95 LS Budget "out the window" build
 

After scheming about building an LS miata for a while I finally am going through with it. Picked up this 95 for a very good price yesterday. It's got a jackson racing supercharger currently which I plan on selling. I'll warn you all now, progress will likely be slow as I collect parts and such.

Here's the plan. (lol this is pretty far from the actual path I'm on)
L33 aluminium block 5.3
-mild cam w/ associated valvetrain upgrades(undecided)
-all new gaskets
-v8r Long tube headers
T56 trans
BF swap kit w/ trans mount (NOW USING V8R KIT, DUE TO LONG TUBE HEADERS)
8.8 ford IRS rear end
-driveshaft shop 500hp axles
-I'll fab the diff mounts up

basically the unlisted parts are either undecided or not researched yet.

Budget so far

Car & sales of stock parts
-$1500 Car
-$52 Cheap front brakes
-$20 Supercharger belt
+$950 Sold supercharger
+$225 Sold wire wheels
+$500 Sold Differential/axle swap
+$700 Sold engine, trans, ecu, maf
Total= +$803 (Free car)

Drivetrain
-$1400 BF engine and transmission swap kit
+$1200 SOLD BF swap kit
-$2157 V8R LSX swap kit with motor mount heat shields
-$26 V8R frame rail reinforcements
-$175 Stage 2 8.8 V8R axles
-$200 99 Cobra aluminium 8.8 IRS
-$60 Energy diff bushings
-$100 Steel for rear subframe fabrication
-$285 T56 Bellhousing
-$1,724 T56 Transmission w/ Pro 5.0 SS (used, 60k from camaro)
-$145 AC Delco starter
-$8 Starter bolts
-$37 Axle boots
-$160 Rear hubs
-$14 axle boot clamps
-$12 axle nuts
-$245 wilwood clutch master cylinder, bleeder, etc
-$225 ls7 clutch kit with LS3 flywheel
-$35 slave cylinder
-$12 pilot bearing
-$50 used driveshafts (need to shorten)
-$20 cobra t56 reverse light sensor
-$165 shorten & balance camaro drive shaft and replace ujoints
-$10 t56 output shaft seal
Total= -$6,065

Steering, Suspension & Brakes
-$130 manual steering rack
-$65 Wheel Bearings and seals
-$38 super pro steering rack bushings
-$780 15x9 6ul wheels w/ tires (used)
-$1,015 V8R DSD coilovers
-$490 V8R 11.750 4 piston/2piece rotors front brake kit(used w/new rotors & pads)
Total =-$2,518

Subsystems
-$391 Griffin Radiator and Universal mounts
-$700 Custom LS1 engine harness
-$81 Dakota Digital Speedometer transformer
-$20 5/16 -6AN adapters for fuel tank
-$25 3/8 SS hard fuel line
-$30 Walbro 255lph fuel pump
-$107 fuel line fittings (quick disconnects, tube nuts & sleeves)
-$35 2000 Corvette fuel filter
-$20 AN -6 90* elbow
-$50 LS3 water pump
-$75 411 pcm
-$136 Derale rad fan
-$20 2006 ls2 corvette radiator upper hose
-$32 LS3 thermostat
-$80 AN fittings for expansion tank
-$100 Fabrication labor for expansion tank
-$1350 Gearhead Fabrications 3" stainless single exit exhaust
-$1202 V8roadsters long tube headers

