We are just getting moved into a new shop, and along with a few customer builds we are getting started on our Trackspeed Engineering V8 race car build. It's being built for use in Miata Challenge and SCCA ITE as well as some enduros once it has proven itself.

The donor tub:


Head start as it already had the back half of the cage when I picked it up, also can see we ripped out the entire interior:


Already motor-less and ready for clean up and transmission tunnel widening:


Work will really get started on it in the first couple weeks of January. Hoping to complete it by the end of February but we will see if we can meet that timeline with all the goodies this car is getting.

 

subscribed for awesomeness

 

^ same

 

In for the win.

 

Same here...subscribed.

Lemme know if you need any valvetrain goodies.

 

Some parts that are sitting and waiting. Lots of fittings in the boxes as well but not visible in this picture.


Also stripped down the chassis wiring to only the parts I'll need. New chassis wiring:


Remainder of wiring for the dumpster:

 

Looks like you need a ls1 nitrous kit.

 

With that dry sump you need are halfway ready for our Jesel's belt drive.

And this cause otherwise you can't stick a "good" valvetrain on an LS head. nevermind for a roadcourse engine in a miata chassis you'll be fine with typical stuff.

 

We may have to borrow it (and return with a full bottle) for some drag strip experimentation.

More info? And info on anything you guys do for LSx motors. Not looking for huge power to start out, but will be upgrading down the road of course.


It has been and will continue to be a busy week moving into the new shop but I snagged some pictures of the cage work for you guys.




Nice little addition.... hard top mounts built into the cage.

 

Good way to keep from busting timing chains.....

 

This thing better be faster than that other V8...

 

What year was the tube and did you throw the wiring harness away yet?

 

I like.

Really nice red NA in the background, who's is it?

 

In for build

 

watching for awesomeness

 

The LS has the oil pump on the crank, in front of the crank sprocket. Therefore installing a belt drive requires an external oil pump on these engines, as well as machining the front of the block to accept the "cover", basically the plate that seals off the front of the engine. You'd also need to figure out something for the CAS on those engines that have it built into the cam sprocket. I would only use a belt if you plan on running aggressive camshaft lobes and/or spring pressures (an aggressive valvetrain overall), or if you plan on running high rpm for extended periods, or if you require easy cam timing adjustment. Or if you want to be a Hustler.

Jesel also makes the rest of the valvetrain stuffs: solid roller lifters in two pricing groups (one piece & tool steel, in dog bone, tie bar, and keyway styles) and shaft rocker arm kits from Sportsman LS1 direct bolt on to ProSeries long pivot rocker mill-everything-off-and-start-over 1" valve lift 1.650 spring setup for the drag guys running big cube LS based blocks. We also have pushrods and I've done a few cam cores for LS engines.

But that shouldn't be an issue if running OEM style springs/cams and typical RPM ranges. IMHO a simple crate/warranteed LS3 or an engine build with similar components (but with forged internals) would be ideal for a track car that you don't want to necessarily rebuild yearly.

 

The chain busting was just one more reason I went little with the ASA cam, and lighter with LS6 valves and Ti retainers.

Are you fabbing up a bracket for the oil pump and switching to a cogs setup on the main drive? That thing makes my special parts light up......

 

I thought most racing bodies did not allow the S bend for the door bars? Sweet build either way.

 

Just use an LS7 or LS9 they are already set up for dry sump, Also Ive been in the LS game for a while and have only heard of a timing chain problem once, when a guy used a very high mile stock set when he changed his cam, but no problems with after-market sets. What I do hear of quite frequently is the lifters not holding up to the big cams and on earlier LS motors the push rod would fail with a big cam as well. The main and cheapest fix people have been doing for this is to get a set of LS7 lifters and some after market push rods, no problems at 8k+ and a big cam.

 

O ya forgot to mention, if you need a mock up block I have one in my garage w/heads if you want it for your build pm me and Ill bring it to the miata challenge at buttonwillow.