302 94' Miata Build
 

I don't really make threads on forums, but I just wanted to make one here just so y'all can see another v8 Miata build. I have started this build back in early April. I'm still gathering parts for my project and I am modifying my own subframe and also many other parts. Going to have Martin broach my hubs and for him to send me his axles and the hydraulics kit. I sent Jason my harness so he's doing most of the wring for me (I deeply hate wiring stuff).
Going to pick up a 8.8 dif from a T-bird SC tomorrow, a hurst shifter, and a Moates quarterhorse tuner chip. Along with a free 302 short block.
Don't have much pictures, but are some. As you can see I'm not done with the subframe as I still need to make some mounts and weld so much more. The 302 I have has a e303 cam, GT40P heads, cobra intake, 65mm TB, 88mm MAF, 30# injectors (Overkill), and using some Patriot headers.
Picked a freshly rebuilt World Class T5 as well.
I will try to keep this thread updated as time goes!

Yay another badass 5.0. Not sure what you're doing for exhaust, but keep in mind P heads won't work with Martins headers if you're going that route.
Looking forward to following along.
Cheers.

edit. wow i must have selective reading. I see you're using Patriot headers. Maybe the P heads will work with those.

Lol yea I'm using Patriot headers and they are meant to work with P heads. I've already tested them out and all clears out!

Awesome. Your build sounds very similar to mine. I cant wait to see your progress. The ingredients of our cars are mostly the same and will be interesting to see the differences between our finished products. You look like you have things under control with your build but i have one word of advice. Use the SN95 belt setup! I wish i had. I really could have used the extra room.

I really should of thought about using the sn95 belt setup before buying a fox WP. Idk if I should really ditch that WP and use the sn95 belt setup. I will really keep that in mind!

Whats a WP cost, like $80? Just sell it.
I used the sn95 front stuff and am glad for the room.

Actually half of the for a Gates WP :laugh:
I'll start looking for a sn95 belt setup now.

Btw I'm a noob. What all would I need from the sn95? I can keep the ac compressor from a fox right? Just get the sn95 ac bracket, alt bracket, WP, and crank pulley? Harmonic balancer should be the same?

That sounds right. What i did on my build to see what parts were common between a fox and an sn95 was to simply price out the parts for a 93 as well as a 95 GT. Summit and RockAuto were good sources for cross referencing that.
I didn't use PS or AC so someone else will have to speak up about that.

SN95 setup requires the front timing cover as the initial starting point. This is what actually allows the belt to be moved closer to the engine.

Then you need all the front accessories including the A/C compressor as it attaches differently. But it sure does provide more room. I have Ford Contour electric fan behind the radiator pulling tons of air which to me is a big advantage for cooling these things.

I'll see if I really going to need them or not.

Engine is finally sitting. Still need to finish up some welding for the subframe.

Modified a stock mustang crossmember to mount up my T5 up.
Is this supposed to be about the height of the shifter?

That looks pretty close to the height of mine....yours is maybe a 1/2" or so higher. If possible you may want to build in some adjustment in case your pinion angle ends up being off. You probably already know this, but you want your tranny and rearend angles to be parallel.

I will try to adjust it a tad lower. Thanks!

Been a few weeks since last update. Haven't done much, but I did mount up my coil with a bracket I made. I also needed to lower the transmission an inch so modified the stock t5 mount.
I also relocated my fuel lines through the outside of the frame rail with some ss fuel lines and adapters.

I also used a fox tranny crossmember on my built. It worked but the exhaust is very low and scrapes on everything due to the right side not having as much clearence. I will be fabing a new tranny crossmember so the exhaust will fit tighter. If you want to get your car down low then you might run into the same problem.

Do you have pics of your current setup? By right side, do you mean the passenger side? I'm not looking to go as low as I was before tearing her apart but I want lower than stock height.

Made some progress on my build. I had the crank pulley modified. I also mounted up the miata ps pump. Got both belts with good tension. Also mounted up the slave cylinder and clutch.
Now I'm working on making some mounts for my 8.8. My harness should be here this week if not for sure next week. Hopefully I could start it up pretty soon!

:D

Any of yall know where exactly is the tachometer wire for a 94' Miata? I can't find it and I tried searching online, but no luck.

It's the yellow with blue stripe coming off the Miata's 8 pin connector -passenger side engine bay.

I was looking for a black with white wire lol
I'll give it a look tomorrow. Thanks!

No luck on finding that wire :( I think the yellow with blue is for the 90-93' Miatas only.

Castillo - what a great start-up video! Just came across it today. This is going to be a wicked V8Roadster! 5.0's sound so sweet- nothing else equals it, in my opinion. Thanks for updating us. You'll soon find that tach wire, I'm sure!

lovely engine noises....

I have a '95. On mine, I think its the yellow/blue wire on the flat grey 4 pin plug on the passenger side that branches off of the main harness that also has the windshield washer and EGR plugs.

I'll try to find that wire once again today!

Awe maaaan :(

My exhaust for now

Nice! Bet it's pretty throaty. I have tiny straight through mufflers on mine, it's pretty loud. Sounds mean though!

Well I'm going to remove my gt40p heads and sell them. Tired of dealing with the spark plug boot clearance. Saving money for TF aluminum heads.

TF are great heads. I have those mixed with TF Stg 2 cam and 1.6 Scorpion rockers. Just enough clearance with stock pistons and sounds great. Should make good power too.

Nice! I'm just going to stick with my E cam for now. Which TF heads do you have?

I have the plain jane ones (TFSSBF1, I think). They are older and I got them second hand off ebay.

As it sits as of now. Tried to start her but didn't want to start. There is spark, fuel, and air. I'm thinking I over tightened the rocker arms and some were very loose.

Check your distributor is not 180 off. It's a common/easy mistake.

Yeah, it was off the first time, but then I restabbed it correctly and nothing.

If you still haven't found that tach wire try pulling the gauge cluster and looking at the back. All the traces on the printed circuit are labeled with the gauge they run to. Find the tach one and trace to the plug that plugs into it. Tap it there is you like.

-Jason

Is there a better connection for the ignition module wires to the dizzy? After doing some few runs around the block the wire keeps coming off. I don't like the individual wires.

If you bolt the module there, it won"t lose connection. That is where Ford engineers mounted MILLIONS of them.

Well, yeah, but I bought Jason's relocation kit and I would think it'll be more secure.

I would say to be sure your connectors are tight enough to "hold" onto the tabs they connect to and use a zip tie or two to ensure nothing is pulling on the wires...

Make sure the male tabs of the jumper are in the corresponding female connectors and not just next to them. It is very easy to have them between the connector and the housing as opposed to in the connectors themselves.

The tabs have been crimped slightly to hold them in place.

Once its in place also make sure to connect the jumper to the distributor with one of the small zip ties in the kit. Use the open hole that originally attached the module. Doing this takes tension off those connectors.

-Jason

It will also likely overheat eventually. I've sold 714 kits to date to fix the problem.

Awesome thanks! Now time to find that jumper lol

With a 3/4 tank of gas and some tools in the back.
Not too bad.