Total= -$4,444

Engine
-$825 L33 engine from salvage yard
-$222 Rod and main bearings
-$225 Sealed power Hypereutectic flat top pistons
-$45 Dura-Bond Cam bearings
-$110 Total Seal Piston rings
-$210 Block Machine work (Hot tanked, decked .005", and install cam bearings)
-$374 Comp Cams XR281HR Camshaft
-$160 Cloyes Hex-a-just timing chain kit
-$15 Ls2 timing chain dampener
-$80 GM performance oil pump
-$75 C6 Z06 Intake bridge w/ air filter
-$31 GM timing gasket set
-$35 GM performance head gaskets
-$24 LS2 Windage tray
-$32 GM oil pan gasket
-$60 GM rear main seal plate w/ gasket
-$352 Holley 302-2 oil pan
-$212 Holley 302-11 road race baffle
-$109 ARP Headbolts
-$1050 PRC (Texas Speed) Stage 1 CNC head porting w/ .650 PRC Dual valve spring kit w/ titanium retainers
-$200 Morel 5315 lifters
-$31 4x LS2 lifter trays
-$175 Straub technologies bronze trunion bushing kit
-$13 Autometer oil pressure adapter
-$13 NGK TR55 Spark plugs
-$450 Complete ls6 intake (injectors, rails, ported TB)
-$100 texas speed hardened Pushrods
-$14 Mazda water temp sensor
-$35 Knock sensor
-$84 Corvette harmonic balancer
-$54 Belt tensioner
-$10 Belt idler
-$32 knock sensor harness
-$60 break in oil
-$62 Taylor plug wires
-$116 CBM alternator bracket
-$200 ls9 injectors and spacers
Total = -$5,895

Misc Supplies
-$6 Steel for fusebox bracket
-$20 Steel for radiator mounting
-$50 Misc wiring supplies (shrink wrap, etc)
-$15 Busbar
-$30 bolts
-$100 heatshielding
-$20 misc hardware
Total= -$241

Interior
-$15 Protege 5 steering wheel
-$50 NB2 gauge cluster
-$free homemade shifter lever
-$26 shifter boot/seal
-$143 Beltline trim
Total= -$234

Paint & body
-$40 POR-15
-$73 Aerocatch hood latches
-$100 GV replica front lip
-$85 GT500 hood vent
-$500 Carbon Miata Quad LED tailights
-$140 replacement body parts (f. Bumper, headlights, dash,)
-$1200 paint materials
-$2050 paint labor
-$25 Garagestar Radiator panel
-$275 Lizard Skin Ceramic & Sound Control coating
-$20 3m undercoating
Total= -$4,508

Total so far -$23,102 spent out of pocket

Need to buy list to get car on road (Brakes and suspension may be put off to get car on road for Miatapalooza in April of 2017)
If you have any of these items, let me know! Thanks
-Brakes(?)
-Sway bar (?)


here's the car. and yes, I know the badge is upside down lol
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440243699

Nice. Best of luck!

Jason

Oh I'm going to love this one for sure! Since you titled this budget build could I ask what the budget is?

Well, I don't have a specific dollar amount but I'll save money where I can and it makes sense to. I don't want to skimp on important parts that will affect reliability or safety. I am looking forward to fabricating some parts myself though.

Started to address the front brakes tonight. The r/f caliper was hanging from the sway bar and rotor was gouged from metal to metal. Put new rotors and pads on and found the l/f caliper was not retracting all the way. I'll put more effort into it tomorrow, it was getting late.
I went with the cheapest stuff I could get. I plan on upgrading the brakes but not just yet and I want to be able to move the car around safely.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...7807108d5194db

well, I'll need to pick up some new calipers. the r/f bleeder snapped off and the l/f caliper is seized solid. not moving at all.

Still haven't got a chance to go get brake calipers yet. I did scour through the local yard and looked through a number of cougars and T-birds to find not a single one was LSD. Kinda bummed about that after all that effort I spend jacking them up LOL.

Also found a set of diamond racing steel wheels that I bought but after I got them home I realized that there aren't any street friendly tires wide enough. So I'll return those :(

A little time saver. Look on the door jamb code sticker under "AX". If it reads 'Z' or 'XE' its a trac loc. XE is the more desireable 3.27 locker.

Good luck with the build. I just started mine a few months ago.

