My LS1 Miata build
So I went to the track (Little Tally) again on monday and busted my passenger outboard CV joint (a miata cv). I did (as always) a complete check over of the car before heading to the track so I know everything was good before getting to the track. When I was leaving the pits to do my third 20min session, I heard clicking so I turned around and pitted to investigate. I saw that the CV boot was busted and grease was everywhere so it was pretty easy to conclude the cause of the clicking. I packed up and decided to drive on it home (100 miles...) since I didn't have a way to tow it and have to replace the joint/axle anyways. Despite clunking and howling, it did make it home.
I do not know the root cause of the failure, it could be that the boot busted and the joint dried up or it could be that the cage or bearings couldn't handle the abuse. I will take it apart and try to determine the failure mode. Dan at Racing Concepts is willing to help me out to get it replaced. More to come....
I do not know the root cause of the failure, it could be that the boot busted and the joint dried up or it could be that the cage or bearings couldn't handle the abuse. I will take it apart and try to determine the failure mode. Dan at Racing Concepts is willing to help me out to get it replaced. More to come....
I thought thats pretty common on those cars if you bring them up to high speed. Something about too much grease in the boot busts the boot because of the centripital force when doing well over 100.
Would love to see how this car stacks up against a similarly set up swapped FD.
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Staging Lane
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new video from mountain run this weekend http://videos.streetfire.net/video/N...Run_644998.htm
I have also sent my axles to Gator Racing Axles to polish the miata cv cups and put on low profile boots. I haven't had my boots bust since I put zip ties on them but I figured this was cheap insurance.
I have also sent my axles to Gator Racing Axles to polish the miata cv cups and put on low profile boots. I haven't had my boots bust since I put zip ties on them but I figured this was cheap insurance.
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Staging Lane
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From: Farmington Hills, MI
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Staging Lane
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this latest one I completed was with the V8R kit. http://www.swaptastic.net/don/index.html
I've also done one with the boss frog kit.
I've also done one with the boss frog kit.
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Staging Lane
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I've added a quick comparo of the kits and ls motors. I can add more answers/details if you mention them.
http://www.swaptastic.net/answers.html
http://www.swaptastic.net/answers.html
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Staging Lane
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Went to Waterford Hills track day yesterday and had a blast. I was told by some spectators that my rotors were glowing red at the end of the back straight.. 
In the wet: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/N...ack_709310.htm
Tearing it up in the dry: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/N...ack_709311.htm
In the wet: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/N...ack_709310.htm
Tearing it up in the dry: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/N...ack_709311.htm
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Staging Lane
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I have put the car up for sale: https://ls1tech.com/forums/vehicles-...l#post12294888
Planning on getting into spec miata racing next season.
Planning on getting into spec miata racing next season.
Teching In
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i'm looking to sell my mini cooper s right now to start a project just like this.
Nathan, your site is my primary source of information at this time.
I still have a few concerns right now...
I'm up in the air about the three kits. I plan to use the forward mounting location. I can cut the corners, but not rebuild the firewall.
Bossfrog seems the most expensive of the three. $1600+ for axles scares me.
V8R kit is nice, but the welding of the rear turns me away... should I just suck it up, and have it welded by a shop?
Racing Concepts... I've read all the threads- I could not care less about racing concepts' history. I just want to possibly buy a few pieces of metal from them. They **** off their customers, but is their mount kit really that bad?
Nathan, your site is my primary source of information at this time.
I still have a few concerns right now...
I'm up in the air about the three kits. I plan to use the forward mounting location. I can cut the corners, but not rebuild the firewall.
Bossfrog seems the most expensive of the three. $1600+ for axles scares me.
V8R kit is nice, but the welding of the rear turns me away... should I just suck it up, and have it welded by a shop?
Racing Concepts... I've read all the threads- I could not care less about racing concepts' history. I just want to possibly buy a few pieces of metal from them. They **** off their customers, but is their mount kit really that bad?
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Staging Lane
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buy mine, its cheaper than building you own. 
Racing Concepts doesn't exist (except in cyberspace), you won't be getting any parts from them. BF quality is marginal at best.
A shop can easily weld the diff mount or find a friend with a welder.
Racing Concepts doesn't exist (except in cyberspace), you won't be getting any parts from them. BF quality is marginal at best.
A shop can easily weld the diff mount or find a friend with a welder.
Teching In
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Fair enough.
V8R it is. $4,695.00 for the forward mount kit, stage 1 axle kit, screw on filter oil pan, clutch kit, and the upgraded getrag bushings.
(what oil pan is prefered, im not exactly sure of what setup is what.)
At that point, i need an ls1 or ls1, a t56, the getrag (what one?) and a few thousand dollars of odds and ends (cooling, eletrical, fuel system)
V8R it is. $4,695.00 for the forward mount kit, stage 1 axle kit, screw on filter oil pan, clutch kit, and the upgraded getrag bushings.
(what oil pan is prefered, im not exactly sure of what setup is what.)
At that point, i need an ls1 or ls1, a t56, the getrag (what one?) and a few thousand dollars of odds and ends (cooling, eletrical, fuel system)
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Staging Lane
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Yeah, V8R is the way to go. Oil pan preference is up to you, it really boils down to what you plan to do with the car. If you plan on going to lots of track days, get the remote filter/cooler setup. The easiest powertrain is a ls1/t56 out of a 1998+ Camaro (with 01 and 02 being preferred). My favorite source is clevelandpickapart.com, speak to Gus and tell him I sent you. They are #1 in salvage lsx cars, have great knowledge of the parts, great service and a great warranty.
Teching In
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Yeah, V8R is the way to go. Oil pan preference is up to you, it really boils down to what you plan to do with the car. If you plan on going to lots of track days, get the remote filter/cooler setup. The easiest powertrain is a ls1/t56 out of a 1998+ Camaro (with 01 and 02 being preferred). My favorite source is clevelandpickapart.com, speak to Gus and tell him I sent you. They are #1 in salvage lsx cars, have great knowledge of the parts, great service and a great warranty.
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Staging Lane
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For a low mileage one (<50k), expect around $4500 for the ls1/t56 drop-out with wiring, PCM, accessories, etc. Buying it as a "dropout" is he cheapest way to go, if you see an "ls1" for $2000 it may seem like a good deal but in reality it probably doesn't have many expensive parts that you will have to buy. Do plenty of research if you plan on buying parts seperate.
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Staging Lane
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Well, 11k miles into it I finally broke one of the stock miata CV's. The splined portion sheared off today while power-sliding through a michigan left... I plan on replacing both sides with a chromoly one from the Driveshaft Shop. I'll call up gator racing axles (who rebuilt the axles a while back) and see what they say but honestly for the cost of a new CV isn't not worth the trouble to complain much.
Technically, the CV did not break. It's almost impossible to break a CV joint until it leaves the housing & slams against the ground. What broke was the spindle input shaft on the spindle end of the CV joint. Would expect the stock Miata shaft to break since even stock Ford's break. Although, on the Ford's it's the halfshaft usually, not the spindle stub. ls1_miata knows what I'm talking about.