LS2 V8 Miata

My son-in-law (Howard Performance) is a custom GM LS Gen III & IV performance engine packager in Arizona, with 600-700 HP NA motors, turbos, blown & nitrous applications being fairly common. Various cubic inch. stroke, LS7 heads, etc. No problems encountered with any heads (he doesn't use Patriot) nor any other problems with other components (cams, springs, rods, etc.) I've ever heard of, it's news to me.(many guys don't know you have to throw away your old head bolts and use new ones every time with LS V8s, also there are 3 tier head torque specs everybody seems to ignore) My own custom built LS2 is fine too. Point of reference, at our Pro Autosports events I've seen an accomplished driver, Bill in his "street driven" V8 Miata (about 400 RWHP) spank a Viper GTS on race compounds (Bill's Miata on Kuhmos), a Ferrari 360 Modena and a lot of BMWs and Porsches. (his particular motor is a stroker Ford V8 by the way) Logically, if Bill's Ford V8 Miata which is heavier than my LS2 V8 Miata turns (road course performance) fine, why wouldn't an LS V8 also work great in a Z-car if guys are making Fords perform well in Z-cars? too? In my experiences you're much more likely to experience LS V8 problems with the range of fools that sell their own "Custom" wiring harnesses and "Reprogrammed OEM PCMs" or "Custom Dyno tuned" Delphi MEFI IV set-ups with "trust me" software integrations, also amatuer attempts at "speed density" mods pointed to eliminate using a MAF sensor. Momentary lapse of reason can = BOOM!!! (with any motor) - Lee

Weird! I bought an LS1 T-56 engine tranny combo out of a 2001 Z28 that was in a front end collision and it had the EXACT same block damage. The A/C compressor mounts there and that's what took the shot in the wreck and broke out the bolt boss. I think if the steering rack gets pushed back in a front end collision, the first thing it would hit on the right side is the A/C compressor. Did I mention, Weird? Bottom line, we just tigged it and ran a tap in the threads. End result was great engine, no problems!! - Lee

Yeah, I talk to Robert on another forum occassionally and what impresses me is his aggressive attack approach to all the major structural issues involving "stuffing" LSXs in Miatas. My project has really been slow because unlike the Ford 5.0 guys that have a kit, us LSX guys have to one-off design and fabricate everything from scratch. As it stands there are only about 6 of us around doing it, for good reason. I should rightfully credit the Ford guys though, for the basic idea of using the Ford 8.8 IRS for the rear, other than that, it's a clean slate. Thanks for the welcome! - Lee

Interesting, I was thinking Speedsouth because they have an LS1 V8 Miata they're building in their shop right now and a few of the other V8 Miata owners I talk to stop by there. Speed south also has some interesting new tubular lower control arms for the IRS set-ups we generally use with our Ford 8.8 rear-ends. - Have a good one

Thanks again Dan, You guys have a great week-end! - Lee

I just dropped into check out this thread 'cause of the SCCAAARRY TITLE - Later

Scotty that car is insane. 10.17 in a street car is NUTZ!!! Thanks for your comments Scotty, beautiful car, GNX-REX !! Sparks, I now understand Veritech-Zs comments about "old archives", I've never been here (this forum) myself before though, my project's been around the world online, probably old pictures with the LS1 in the car (see attached). Davy Z, I love Z-cars!! If I had it in the budget I'd also be building a White (black limo tinted windows) 300 Z with an LS7, a 200 shot Nitrous kit, a Getrag six-speed, trick suspension, Ford 8.8 IRS posi with about 3:50 gear. Did I mention the 200 MPH, GPS calibrated speedo? I'm a 6'2" 280 Lb guy driving a Laguna blue Miata (chick car). Davy, I don't really have any sensibilities left to offend, as a matter of fact this latest project is partly about disrespect. It's funny when I decided to try roadracing I was commited to building a 98-2000 Firebird Formula. My buddy Billy talked me into Auto-Xin' his Miata at an event. I had so much fun and both of us finished in the top 30 out of 242 cars, in a stock Miata! I loved the first moment I rode in a 1967 Sunbeam Tiger V8, that really started it for me (small car V8 power), but I also never forgot the first time, that look of total surprise on the owner's face of a gorgeous Turbo 911, when he glanced over to see me flyin' past him in my V8 240Z, after he thought he dropped me, his 911 still under hard, hard acceleration. The greatest challenges posed in my current Miata project are in maintaining the scrubline and fitting everything in without hood mods or any exterior ques that give it away immediately (other than the sound of course) What better fun than spankin' an egocentric Ferrari, Porsche or BMW owner with a "little blue, chick car sleeper" eh? Thanks again guys for making an old motorhead feel welcome! - Lee

