Deal of a century LS2 sleeper project
 

So, just picked up this 1996 LS2 locally here in Houston. PO sold me the running, driving car currently with LS2 and T56 out of a GTO. He just finished it and drove it once before having to sell.
Current configuration:
1. Has almost every piece out of the FM catalog and:
- Pontiac GTO LS2 with T56
- Comp Cam 231/236 on 112
- Brian Tooley Racing .660 platinum springs
- New Timing Chain, lifters, and pushrods
- Ported LS2 heads
- Z06 style intake
- Trackspeed brake ducts
- Brake proportioning kit
- Thermal LSx headers
- Cooling Kit with cross-flow radiator
- LSx shift adapter
- Moroso aluminum oil pan
- LSx CAI brace
- V8 fuel kit
- LSx Subframe kit
- V8 Roadster Stage 3 driveline kit
- Clutch master kit
- Frog Arms
- Frame rail stiffners
- V-MAxx XXtreme Trackpack - Track
- Wilwood Big Brake Kit
- NRG Quick release wheel
- Cadillac CTS rear end
- Harddog Double Diagonal Rollbar
- New soft top with oversized removable glass window
- New TR Motorsports C3M 15x9 Wheels with Hankook 225/45/15 Tires

Included was:
1. Fresh set of LS3 heads milled and ported with an LS3 intake ready to be bolted on
2. 3 NEW mufflers that he was going to swap around to get the right sound
3. 2 NEW Mickey Thompson tires

Currently car runs and drives, but interior is not fully assembled. No gauges installed, and main fuse will pop every so often.

I took it straight to the shop after purchase. Right away noticed no grounds installed. Going to add multiple ground point to include block and heads to chassis.

I also noticed the stock LS3 oil pressure sensor was installed, but no connection. Being PO installed a painless GM harness, I found this weird. I am starting to strip back all the loom to find the connection wire so I can accurately hook up a gauge and monitor pressure.

Current plan is to try to get all OBD II codes cleared so I can pass inspection.

PO also gave me receipts totaling over 32K (he had it built in a shop).
I am starting this thread because I built a 302 and spent a lot of time here getting good information. I know that everyone here will become a wealth of info as I start to complete this LS build. I have already had a few WTF moments and found answers and solutions here. Thanks in advance for all the help and dealing with my rants!

I plan on keeping this one stock looking for that true sleeper look. I may get it wrapped later, but have not decided.

Here it is on the lift:
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1441142662

Nice parts list! Besides having to fix/finish PO's wiring :eek4: looks like a great car.

Great find!

I'm so jealous. lol you got a great car there

This ought to be a fun project to sort out and finish exactly how you want it! Keep the posts coming and share more pictures as you move forward with this.

Curious why the PO let it go before he finished it OR had much fun with it on the road?? Without going into too much detail, what happened?

Both home
 

Got them both home and tucked in the garage. 4 car garage gets cramped quickly with my toys, kids toys, and wife's car.
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PO got out of military and spent lots of $$ making dream Motorsport car. Family started to have medical issues and he quickly liquidated all assets to take care of them. Very honorable and I hope my kids would do the same for me. He only drove it once and really loved the car. It is really nice and I look forward to completing his dream in my own way. Working on gauge cluster this weekend.

Sounds like the PO was in a tough situation. Glad his car will be finished out and you could help him get out of a jam... Next time you walk by the new V8M, pull up on the back edges of the headlight lids for better fit. Somebody's probably leaned on them with outstretched arms - and the painted tinfoil can't take it..!

Thanks for the headlight tip. Pulled up on the weak metal and they flexed right into place. The Z06 intake keeps the hood a bit higher than stock, but it looks much better now.

Spent all last night removing all the loom and zip ties to start total re-wire. Most things looked good, but definitely put the harness on a diet. Cut out all old Miata stuff and removed wires that started or ended nowhere. Looks much better now and confident in the starter and alternator wiring.

Started the gauge cluster, but all gauges did not make it in before I leave out of town on Monday. Before I leave I will be dropping it back at shop for total exhaust rework and state inspection. Good thing is PO gave me 2 new spintech exhausts and an X pipe. I plan on adding high flow cats and manual dumps. Probably gonna sell off old turbo stainless exhaust set up if anyone wants it.

You don't suppose he did that gap on purpose to shove air under the hood? Not often you see them so uniform. But for sure I'm glad you fixed it the poor girl looked terrible that way!

Leaving for vacation all week. Since the Army takes most of my time, I decided to leave the new car at a shop while in gone with specific instructions to redo exhaust and make the car inspectable in the Houston area. I am gonna pick it up on Monday and will see what they do with it. As of now it was throwing 8 codes that needed to be handled. Car is a beast and can't wait to shake it out on May 28th at MSR during an open track day

Houston or Cresson? Color me tempted...

two v8 Miatas in the garage.... a Ford AND an LS...

sooo jealous.....

You are the MAN!! Jumping right into this car with both feet. Please post pics of your new exhaust when done. Mine isn't too hot, I must admit, and keeping an eye out for what others are doing with theirs. Sounds like you'll have little left to do to this car pretty soon. Congrats!

And now that you know how to straighten NA Miata headlight lids, you'll be on a nationwide quest to fix every bent ones you see! ;)

Should get some exhaust pics tomorrow afternoon. Harness was missing wiring for rear O2 sensors, so I'll be running some wires back up to the PCM so I can pass emissions. Car should be ready for track by May 28 at Houston MSR.

I'd skip the rear o2s and put that time/money into a tune (which deletes them) :sign0134:

Yup, no rear O2's on mine - and no cats either... NC has just safety inpection for older cars. Perhaps, you have to pass more hurdles there...

In TX, until a pre OBDII car is registered as a classic or antique, it need to pass the sniffer. Cats are still needed.

new exhaust
 

Got to go look at exhaust work real quick. I dropped it off with a few rules:
- Keep is sleeper looking
- Add dumps that were easy to get at
- Tuck it up tight
- Make it pass inspection

I gave them a X-Pipe and 2 Spintech mufflers to use in the design. We also talked about having the exhaust dump out the side of the car right in front of the rear tires. Putting all this together, this is what developed:

Looking from rear still has sleeper look (only one pipe)
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Tucked the cats and mufflers up really tight and just put a turn down on added side:
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Added in the dumps to allow for a possible side exit exhaust at some point. I can just straighten them out and pass right thru the metal.
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I am going to wrap the dumps and trim up some of the plastic that gets close. Also going to make a heat shield for the fuel filter.

Are those cats close enough to get hot enough to be effective? And if they do, are you worried about cooking the diff?

Car is a 1996 and just needs to pass visual ( if they even look) and a computer OBD II connection with only one "not ready" indication. So, cats actually doing their job is mute. As far as diff cooking, I asked the same question and they said it would not be a problem. I'll do more research on my own, but seems like the perfect spot space wise. I'd hate to burn up that CTS diff.

The evap code should be the only thing I have left that the inspectors should find.

That shop does fine work IMO and good luck with the inspection!

As soon as we are done with wiring, I'll get some sound clips with and without dumps.

I was scratching my head thinking.."that can't be right"... then realized the car was ODBII stock. ..lucky... But I only have to pass one more sniff. :smokin:

I 2nd Jim's well-wishes!

That short, hidden LH tailpipe is killer!! I don't want to cut my bumper & this is one novel way to go about it. Awesome...