It's an emission issue for me (here in MD) more than a "can I do it" issue. Martin's Ford V8 kit would work fine in an NB with a few mods. The LSX is a better motor out of the box.

Being able to buy performance parts at the local Pep Boys or out of Summit or Jegs would be nice too.

I've owned a 280 whp turbo Miata. It was nice, but there was always the issue of trashing the tranny, the high strung motor, and the occasional quirks from aftermarket EM. Flashing a factory ECU is the way to go for emissions, driveability, cold start, hot start, etc.

In my old age I'm enjoying the coolness factor as much as the performance factor of my cars. Doing the conversion would give me a sense of accomplishment and the car would always be a nice conversation piece.

Like Y8s said, turbo Miatas are a dime a dozen in MD-DC-VA.

Frank

 

i see everyones point, maybe we should all have two miatae, a turbo and a V8, best of both worlds...the V8 convenience of no maintnance, the turbo for the maintnance so you can still get away from the gf/wife...OK?

 

Yes, this is why no one does it. Amirite?

 

Remember the Miata chassis was designed as a 'vert. It ain't like all the rigidity went out he window when they chopped the top off of a coupe like say a Mustang or 'Vette 'vert.

And the NBs have even more solid feel with the extra bracing and a few extra lbs.

And if Emelio makes the 6ULs in a 15X10 some sticky rubber would be in order, though the possible tires are severely limited.

Frank

 

For me it's the cost.

 

I have one of these in my office Would work nicely I think.

World Product's Warhawk LS7X Aluminum Block

Warhawk Features

 

i always thought that going the V8 route is considerably cheaper, but im starting to change my mind, it can add up real fast and cost twice as much even if you do your own fabbing and engineering...but itd be cool to have both

 

I'd think around the 600hp range it starts making financial sense.

 

Yeah, even not counting the cost of the swap, I'd wager that it costs a lot more to take a POS ford 5.0 to 500hp than an NB 1.8. In fact an LS1 may be the same after you count the cost of the swap.

 

now it makes sense...over 600hp and you actually start saving money...i think im good with 300 tops

 

does any place make dohc heads for the lsx motors? I would think that might make them even more powerful. I mean the warhawk place makes custom blocks and heads. Why not take it a step further.

 

I'm not even striving for that much, I'm looking at 200-210 tops!

Of course, whenever anyone asks me how fast any of my cars are in the quarter I just respond with,"My mom can drive fast in a straight line, why should I care?"

 

until you get there. then 300 will start sounding like a better number. :-)

 

agreed

 

So you've obviously never drag raced, right?

Frank

 

5.0??? you might have better luck with a 4.6 out of a newer 'stang, IIRC.

 

There was a time, but it got real boring real fast.

 

No, too wide. Cams are too far out.
However, I think my 3.9 will shoe horn in fine.

 

The 4.6 is a piece of **** compared to the pushrod 5.0.

 

The thing that deters me, other than simply cost, is the weight it adds. If I were to do a V8 I'd probably do a 5.0 due to the fact it has been done so much and the price of a 5.0 setup is far less than an LSx setup. But then what do you have? 225 flywheel horsepower and 300lbs more weight? I'd rather spend less money, have the 225hp without a signifigant weight increase, by going turbo. Yes, you can modify the 5.0 and make more power but then you're spending even more money. If you're below a certain power level it makes more sense to turbo.