Hello from the UK
 

Just a quick 'hello' from a new member.

I'm in the process of dropping a 1UZ 4.0 quad-cam V8 from a Lexus LS400 into my 2002 MX5 Sport.

I had supercharged the stock engine and was running 225bhp but a couple of holed pistons killed that engine, so a V8 is the logical choice.

It is isn't it?

Anyway, I'll post a thread in the relevant place and will be updating my blog at kickingtyres.co.uk as I progress

The answer is always V8. lol
Welcome. Looking forward to following your build.

Welcome. This sounds cool. Can't wait to see the progress.

I know there are a couple of 1UZ miatas running around. I don't know much about the motors though except that they can be found for reasonably cheap. What are the specs? Size? Weight? Trans options?

I covered some of my reasoning in my blogpost:
The Engine ? kickingtyres

A quick rundown of the specs:

4.0L V8, quad-cam, 32valve
Non VVTi so around 250-260bhp in stock trim with original ECU (peak power at around 5k rpm, redline at 6100)
Can rev to around 8K with an aftermarket ECU but would need bigger injectors to make any real power gains further up the range.
- Length : 655 mm
- Height (with stock sump) : 610 mm
- Width: 620 mm
- Weight : 177Kg (minus starter & flywheel)

Gearbox options : the 1UZ never came with a manual box fitted, the LS400 and Soarer both were auto cars. I'm using the adapter kit from Bullet Cars in Australia which mates the 1UZ to the Toyota W58 5-speed gearbox (I cover that in another blog post: Gearbox time ? kickingtyres

I'm currently making up some blanking plates to allow me to remove the EGR valve and associated kit, and have extracted the stock MX5 wiring from the car and started cleaning up the engine bay.

Next steps are to extract the loom from the 1UZ and match up the sensors from the 1UZ to the MX5 loom and then feed that into the Emerald ECU that I'm using

I guess I should start a proper build thread somewhere?

Welcome, cool build! A proper build thread would be good, I'd like to see the progress. There's a section below for build threads.

You mention in a blog post that the 350Z shifter is way too long, and it is, but just to add an option, there is a way to mount a shifter directly on top of the trans, rather than the goofy bracket extension off the back. It's been a while since I looked into it, but I think it was short enough for the Miata, or at least within an 1" of an F Body T56 (the common trans for LS1 Miata swaps with V8r).

I saw that adapted 350Z gearbox, but it was still too long.

It's immaterial now as I have a W58 on a pallet at home now, and an adapter kit from Bullet en-route from Australia