Conversions & Hybrids - New LS1 owner.

I am building an LS1 to swap into my 1999 Miata. I plan to rebuild it to OEM specs: Completely stock. I'll use this thread to post my build progress and ask questions as needed.

Bought an LS1 shortblock for $500. One of the pistons had a major knick in it from a valve hitting it during an over-rev. The rest of the engine looks great.


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This is currently the only picture I have. Taken after it was stripped down to a bare block. Slight vertical marks on the walls of the cylinder with the piston that kissed the valve; A simple hone should take care of that.

One thing that I noticed was slight scratches on the crank journals; some bad enough to catch a fingernail. Would this require a regrind of the crank? Or is it trashed?

More pictures to come.

prolly trashed i would say unless u want to go bigger ci

take it to a shop (crank shop).. and have them check it, it might just need to be polished or maybe a .010 grind and polish.

Why not upgrade the cam and springs for a bit more output.. and might even get better gas mileage!

take it to a shop (crank shop).. and have them check it, it might just need to be polished or maybe a .010 grind and polish.

Why not upgrade the cam and springs for a bit more output.. and might even get better gas mileage!

Because it's going into a 2200 lbs car. No need for more power or money spent. Also, gas mileage is a non-issue.

My sister has a Miata it's a fun little car just kind of slow. This should be a fun car if you can keep the handling characteristics the same.

dang ole' dang ole' son.

My sister has a Miata it's a fun little car just kind of slow. This should be a fun car if you can keep the handling characteristics the same.

That's the plan. The swap really only adds ~180lbs. Most of which is from the huge T56, but it's in the center of the car so stock handling dynamics should remain intact. The stock 1.8 is iron anyway.

There's always a need for more power. What are your plans for the rest of the swap ie heads acc etc.

There's always a want for more power.

FTFY

As far as heads, I'm buying some 853s off of a buddy for $75. Like I said everything is going to be mostly stock. I will make it look the part though :nod:

No PS, emissions, or any other garbage like that. Just simple, reliable, pushrod power.

Staying fi?

talk to 1bigcam, he did a 383 LSX Miata. NASTY little car. :devil:

I think I have seen that one. Too much for me man; the thing will be a handfull with stock power. The real challenge is trying to fit enough rubber under the fenders to handle it.

Update: Cam, Rockers, Pushrods, and a new (to me) piston/rod without the "custom valve relief" all on the way. Also, dropped off the block to get a hone, new cam bearings, and the crank polished at the most LS friendly machine shop in town.

My favorite part about these engines is that the parts are CHEAP. Love it.

good power adder for the miata :D

I keep telling the miata guys at autox to get one...

are you going to be buying a kit or fabbing it up yourself?

Mixing and matching parts. Easy stuff like the trans mount I'll make. But V8 Roadsters makes a tubular subframe that is fire. So that is definately on my list. Wiring will be done by me, along with exhaust and stuff like that.