Every now and then there comes a dyno graph...
 

...that may change your priorities/direction.... We all know the specs of the LS1 motor. But, to see the dyno graph, is another thing...

http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/dyno_...8_vs_stock.pdf

It's not just the peak numbers, but the torque curve from 1500rpm to redline that is pretty much all above 300. Craziness. Can you say area under the curve?

http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/dyno_runs/v8_vs_FMII.pdf

Another compared to their FMII kit.

I want a V8.
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how's the traction on that thing?

saw one in real life last weekend. key phrase is 'part throttle' it can break loose in 5th. he was giving rides (i didn't get one :() but even the 250hp turboed guys got out of the car going 'aaaaaa...aahhhhhh...aaaaauhhhhh....' and staggered off.

one word: Fun

A local member here has an LS1 swap in his Miata. I think he maybe on this board can't remember.

He give test rides at a local test day. I was the first person to get a test drive so he drove a few miles before opening it up to let everything warm up. The car was crazy smooth and quiet when driving normal. It felt like a normal car just quiet and smooth. Then he opened the car up at 2K rpms and I hit my head hard enough on the stupid seat to have a headache for about 30 mins.

Drool.

can you say no gas mileage compromise compared to stock?

In a car that weighs 30% less than a corvette, I bet it'd get better than 26mpg highway.

Might not be as good as the 1.8's mileage, but I bet it'll be within 20%.

Someone figure out how to get an LS1 swapped OBD2 car to pass emissions damnit.

The guy that owns V8roasters is here in Tampa. He also belongs to the local club. His cars are unbelievable.

On the highway I'm not sure it would get better mileage than a Vette or one of the previous-gen Camaros. Those cars have a lot better drag coefficients than the Miata. Around town, though, I would expect to see better mileage.

My '95 Z28 with an LT1 and a 6 speed got ~28 on the freeway if I stayed out of it. Roughly 1650 rpm at 65 MPH. Around town I could get 20 if I really babied it. Typically it was 16-17.

I wonder how much work the traction control would be to retrofit with the swap. It saved me twice in the camaro in the rain. You don't have to use much throttle to break loose on the metal grating of a drawbridge.

Man I loved that engine.

Right... gas mileage on the freeway has almost nothing to do with weight if you're on flat ground. it doesn't take much power to maintain a steady speed whether you're in a 5000 lb caprice or a 2000 lb miata.

Why the does this idiotic comment come up in every V8 thread? I'd expect this on m.net but not here. Then there's the comment about drag coefficients. It means jack shit unless you take into account the front area of the car, which there is more of in a f-body than a Miata.

Anyway my point is you can't just write off gas mileage as being bad just because it has a V8 and the CD sucks, and who the fuck cares about gas mileage when you have a V8 miata, really? Go buy an Insight.

i wonder if its possible to go fast on the track with that much torque.

I'm guessing it would pass the Mark Donohue test on leaving rubber from the exit of every corner to the start of the next.

The answer is 14.

The question is approximately how many days would I own it before I died in it?

I guess it depends on the track, but yeah. Two different drivers took FTD at the local autocross in that car with smaller tires than they're going for now. Their times were almost even but they were FTD by four seconds.

FM has been kicking butt doing autoX in one. They say it handles great. Their system moves the engine lower and farther back that others. Keeps the roll center low and it's not that much heavier. Fender flares and some 15x9 6uls and I think you are in business.

Last autox I was at there is a guy with a 2nd gen RX7 with a 500hp vette motor in it. He puts on a hell of a show. He wins his class pretty consistently. The week before he won in the rain! Do it right and you should be able to put the power down.

that would be my dream setup, 350hp/tq sounds a bit freaky to be driving but if it can be completely controlled with your right foot, you never feel it until you want it

if/when I hit the lotto tonight, tomorrow I'm beginning the process of importing an NB coupe so that it can be coverted to LHD and getting a 400hp LS3 variant installed.

the torque is nice
the hp figures are peaky though, you only have 1000 rpms of 350 hp, rest of the time you're way below that.

any pictures of this swap? How is the weight distribution vs a turbo miata for instance?
lastly what is the cost for the swap components, ball park it, i'm curious...you know, motor/trans/tuning, accessories, pretty much all you need to finish it, A-Z