I'm so damn indecisive.

Been thinking about what else I could do with the LS swap budget besides an LS swap. I could focus on making the Miata a better all-rounder, for one. Brakes, reroute, interior, seats, NVH, EBC, etc. If I wait until I have a really good-paying job (out in 2014) I can buy a DD and do the swap on the side instead of taking vacation days to do the swap. I could also entertain other swap options, like an F20C or 13B.

I'm so damn indecisive.

Thoughts?

 

If this is your only means of transportation and you have a very strict timeline and budget that this "has" to happen on you are out of your mind.

 

Timeline strict, budget not so strict.

 

if it where me i would just line everything up for the swap and then do the swap down the line your family and job seem to be to demanding for you to get this done. In a timely and, happy manner.

 

If you have researched the hell out of the complete swap form start to finish and know ever little nook and cranny that is involved (there are quite a few things I noticed that some build threads/swap timelines don't even talk about or forget to mention), have all the parts lined up and have more than enough money to buy **** you may have forgot about and have the necessary skills and tools required for this then who's going to stop you? Go for it.
Most of these builds aren't as straightforward as they seem, and lots of stupid little snags usually hold up the install. I'd double whatever timeline you think you can pull this off in.

Otherwise buy a beater and play it safe so you don't have to rush anything.

As far as other swaps, I really can't see anything else being even nearly as awesome as a v8. That one guys s2000+turbo swap is awesome as hell, but I can't even imagine the kind of money that went into it.

 

Buy a DD. Even when your done with the swap, its not an everyday car. It took me 6+ months of near full time building before it hit the road and I'm still dicking with it constantly.
17k and you can drive home in mine...

 

As far as V8 swaps...I say LS or nothing, no lexus V8, no 5.0, no old school chevy V8. Alternatives to a V8 swap? I'd go F20c for sure, and turbo'd would be so radical. Would not go rotary, would consider K20 if it was a possibility to use in a RWD platform. The 2JZ? Not my taste. I wonder how a Buick GN V6 with a single turbo conversion would work out in a Miata?

 

Be my hero. Audi inline 5 turbo. If possible.

 

Probably wouldn't fit.

 

Down the line, yeah. But I won't buy everything now, that would just mean having to move it a few more times (at least twice) before I settle down somewhere as a civilian and start knocking it out.

Yeah, I did the research (can never do too much though), to include emails with FM, V8R, etc. Lots of poring over the builds on FM's site, swaptastic.net, and various forums.

Any other swap would either have to be simple (1.8, etc.) or have a great return on invested time (LS, F20C, 13B). I wonder what the F20C swap cost him without factoring in the extra goodies.

I'll probably get an older Honda or something to DD. Maybe an HF or VX, something I could hypermile.

For V8s, it's LS or bust. I'm not interested in 5.0s or anything iron blocked.

For others, they have to have an appeal to me. The F20C is lightweight and sounds like a sportbike, and has a great transmission. The rotary isn't exactly lightweight, but is compact, and there's something about the sound of an aggressive bridgeport. K20, 2JZ, GN? I'm not looking to pioneer anything, I'd have to have a better understanding of wiring IOT do that.

Nah. But it would be cool if someone else did.

 

If you're dead set on a swap and stuck on a serious timeline, why not look into something a little on the easier side. Maybe an FE3 or something. You could turbo it later, it's very well documented and much more straight forward than a V8 swap. I just couldn't imagine trying to swap a v8 on a timeline, I had a hard enough time swapping a BP on a timeline.

 

They were all single turbo from the factory to begin with.

 

What about a KLZE swap? With a turbo or two? I want to do this.

 

YBT swap > any non-V8 swap.

 

I am not sure I get the V8 swap thing because it's not very appealing to me. Will you have significantly more fun in a V8 Miata over a 250 or 300whp 4-slugger? This could be my extreme disdain for troglodyte V8 swap recommendations for laymen and fanboys.

 

Not really.

I had more fun with the 4 cylinder turbo since it could be thrown around easily, but the V8's torque plants you in the seat instantly.

 

You're right, not sure what I was thinking.

 

That would be awesome, but it's way too long. You'd have to put the radiator next to the engine the way Audi did on the B and C3 chassis cars (like this) but the bay isn't wide enough to do that on a Miata.

I wish my Miata could run the 26+ PSI of boost and make the sounds of my AAN-powered winter car...

 

WTH? How did it take you so long?

 

Build one, then ask. Most take nearly a year to build and I made sure it was done correctly. No extra wiring, while powersteering and ac both work great. It's not an easy swap by any means.