New project: 1996 Miata with Ford 5.0
 

Just wanted to introduce myself and my project. I have a 96 Miata that in it's current state is sporting a built 1.9 turbo engine. I have not been happy with the way the setup has run, and due to some financial changes, have decided to part out the drivetrain (currently in process). I have a 91 Mustang GT as well, and love the platform and aftermarket support, so I have decided that is the drivetrain to go in to the Miata (I already had a T5 tranny laying around, among many other parts). I found a used 5.0 out of a Lincoln Mark 8, and have also picked up a 7.5" 3.27 Tbird carrier, and a Trac Lok unit to put inside. This is going to be a long project, but I am really looking forward to it. The Shelby Cobra has always been my dream car, so I am excited to build a version of my own. Here are a few pics of the car as it sits and the engine that I picked up.

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Here is the new engine waiting for it's turn

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More to come.

Thanks,

Jason

Looks like a great start. Those Lincoln H.O. blocks are usually "YYY" castings which are slightly stronger than Mustang porn (XXX) blocks making that a great starting point for something more involved internally later on. The front accessories are the same as mustang stuff with the exception of the ac compressor (a bit shorter) and the alternator bracket. The alt bracket looks almost exactly like the mustang one but will end up locating the alternator just a half inch or so too high to work. Get a mustang one or dump the smog pump and buy an after market alternator bracket and adjuster (possobly cheaper than a used mustang bracket).

Good luck, let me know if you need a harness for it,
-Jason

Thanks, I appreciate it. It's going to be a while, as I have to remove and sell all the turbo parts in order to buy the install kit. I did order the manual so I will be well versed once the time comes.

Thanks,

Jason

You have the best license plate ever! I love it!

A lot of guys join you in the Cobra as a dream car club. For what it's worth our Miatas may not be as sexy but having A/C and a top is really nice and I have beat both the Cobras I have raced against. And the last one I beat was an ERA car with a Coyote crate engine in it.

I'm looking forward to your build and so glad you are doing a build thread!!

So, quick update on my build.

I have pulled the engine/tranny out of the Miata, and am in the process of disassembling them, and selling the parts to fund the V8 build. It will probably be a while before I actually start doing the conversion, as I have to get the funds together first.

I have ordered the manual from Martin, and been doing some research online. From what I have seen, I am definitely going to make some adjustments to the install from what the manual has. I am going to completely go through the wiring, and remove everything that is no longer needed, and base it more on how a mustang is wired (not as much splicing/patch work, one of the benefits to having a 5.0 mustang as well to look at). I am also debating on what I want to do for the engine install, as I would love to do a tubular subframe to get more room for the exhaust to come straight down and back versus snaking it. Still thinking about that one, as the kit is there, and is a proven way to go versus hand fabricating. Still weighing pros/cons.

I'm going to continue to build it on paper, so I can be as prepared as possible when the time comes to get going on this.

More to come.

Jason

Quick update:

Been talking with Martin, and am pretty close to ordering my kit. I have been stock piling parts for the swap. I have the 5.0 engine, 7.5 3.27 with track lock, t5 tranny that I'm going to put z gears in, explorer intake, 70mm tb and spacer, trick flow stg 2 cam, trick flow heads, motorsport valve covers, steel underdrive pulleys, short shifter, 3g alternator, wiring harnesses, ecu, and some other misc stuff.

Today I pulled the engine crossmember and cleaned it up. Still need to get the hubs out, then I can ship parts off to Martin. Here's a pic of where it stands right now:

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Thanks,

Jason

Great progress. You will be amazed at all the work you can do before you even get the kit.

This board is great for support.

Thanks, I know I have plenty to so with just cleaning up the engine bay/wiring. This is definitely a big/involved project.

Jason

Sounds like you got some good stuff going on. My only suggestion would be to ditch the underdrive pulleys. You are going to need all of the cooling help that that you can get.

Having a 5.0, I've never had any cooling issues with underdrives. I do plan on making some adjustments to the rad/fan mounting/operation

Thanks,

Jason

Good luck with that. Be sure to upgrade the alternator to keep up with the fans.

Yep, have a 3G setup going in. I may end up ditching the dual fan setup for a single fan that flows a ton. Waiting till I get the kit to see what I have to work with.

Jason

Could you elaborate on your plan here Jason?

Shrouding/ducting/different fan setup (big single)/etc. All in my head for now until I I have the actual parts to work with.

Jason

I think you are going to find many things work the same way in the Miata as they do in donor cars but in the case of cooling the experience you have with other cars doesn't mean squat. This is a much smaller engine bay that is full to overflowing and air flow in these cars is terrible.

I've done all the stuff you are talking about and it certainly helps, especially to recover from a high temp, but no question my money is on tbone being right on this. And not just because I can't think of a time he was ever wrong but because cooling problems with these cars is as common as speeding tickets and you need all the help you can get.

I get it, half the fun is figuring stuff out. Hood louvers are also on the list to help with engine heat.

Jason

The only heat issues I'm having is due to the intake/cone filter sitting on top of the headers causing me to lose some HP over optimal. Going to the track this weekend with estimated tempts in the 90's mid day. I would think FM has this stuff figured out since they are all track junkies. Though elevation and average tempts where they are is a bit different from TX. Curious why their solutions aren't mentioned much here?

LOL Gator that's because you have an epic $1000 radiator set and the entire exhaust system is thermo coated in your car. Even so if you run 3 autocross laps back to back on a hot day with nothing but a little idle time inbetween you'll push that temp gauge up too.

Guess I just figured FM was reselling something that could be had elsewhere for less. My exhaust isn't coated...yet.

Actually not they had a ton of cooling issues when they first got going and went there a truck load of R&D to develop their own radiator set up. It is really a very special unit and thus the cost. Check it out:
Flyin' Miata : Cooling tech

I've got about 300 into my cooling set up and even though the radiator is bigger than the one in the Camaro the engine came out if it's much more sensitive to heat issues. On a hot day at a slow track I can cook it if I'm not careful.

My bad you must have a stainless car. The Sanderson headers they used on the earlier cars were thermo coated with the pipes and cats too all the way back to the muffler.

Sorry to get off track here in your build thread Jason. Just don't sell your stock pulley till you have some miles on the build.

And they continue to improve the product. I have an older fan setup that used two different fans of the same size, but different motors/flows. Keith told me they now use two of the same higher flowing fans in case I do end up with temp issues on hot TX track days.

Sorry about any thread jacking, but figured related while talking cooling. :)

No problem guys.

Quick update rear end/axles/hubs/ppf are removed, and I have sent all of my parts to Martin for modifying.

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More to come.

Jason

Quick update. Finished disassembling the Miata engine for sale, so I got the 5.0 mounted to the stand for disassembly/cleanup/new parts.

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Also started getting parts from Martin.

Jason

Mighty fine looking pile of parts there Jason!