BGordon

Just thought I might as well start a thread on a group of YouTube video's that are currently being uploaded to detail an LS engine swap into Taylor Ray's NA Miata drift car.
His stated goal is to do the conversion for less than $10,000 using the Monster Miata conversion pieces and an aluminum block 5.3 with a T56 and a Ford 8.8 differential.

BGordon

I have been following his YouTube video's so far and for me it is a mixed bag.

During the tear down phase he has several times simply ripped out wiring without actually knowing what should be removed and what should be left in place.
Kind of scary to think I would have probably done about the same thing if not for the Flyin Miata instructions.
For somebody interested on doing an LS swap on the cheap he is doing several things to keep the cost down and a couple of things that could very well actually run up the cost unless he gets lucky.

acedeuce802

I really like his series, it's a nice balance between sloppy mechanics and a "proper" build. I think Tom's series was the perfect "proper" build and everything was done 100% to the books. Taylor has a more realistic approach for the average Joe. I thought I would hate it at first, because he is a "drift bro" but he's clearly not the typical drifter. To be honest, I ripped all my wiring out too with no regard for labeling, and I had no issues identifying each and every connector and wire. I guess I have done a lot of wiring projects with the Miata before and know my way around the full wiring diagram well.

BGordon

Best things for me has been that he actually sat down and worked up a budget and did his homework in advance to have a plan.
It will be interesting to see if he actually makes it happen within his $10,000 budget.
Tough to see where he can with a T56 unless he just finds a killer deal.
His car is not really a daily driver at this point and it is not clear to me if he even wants to keep it street legal.
If I had not given away my excess stuff I would have donated him a pile of parts that he will be needing (wiring harness, front accessory drive, radiator, etc).

SupaDupaSteve

BGordon

He mentions in the video where he talks about budget that he will be running a T56 but none of the videos so far appear to show anything transmission related.
My guess is that he is trying to come up with a T56 but not having any luck so far.
With the cost of T5's vs T56's and his budget it is tough to see that he will be able to get there.
To this point he is fixating on a camshaft even though he said early on that he will not be chasing horsepower.
I knew that attitude would go out the window when I saw that his "other" drift car was a Vette.

Those of us who have already been there know that a budget is just an estimate that balloons up to meet reality when that actual swap takes place.

02-VIVID

Your last statement sums up my three year swap project exactly.

grubinski

I made it a policy to throw out all my receipts. I don't want to know ... and I don't want my wife to find out.

SupaDupaSteve

BGordon

After checking out the price on used CD009 transmissions I can see why he went that route.
There were a number listed on Ebay for less than $800.
Toss in a rebuild kit and a shifter and an adapter plate and you are probably well under $1500

Great to see somebody thinking out of the box.

Edit: I watched the video last night where her trimmed the case and installed the adapter with T56 bellhousing.
Still have to see how the trial fit thing goes and how the shifter gets set up to use the Miata opening.
The adapter plate looks to be plenty beefy.
Sure is great to see there could be a budget 6 speed option that is strong enough.
Taylor's comments about the T56 seem accurate and match up to my experience so far.
I paid $2500 for a good condition 80k mile T56 and am going to pay another $1500 to get it rebuilt and upgraded plus the cost of the clutch.
If he can get into the Nissan 6 speed for $600 and the adapter and clutch for another $900, he will be well ahead on money.
Still have to see if he gets the entire swap done for $10k.
Looking forward to the next video.

SupaDupaSteve

BGordon

The final install of the engine and transmission episode has been posted and is a bit of a disappointment.
Based on the issues he had while doing the installation it appears the shifter location is not very good.
The Nissan transmission utilizes a shifter assembly that bolts to the rear of the transmission.
He did not do a real close up of that area but it appears the shifter support piece interferes with the emergency brake installation and the shifter is located 3"-4" further rearwards than the factory shifter opening.
Visually the shifter location looks to be more rearwards than the GTO T56 transmission.

