V8R Kit in Seattle area
 

Hi, I'm starting on a V8 roadsters kit in the Seattle area. I bought one of the 480HP LS3 crate motors from GM, basically I'm trying a "roll your own" conversion in the style of the usual Flyin' Miata job. I've got 90% of the parts, still kind of waiting to see who comes up with a decent exhaust, and missing a few small parts. At this point the stock motor/trans is just out, still stripping the engine compartment. The dash and interior is next.

I keep cars a long time, I can't see ever selling this when it's done .... if you had owned a 427 Cobra, would you have sold it? Convertible with awesome engine rumble, silly power and great handling, what's going to be more fun?

Don't wait around for a exhaust "kit". Any decent exhaust shop can put something togther for you for less than you would have paid for a full aftermarket Miata exhaust system.

-Jason

"Waiting" gives the wrong impression. I obviously have a long way to go until the exhaust needs to be solved. I'm just keeping an eye on either FM's exhaust offering, or the fabled "Long Tube Headers" that Shandelle has mentioned but never seems to finish.

If I could have *anything*, it'd be a set of long tubes in stainless, just for the looks. I may settle for the ugly-as-sin crushed tube Sanderson shorty solution from FM. The power is supposedly largely unaffected ... I doubt I'll miss it in a 2500# car. :-)

Exhaust is available.

From?

Grubinski, welcome aboard. Great choice using the 480 HP, LS3. I have the same GMPP crate motor in my conversion and it's terrific. Incredible power and it pulls soooooo strong. Enjoy your build! Don't sweat the Sandersons too much as they will get you over 415 to the rear wheels with this motor. (and that's almost enough) Wiz.

Link:
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=366232

-Jason

Thanks, Jason!

I think they are selling it through V8R but I'm not certain. Call either.

Or just call Jason @ Enthuza directly, great guy to work with!

...Just to clarify should anyone be getting confused, I am not the Jason at Enthusa who created the exhaust. I am only the Jason that found it posted elsewhere. I am, however, the Jason that can help you should you have any 5.0 Miata issues...

-Jason

x2 on that comment! Beware though- have time to kill. He's a talker and is VERY much into the V8R swap. I would not be surprised if the small amount he's making off these exhaust systems is being put to the side for his own LSX build, using the V8R flavor of course.

:) The guy knows a ton, especially when it comes to fabricating and fixing things. I've learned a lot from him and am very glad he's local. Can't wait to have him fabricate my V8 exhaust!

You are lucky! I have one Miata performance enthusiast here I communicate with, and ZERO shops. The only thing better then living next to him, V8R, Boss Frog, or 949Racing would be to live next to one of the inventors of all this- Flyin Miata....... Dealer Alternative :)

Thought I'd post an update.... I didn't get a lot of work done on the Miata for quite a while, but things have improved. I got laid off as of the end of May (employer closed my building), and my financial/life/wife situation is such that I can afford to take a sabbatical through the end of the year. I knew this layoff was coming, so I paid for all the parts up front.

The Miata is job #1 on my list. I finished the tunnel mods last week, and now I'm painting the area and getting ready to put the engine back in the car. I hope to have the engine, trans, diff, driveline, exhaust, radiator, and f&r suspension on in a couple weeks so that I can drop the car off the jackstands and roll it around if I need to. Then, lots of plumbing and wiring.

I am removing the entire stock wiring harness and rewiring from scratch. I am an MSEE by education, and an embedded programmer by profession, so I am going to replace the stock wiring with a 6 processor system connected by a CAN bus. The end result will be a lot less wiring and electrical hardware to run the car. There will be a custom dash panel with all VDO gauges.

I am also going to make the car as light as I can ... this is another reason for the wiring changes. I am going to de-content it like crazy. To the maximum practical degree, there will be nothing on the car that doesn't make it faster. No AC, no PS, no power door locks, power mirrors, power windows, clutch safety switch, etc. Basically I'm trying to go back 40 years to simpler vehicles ... except for the microprocessors in the wiring, of course.

Backing out of the garage for the first drive. I know, pathetic it took 5 years, but it's done. I am working for Microsoft (in the Surface group) now, and am super busy with work. Having a blast, going to China, learning Mandarin ... not a ton of time for the car.

But now it runs and drives. Needs lights, signals, etc., but the drivetrain is functional. I ordered some new tires after the warm up drive. Even with extremely small throttle applications, I was getting wheelspin. At 60 mph. In 4th gear. First world problems. :-)

For some reason, the post above, which was made on 1/19/2016, was timestamped way off. I'm seeing if this fixes it. :-)

Congrats man, I'm sure the suspense of 5 years was killing you!

It's quite a feeling to actually be able to drive it around 😀

Wow 13 posts in a 6 year build that is a record! I kept thinking what do you mean no exhaust parts before I noticed the date stamp! Glad you got if finished and know it will be well worth it. Now you need a road trip to Atlanta in April!

Congrats on getting closer to the end. Please post LOTS of photos under the hood and car. Look forward to seeing your dash layout as well.

lol.....that is awesome.

More pics please.

Most of these are not particularly recent, but they show the teardown and much of the reassembly.

Index of /xfer/Miata.Project

Beautiful build.