LS powered Miata swap- Build Thread
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2007
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Ya know I had to migrate from Honda-Tech to see how t3h build is goin! Looks sick man.. That thing is going to freaking scream.
And did I read something about an intercooler? Surely you're not gonna turbo this....
I mean with traction, a healthy motor and a good tune.. dude, 10's all day long if not knockin on 9's or even IN the 9's.
What does a Miata weigh factory?
And did I read something about an intercooler? Surely you're not gonna turbo this....
I mean with traction, a healthy motor and a good tune.. dude, 10's all day long if not knockin on 9's or even IN the 9's.
What does a Miata weigh factory?
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
haha, good to see you over here man!
You always have to leave room for improvement in the future. It seems to me that making mid 500's on pump gas with an almost stock motor would be great from a reliability standpoint. A friend here in town is making 580ish on pump gas from two rear mounted turbos on his Trans AM... on a bone stock motor! The Miata should weigh right around 2400-2500 once i get it running.
As an update, i started putting the interior back in this weekend. The dash is staying gutted for now since the heater core was leaking before. Wiring harness is run back into the engine bay, and i am in the middle of mounting the fuse box in the glove compartment. I was going to take some photos, but it started raining.
You always have to leave room for improvement in the future. It seems to me that making mid 500's on pump gas with an almost stock motor would be great from a reliability standpoint. A friend here in town is making 580ish on pump gas from two rear mounted turbos on his Trans AM... on a bone stock motor! The Miata should weigh right around 2400-2500 once i get it running.
As an update, i started putting the interior back in this weekend. The dash is staying gutted for now since the heater core was leaking before. Wiring harness is run back into the engine bay, and i am in the middle of mounting the fuse box in the glove compartment. I was going to take some photos, but it started raining.
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
Finally another photo update. Doesn't look like i got much done, but it all adds up... eventually. I tackled the alternator issue yesterday. I think i am going to make a bracket to position it in the same area in the photos. Wish i could just use an F-body bracket and be done with it! Oh well, since the Corvette accessories sit closer to the engine, i wanted to keep as much clearance as possible.
Anyways, now the interior is coming back together. I put the brake booster back in, all the pedals inside, dash bolted down, body harness back in with wires run to relocate the fuse box into the glove compartment, etc. Next up is modifying the engine harness, and putting on the F-body oil pan.
That's it till next weekend!
Anyways, now the interior is coming back together. I put the brake booster back in, all the pedals inside, dash bolted down, body harness back in with wires run to relocate the fuse box into the glove compartment, etc. Next up is modifying the engine harness, and putting on the F-body oil pan.
That's it till next weekend!
Flyin Miata is just milling the stock F-body alternator bracket down so it will work with the C5 pulley. They also use an LS2 waterpump with the shorter snout. I'm sure you probably know all of this, but I just wanted to make sure. Your build is turning out VERY nice 
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
Actually i didn't know they were milling down the stock F-body bracket. I would look into that, but i think this will turn out fine, and i always like making things even if they don't look as good as factory in the end.
Thank you for the info!
Oh, and Eric, just take a look at how simple it is to make a bracket. As strong as it is in the photos, you could probably just keep it like that with only 1 piece of steel bar being used.
Thank you for the info!
Oh, and Eric, just take a look at how simple it is to make a bracket. As strong as it is in the photos, you could probably just keep it like that with only 1 piece of steel bar being used.
Considering I've only used one bolt to hold the alternator on, you should have no issues with your setup as long as they line up. Kind of have me wanting to go that route instead because you can now get rid of the tensioner and water pump in favor of a WP119 drag pump
Finally another photo update. Doesn't look like i got much done, but it all adds up... eventually. I tackled the alternator issue yesterday. I think i am going to make a bracket to position it in the same area in the photos. Wish i could just use an F-body bracket and be done with it! Oh well, since the Corvette accessories sit closer to the engine, i wanted to keep as much clearance as possible.
Thanks for the update. Looks great! I was beginning to think that you had lost some interest in the project. When actually, there's been a lot of progress made.
