Turbo-Nitrous Miata Probably Is the Answer

Builder drops in LS1, then throws all the power adders at the little orange Miata. It sounds like a jet and hurtles down the drag strip.

Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of LS-swapped Miata. Flyin’ Miata has swapped a bunch of them, as has V8 Roadsters. Most people build V8 two-seaters as modern-day AC Cobras for road courses and autocrosses. However, this bright-orange NC Miata’s owner has other plans: a drag-strip mini-missile.

Drag racing videographer BigKleib34 caught up with the Miata and its owner at Holley LS Fest 2017. And this LS1-powered Miata packs some serious heat: a big rear-mounted turbo and nitrous! This guy isn’t foolin’ around.

Under the hood, the stock LS1 block houses a built bottom end, though we’re not sure what rods and pistons are in use. The builder does mention PRC heads and everything else engine-wise seems pretty stock. He uses a drive-by-wire throttle and Holley engine-management system to control the engine and 4L80E transmission.

The power adders, however, set this Miata apart from the usual corner-carving cone crushers. We suspect the tight packaging pushed the builder to mount the turbo in the back. Because of its distance to the engine, he opted for an oil-less Comp Turbo.

That distance might also create some spooling issues, what with 10 feet of turbo plumbing. To keep the engine making power, he threw in a 100-shot of nitrous. In the video, you can hear where he adds the laughing gas right after the 1-2 shift.

All of that added horsepower makes considerably more weight than a stock Miata. With the driver in the car, the owner estimates the weight around 3,000 pounds. Depending on the tune, he says it’ll make anywhere from 500 to 700 horsepower. That makes for a pretty decent little rocket, as evidenced by a number of 9-second passes.