Thanks! wish I would have known that earlier lol
after more reading and some thinking. I got the 1.6 calipers that came with the car to work. I just needed to switch the brackets from side to side due to bolt size difference. So I should be able to drive the car tomorrow and let the guy that wants to buy it drive it so he can decide if he wants it.

Pretty good post on the door tag thing here that might help.

Finally made some progress.
Got the super charger pulled out and sold. I'll get the engine pulled during christmas vacation. I also bought a mig welder, a Forney 130FI I'm certainly going to need it. haha

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440244344

Found a deal on a BF swap kit with the trans mount & rails. $1275 +shipping!
Woo, I'm excited for progress

Nice! Congrats on the great find!!

Way to "recycle" that supercharger. ;) Progress is good!

yup! won't be here till january sometime though. He's on vacation till after christmas :(

Early Delivery!!
https://38.media.tumblr.com/6378aacc...mxio1_1280.jpg

got the rest of the kit today.
https://scontent-atl1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...d9&oe=5675BB6B

I have not seen a kit up close before and that BF stuff looks very nice. Are you using their diff mount to or making your own?

despite the negativity that I've read from others this kit looks to be quality! Not having to buy a custom oil pan reallly is a huge relief too.
I plan on fabricating my own diff mount.

Went the the local scrap yard today and found a thunderbird with "E" under the axle code in the door. Now to check and see if it's a 7.5" or an 8.8". Hopefully it's an 8.8", they only want $75 and they will pull(cut it out) for me

also, ordered the frame rail reinforcements from V8R.

Great find. Hope it end up an 8.8. Any chance you'll finish the build before "The Mitty" meet in April?

Be sure to get the drive shaft bolts & the vent tube.

Yeah, fingers crossed. And I'd like to, but I seriously doubt it unless I win the lotto. I want to do this right the first time around and as you all know that involves expensive parts lol.

well it turned out to be a 7.5" out of the other 4 diffs that I checked today 3 were 3.08 open and one was a 3.27 open. :(

those high jacks are dangerous. I don't even like using them on trail. I'd rather winch up a tree rather than use mine!

Pulled the trigger on an L33 tonight. Scheduled to be here next week sometime. Woo! Getting excited!

Got my engine and started tearing it down today. Needless to say, I'm excited!
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440245342
Stripped it down to short block.
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440245342

Started getting the heads cleaned up. Haven't started the porting yet but I'm going to do some port work and CC everything to make sure it's all even. They won't see a flow bench but I'm not doing any drastic changes... I think.... lol
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440245747

cleaned up f body pan
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440245747

Started investigating the block more to see how in depth I want to go. Bearings look good, it's got the LS2 style timing chain vs the smaller LS1 style. Measured the bores for roundness and they are all ok. No more than .0010 variance anywhere.
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440245747

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440245747

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440245747

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440245747

Well, so much for budget. LOL

tore it down completely so that I can hot tank the block. And at that point, I've got the bearings out so I might as well put some new ones in. Ordered Clevite H STD size bearings for the rods and mains. The #1 cam bearing shows a good bit of copper so I'm going to replace those as well. Sadly I'll have to take the block to a machine shop for that though.

I also noticed some wear on the piston skirts. I wanted to replace rings no matter what ($80) and new pistons, stock size Sealed Power Hypereutectic, are only $230. That's only a $150 difference so I went ahead and ordered those too. I am going to be keeping the stock rods as they are they gen 4 (ls2) style with a floating wrist pin and are better than the previous gen stuff.

AS of now engine plan is
stock rods &bolts
Sealed power flat top Hypereutectic pistons
Clevite H bearings
New ls6 oil pump
New ls2 timing chain
Cam -- Still undecided
Appropriate springs/pushrods for cam
Morel 5315 lifters
All GM stock gaskets
Improved racing LS1 oil pan baffle
ported 799 heads shaved .010"

here's the cam bearing that showed the wear
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440246391

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440246391

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440246391

Got my pistons and bearings today. The pistons didn't come with rings. Damn. Oh well. Also bought some axles from a member on here. Lots of parts and pieces. Soon enough stuff will start getting put together instead of taken apart. lol
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440246519

pressure washed the engine bay and cut out the firewall gussets today. Didn't get the reinforcements welded in though.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...143348c3f2.jpg

Side note- I'm kind of surprised that no one has anything to say? lol

Wanna come cut and weld my gussets? Free beer and pizza!

