This guy is a local track rat. Was at 3 of our local autox's taking FTD in his "slow" 323 GTX. Actually saved my *** at one of them when my downpipe slipped apart. Now it looks like his miata is back together:

LS2 vs. GT3071R - MX-5 Miata Forum


Not sure if he changed anything, this is the last version of his DIY setup:


I want. But you have to wonder, with the comparo of his dyno vs the LS2, does he have any regrets?

Edit: Mods, meant this to go into BS section...oops. Can leave here if you want, though since it is a DIY kit =P

 

FM dyno. That car might make 360whp at sea level on a real dyno. I wonder how much boost he's running.

 

17.

 

Track rat you say, does he have stud problems?

 

still, the SBC swap is MAJOR surgery and wiring. Building a turbo miata is so easy that I did it.

 

Regrets? Nah, what sane person would have regrets after spending more money on juicing up a 4cyl thats at peek hp then it would have cost to swap in a stock v8 with the same hp numbers and still plenty of headroom.


Id have major regrets.

 

Not that i've heard of. Notice he isn't running a cast mani, though. I'm pretty sure there is a bolt/nut combo on that configuration.

Edit: actually taking a second look at the pic above I think i'm incorrect...

 

Interesting. I love seeing good comparisons like this, same dyno. Even though the 2.0 makes "no" torque, how hard is it to actually use all that torque with the V8? Then again, the lag of the 4cyl may be more difficult to control.

As a semi related side note, I still haven't decided what would be better suited to the miata, a sequential TT to get some of that low end torque back, or a V8 swap. Maybe I'll just sell the miata and buy a boat. haha.

 

The only reason I have a 2.0L is because I bought it for $2500. I couldn't really justify spending that much on a 4 cylinder when I could have a reliable stock V8 for just as much and an insignificant weight increase (after all turbo stuff concidered).

A buddy of mine wants to do an LS swap car with me for another project. I would really like to drive both to see how vast the difference is.

 

I know when I shift I'm usually at 5K in the next gear... It would be an interesting track comparison test.

I know which one costs less...

 

I saw that car today at the open house. He has had the motor in for two weeks and drove it 1400 miles to the open house.

 

Now I'm ******* impressed. He could turn that turbo up to the low-mid 20s and make 450+whp.

200tq at 3200rpm
250tq at 3700rpm
300tq at 4200rpm

That looks like it's an EASY 400whp to drive. No big hit, the turbo just comes on nice, smooth, and HARD.

 

Based on what I have seen, it is still pretty expensive to build a LSx conversion and do it right, not to mention a lot of work. If I did it to the same level as where I think I am at with my turbo setup, it would be more expensive. But it would be nice to have the V8 durability though, or at least more headroom at the same HP level.

A local Miata buddy of mine were talking just last week about whether the V8 or the turbo was the way to go. I think if I built a V8, it would be for the track, and be stripped to the bone, and ugly (primer paint, bent metal extractor hood, etc.). If I built one for the street as a daily driver, I would have to make it obnoxiously fast, like a turboed LSx, that I could use for bragging rights and to scare the crap out of my coworkers during rides to lunch
I am insane, and have a stupidly high tolerance for acceleration. It is genetic; I got it from my dad.

 

Hmmm. I literally just bought tickets for a trip back to my hometown where Bob Bundy lives. Might have to meet up.

I would rather have less peak power and a torque curve that splits the difference between the LSx and Bob's car below 4000. I'd aim for something like the lower curve in the graph in post #5 on the M.net thread.

Here's my take on builds at that level: This much power in a Miata is kinda silly. A C5 Z06 is basically a bigger Miata. Chassis that is greater than the sum of the parts, an engine just good enough to let the chassis do its thing, and plenty of warts and flaws throughout. If you want to actually put down 400 hp without spending the rest of your life spinning wrenches, buy one and put 285s on the front, 315s on the back, and go drive. If I could afford tires that big, it's what I'd do, but a set of tires for my '99 costs less than one tire for the Vette.

 

Wait to see your torque curve and overlay it on top of this one.

 

my pants are getting tight just thinking about it. I'm interested to see how my lil tater compares to savington's turbo. Hopefully I win somewhere on the dyno sheet.

 

seriously. had 200 miles on it when he set out...