Been wanting to do this swap since I was in college, and thats been 12 years ago now. Finally have a garage the more importantly the budget to do it. I traded my 91 talon for a miata in college. Mostly because the 8mpg I was getting from the highly modified big turbo talon was just not it for a college student driving 40 miles to campus 5 days a week.

But I was hooked and got a mazdaspeed as a graduation gift for myself. Ended up selling that car once the turbo started going bad because all the upgrades where hella expensive, and the bottom end couldnt handle much power anyways. But I have recently finished my n54 335i build (aside from a diff upgrade) and was looking to either ls swap an e92 coupe, or a miata. The main reasons I was considering the e92 platform was cost, and the fact you can easily fit a turbo setup, plus they can fit a lot more tire under them.

But I found a mariner blue NA6 miata, my favorite color, and I love the 1.6 dash. And it was cheap, cheaper than you could ever find a montego blue e92, even a 328i. But it appears to have been sitting in a swamp for the past several years.


Even managed to force myself to back a trailer up my narrow driveway (trailer is actually slightly wider than the drive way where the monkey grass is) which I am terrible at.


After I got the new project home, I went and picked up this 5.3L gen 3 engine.


and then a couple days later scored this cd009 6 speed manual from a g35 rev up.


And as of today, I got her cleaned up



and started cleaning the 5.3L.


So far I have a pile of parts ordered.
LS2 intake manifold
t-56 bellhousing
ICT style alternator low mount brackets + power steering brackets for f-body accesories.
F-body water pump + thermostat
Collins adapter

Will probably go with the monster miata kit, but I am considering v8r if I can't fit actual headers with the monster kit. Shorties are f#$#ing stupid. Just run manifolds at that point. Plans are to get it running and driving with the v8 and 6spd, then start restoring it as well. Going to keep it mariner. But it needs some attention. Some clear damage already, as well as a rear quarter that was repaired, but not color matched. Would also love to find a set of Super Advan SA3Rs in 4x100 (15 or 16) to go on it. One of my dream wheels, and I can't really run them on my e92 afaik they never came in 5x120

 

Some of my hardware came in. Got some new Waterpump bolts, header bolts with the larger head, usually makes them come off easier, and I have no broken off header bolts currently thankfully, and got some cnc coil brackets.


Also got some mold killer and cleaned the dash center console, and both door cards. And I purchased an ozone generator which is what hotels use to neutralize cigarette smoke. I figured it should work to kill anything growing inside the car, and also help with the musty smell.



Had to get some work done on my daily so that the miata can take up residence in the garage. Tapping the vacuum ports in the head of my n54 335i. These cars have an internal pcv system, the valve cover gasket can be a serious boost leak, plus the pcv system is great for stock cars, but is *** for high power cars. Currently on upgraded twins making better than 500whp and it would closer to 550, but I was leaking boost into the valve cover. So the vacuum ports get tapped, and sealed with 10-32 pipe plug. Then I will run an external PCV for the boost side, and route it through a catch can before pulling vacuum at the throttle body.

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Now that the N54 Shenanigans are done for now. I can get back to the regularly scheduled programming. Will have more miata Stuff tomorrow.

 

No Picture updates as I am still waiting on new parts to arrive for both the 335i and Miata, needed to replace the valve cover gasket on the 335i as it tore removing the valve cover to do the port plugging. So I have not gotten much work done on the miata. Mostly just cleaning, and catalogging parts to put up on ebay / facebook to sell (car came with a bunch of extra 1.6 parts).

t56 bellhousing should be here tomorrow. Managed to score one for under 150$, which I suppose they are going for over 300$ these days? At least thats what the cd009 swap videos have been saying. I also got a used ls1 intake manifold, throttle body, fuel injectors, and 4 corner steam tube for a killer deal, helps to have old DSMTuners friends that moved on to LS1 Corvette platform. Had a line up on a ls2 manifold for a good deal, however that guy just ghosted me eventually. Oh well. Saved myself some cash I suppose.

Going to pick up a explorer 8.8 diff tomorrow. Was supposed to be here today but I guess LKQ is running behind. And I purchased a set of 2.73 rear gears off a member of the v8 miatas facebook group.

Found some part numbers I wanted to save for later. These are for the g8 manifolds.

Exhaust Manifold - GM (12611639) (right manifold)
Exhaust Manifold - GM (12611638) (left manifold)

Can anyone recommend a good street-able clutch and flywheel kit that will handle at least 400 ft/lbs. More is better, but I also want my mom to be able to drive the car as well

 

Went to pull-a-part today and grabbed some Coils on the brackets with the coil harnesses. Cheaper that way than buying individual coils. Also grabbed a DBW throttle body as I wasn't sure if the one my friend Scott had was DBW or DBC and I wanted DBW.



When I got home, UPS had run. So I had 2 boxes to open. Scott sent me his old LS1 Manifold, throttle body, and 4 corner steam vent tube.


And I also got a killer deal on this brand new t56 bellhousing on ebay.

 

Cleaned up my Junkyard Ign Coils and mounted them on the brackets yesterday. Will see them once I start putting the engine together.

Picked up the Diff and carrier from LKQ today. Also used my president's day 15% off coupon to get this welding helmet at harbor freight. Going to look at a welder tomorrow. Also talked to Martin Today, and got a shipping quote so about to go ahead and pull the trigger on my kit.

 

So I have ordered my swap kit from Martin. He is modifying my rear end swap parts to take the Explorer diff, as it is slightly different spacing than the mark VIII / tbird 8.8. He also has cd009 trans crossmembers now.

FInished up the drivetrain removal. Engine, Trans, PPF, and Diff removed. Stock subframes are still on the car so I can roll it out of my garage for powerwashing and of course painting reasons.

 

Awesome.. My image links broke here too (as well as miata.net forums)