 1/4" thick, available widths are 22", 26", 28" or 31" for same price. Speedway part# 917-342 The 22" for your application far exceeds the performance of any 4 core 19 X 25 anyway. Hope it helps. - Lee

How do you deal with security, emissions issues, CAGS and all the various trouble codes your PCMs gonna pitch when it "sees" missing sensors, wires and input wrong values? Are you actually going to pin-out the entire PCM, reconfigure the harness and re-program and tune it yourself? Seems like a stand alone harness (build or buy) and leaving the Zs harness alone except for minimal interface necessary for gages makes alot more sense.

Howard Performance, Arizona (480) 577-9413 Jeff I got the most beautiful constructed "stand alone" harness, (exceeds OEM quality) doesn't matter what vehicle, will run an LS2 in anything, complete with dual heavy amp relays (where they belong) for my Davis radiator & fans, fuel pump relay, VSS speedo interface, reprogrammed OEM performance PCM, 5 wire MAF, everything needed. No brainer installation, clearly labeled idiot proof. custom ordered at great price. Oh yeah, I'm an old fart too 54

My friend Tim's LS6 V8 Miata get around 27-28 MPG on highway. I realistically didn't get that in my 4 cylinder Miata before because I was running at 7,000 RPMs all the time. Deja, you're right about the Hemi Cuda. I have a picture of a one owner, original black paint, hardtop Hemi Cuda, sitting on our front lawn 41,000 miles and it's also got the rare Red Leather interior. Good investment. (I haven't taken the time to figure out how to post pictures in here yet)

We all share info about who (which business) has the cheapest online-order tires in the right size. Treadepot does great a lot of the time. There's a Auto-X video on U-Tube of Tim Devlin's LS6 V8 Miata (don't have a link), it's his first time out and it's not great but it sure gives you the general idea. You can hear his gearing is tall and the LS6 barely has to work to jet the car around the course. It's cool.

Outta my league, I just spoke because they're here in Arizona we go and look and are always amazed at how unpredictable prices are. Last time I saw a beautiful, perfect condition 1970 Mustang Boss 302, 32,000 original owner and documented miles, Arizona car showroom perfect, but even though all numbers matched the engine had been rebuilt. It sold for less than $10 grand. Some old Red, barge of a Dodge Monaco convertible with a V8 wedge motor I've never even heard of sold for over $60,000.00 Go figure, eh!

You can go to my homepage and see my 2006 LS2 in my 94 Miata. My buddy Tim has a screamin' LS6 in his Miata I'll see if he has any video that's accessible. He loves dragracing against Crotch Rockets and WINNING.

Saw two different, local Sunbeam Tigers in sweet condition go at Barrett-Jackson for about $ 75,000.00 each.

- Right after the Miata was introduced in America in 1990 people started scamming on how to cram a V8 into it. A company in California called Monster Miata started doin' conversions with Ford 5.0 as the basic engine package, modded on up to 525 HP. Here's an old video fron TNN you can see about the company. To date there are only about 6 of us total across the nation that have GM LS V8 converted Miatas, mainly because there is NO kit or any past efforts to really guide or follow, we have to design, fab and build everything from scratch. Since the "Monster Miatas" have always been Ford based it doesn't really reflect anything about us GM LSX guys except you can envision where we "start" at 335-400 HP "stock" has a lot of potential. Anyway, thought all you V8 conversion motorheads might enjoy seeing something that's old news too, you can see where it all started in this old video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsh4cEhEWlg Enjoy!

- Right after the Miata was introduced in America in 1990 people started scamming on how to cram a V8 into it. A company in California called Monster Miata started doin' conversions with Ford 5.0 as the basic engine package, modded on up to 525 HP. Here's an old video fron TNN you can see about the company. To date there are only about 6 of us total across the nation that have GM LS V8 converted Miatas, mainly because there is NO kit or any past efforts to really guide or follow, we have to design, fab and build everything from scratch. Since the "Monster Miata" is all Ford based it doesn't really reflect anything about us GM LSX guys except you can imagine where we "start" at 335-400 HP "stock" is considerably more fun (my opinion) Anyway, thought all you V8 conversion motorheads might enjoy seeing something that's old news too, you can see where it all started in this old video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsh4cEhEWlg Enjoy!

I have a bunch of LS V8 (2004 GTO LS1, 2001 Camaro / Trans am LS1, Corvette LS6, 2006 Corvette LS2) pictures from our shop but they all have P/S pumps, some modified with Howe P/S. Just remebered, I know a guy in UK running an LS6 in a TVR Chimmera that's Corvette accessories (High mounted alternator) and no power steering pump. S&P Mena, Ark sold him the entire set-up, but wasn't cheap.

The people on this Forum are great! They treat me fine and really seem to appreciate LSX engines in Mazdas too!! Beautiful, smokin' REX Man!!!!!!!