MX6.0

Got the alignment done on Friday. I didn't go too aggressive with the settings since it's mostly street driven. Got rid of the toe in the front and stuck with just a tad of toe-in in the rear. The car feels rock solid now.

Today I took the car to get it dyno tuned. RWHP is a little lower than I thought it would be but all drive-ability issues are fixed. It no longer stalls when I slow down and the hesitation at 2K rpm is gone. I'm pretty pleased with the results.

seadoo

What are your engine mods again? Are you running a steel DS?

MX6.0

Stock LS2 bottom end with LS3 heads, intake, injectors
EPS 222/230 .591/.608 114+4
25% underdrive pulley
spec super twin/AL flywheel+PP (36 lbs total)
No a/c, no p/s
GTO t56
3" AL driveshaft
3.23 getrag clutch diff (cts) / 24" tire
1.5" primary, 2.5" collector, Shorty headers -->2 cats, 2 resonators, muffler with 2 in's and 2 out's

I think that's everything

seadoo

I think the slightly lower numbers are coming from the tiny exhaust... with Heads that have huge ports and like to breath and a cam that likes to breath, you are stuck with tiny 1.5 primaries...

MX6.0

Yea, I figured the exhaust would be the weak link. maybe this winter I'll try my hand at some custom lt's.

LS1-450

iTrader: (33)

Primary diameter is only part of the issue. The fact that they're shorties is a bigger issue. The third is the cam RPM range. Get a cam designed to make peak power through 6800-7K RPM & it'll reach your peak HP goals.

Riggs 74

I'm not sure, but if it were my ride, I would be more than pleased with that power to weight ratio. It's has
to be extremely fun to drive on the streets.


Riggs

MX6.0

Oh hell yea I'm pleased. The car runs and drives like a dream. My expectations were just pumped up by seeing all these "cam only LS3 making 500HP" threads.

I'll live with my puny 430rwhp in a 2400lb car

seadoo

I would be happy with that! One day I will build one!

LSCha0s

iTrader: (4)

HAHA! I love it I was called Gay on the Corvette forum for admitting I owned a Miata. I don't have anything against gay but really? I will some day do a Miata Ls car just to see them squirm.

73metalman

I guess I'll be the one to ask it, though I don't think you really care...but what kind of MPG are you getting? Curious with such a huge motor in that small of a car.

Also, since Ford and Mazda are in bed together, would've the Ford V8 swap been easier/cheaper? ...though I understand not as much HP.

MX6.0

I haven't really had the car on the road long enough to resist keeping my foot out of it for any length of time. But I'd imagine it would be about the same MPG as what a Vette would get, maybe slightly better. The Mazda is much lighter but the Vette is more aerodynamic so it's probably a wash. Once I can log a long trip I'll figure out what mileage I'm getting.

I didn't pick the LS motor cause it was easier or cheaper. I went with it for a few different reasons. It's lighter, more powerful, easier to tune (2001 car needs to pass OBD2), and it's not nearly as common as a 5.0 swap. Besides, I wouldn't be caught dead owning a ford

The Miata (at least the 2nd gen was) is the only Mazda Ford had nothing to do with.

seadoo

Not only what MX6.0 said, but also the only kits out there for a ford are the old 5.0 swaps. A new Mod motor would not fit, way to large, to heavy and to slow

the Miata is Mazda's own baby...

Bob@BruteSpeed

iTrader: (16)

You did a great job with this build, it has to be a blast to drive! Bob

MX6.0

Since I've been asked a million times what my car would do in the 1/4 mile I decided to take it to the local drag strip to find out. A buddy of mine brought his GT3 out to play too

It was pretty hot out, about 90-95* with high humidity. I set the rear shocks to full soft, dropped pressure in the 225/50 RA-1's (road race tire) to 20psi and headed out.

As predicted, getting off the line was a real challenge. The twin disc clutch is pretty hard to slip so I was getting a pretty good amount of spin in first gear on every run. I found that if I lifted just a tad and rolled back onto the throttle in 1st it was fine. Once I got it into 2nd gear I could just mash the gas without worrying about spinning.

I took about 10 runs for the night (didn't lose any ) all between 11.5 and 11.7. Here's a couple vids from my best run.

Track Side Video

In Car Video

TX RED

iTrader: (19)

sounds like your getting a bit of wheel hop

SLOW SEDAN

iTrader: (13)

Very cool project and clean swap! I've seen the car locally and was impressed. Believe I met you at the Edgewater cruise in.

Jeff Smith

iTrader: (44)

Good project

MX6.0

Yea it was strange, I've never had any wheel hop on the street. And I only got hop on half of my runs that night. I guess its the added grip at the drag strip.

Thanks SLOW SEDAN! Was yours the G8 with the LSX?

BadAssLS1Miata

Wow man this is a nice build thread and your car is pretty much exactly where I'd like my power goals to be. Really sucks how much bad luck you had at the start with engines but in the end it seemed to finally work out.