Enter only if bored. Help Ed decide on a Miata.
 

GTO is officially gone.

The Miata search has begun.

Technically I need some time to put some money together. I am considering a pre-built turbo Miata, I'm considering buying a later Miata and installing my own kit, I'm considering a V8 Miata.

Wut?

OK so I really like NB's, right? But here in Oregon, you have to de-mod to pass emission or use sucky engine management. I'd rather do the former than the latter, but I'd rather do neither.

I have realized that I don't need an NB comfort-wise, the car won't be used for long trips or anything and I don't mind a little noise on my 20-minute commute to work.

Basically: I might have the opportunity to buy a somewhat ratty old Miata with an absolutely epic engine build in a few months.

However, I just happened upon an LS1 Miata in Seattle that has caught my attention. It's pretty rough, and the owner says it's got about 90k miles on the swap so at least it's sorted. Needs paint horribly, needs sucky 17" wheels dumped. But it has the following parts:

Setup:
--- 1991 Miata chassis
--- Chevrolet LS1 5.7 liter (346 cubic inch) engine
--- Chevrolet WS6 ECU
--- Custom intake and pleated filter
--- Walbro 255 lph fuel pump
--- Griffin aluminum, cross-flow radiator and Griffin fan
--- V8 Roadsters front sub frame
--- Energy polyurethane engine mounts
--- Tremec T56 6-speed manual transmission
--- D&G Short Shifter
--- V8 Roadsters frame rails
--- V8 Roadsters transmission mount with poly bushing
--- Flyin Miata / Wilwood clutch master cylinder
--- South Bay Driveline drive shaft
--- 7.5 Ford limited slip differential from Monster Miata
--- Monster Miata differential carrier and axles
--- Monster Miata differential carrier
--- Monster Miata axles
--- Sanderson Headers with O2 sensors
--- 2.5 inch custom dual exhaust with dual electric cut-outs before rear wheels
--- Borla dual-in single-out muffler, 2 inch tail pipe
--- Flyin Miata Front V8 sway bar PN 26-13300 with custom mounts and poly bushings
--- Racing Beat adjustable front sway bar end links with poly bushings (Flyin Miata PN 13-99000)
--- Aftermarket gauges for engine temperature, oil pressure and battery voltage
--- Aluminum wheels, 205/40R17 fronts (75% tread left), 225/40R17 rears (95% tread left)
--- Hard Dog Fabrication M2 Sport Roll Bar
--- Hard Dog Fabrication Roll Bar Pad
--- Hard Dog Fabrication Harness Bar

He says the engine is out of a 2000 WS6 Trans Am, claims 325 hp and 345 tq (would be crank).

Pics below. What say you all? What would you pay for something like this? And bottom line... If you could have this, or the same car with a perfectly built engine, 6-speed, rear end, and EFR on the best hotparts, etc (while we're theorizing) for the same money, which would you choose?

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1391143890

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1391143890

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1391143890

Wow this things ratchet but it's actually rare to see these V8 miatas for sale. Lot of work to get them actually running. Isk what they go for in price but id go for it if it's reasonable others can chime in on price

The only time I'd choose an NA over an NB is if the NA had a nice LSx swap and the NB didn't.

You better be ready to just about re-do everything from the ground up though, that doesn't look like an uber clean and nice swap. Those tend to become nightmares for people that want their cars flawless or at least well done/clean.

I'll sell you my crystal blue NB. :)

It's hard to entertain a guess at its value without looking at it, and I mean looking real close at EVERYTHING. Rust is one concern, and how things have aged with 90k on the swap is another. The fact that he got ugly ass wheels, mis matched bumper covers, and didn't bother with the speedometer makes me think it was kinda a fun project for him, but it's not his pride and joy. I could be totally wrong as I haven't seen it in person, but that's just the impression I get.

If it turns out to be done well, it could also be a nice way to get into the LS miata world and since most of the heavy lifting is done you could just take your time cleaning it up to meet your standards.

If you're willing to spend what he's asking, you could just look for a very nice n/a miata that already has an updated suspension, clean body, rollbar, etc installed and then install a FMII or equivalent and be ahead in that it's not a ratty car and boosted to the limit of a stock motor.

Go drive it. I saw that wand wanted it too, if it drives, shifts, and brakes nicely, it's totally worth it. And you'll right away if it's something you want. Keep an eye on the exhaust, subframe, and diff mount. Those are the things that seem to be shitty if done wrong.

post the fs ad or at least the price already and we'll tell you if its reasonable.

No. Just no.

Ive seen that ad, last I looked I think he wanted 11 for it.

hmmmm, that's really not bad IF its not uber half assed

$11k for an LSx miata with 90k miles on the swap? Yeah no.



For that price range come get my MSM that doesn't look like a bag of dicks, and has less miles than that on... EVERYTHING. Oh, and it's an NB.


For reference, this LSx Miata was recently for sale in the Nawleans area for $13.5k.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/attachment...3&d=1358705574

http://forum.miata.net/vb/attachment...4&d=1358705605

Tell me more (about this car being for sale in New Orleans)...

Guy says he bought it, completed, from a guy in California and drove it up to WA. Just seeing the air filter in the engine shot tells me it hasn't been particularly well cared-for... not to mention the condition of the rest of the car.

For those who have seen the ad by the guy in WA, how long has it been up there? This was the first time I had looked at CL Miata ads in the Seattle area.

Concealer, what color is your NB and how clean is it? I don't think I've seen a build thread on it, so if you've got one send me a link. Might be interested depending on what's been done to it.

If I go NA, then I will be looking for a MONSTER. If I go NB, then a monster would be nice but I'd be more looking for a powerful, but super clean car. In a monster NA I don't really care too much about clean if it dirties my underwear when I punch it.

The car in Nawleans is sold i do believe.

Ohhhhhhh when you said "this car was for sale in New Orleans" You must have posted a pic that didn't show up, because I thought you meant this exact car pictured above.

Gotcha.

OH.

My bad. Hang on.


This car.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1391192814

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1391192814

:drool:

Wow. That's... CLEAN. Wow. ARgh I wants that. lol

OK... most likely V8 Miata is out. I can handle rough but that thing is really really ugly.

Curly, I would love to go drive it, but it's over a 3-hour round trip and frankly I don't have the money together yet. If, once I have the money together, he still has the car, then I might go look at it... depends on what else is available at that time.

Please please please go and look at it. And buy it if you like it or not. I just want to experience a v8 miata. Then it sucks to be stuck with it. (If it sucks)

I mean, looks like he put straight panels on and hasn't painted it yet. As long as his bonds on the body work on the fender isn't bad, paint isn't a mistake he's made, just something he hasn't gotten to.

And aside from some poor taste in wheels and filter, which are easily fixed, the parts list is smart if the install wasn't done poorly some how.

I agree with you. The point of the air filter isn't that it's easily replaced, it's that seeing how dirty it is shows that the engine likely hasn't received the care that it should have.

We will see what happens when I get some money together. Send people up here to buy cars from me and stuff. lol You refer me 10 people and I'll buy the car (not that I make that kind of money off 10 sales.. lol I wish!)

No affiliation or anything, just another V8 miata for sale. $12k. 5.0 motor though.

[NA] 1991 Mariner Blue Monster Miata - MX-5 Miata Forum

http://forum.miata.net/vb/attachment...6&d=1391123252

So, a stock 5.0 puts out, what.... 230 whp and 250 ish wtq? Nice car but I think the body kit is ugly and those power figures are disappointing. Another data point though. Thanks for sharing!