I not much on typing, but figured I would throw out some pix and information on my V-8 Miata. It’s been a long-term project as several life issues creeped up on us over the last few years, but I’ve been able to put some time together to work on the car finally. It’s almost to the point where it can go to the track for some initial testing. I’ve driven it a bit on the street last fall before tearing the interior/dash/original rollbar out and fabricating an SCCA/NASA legal rollcage.

Getting closer! More to come..........

Pix of the car from the way I purchased it, some of the original team that built the car back in 2002-2003 to compete in the GrassRoots Motorsports Challenge and a whole bunch from tearing it apart and rebuilding most of it.

V-8 Miata by Daniel Lipperini Jr Photobucket

Some info on parts/pieces used.


- AFCO aluminum radiator(22" x 19") with a 15" electric fan.
- Meziere electric water pump with all -8AN stainless steel lines and anodized aluminum fittings.
- Peterson billet aluminum oil filter relocation housing with -8AN lines and fittings.
- Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator with -6AN lines and fittings.
- MSD coil, MSD 6A(6200) ignition box and TwEECer ignition/fuel injection tuner.
- Allstar oil catch can with vent filter.
- "Powered by FORD" aluminum valve covers.
- VW Corrado front brake conversion(11" rotors).
- 10" slotted rear rotors(1.8 set-up).
- Modified "stock car style" front sway bar with aluminum mounting arms and spherical rod end mounts.
- Delrin upper and lower front a-arm bushings.
- KONI front shocks with 6" EIBACH 550# springs.
- 2-1/4" collectors into a single 3" stainless steel mandrel bend exhaust which exits thru a SpinTech muller in the stock location.
- Blow proof transmission bell housing.
- 2 driveshaft safety loops and 2 rear half shaft safety loops. NHRA required.
- Rear KONI shocks with Flyin' Miata lowering strut mounts.
- Custom "stock car style" rear sway bar with aluminum mounting arms.
- Ford 8.8" aluminum IRS rear with an Eaton Detroit TrueTrac differential(ratio TBD).
- Martins Monster Miata rear axles.
- Delrin upper and lower rear a-arm bushings.
- RaceLabz SCCA/NASA approved rollcage(1.50" x 0.125" DOM tubing bent with 4.5" radius). No door bars are currently fitted but they can be added in the future if necessary. I wanted to retain the windows for now, so I didn't extend door bars into the door shell.
- UltraShield aluminum drivers seat.
- G-Force 5-point harness.
- Hood pins(4) and trunk pins(2).
- Hood has a Ford Mustang GT-500 extractor installed.
- Hood, trunk and rear filler panel painted House Of Colors "Hot Rod Black".
- American Powertrain "White Lightning" billet T-5 shifter relocator.
- Garage Vary replica front "lip spoiler" with custom HDPE splitter.
- Custom fuel injection system. Edelbrock Victor Jr intake manifold which was milled/bored and had injection bungs welded-in. Fuel rails woth -6AN lines/fittings and injectors(unknown rate) were fitted. An Edelbrock 75mm throttle body along with custom 3" intake tube are used and adapted to the "carb" manifold. I'm not much of a computer and fuel injection person and have considered putting the car back to carbureted, but it runs well as-is, so why fix what isn't broken.
- Air Flow Research AFR 165 aluminum heads with 1.6 aluminum ratio rockers are currently fitted.
- Shorty header that have 2-1/4" collectors.

*** I've been told that the car could benefit from a better tuner and some additional tuning. More tuning always helps!
- (4) 15" x 9" 6UL wheels from 949 Racing with Hoosier R6 275-35R-15 tires.
- (4) 15" x 8" 6UL wheels(un-mounted).
- (4) 15" x 7" aluminum wheels with 205-50-15 tires. These originally came with the car.


The stock dash is reinstalled and as little trimming as necessary was done just to fit around the A-pillar bars. I’ve also been able to fit almost all of the stock interior and windshield plastic trim as well as the original carpets. I’m trying to make the interior look as original as possible even though the car will most likely get used as a trackday, auto-x or hillclimb car. It will be easier to get it inspected with a full interior;).

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...c5e8b5d00.jpegSitting on jack stands next to the Lotus 7 that I’m building for my father. Next to that is my turbo rotary Rotus 7.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...dd3e4fcb6.jpegUltraShield drivers seat and rollcage.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...1d222cb71.jpegStock passenger seat, rollcage and center dash with switches, gauges and fuses.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...69c6b3090.jpegFront aero, GV lip and custom HDPE splitter.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...b113ca97b.jpegFord 8.8 aluminum IRS rear with Eaton True Trac differential.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...9b987f816.jpegStock car style blade front sway bar.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...930a748c0.jpegAxle safety loops.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...4324366d1.jpegDriveshaft safety loop.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...57a111200.jpeg3” stainless exhaust with Spintech muffler.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...aec5cbea4.jpegHoops extractor, matte black paint and 4 hood pins.

Nope. Street car! It’s titled and registered here in PA. I need to fit headlights to get it inspected as all of the other lights and turn signals work. I’ve been driving it around on our dealer tag to get stuff at the local parts store. I’ve taken it home a few times, but need to time it correct;y and get there before dark.

Honestly, it’s probably more of a track car than a street car, but I’m building it so that it can be used either way.