I picked up a red '90 about about a year ago, so my wife could have a going to the beach car. She always wanted a Miata and a good friend had a spare, in case he wrecked his SM, from Florida, so very clean with no rust. I decided she needed 15x8 wheels, 225 Dunlops, adjustable Koni coilovers, new brakes, steel brake lines, and a timing belt, just in case. It now resides in North Carolina. 156,000 miles and starts right up. I had to put a real horn in it because jacked up SUVs keep trying to drive over her.

I had such fun with hers, I had to get my own to "fix". It is another red '90, this one from South Carolina, that an acquaintance had as a spare in case he wrecked his SM. Yes, I'm partial to wanna be race cars. Anyways, the interior is gone, as is the ac, radio, and power steering and door inards, and other assorted stuff that adds weight. Plan from the start was a race track capable street car. I had a thought to put a turbo in it but after further thought, now have a 302 ford in pieces. I've always wanted a hot, loud and obnoxious V8, that goes around corners. I have a 3.90 torsen swap kit but I'm told it won't handle the small block. Looking for 325hp at the crank and now a IRS Ford 7.5 or 8.5 diff with axles. Just in case.

Michael

 

Welcome, MikeyBikey. Check out the Miata Gallery and post up some pics!

 

Welcome to the site. Post up some pictures if you have them.

I know everyone that goes V8 does the whole drivetrain, but I'd be interested to see how the torsen would hold up. There are a ton of guys running stock rearends with +300whp turbo cars and I don't see them blowing up very often. I know that low end V8 torque is different, but I feel like with your moderate goals with the 5.0 the rearend would hold up pretty well.

 

Hmmmmm, 3.90 rear is going to be pretty low even with a 2.95 first gear T5. Rear tires will only accommodate so much load before they spin free, so I suspect the rear end and axles will survive, but I'm thinking first gear will be optional. Thanks for the thought.

Michael