LS1-Swapped Mazda Miata Is a Tiny, Lightweight Terror: Track Time Tuesday
LS1-swapped Mazda Miata carries on the ages-old hot rod tradition of stuffing big power in a small car.
For eons, man has been swapping the biggest, most powerful engines into the smallest, most lightweight vehicles in a never-ending quest for performance. It’s the backbone of hot rodding, and that trend continues today, albeit in slightly different ways. For example, the LS swap has largely taken over thanks to its power potential, low cost, and sheer numbers, as there are simply so many of them out there, just sitting in junkyards for the picking. But this 1995 Mazda Miata up for grabs at Bring a Trailer still fits the mold of cramming a big powerplant into a tiny, lightweight vehicle, regardless.
It’s quite clear from the exterior that there’s something unique about this particular Mazda Miata, as its Montego Blue Mica paint is complemented by a host of modifications including aftermarket front and rear spoilers, G-Fuser side skirts, quarter panel flares, a removable hardtop, and 15-inch TRMotorsports wheels wrapped with 225/45 BFGoodrich G-force Rival S and Hankook Ventus RS-4 tires.
This car’s modifications list continues underneath with a fully independent suspension featuring Supermiata Xida coilovers, Flyin’ Miata front and rear sway bars, Godspeed adjustable rear upper control arms, polyurethane lower control arm bushings, and a Supermiata 11-inch front big brake kit. Inside the cabin, gray cloth seats are complemented by a Pioneer stereo, DEI sound damping and insulation kits, and an NRG steering wheel.
Of course, the real story here lies under the hood, where you’ll find a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 that was taken from a fourth-gen Camaro. It is by no means stock either, and features a host of upgrades including Diamond Competition Series flat-top pistons, Molnar forged H-beam connecting rods, an ARP main stud kit, side bolt kit, and connecting rod bolts, Clevite rod and main bearings, GM 243 cylinder heads, a Brian Tooley Racing camshaft, valve springs, retainers, and keepers, a Speedmaster 98mm intake manifold and fuel rails, a MegaSquirt MS3pro ECU and wiring harness, 42 lb/hr fuel injectors, a Walbro 255 LPH fuel pump, and Hooker headers.
The LS1 sends its power to the rear wheels via a Tremec T5 five-speed manual transmission with a Monster S-series clutch and an 18-pound flywheel, as well as a Ford 8.8-inch IRS rear end with a limited-slip differential. The listing doesn’t say precisely how much power this V8 Miata is making, but we’re certain that it’s more than enough to have a rip-roaring good time behind the wheel of what is a creation born from many years of hot rod tradition.
Photos: Bring a Trailer
Join the LS1Tech forums now!