Yup, we did meet before ULISES, I'm still in progress too. Deja I know both of those guys & their Miatas. The Atlanta performance shop you must be talkin' about is Speed South eh? Olie05, I'm about 70% finished but have almost 4 years of road course seat time in my Miata before. I was partially finished installing an LS1 before I pulled it and went the LS2. I also fortunately have 3 friends sporting LS1 & LS6s driving them so not a lot of performance mysteries reamain. Locally (in town) I have 2 Ford modded V8 Miata buddies, Bill and Ernie and we do track days together, so quite a bit of my design theory comes from practical application too, albeit Fords, firsthand. My achievable weight balance should still be very close to 50/50 and with all the OEM Miata crap I dumped versus the total additions in drive train & structural I'll be around 160-180 Lbs heavier, approx 2600-2700 Lbs total. A recent Thread I started in another forum was entitled V8 Miatas POST-UP, here's the immediate response numbers I got for V8 Miatas and I already had been talking fairly frequently with a lot of them exchanging tech info. Ford V8 conversions are the most prevalent I believe due to much lower conversion costs mainly associated with, engine availability/costs and a small volume conversion kit manufacturer in California. We (GM fans) have to design and one-off fabricate everything for our LSX V8 conversions and our engine/drive train combos consume, way more hard earned dollars and precious space in these tiny cars. 34 - V8 Miatas posted up 24 - Ford V8 small block based Miatas, primarily 5.0s modded to various cubic inches, strokers, aluminum heads, mostly fuel-injected, 3 Supercharged (Paul, Tom & Vic's home brewed SC) 6 - Chevrolet V8s, 2 cast iron block SBC, one Tuned Port Injected, one Carbed, 4 GM Gen III, LSX aluminum V8 based 1 - Aluminum Cadillac 4.9 V8 (Steve J) 2 - Rover V8s, 1 in the UK (Andy) and 1 USA - 4.9 Rover (Cory) 1 - Toyota / Lexus V8 (Andris) LET'S ROCK !! I mean uh, NETWORK !! Thanks again for the warm welcome guys, - Lee

Jeeezzz Mike, that thing is SICK!!!! I love it:mrgreen: Question, assuming you used a hydraulic throw-out bearing with your T-56, what did you use for your clutch master cylinder and are you happy (trouble free)? Thanks again for the welcome! - Lee

Thanks Guys!! Really lookin' forward to checking out your Awsome V8 Z-cars. Attached is my old 74' V8 Z project (1988). Even though I've been a GM guy my whole life I have done a couple of Fords. I even gone the other way and put a blown chevy small block into a 1967 427 Cobra SC. I've never been here before on any Threads, new or old but I am an Old Guy. I've Drag raced since the late 60s and even ran a Pro-Gas Vega in the 81' Winternationals to a record & class win, however don't do it anymore. Road racing on our 5 tracks here and Willow Springs and Laguna seca is what does it for me now. Again, thanks for the welcome.

That's bad to the bone man!! You guys do "know" that LS2 ignition coils can deliver "Lethal" voltage & amps don't you (GM tech info)? Probably would be safer to use your cat as an ignition tester next time!

I know, I know, I'm NOT currently building a V8 Z-car, even though I have in the past. I have a history in cutting edge, stuffing of big American V8 horsepower into small foreign cars and making them work well. I'm participating in quite a few different online forums for Engine swaps, LS V8s, foreign/jap car conversions, etc. for some fundemental reasons, I absorb a lot of innovative ideas that help me along to building a greater performing V8 conversion project and I've found I can help a lot of other people in the process too. I have a few things to offer in that I've been an advanced technical/mechanical, hands on guy since the 60s. I've owned 3 early model Z-cars and converted my first V8 Z-car in 1988. I'm here for fun, entertainment & education and I really look forward to talking to you guys. You can see a small gathering of some of my current V8 Miata project's pictures at: http://photobucket.com/albums/d63/LS2V8Miata/