Where a guy I work with was BS'ing with one of his buddies. These 2 and a third guy, whom I also work with, were discussing a 5.0 Miata swap. Guy 1 and outside guy both have 2.0 Skyline powered 240SX's. The outside guy said he was a recent auto-x/NASA/SCCA style thing. He says "There was a few 5.0 Miatas there that got destroyed by the 1.6 Mazda's. They are just so front heavy they don't turn until after about 5 minutes of wheel input. There was also a few of those supercharged MINI's there who just destroyed both groups". My only reaction was "Yeaaaahhh" followed by a grin and 2 thumbs pointing at myself.

 

Works for me!

 

I can imagine that a 5-liter Miata would drive like a Sunbeam Tiger. Great straghtline speed but plows something terrible in the turns...

 

The LS1 motor (the common Miata swap) wieghs almost exactly the same as the regular cast iron blocked 1.6.

Odd really that most LS1 motored MX5 drivers report the car to be even better balanced after the swap.

Now getting the power down is another thing entirely.......

 

...having the chassis resist and survive the torque is another...

 

I have always wanted a factory MGB-GT/V8. MG made them for three years, and used the aluminum Rover 3.5. It was engineered so well, that except for special wheels, and a logo on the back hatch, you couldn't tell.

The engine was only seven pounds heavier than the cast iron four banger it replaced, so balance and handling stayed essentially the same.

An English buddy of mine brought his over with him (resident alien), and we used to go 240Z hunting at night!

 

I had a '67 MGB GT in high school, and I always lusted after one with this little logo:

 

That would be the ONE. Major sleeper.

 

Actually, around my way the 5.0 is the common Miata swap. Its a lot more common in a yard, cheaper, and overall easier. Yes, you do give up a lot in the handling department but for its cost vs. handling. An entire 5.0 drivetrain can be picked up for prolly 1500-1800 while an LS1 drivetrain retails for 4-5k. Aftermarket is way ahead, too. There is even a guy around here who builds them and sells them at a good profit in his off time. Buy junk Miata for 2k, buy drivetrain and swap kit. He says he puts in about 10-12k depending on the car and usually gets 15-18 based on buyer and whats done to it. He teaches at a high school so I could only imagine some 17 year old kid's face when his social studies teacher beats up on his Integra at a late night red light.

 

I got absolutely BLITZED by an RX7 on a freeway entrance a while ago.

I was just doing my usual 0-60 sprint - not racing, just accelerating hard to get to the merge, the RX7 that was behind me as we entered the slip-road came bellowing past me like I was standing still.

I foudn the car one morning at Cars and Coffee and found it had a played with LS1 motor chucking out a conservative 500hp......

 

IIRC the new Mazdaspeed MX-5 is to have the same engine as my 6, a direct inject 2.3 MZR Turbo. Might be worth a look, as I'm sure it will have speed and handling.

I can see a 5.0 drop causing massive understeer...but something tells me they're going for the 1/4 at that point, not the curves.

 

Unfortunately the power delivery system (tyres) were severely compromised in inclement weather
In American speak..... when it rained you scared yourself s******s
Think corvette
Also the power bulge wasn't so good in rhd cars. But they were enormous fun on a sunny day

 

I should see if my friend finished his Corvette engine swap, the details were killing him!

 

I wouldn't want any part of trying to merge GM and Mazda electronics. On the other hand, this will be very cool when it's finally tuned. An aluminum block LS1 (Or is it an LS4, I can't tell from the photo) will be a killer combination in a Miata chassis. What rear end is he planning on using? I've heard of both RX-7 or Thunderbird IRS fitting in the Miata, with a little bit of work.

He may want to look into a Flyin' Miata chassis brace: http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?...umber=13-69920

 

ever seen an sr20det (JDM 240sx/sylvia engine) stuffed into a miata... damn thing is a monster 2.0 turbocharged miata. Damn things are fast. not as fast as the monster miata but keeps the balance of the miata and not so front heavy. A guy did the swap at a shop i got my 240 tuned at.

 

I wish I had some pics, but back in the 80's, there was a guy who autocrossed at the same events as I (different class thankfully) who had a Spridget with an RX7 rotary and a modified Jag E-Type rear end.

Cripes that thing was fast.

 

Grassroots Motorsports did a series of articles on their "RoSpit" where they took a really nice Spitfire and converted it into a rotary rocket: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/archives/rospit.html

 

Where do you think they got the idea from?

 

Those Jag rearend swaps were *very* popular back in the day. It gave you good brakes, a strong differential, independent rear suspension, and the entire assembly pops in and out with four bolts or so.

 

I forget that detail. He is on the third version of the K member. But his home is hogging his attention now.