No worries, it's all good ;)

Jesus fucking tits!!!

There's NO way you could build an aluminum blocked LS1 miata for that much!!

This thread needs more HD Video with good sound!!! :D

Video coming soon. The plan is I'll be driving it half-way across the freaking country starting next week. I can have a solo Cannonball Run. Tengo un radar detector.

When I have the chance, I'll put down the top, and I'll be racin' with ma-se-elf,
aoh aoh a oh,
aoh aoh a oh.

http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/image...Idol/idol1.jpg

Kahlua + Vodka + ice + milk = White Russian = Friday night amusement

Here a a couple vids that Jesse took:

Very nice.. that thing needs better exhaust, though.

Yeah I think it has a glass-pack exhaust from what I can tell from the videos and the description. Not my first choice, but for track duty it matters not really.

Better how? o.o It already sounds as though it would try to eat my soul...

OK picked up the car today, made it across a couple of states. Loooong day but so far so good. It wants to go fast. 6th gear is really tall, nice for the highway. Radar detector saved me twice already.

The suspension definitely needs some good coilovers and better tires but it will get me home as-is.

When I stop for gas, I get a lot of WTF looks when the car starts up. V8 noise coming from a Miata does not compute. Exhaust sounds better in person than in the videos.

So god damned jealous.

1. To have the money to buy it.
2. To have a wife understanding enough to let you keep it.
3. To have the time to take off and drive half way across the country in a V8 miata.
4. To track said V8 miata without looking back.

Again, so god damned jealous.

+1...you are so damn lucky.


Enjoy the hell out of it. This has to be one of those times in your life you realize all the hard work and sacrifice and playing by *most of the rules was worth it.


That said I envy you. I wish I had that fast forward button Adam Sandler had and could go to 3yrs from now...graduated, loans payed off...searching "LS Miata" in ebaymotors.com.

I'm still up for a trade!

wow, didn;t know anyone around me, locally, had an LSx miata.....
looks like there will be another in the hickory, nc area soon though ;)

Who are you and what did you do with all the smart people?

Hey....he realized the GSR swap is still slow...that means he's on the road to Stupid Honda Tool recovery.




NOOBISHNESS:


Read the big bold shit at the top of the forum that says you need to post up in the Meet n' Greet section, as well as putting your location in your profile so local members can help your, and so we can figure out if we can pick up whatever non-shippable part you're about to slap up in the FS section after spamming several other threads.

I made it home. It was a trying journey today but I made it back, almost exactly 48 hours from when I woke up on Tuesday morning to go to the airport.

The car is a little rough around the edges as expected, but nothing serious, so with a little wrenching it should make a very nice track car. I hope to have it ready in time for the Informal TWS Challenge. I am already having trouble deciding which car I should take.

BTW thanks for the kind words guys. I worked hard to get where I am so it is indeed nice to be able to enjoy the fruits of my labors so to speak.

One bit of advice. If you are ever in Birmingham, GO TO THE BARBER MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM. It is the ultimate monument to all that which is ultimate. Seriously, go see it.

Oh yeah, and just like the last time I was through there 6 years ago, Mississippi has highway patrol EVERYWHERE. It must be a significant source of revenue for the state or something. Seriously, damn...

Even having to sort/tweak the car, it's still a steal at that price. Good for you. Looking forward to ripper vids. :bigtu:

Mind if I ask what kind of sorting it needs?

Congrats dude! I'm glad to hear the trip was a fun/safe one.

Make sure you keep us updated on the progress of this beast! :bigtu:

+1. It is pretty amazing. And the track is awesome too (they hold Porsche sport driving school there)!

Congrats on the purchase!

The Lotus car collection is beautiful. It was very cool to be standing right next to cars that Mario and Mika used to race. Unlike a lot of the F1 cars I have seen displayed, these actually have the engines in the car, and they run. Word is that the museum has all but 1% or so of any vehicle in the museum (there are 1200+ cars and bikes) in running condition. Awesome.

Congrats and good luck with your new purchase. That was a STEAL at that price!!

I think a few people had asked me about the weight of this conversion. I weighted it on a digital car scale last night. With all of the street stuff still on the car (stock trim), the Hard Dog roll bar, and a full tank of gas, it weighed just over 2500 lbs without me in it. Not too shabby.

