spartan717

So....where to start? Howdy, I'm Roy. I'm new to the idea of owning a miata. Never even gave them a second thought. Then I was up late one night watching tv (some of you know where this is going) and watched a show called GEARZ. He was putting a v8 into a miata and called it building a modern day Shelby Cobra. Well, I got to watching and then I started researching. And here I am.
So now I'm in the planning stage and searching for the right project car. Nice to see I'm not the only one that thinks this is a cool idea. I worked on Domestic Automatic Transmissions for the past 10 years so if anyone needs some advice, I don't charge for that. If you want me to turn wrenches, I do charge for that. Unless we're friends, then we can negotiate (I have worked in for beer, liquor and auto-body work). Anyway, this is more typing than I have done since High school and I'm gonna stop. I look forward to meeting each of you.

waterwellwizard

Welcome Roy. These V8 conversions are a ton of fun. There are a lot of very knowledgeable, good people here on this forum. Ask questions and enjoy your build. Wiz.

Leebo

Welcome. It's definitely a fun project to put a V8 in a miata. It can easily get expensive but depending on how much "stock" parts you use and how well your fabrication skills are, the cost can be minimized some. I did a somewhat similar build to what was on Gearz... using the Monster Miata kit, a ~400hp small block Ford 302 (stroked to 331), carbureted, same T5Z tranny, same 7.5 Thunderbird IRS diff. The Monster Miata kit has been around the longest as far as the V8 conversions go and probably still has more searchable history on the forums, but the LSx based conversions are popular way to go now-a-days. There are a couple kits out there for the LSx conversions now where there was only a SBF kit (Monster Miata) since the early 90's.

spartan717

So I'm finally gainfully employed again. I started in a machine shop about a month ago. So now I'm on to saving money for the project again. Can't wait to get started!

Carlisle

Welcome to the site. I started about a year and half ago when a guy from my church was at a friends house and it looked like he had a plain jane Miata until he cranked it up. Wow! I had to stop him and take a look. He went the Monster Miata route with a 347inch ford. Yes it was like a cobra or back when the Sunbeam Tiger was made and I just thought it was awesome. I did a ton of research and bought a 2001 Miata to drive but the thought of a V8 in it was to much. I checked out salvage yard motors for months and how much could I get out of one. I decided to go the LS direction as it seemed to produce more raw horsepower out of the box. I ended up finding a 2009 LY6 (iron block 6.0L) crate motor on e-bay that had the new L92 heads but would need to have some parts changed to make it fit in that little compartment. I got the motor and started to build it with alot of stuff off e-bay, like a 2010 camaro intake to replace the big truck intake that comes on it. Then put the truck intake on e-bay and sold it for just a little less than the new one. It came from Hennessey motor sports as they put fast intakes on their modified camaros. Then the oil pan from a camaro and water pump. The cam on these VVT motors was changed out and VVT removed. But all that to say you have lots of options and it all depends on the budget and what you want for the end result. I just finished mine and have it on the road now. There is still a list of stuff for me to do but it is an awesome ride.
Have fun and plan well. Ask alot of questions or Goggle them and you find an answer.
Steve