I'd also recommend an underdrive pulley. Stock C5 pulleys are known to wobble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKhthMfM2n4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKhthMfM2n4
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
My tranny should be shipping out soon. As soon as i get a new oil pickup tube, the engine is coming back out to put that on. Then pop the tranny on, install the frame rails, tranny crossmember, and move on to fueling. Should make for a fun time!
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
Thanks man! Glad you wanted to find it again.
Once again not a very productive weekend. Started getting the engine harness stripped, and almost finished relocating the fuse box to the glove compartment. I have 9 days off coming up for spring break (the shop is slow then). Trying to place as many orders placed as i can so i can try to get the car running or as close as possible that week.
Tranny should be here this week sometime along with fuel pressure regulator. Then as soon as i get my clutch/flywheel, all that can go on. Oilpan should be swapped out next weekend since my new oil pickup should arrive tomorrow.
Once again not a very productive weekend. Started getting the engine harness stripped, and almost finished relocating the fuse box to the glove compartment. I have 9 days off coming up for spring break (the shop is slow then). Trying to place as many orders placed as i can so i can try to get the car running or as close as possible that week.
Tranny should be here this week sometime along with fuel pressure regulator. Then as soon as i get my clutch/flywheel, all that can go on. Oilpan should be swapped out next weekend since my new oil pickup should arrive tomorrow.
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
Thanks for the link. I know it helped me out, as i am sure it could help some others out too.
I finally yanked the motor back out this weekend to swap the oil pans. After scratching my head for a little bit i did some research to find that i have an LS2 oil pan instead of the F-Body. They look almost the same, but have a little less clearance up front where my steering rack goes. I might have to do some "adjusting" there. Fortunately i could reuse my oil pickup, and the windage trays were almost identical too. I have an F-Body dipstick that isn't going to work now, but i think i can make use of the original one.
While the motor was out, i checked the alignment of the alternator and adjusted it a little as well as painted the bracket. I also finally adjusted the brake lines to fit around the motor. It was a lot easier than doing it in my old Honda's.
Another thing i changed up too was the way the power line was run. The factory routing is under the car along the torque arm from the front to the battery in the rear. I decided to just run it inside, and have it come out of the firewall right above the starter. Running over stuff and having my whole electrical system short out isn't something i care to worry about.
Other than that i am still just collecting parts to try and get it started during spring break in a couple weeks. Got my LS7 clutch kit in which was waaay bigger than i expected. (I'm used to Honda's hahaha)
The engine harness is almost ready to be placed over the motor and taped up.
Since it seems like it is every 2 weeks or so that i update, the next big update might be during spring break. All i lack is the fuel system and a couple electrical things, and i should have everything to get it cranked up.... hopefully.
I finally yanked the motor back out this weekend to swap the oil pans. After scratching my head for a little bit i did some research to find that i have an LS2 oil pan instead of the F-Body. They look almost the same, but have a little less clearance up front where my steering rack goes. I might have to do some "adjusting" there. Fortunately i could reuse my oil pickup, and the windage trays were almost identical too. I have an F-Body dipstick that isn't going to work now, but i think i can make use of the original one.
While the motor was out, i checked the alignment of the alternator and adjusted it a little as well as painted the bracket. I also finally adjusted the brake lines to fit around the motor. It was a lot easier than doing it in my old Honda's.
Another thing i changed up too was the way the power line was run. The factory routing is under the car along the torque arm from the front to the battery in the rear. I decided to just run it inside, and have it come out of the firewall right above the starter. Running over stuff and having my whole electrical system short out isn't something i care to worry about.
Other than that i am still just collecting parts to try and get it started during spring break in a couple weeks. Got my LS7 clutch kit in which was waaay bigger than i expected. (I'm used to Honda's hahaha)
The engine harness is almost ready to be placed over the motor and taped up.
Since it seems like it is every 2 weeks or so that i update, the next big update might be during spring break. All i lack is the fuel system and a couple electrical things, and i should have everything to get it cranked up.... hopefully.
Hey an update every 2 weeks is steady! Keep up the work!
__________________
Glenn ***
Sales Tech
www.bmrsuspension.com
813.986.9302
Find a Quality alignment shop near you!
Glenn ***
Sales Tech
www.bmrsuspension.com
813.986.9302
Find a Quality alignment shop near you!