Took it to the drags last night. Smoked the crap out of the drag radials in 1st and second, 2.7 sec 60' time (fail). Even though it was a test and tune session, they were running a pro tree; I was not expecting that, and had a 'oh crap time to go' moment and dropped the clutch too hard. Heheeee

I had some clearance issues between the left inner CV joint and one of the subframe braces and had to call it a night.

Craig a.k.a DVCN, with his NA, Chinese T3/t4 hybrid turbo pushing 15 psi, stock engine (NB head), ghetto extractor hood, and EBay tubular exh mani ran a 12.6 on really old BFG Drag radials. Talk about bang for the buck, pretty impressive. He has a line lock so his burnouts are pretty cool.

So you took the car on a little road trip eh? I live less than a mile from Barber and STILL haven't been to the museum. My dad even donated one of his old bikes to the museum and we still haven't been. I guess one day I need to make the trip. No video yet!?

SWEET deal ! As far as A/C. You could go to old air products and they should have one that would work or make you a bracket reasonable.

And for the guys thinking about going Lsx. There is only 15hp differance between the 5.3 truck LSx and the Z28 Ls1. And you can pick that motor up all day long for $400+ bones.

I'm just too lazy and cheap to do the work. LOL.,,,,,, I just bought a 99 Z28 and it is a beast with the Ram air hood, air lid, cat backs and a auto. Suprising that a stock car rips like that. especially the auto version.

I was at Yello Belly, worst pad ever(They don't even sweep on Thursdays). And burning all the way through first with a embarrasing 5.5 reaction time. Still pulled a 8.78 in the 8TH.

My brother has the WS6 6SPEED with a massaged LT1. You can't hardley hook it up in his car. Much less a 6 speed in the miata.

That car has to be WilD! Jeez the corvette version in a 1000Lbs lighter car.

I bet the car will be faster with the interior in it for the drag strip. Or babe some bricks in the trunk. LOL

Dude... Seriously, you NEED to go see the museum. It is fantastic.

Sorry, no video yet. I thought about taking the camera to the strip but it would have been a fail video, pretty lame run :loser:

No a/c. This is going to be a track car, specifically road race. I already disconnected the heater core in fact. I took it to the drag strip for the hell of it.

It is great on the highway. It cruises at 80+ in 6th gear like it is nothing.

What was your mph at the track?

I need to find my time slip. I was a little focused on figuring WTF was going on with the diff, not sure what I did with it.

EDIT: OK here it is... It sucks, but this was the first time I have tried to drag this thing, and it was all driver error. The car was running fine.
Reaction .495 (Pro tree fail)
60 ft time 2.74 (launch fail)
1/8 ET 10.49 @ 80.94 (2nd gear traction fail)
1000 ET 13.12
1/4 ET 15.284 @ 107.7

The built Vette Stingray (cammed for the moon, full cage, custom paint) in the lane next to me ran a 9.47 @ 143.9. 1.46 60 foot time.

That Jeep SRT8 that beat the C5 Corvette was pretty wicked eh? I couldn't believe it...talk about sleeper. Looks as though its somewhat common to get them in the 11/12s

Yes, that was truly awesome. He is not kidding guys. Ryan and I watched a Jeep SRT8 run a smoking fast time, beat the C5 Vette in the lane next to him, and not because the Vette driver sucked. The Jeep 4WD launch was impressive. Definitely a sleeper. If you pulled up next to one at a stop light you would never guess how fast it is. It looks like just another big SUV.

http://www.ajeepthing.com/images/jeep-srt8-racing.jpg

Actually I disagree: it looks absolutely badass. Not your typical suv. It looks like it means business.

I absolutely love those things

yeah the SRT8 Cherokees are Corvette eaters, don't know how many times I have seen an unsuspecting vette get embarrassed.

Congrats, thats a great pickup

Hmmm, after my girl pays some of here student loans down. That may be the next family ride.

But for now. The low mileage miata is great. if she needs to take her nephews, she can take the carmaro. And I'll carve some twisties in hers. LOL
I wounder why she doesn't let me drive it. LOL....

But seriously, that looks pretty inpressive.

Well, I suppose an update is in order...