Not sure if there might be a way to modify the shifter shelf or if another is available that would set the shifter further forward.

BGordon

Watched the latest couple of video's where Taylor installs the rear end components and have been astonished at how much more difficult it is to follow the home fabrication method as opposed to simply pushing the easy button and buy components that are known to play well together,
The difference between Taylor Ray assembling his V8 Miata and the LS build that Turbo Tom did to make Thunderbolt is worlds apart.

It does give a very good comparison between a "seat of your pants" build where you figure out problems as you go along and a well thought out build where you know what will work together before beginning the actual fabrication.
Sure makes me appreciate Turbo Tom and his video series because I would never have considered doing a Miata V8 swap by just watching the Taylor Ray build series.

In the end both are able to get a completed swap so it is good to see both ends of the spectrum.

It also shows what a huge amount of research and development that Flyin Miata and V8 Roadsters have done to end up with well designed pieces to perform a clean and usable LS swap into a Miata.

SupaDupaSteve

pj_mcgarvey

Wait, so you were the guy in the mint blue LS Miata? Nice car!

SupaDupaSteve

BGordon

It is good to put a face with a build.
If you see Taylor again you might give him a pat on the back from me.
He is following a path that so far as I can tell nobody else has followed.
Maybe I just missed it when researching my build but until his video came out I had no idea that Monster Miata even had a LS front subframe.
Then there is the Nissan transmission.
That is a gutsy way to go but in hind sight I can see where it is logical given his background in drifting.
Just wish the shifter came out closer to the Miata factory hole.

02-VIVID

I used Martin's LS subframe, rear end kit, and transmission cross member in build.

BGordon

An update for those who are interested.
A video was posted a couple of days ago that shows the first start up of the car.
Progress is being made and the video's are interesting to watch.

Edit Nov. 11, 2018....
The car is 99% finished so the build progress videos are complete.
Well worth the watch of the entire series to see the beginning from a thrashed Miata ready for the scrap yard to a street legal drift car.
The finished car is;
Fast
LOUD!!!!
Full roll cage
Aftermarket racing seats
Custom wiring with a control panel
Just what you would probably want if you want to build a purpose built drift car.

For a person interested in doing a V8 drivetrain swap into a Miata it is a series that I would highly recommend watching.
Even if your V8 Miata vision is far away from the car Taylor built, there are many useful tidbits that can be taken from the build.
The information you will gain is priceless and it doesn't matter if you intend to build a street legal race car or if you are simply doing a mild street build.
If you are paying attention and learning from the mistakes of others, "Don't do this modification in this manner" is just as useful as "That is exactly how I want to do this specific modification".

BGordon

Latest updates on Taylor's LS Miata.

Car is together so he takes it to the drag strip to check out straight line performance.
Summary; He runs several mid-12's but the used transmission becomes toast in short order.
So much for buying a used transmission.
He should have spent the money to buy a new unit.

After the drag strip he takes it to a different track to check out drifting in the car.
Presumably 5th gear is still toast but drifting doesn't seem to need 5th gear.
He does a bit of drifting and trashes the used engine with bad rod knock and clatter.
Unknown damage but that level of noise is not usually a good sign.

Bottom line;
The car did get swapped and did run for a short time till two of the three main drivetrain components failed.
So far the rear differential is holding up but who knows for how long.

Lesson learned is that if you are going to utilize random used assemblies to do a V8 swap you will be well served to rebuild before installing cause there is a good chance they will need to be rebuilt before too long, particularly if you are going to be doing stressful things like drag racing or drifting or road course laps.

Update as of January 21, 2019;
He bought two different used engines, both of which are garbage.
Reinforces the above mentioned lesson learned.
Hopefully he will figure out before too much longer that high RPM use demands a new or freshly rebuilt and upgraded engine.
The other thing I got from his mess is that you should make sure and get everything right mechanically before worrying about cosmetics such as pretty paint.