Nice job on the progress, great weather around here to work outside lately...

Cool to make some progress eh? I was doing my gusset cuts again tonight. I had done them "Martin style" as I'm doing a 5.0, but I prefer the way FM does it with the larger cuts and the "reinforcements". Will be welding mine on tomorrow. I don't really think they'll add much support as the metal they get welded to is the real thin stuff, but I guess they can't hurt and they look better and offer more clearance then Martin's way.
Anyways, enjoying your build. Oh, It's easier to work in the engine bay if your subframe is out, and you'll have to unbolt the pedals to get the rubber steering shaft grommet out (after you take the column out).
Cheers. Brad

If you were closer, sure. haha. But I didn't take my time like I should have and it doesn't look as good as I'd like it. I should have also pulled the surrounding brake lines and such. They were in the way and hindered the job.

I'm not sure I've seen the "martin" style. and yeah, I thought the same thing(about the metal thickness), but went ahead and bought them anyways

I'd love to pull the subframe and have it on stands but I just don't have the room to do that. I need to keep it able to roll in and out of the garage. Thanks for the tip on the rubber piece.

More parts! 8.8/miata axles
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440246639

So, I decided to make sure the axles fit the stock hubs since I thought they looked large.. well they are too big. So now I've got to figure out some hubs. I've emailed V8R and am awaiting a response. Hopefully I can purchase a set of hubs from them for a somewhat reasonable price.

Can you replace theirs w/ your Miata outer CV w/ stock shaft?

You can get your hubs broached by Martin. You just have to pop them out and send them to him.

That, IMO would be pretty weak, and I don't have my stock CV axles anymore. Sold the. With the diff

Ahh, any idea how much he charges? This may be a good option but I'd need to confirm he broaches to the size of my axles.

Not @ all. I've run on outer Miata CV's from day one. Have had a Cobra & a stronger alloy half shaft break, never the Miata outer CV or stub shaft.

Broached hubs (with exchange) shows as $150 in the parts list from Martin. Contact him to be sure.

V8 roadsters emailed me back, $375 for theirs. I may just go with those to ensure they are right.

Got my engine block back from the machine shop today. Had it hot tanked, decked .005", and pressed the new cam bearings in. Piston rings also came in the mail so I'll get the bottom end assembled this week.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...7c06a54aadf497

Please keep updating the first post with the price on everything. Or may be make a Google doc excel. I am at the parts gathering stage too. Go Florida !!

I will. I'm actually going to break it up into sections to make it easier to read and figure where money has went.
and, if you couldn't tell, it's no longer a budget themed car. LOL.

I was going to keep track of mine as well but it ended up becoming too painful. :eek4:

+1 for the Florida builds! Seems we are all near the same build point in our projects.

I'd love to have mine running and driving sometime this summer. But that's going to be tough. haha. We will see. Donations welcome!! :sign0134::appl:

Heres my donation :wavey:

Decent deal for the whole package w/ low miles:
Front Serpentine Drive from LS7 with LS3 crank pulley will fit ALL LS - LS1TECH

It's really fun to see you guys go through this together. I was lucky enough to build mine at the same time as Pat (toysnake) and Shannon (sb5700) did theirs and it was super helpful to go through it with someone else even at a distance. For a while there Shannon and I called each other pretty near everyday to figure something out.

I'm excited about your builds and very thankful you are sharing your stories with us here. Go Florida!!!

Cam, oil pump, timing chain and dampener came yesterday. Will probably get the bottom end assembled this weekend/week.
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1440248172