1. Took it to the drags, launched it hard and bent the subframe adapter that holds in the differential :D Fixed it
2. Car is currently on jackstands for a complete suspension overhaul. Poly bushings with grease fittings, Teins, bigger brakes.
3. Exhaust pipes running under the differential removed. Now it is just turn-down tips in front of the differential, directed away from the diff housing.
4. I keep finding things I want to improve. I need to stop it and just get it running again.
5. Scored a APR GT-II dual segment wing (aluminum) locally for $60.
6. Carbon hardtop shell on the way thanks to the CR group buy.
7. Found out the rear diff carrier (Ford 8.8 31 spline) is either an open diff or a clutch type with completely worn clutches. I am shopping for something better.

Saw pics in the other thread...great looking car!

Are LSDs pretty affordable to for the 8.8, looking for helical or something more advanced? Do you know what gear ratio you run in that differential?

Isn't that the primary mantra around here?

- L

For the carriers only, A new Torsen T2 is about $550. A new TrueTrac (Eaton's torsen like LSD) is about $450. Clutch type diffs are even less than that. R&P sets are about $150-$200. Housings are cheap.

I believe mine is a 3.73:1 R&P. 6th gear is really tall, like 2300 RPM at 75-80 MPH.

how much power does this car have? what wheels/tires are you planning on running?

About 300 RWHP. I will be using Nitto NT-01 225/45/15 on 15x8 6ULs; I already have the wheels and tires. I am also adding aero for some downforce, or at least a net reduction in lift: front splitter, rear wing, and diffuser.

Mu oil cooler fitting FINALLY came in, backordered from Mocal. I'll be installing the oil cooler soon, right after I get rid of the hood latch (to make room) and add hood pins.

Which oil cooler? I had the Lingenfelter adapter on mine but though it was dropping my oil pressure so I took it off. Mine's a street car though so no biggie.

Seems my OP gauge is screwed up or my new oil pump is jacked.

Frank

I have a CXRacing oil cooler, and am using the Mocal adapter. It works the same way as the Ligenfelter unit but has the thermostat built into the adapter housing.

Haha nice seats in that thing.

Nice purchase, I've always wanted an LS1 powered Miata, the best of both worlds eh?

Update:
I decided to take a break from the boring, tedious, and messy suspension work to carry forth with some other modifications on the list...

1. Installed the hood pins. This allowed me to remove the stock hood latch, which was essential for #2

2. Installed the oil cooler. I used a CXRacing unit, a big one. This was not too hard with the hood latch removed, even with a pusher fan on the front of the radiator.

3. Installed a Prosport coolant gauge in the stock dash cluster in place of the stock coolant temp gauge. This required disassembly of the gauge (no housing, no lens) and some modification of the stock cluster of course. The hardest part was installing the sender unit in the passenger side head since it is pretty cramped in that area. It takes an adapter to go from the 1/8" NPT sender to the 12mm hole in the block. I had to drill out the i.d. of the adapter so that the sending unit would fit in the adapter.

4. Some irony... I ordered one of these Mocal LS1 oil cooler adapters from Racer Parts Wholesale:
Remote Oil Thermostat - Mocal Thermostat for GM LS Engines
It is a nice unit since the thermostat is integrated into the adapter. It was on backorder due to a change from Mocal to add some provisions to accommodate some unexpected variation in the LSx motors. So I waited a month for this thing, and it finally got here this week.
The problem is, the exit point for the bottom -AN fitting interferes badly with the exhaust pipe. No way it will work with either a straight or a 90 deg -AN fitting. I even looked at installing it 'upside down' which would work on the block, but then the transmission bell housing is in the way.
:facepalm:
It looks like I should have just ordered the Lingenfelter oil cooler adapter, and a remote thermostat
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering: Lingenfelter GM LS1, LS6 & LS2, LS3 Oil Cooler Adapter Kit
That is what I will be doing next. The oil lines should clear the exhaust nicely with some 90 deg fittings.

5. Moved the AFR gauge to one of the eyeball vents. It is really amazing how easy this is to do and how well the gauges fit in the frame that holds the 'eyeball'. It is as if the Mazda Engineers designed the eyeball vents to accommodate gauges for those who wanted to convert the cars for track use.

6. Removed the a/c core and the blower motor. This was also easy.

The Lingenfelter oil adapter worked very well. There is plenty of clearance for the lines to come straight out (sideways) from the block with some 90 deg fittings. I do not think the exhaust will be a problem though I will wrap the oil lines with some exhaust pipe wrap to be safe.

