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06-25-2008, 09:17 AM
| | Administrator | | Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 215
| | Lee who is your son in law?
James Quote:
Originally Posted by LS2 V8 Miata  Hey Bobby!
There is a conversion kits from Martin Wilson in California to do the Ford 5.0 and there's around 200+ Ford V8 Miatas around the nation.
My son-in-law is a custom LSX engine builder, and him knowing the kind of serious GM guy I am, talked me into it. We used essentially just the Miata uni-body and glass and have been one-off designing and fabbing for close to two years.
We designed and installed a tubular k-member (ideas from f-body guys) did frame construction, using ideas from Cadillac CTS V racing guys. used a lot of good sub components from f-body and engine / drive-train from LS2 GTO.
I'm going to use one of our sponsers here Current Performance, and have Jared do my computer tune and harness mods soon.
Thanks again for your interest!
- Lee | |
06-25-2008, 09:18 AM
| | Content Moderator | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona
Posts: 62
| | | The Gearz segment "What are you Working On" made it look like my car's out rippin' around with the LSX, it's NOT! They knew that, hence, "What are you Working On".
The action photos are of me with the heavily modded 4 cylinder, that's why the little motor-trans went away, facilitating a GM Power infusion. You put an older Chevy guy like me in a little Jap sportscar and it's good for about 24 months months till it's garbage.
I drove it like a LSX camaro I stole and surprisingly it was competitive.
Imagine what it'll do now with the same close to 50/50 weigh balance and 400+ HP and torque!
The Miata is a cruiser, track toy, my daily driver's are a Blazer ZR2 modded and a 1978 Chevy 4X4 PU.
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94' Laguna Blue Miata, 2006 Corvette LS2 T-56, Ford 8.8 IRS, 3:73 Detroit Posi, under construction
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06-25-2008, 09:25 AM
| | Content Moderator | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona
Posts: 62
| | | My son-in-law is Jeff Howard, Howard Performance in Arizona. He's a small, one man shop but he's built and sold hundreds of LSX motors mainly to the high end (100K+) Sandcar community.
I helped him build "The Punisher" featured in Sandsport magazine and his current personal Sandcar is a "Racer" stroked, twin-turbo LS2 making over 1000 HP at the rear wheels on moderate boost.
I drag raced for most of my life, got bored with it and got addicted to Roadracing (Sportscars & Track days now).
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94' Laguna Blue Miata, 2006 Corvette LS2 T-56, Ford 8.8 IRS, 3:73 Detroit Posi, under construction
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06-25-2008, 09:26 AM
|  | Content Moderator | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 261
| | | Pictures? Video? Links? |
06-25-2008, 09:27 AM
| | Content Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 34
| | | Wow that thing looks bad ass! Nice work! |
06-25-2008, 09:29 AM
| | Content Moderator | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona
Posts: 62
| | Powerjames, there's an engine bay picture posted as an attachment here, also a shot of me angering a GT-Vette at a track day in Phoenix at Firebird West.
Hopefully I can post this link now,
Photo gallery at http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d63/LS2V8Miata/?sc=1
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94' Laguna Blue Miata, 2006 Corvette LS2 T-56, Ford 8.8 IRS, 3:73 Detroit Posi, under construction
Last edited by LS2 V8 Miata : 06-25-2008 at 09:32 AM.
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06-25-2008, 09:33 AM
| | Content Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 32
| | | Welcome to the site!
__________________ Melissa Lawrence
2000 Ford Mustang "Project Sun Devil"
1971 Chevy Nova "Swinger Nova"
www.socal-racing.com |
06-25-2008, 09:42 AM
| | Content Moderator | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 261
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by LS2 V8 Miata | Nice car sir. How long did the engine swap take you? |
06-25-2008, 09:56 AM
| | Content Moderator | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona
Posts: 62
| | | NG it's taken two years to build the car, we started out with an LS1 T-56 from a 2002 Camaro and wound up designing and fabricating 4 different k-members until we nailed this current one. We sold the LS1 at a profit and bought an LS2 Corvette crate motor next.
Everything is new, and the rear-end is an Ford 8.8 custom built IRS with 3:73 gears and a Detroit posi.
We quickly figured out anybody could slam an LSX into a Miata if you gave NO consideration to ground clearance (scrub-line) Pick-up truck like ground clearance, exhaust hanging down, and when driving, you didn't mind looking around some giant Harwood fiberglass hood scoop.
The MAIN LSX conversion challenge here was, my Miata was lowered by 2 inches, lower than stock, and the handling benefits on Roadracing courses were HUGE. My LS2 Miata has conformed to the stock Miata scrubline with nothing "hanging low" and everything fits under the OEM hood.
It looks like and will command the same dis-respect as any Laguna Blue, Miata untill the deafening LSX roar makes 'em wide-eyed and the LS2 MX5 license plate is the last thing they see!!!
Fun eh?
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94' Laguna Blue Miata, 2006 Corvette LS2 T-56, Ford 8.8 IRS, 3:73 Detroit Posi, under construction
Last edited by LS2 V8 Miata : 06-25-2008 at 10:02 AM.
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06-25-2008, 10:03 AM
| | Content Moderator | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 261
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by LS2 V8 Miata It looks like and will command the same dis-respect as any Laguna Blue, Miata untill the deafening LSX roar makes 'em wide-eyed and the LS2 MX5 license plate is the last thing they see!!!
Fun eh? | Wow, this car sounds like a blast. Like I said I always wanted to do something like this but everyone tells me it wont work or it wont be good at the track... But you have given me the hope and dreams I need to push this project forward. Now I just need to come up with all the money. lol
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