mgb-v8

Hello everyone, I'm new to this brotherhood and I've already enjoyed reading some of your stories. About two months ago I've purchased a 1992 Miata V8, Ford powered with a 5.0 Liter EFI engine and a T-5 trans. It was and still in need of heavy TLC (body and engine drivability issues); I'm recently retired and I'll spend time improving the weak areas. For example, the location of the O2 bungs are wrong for narrow band sensors and it has the usual hick-ups of a modified engine trying to run on the famous A9P computer. I have tried many computer modification chips and add-ons but nothing to bring back the original smooth engine purr. IMHO, all problems start with a camshaft upgrade.

Today, I purchased a Pro-M EFI system to replace the Ford operating system; I'll let everyone know if it is worthy of the $2,250.00 hard earned money that I had to spend. I thought about it for a long time and this system promises to drastically be an improvement over the A9P management.

As my user's name suggest (MGB-V8), I also own a 1977 MGB with a 331 stroker EFI in the make, and also a rare 1989 Ford Ranger GT with a V8 conversion. As you can tell, I'm heavily involved with the Ford Windsor small block power plant. I'm a believer in EFI, for all obvious reasons, and I'm going to try in taming it with a modern EFI version such as this Pro-M which comes with a ODBII diagnostic plug.

I'm going to need a lot of technical advise and views exchange and hopefully I can also contribute in helping others.

Cheers,

Jacques

rick

Hey mgb-v8, welcome to v8miata.net

Make sure to check out v8ms' picture gallery here
CLICK TO CHECK IT OUT - RATE PICTURES

Hope to see you around!

charchri4

Hey that is outstanding Jacques! I am a big fan of that powerplant as well and have owned lots fo them. Nothing sounds better than a SBF! I look forward to seeing how things come to gether in the car and what it looks like as you go. Welcome to the brotherhood!

ToySnakePMC

Glad you're here, Jacques, and I hope you'll show us the "re-make" of your V8M. If you know much about the history of the car, I'd love to hear how you found it and what you know about it. If I had found a completed 5.0 Miata before I started my build, I wonder how tempted I would have been. Ford-powered Miatas just seem right, doesn't it??!!!

mgb-v8

Yep, after all Ford is a share holder in Mazda. Ford Ranger and the Mazda "B" series were almost identical also the Ford Focus had basically a Mazda engine in it.

I've been around long enough to watch the Chevy guys battle with the Ford guys and argue about who owns the checker flag the longest time; we need that rivalry, otherwise it would be boring. Why does any Chevy guy thinks that a modern LS motor can just jump an beat up on a well put together small block Ford? Delusional I'd say, and no more then a Ford guy can just whip on a Chevy; it's all about smart modifications.

I've seen some Fox body Mustangs eat up LS powered Camaros for years until the new ones came out, even then, if you built the Windsor horse power to compete in the Miata V8 someone could hold the bragging right. If there was a way to squeeze a New "Coyote" motor in the Miata, I think that a lot of guys would switch to the Ford side from the LS Chevy side unless they're diehard Chevy loyalist.

Personally, I like both brands and could enjoy a modern LS series in a Miata, but someone has to analyze the difference in the built cost, we're talking about three to four times the money for a new GM Performance LS-7, and as far as I know the early LS series design that can be found for cheap in a salvage yard had oil consumption problems, my 2001 Camaro LS-1 sure did; this is why GM change the design quite a few times but definitely got it right finally. THere's also a simplicity to enjoy with the small block Ford, 5.0 Liter engine; easy to work on and to modify. Has anyone installed a pair of Jon Kasse's P-38 heads on their 5.0 Liter yet? You're talking about modern technology and big horse-power gain.

My 2 cents!

charchri4

Oh dear that is a dangerous battle to start here LOL!! I think most guys have a healthy respect for both and there are certainly some fine builds on both sides of the isle.

I personally think it is a meaningless debate. To compare a 5.7 designed in the late 90s with a 5.0 designed in the late 50s is about as evenly matched as a model T and a model A. With the way technology marches forward there is no bragging rights due if the competitors are more than a few years apart AND a few cubes different from each other.

Thus both are excellent power plants for a Miata!

mgb-v8

Well said Jim, mutual respect is the key to a fun rivalry!

MRM331

I'm a Ford guy as well but as a moderator I try to stay neutral on the whole thing...well I try at least. I'm pretty sure my father painting all my pinewood derby cars ford blue back in the day didn't help.

Those heads are pretty interesting. I've never seen them before but I wonder if my father has. I'm going to be bringing them up to him this weekend for sure. I'm still running a set of iron gt-40's.

Welcome!

-Jason

mgb-v8

Jason, are you allowed on this forum to post a link to the product someone may use on their built? I also belong to a British V8 car forum and it's no problem to link to a product someone is talking about. The reason that I'm asking is because I'd like to describe in detail my projects; an example would be the new P-38 heads I'm thinking in purchasing, it has canted valves and out flows any other heads. I know that posting articles that have reserved intellectual property is a problem, so we can't.

charchri4

ABSOLUTELY! If there is even a chance it would benefit someone doing a build by all means post away!

5.0MX5

P38 heads sure sound interesting if you read the reviews. I'm not sure I believe the hype that mentions a junkyard 5.0 spinning to 7k and making 500 hp however. I've wonder about total cost to install a set with all the necessary special items (rockers, piston mods (?), taller custom valve covers). If the cost wasn't prohibitive, man I'd love to try a set.

I do wonder how they work on the street in 2k to 4k range where most driving takes place.

mgb-v8

Here's the plan to compete with the Chevy LS and win; Jon Kasse's P-38 heads and the Pro-M Fox body EFI system:

::rag Racing Online::: Jon Kaase’s P38 canted-valve Windsor cylinder heads - 4/10/2012

Installing the Pro-M EFI Fox Body Mustang Harness

mgb-v8

Jon Kasse's manager "Cliff" is very helpful and could provide you with any matching camshaft to meet the power range of your need. The valve covers and gaskets are included with the heads. Depending upon the camshaft you use, you may not have to notch the pistons, and if you do, they sell a tool to do it in the car. Stacy David from the TV show "Gearz" did a show on the heads and claims that it will take on a serious LS power. I'm also a firm believer that small light cars, such as the Miata, should give up some low end torque in exchange of higher revving performance for longer pulls.

I have emailed Jon Kasse my Miata specs and what I would like to achieve in my daily driver, track on weekends Miata which Kasse is working on a camshaft grind to come close to my need. It may seem expensive with about $3,500 by the time you're done, but if you think about the money someone can spend on mis-matched components off the shelf and ends up disappointed in the performance, it's actually a good deal.

Right now, I'm dealing with the Pro-M Fox body EFI system at first to see how much it improves drivability and performance, then I'll consider testing the P-38 heads. With the combined modifications I plan in doing, I can't afford snake oil systems and mis-advertised products; these two companies seem to have credibility and long term customers to back it up. Stay tuned!

alnukem

What does $3500 get you? Complete Heads & Cam? Also, isn't there a valve clearance issue?