One minor nitpick about the Lingenfelter adapter... It comes with a NPT port, if one wants to add an oil pressure gauge for example. I did not need the port, so I plugged it with their aluminum NPT plug. Aluminum is the wrooooong material for the plug; the socket head stripped right out. Hopefully it is tight enough.

Aeroquip socketless lines and fittings are really easy to install. We used Parker push-loc (some name like that) on the FSAE car back in the day for the oil cooler. It is a very similar system; just cut the hose to length, push in the fitting, done. The Aeroquip socketless AN fittings are really light.

I installed the wing today, and made a custom end plate for it. It looks HUGE on the car. even though it is just a normal APR GT-II. It is firmly mounted so there is no way it is coming off unless it takes the trunk lid with it.

Where's the pics?

I knew that pic request was coming :D
I have not snapped any shots yet since the car is dirty and sitting on jack stands. Kind of sad really. But I suppose I should start posting some soon.

pics!!!!!!!!!

Still waiting patiently....take some pics of the hardtop while your at it! ;)

I unwrapped the hard top today and put it on the car briefly to check the fit. It looks great and is very light.

Oil cooler is in and working leak-free. Oil temp gauge is in and working. Picts tomorrow, though it is still on jack stands.

So hows that cxracing oil cooler working for you? I've been interested in one but just haven't had to guts to take a risk on it...

Awsome....glad to here there is no damage. If it can make it from NJ to TX in one piece, NJ to CT should be no problem ;)....

Still though, :useless: :giggle:

OK so far. It seems solid enough. I had a very small leak on one of the AN fittings on the cooler despite tightening it firmly. I am using brand new -10AN Aeroquip fittings so I suspected the problem was the cooler itself. So I removed the fitting, cleaned off the oil, gave it a very light coat of permatex on the seal face, retightened the fitting, let it sit, and now it seems fine. I'll keep an eye on it.

Other than that it is hard to say since I have not driven the car yet since installing it. I still have to reassemble the suspension. The Mocal oil cooler thermostat is working; the oil cooler stays cool until the oil temp gets above 180F or so, then it heats up when the oil starts flowing though the cooler.

Well my Sunday fabrication session was just interrupted by some thunderstorms. So I grabbed a camera and snapped some pictures.

So boys and... boys... pull up a chair it is picture time. Yaaaayyyy!!!

The oil cooler looking in from the front. You can just see the oil thermostat at the right side of the radiator inlet.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jh2HiMm4nKQ/Sv...2/PB080004.JPG



The oil thermostat. Lines running up go to the cooler. Lines running down go to the engine.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jh2HiMm4nKQ/Sv...2/PB080007.JPG



The Lingenfelter oil adapter. Notice how close it is to the header/downpipe and the thermotec wrap I added to the oil lines. There is also thermotec wrap over the wire for the oil temp sending unit.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jh2HiMm4nKQ/Sv...0/PB080006.JPG



Looking down at the top of the oil cooler.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jh2HiMm4nKQ/Sv...2/PB080008.JPG



APR wing and custom end plates, side view.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jh2HiMm4nKQ/Sv...0/PB080002.JPG



APR wing and custom end plates, back view.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jh2HiMm4nKQ/Sv...2/PB080010.JPG




That is all for today :)

Thank you good sir, wheres the cf ht! That wing is huge...

It is in the garage... Like I said, it is raining!

The wing is a big old bitch. APR GT-II. It is slightly narrower than the distance between the inside edges of the side view mirrors.

I remembered one more picture. Here is the dash showing the gauges. From left to right: gas (stock), tach (stock) oil pressure (fast-acting, either modded or aftermarket), speedometer (aftermarket), coolant temp (aftermarket). In the eyeball vent holes: oil temperature, AFR.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_jh2HiMm4nKQ/Sv...0/PB080005.JPG

The radio, AC controls, and other useless crap will be coming out soon. If anyone is interested in a Clarion head unit w/remote and a 6-disk trunk mount CD changer let me know.

I am also looking for an aftermarket wheel with a quick release but I am not in a big hurry for that.

Dude, the cluster is fucking tits! I need to do something like that...

If I were you I'd be in a huge hurry to get ride of that wheel. Tan wheels are ok, black wheels are sexy, black with tan cover is hideous. I don't blame you for waiting though, with the LTB quick release, momo hub, and momo champion wheel, I've got $377 invested in my steering wheel alone. Thankfully I believe the wheel was a gift. Can't wait to see this car in it's full race mode, so much potential weight savings with it.