Project Thunderbolt - my LS3 MazdaSpeed video build series
 

Hi Everyone,

I thought y'all would get a kick out of my new project! Over the coming months I'll be covering the entire process of transforming my 2004 MazdaSpeed from it's humble stock beginnings to full-on LS powered fury!


I'll be updating my website with tons of photos for each update too, so feel free to check it out at: www.V8Mazda.com

Thanks for watching!

-Tom

Yay! V8miata.net is shown in the video.

Great video.

nice

Oh yeah! This is an excellent forum and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it given how much great information is here to be discovered!

Thank you sir!

Thank you Michael! I've really enjoyed the upgrades you've made to your V8 beast!

Hi Everyone!

Here's the latest update video, I have lots of photos on my website too at www.V8Mazda.com Thanks for checking it out!


-Tom

love it
thanks for awesome detailed video
i am sure that will help my build

Neat videos! I wish I had a garage like that to do my conversion in.

You're welcome sir and thank you for watching! Glad I can help and good luck to you.

Thank you sir! Yes, the garage sure makes things easier. At this point in my life (work, kids, I'm old, etc) I don't think I could take this on without a lift.

At your pace, you'll probably beat me :-) I'm doing a similar project, 05 MSM, LS7, and I'm at about the same point, cars stripped, pile of parts, assembling my motor, etc. Lucky you, your engine is assembled and your drive kit is a bolt on ordeal :-D

Any plans for a cam, intake, or power adder before assembly?
Any plans for a rollbar (a must, IMO!) ?
And also, are you going to be welding/adding bracing or following the standard FM build blueprint? Lots of cars running without extra welding/bracing just fine, it seems.

Great attention to detail and organization. All mechanics should operate like this! Also jealous of your shop, my place is chaos and a bit too small for my household!

**Also, Bend at the knees when picking up heavy parts! The health and safety guy will find you! Ha.

P.s. Location?

Now wait a dog gone minute here! You were doing such fine work and now this!! Old? http://i62.tinypic.com/5ufcpc.jpg Couldn't manage with out the lift?http://i60.tinypic.com/2r5rbdf.jpgSay what? That's no kind of talk for a V8 Miata owner who will rule the road and concur all!

I've got kids older than you and did the whole thing on 4 jack stands in a 12x22" garage that was seldom over 55 degrees. So take one dope slap from the cheering section and don't even think about being wimpy again!
We are the men of the V8s and we will overcome! http://i60.tinypic.com/2lwk715.jpg


Now back to our regularly scheduled build thread.

PS you know I'm teasing and just jealous right? But you still get the dope slap for even thinking it! ;)

Hi there and thank you for the kind words and advice, I appreciate it! Oooh LS7!! That sounds awesome! I wish you the best and I can't wait to see that! Regarding your questions, I'll be posting my next update on Feb 27th, so that should answer some of them. I would post up all of my plans and such here and now, but my updates are coordinated with articles that get posted on Summit Racing's website. Thanks for understanding about that.


Haha! Thank you for the epic rant on my behalf! :D Well, first off I may be a bit older than you think, but I'll take that as a compliment! I just built my garage and got a lift a few years ago, before that there was plenty of car building in old barns during the Pennsylvania winters and a few in the Florida heat...under a carport...getting eaten by fire ants. :eek3: It all builds character I suppose!

The fire ants part of your intro made me laugh. When looking for a new home, the larger garage was a must for me after pulling the engine/trans in my A8, rebuilding the trans, and putting the car back together in a 12' garage in my apartment back in the day. Not enough room to breathe much less work!

I'm impressed by the quality of your documentation and I like the video series, good deal for summit to help you out like that. I honestly don't use them a ton, but with their shipping policy I find myself over there for pricier items from time to time, and they are my go-to for fittings/hoses, such as with this project. Its certainly nice to have them as a one-stop shop, no doubt. Glad they are helping you put this on!

Hi Everyone, here's the latest update! Thanks a ton for checking it out and if you would like to see a bunch of additional pictures, I have a photo gallery over on my website.


-Tom

Hi All! Here's the latest video update, I also have a bunch of detailed pictures on my website if you'd like to see some more detail. Thanks for checking it out!

Love the videos! Keep it up!

Thank you sir, glad you enjoy them! I imagine you're the same GoKart from the Miata forums, if so thank you for documenting your build in the detailed and helpful way that you did, your thread and pictures are an excellent resource!

Hi Everyone! Here's the latest update and as always, if you'd like to see a bunch more pictures and a parts list, I plop those up on my Miata website. Thank you for checking all of this out!

Looks Great! Love the videos

Thank you sir! I know I've said it a time or three, but just to reiterate, I LOVE YOUR BUILD! :D

When are you thinking your car will be done? You are making some good progress...

Ha...my money is on it's already done. Clue was the flash back on the headers. We're being spoon fed video updates as part of the Summit marketing deal. ;)