LS2 V8 Miata Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Finally, it's been 3-1/2 years since I started my project and it runs great and I went for a short run down the highway! I said I was going to finish the car completely before even statrting it, however boredom & frustration got the better of me. So, no 4 wheel alignment (just tape measurements on the floor), no skid-plate and open headers, I jump out on the 4-lane highway near the house. The solid feel of the entire car, the freaky smoothness of the clutch and transmission and the tremendous, linear acceleration are ALL GREAT, reminds me of a Suzuki GSXR 1100, but with more integrity than any of the Cobra's I've built or been in and with power windows and a real, convertible top!! Anyway been a long while since I've posted in here, though I tell you guys, and Thanks Davy for always making me feel welcome in here!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfreer85 Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 That is one of my least favorite miata's...until now Good gravy that has gotta be fast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Very Nice!!!! Lots of good work there. Where are you going to put a skid plate? Any idea what the complete car will weigh? jt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlebmaster Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 WoW!! That is awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Careless Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I'm calling NASA to let them know they missed the launch of this rocket ship. How'd they miss that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete280z Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Too cool! Congrats on making your first drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I can't imagine the looks a Miata with an ls2 and open headers got. Congrats on the first drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilC Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 You are the man! I can't wait to see vids of the car.....that must have been a rush! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maichor Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Sweet ride! Reminds me of the Monster Miata's of SoCal back in the day, only better. Very nice work there. I need to borrow your shoehorn. It must be a good one to get that to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arif Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 The modern day Cobra? Big engine small car can never go wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Nice. I will be in Tucson next month. Maybe I can talk my bro in the a road trip to see this beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonycharger72 Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I remember when I was looking at Miata suspension into the Z I came across a whole raft of sellers for aftermarket Miata gear, including a few mobs that did V8 conversions, including tubular crossmembers to mount in the LS Engine! Just curious, what is the car like to drive now with the V8 conversion? does it still handle? does it take a nose dive under brakes? how does it compare? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerAce Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Jesus. So, is the drive shaft measured in inches, or did you just hook the rear end right up to the trans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS2 V8 Miata Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share Posted July 28, 2009 Thanks for your comments guys, I'll try to answer here; The drive-shaft's about 36", a Z-28 modded unit. The conversion is a one-off design / fab, there were No Kits when I started 3 years ago, however there are 2 great kits available today just expensive, as you guys probably can imagine from your own experiences. I always get the; "Why didn't you just Buy a Vette or Build a Cobra" comments, YOU guys all know the answer to that one. The conversion only adds about 118 total pounds to the front end, but is offset by the iron diff Ford 8.8 IRS and added tubular steel rear subframe reinforcement, Balance still very close to 50/50, Total Weight around 2700 Lbs. I have 3 friends with Ford 5.0 Monster Miatas that I have ridden in street and on track days, I DID steal the idea, except I'm a Chevy Die-hard and like the idea of "starting" with 400 HP Stock. I think it's a Modern Day; "Sunbeam Tiger":biggrin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Wicked sick! The added weight is well worth it I bet. And as much as I'm more of a Ford than a chevy guy, this makes more sense I'm afraid. The LS is considerably lighter than the 5.0, obviously comes with much better heads out of the box, and won't split the block when you start pushing the numbers to the extreme. Oh, as good as the pics are.... This Thread Is Worthless Without Video... I need to FEEL those open headers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 The LS is considerably lighter than the 5.0, obviously comes with much better heads out of the box, and won't split the block when you start pushing the numbers to the extreme. Do you have any tech to back up your assertion here? I thought they were really close to the same, or the 5.0 might be just a touch lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwik240z Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Congrats on the first ride. It must be a blast. Post up some vids with sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Just tons of experience around the 5.0. Obviously they came with iron heads, and they generally weigh in around 500# in stock trim depending on what's bolted to it. With aluminum heads most guys are HOPING to get them down bellow 450# at best in running trim, and I believe there's proof enough that the all aluminum LS is significantly lighter than that. The LS engines have about the same bore, and are all around only larger when it comes to deck height, which is about 1" taller. The LS comes with much lighter intake options which I think helps a bit. If we were comparing an iron block V8 from GM right now I think the 5.0 would definitely start to fair better, but I fear the strength, or lack there of, of the 5.0 block would start to show greatly in that comparison. Do you have any tech to back up your assertion here? I thought they were really close to the same, or the 5.0 might be just a touch lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 From here: http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=128402&highlight=terry I'm getting that a 289 weighs 454 lbs with aluminum flywheel. From here: http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/lt4-forum/15290-lt-5-vs-lt1-lt4-weight.html Although I don't trust it as much as Terry's info, you're looking at 457 with a flex plate and 497 lbs with a flywheel. It would be nice if our "definitive weight thread had an all aluminum LSx without a trans attached... Regardless, they look pretty close to me, but the 289 (which really should be damn near the same weight as a 302) looks to be a tad lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 That's also a carb'ed 289. Those intakes are less than half the size of a full 5.0 EFI intake setup. The later 5.0 blocks are "slightly" lighter, but definitive weight differences are hard to come by. The two engines should be within spitting distance. Terry's engine is very light for what it is, remember that too. Sure he weighed it with everything on it, but it's also not a steel flywheel, no power steering, no ac, etc. LS weight came up in another thread in the last few days and Paul (braap) agreed with my ballpark range of a LS being around 410-430 or there abouts. Both are close enough to not argue about, but something about the LS just makes me give it the benefit of the doubt (and I'm a die hard Ford guy at heart). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.