Exocet V-8
 

Since I have sold off my 1990 LS-1 car "Nadine" and I have to have something to play with, I just ordered the Race chassis from Exocet. There is already another 1999 LS-1 and 02 t-56 in the garage waiting for a new home. The plan is to use the MSD Atomic EFI on this one. I like the looks and simplicity of the system. It will even support the supercharger that I hope to install. I have an 8.8 IRS here too but might go with the Getrag on this one just for the exhaust clearance.
My chassis is a little different from what Exocet offers as it will be the first to have the DOT safety glass windshield mount. I want a real windshield on this one. I will also be installing a full dash board in the car to have a spot for the radio and heater. Gotta keep the wife warm as warm is happy. NO ONE is happy if Momma's not happy! To that end I will be doing heated seats as well. I fell in love with the ones in her Subaru.
I am trying to grab a set of V-Maxx coil overs I found on another forum, but either way I will have a set for the car in short order.
Pics to be posted when the crate arrives!

Cool!

I ordered my race chassis a few weeks ago. Didn't hear anything about the windshield mounts, though. Do have any more information about this?

Mine will also be LS1/T56. But this will be primarily a track car. If it doesn't make the car go faster, it doesn't go on. Including the windshield.

But I also want it to be street legal, as I do a lot of tuning on the highway. So I was planning on a windshield that's easily removable.

.bOB
They are in the process of making a windscreen for the car, but it will not be a full height windshield. I had spoken to Kevin some time ago about a DOT glass windshield and they were working on it.... I'm kind of a P-I-T-A so I guess they will have to get it worked out ;-)
I will be using this as a street car. I am hoping to make another shot at the Fireball Run in 2015 as the event is kicking off from my hometown of Waterbury, CT. It really is a great cause and I met some fantastic folks when my friend Joe and I did it in 2012. Nadine was a huge hit as face it, most folks want to laugh at a Miata. Having the v-8 was a huge draw and being able to out perform some of the exotics was just damn cool! I wish I had adjusted the throttle stop before we left as I did not know I was only getting 2/3 opening.....this car is going to everything Nadine was and so much more/but less!
I am also working with a friend that owns an upholstery shop to pattern a soft top for the car. Looks like it will be a bikini with side skirts that can be installed separately. I know, I know... its an open car, but for the sake of weather protection I have to do something. I am thinking that I will have it stowed into a couple PVC pipes under the rear bonnet when its not being used. I will post pics and be able to offer patterns or tops once the prototype is finished.

I am always one to say "if you have the money and time, do what makes you happy", but I have to ask .... Why go through all the trouble to build a pure tube chassis race car if you are really wanting a street car with all the street car features? You will end up with a car that is neither and will never be the best of either world.

I have to dare to be different. I want the tube car but for what I will be using it for, why NOT have comfort items like heat for cool summer evenings and a radio to listen to, and a top to keep the interior clean/dry when its parked?
By the same token you could say why build a V-8 Miata when for the same cash you could buy a Corvette? I have done a V-8 Miata and now I am looking to go a step further and a step faster. The Exocet is the way I want to do that.

Cash value wasn't my point. But like I said, do what makes you happy (and seriously, I'm not saying that sarcastically). I've actually never seen one of the exocet builds, I'm looking forward to your build.

No harm no foul....

Cool. I'll have to check in to that a little more. I just ordered mine, so it's probably not even in production yet.

I'm considering adding an aluminum panel roof. Not thinking about it very hard, though. Shade is nice while sitting in grid. But if it's going to mess up the aero, I won't do it.

The wait for the chassis is killing me so I am doing what most folks do....spending money like it's FREE!
I just got the headlights I plan on using, led marker lights, led turn signals, a Momo steering wheel and hub, and a set of V-Maxx XXtreme Track Pack shocks!
More to come!

What a coincidence, me too! I'v got a basement full of parts, and a LS1/T56 in the garage. My wife is starting to call me "The E-Bay King". Again.

I don't expect delivery of the kit until the end of March.

Just got my Getrag 3.73 Posi yesterday. The T-bird 8.8 is going up for sale. I want to use the Getrag this time so I can use the FM exhaust from front to rear. All stainless and bolt on. I am going with the FM front and rear subframes and driveshaft kits. I need a bit more snow to pay for it all but so far everything I have purchased is paid for. Looking for a Father's Day debut at Caffeine & Carburetors in New Canaan, Ct. Can't wait to roll up to the gate with this beast!

I'm going to use The Ford unit. I already own one, and it's stronger than the Getrag (and heavier). And because 'm using the same rear in my other car, I already spare parts for it.

I'm not sure what I'm going to use for an exhaust. I'd like to use side pipes, but until I can get the front suspension on with racing tires, I'm not sure how that will fit.

After talking with Keith Tanner, one of the big problems with running the exhaust down the center of the car is heat. I don't want to turn the metal floor into a radiator. So before I paint the frame I'm going to put some Lizard Skin in that area. Just in case I end up using that for the exhaust.

I don't expect to get the car rolling until Oct/Nov'ish. I'd like to have it ready for the 2015 racing season.

Waiting for the chassis is killing me... I spend all my free time gathering parts and looking at pictures of the frame ect....
In the last couple weeks I picked up a set of V-Maxx Trac-pack shocks, a remote bleeder for the clutch, a Momo wheel and hub, headlights, LED turn signals, Tubular upper rear control arms, and a bunch of small stuff for the v-8 engine.
I think I have also decided that I am going to build the car with the stock 4cylinder first to get it all sorted out and driving. The suspension will have to be re-tuned once the V-8 is in but this will give me hard numbers on weight differences and balance changes. Also I will have more time to save cash and get the things I really want for the car like Wilwood 6 piston brakes and the FM exhaust without having to compromise on the build. Father's Day is coming faster than you think and since I have a good donor car for the stock build I can run that and upgrade the power train later. Have no fear....this WILL be a supercharged LS build, just not before this Father's Day.

I'm trying to save time and money by building it the way I want it (mostly) right from the beginning.

The LS1 engine will have some improvements to it, but nothing radical. As time goes on, I'll develop the engine better. But I really want this engine to be dead on reliable, so I won't stray too far from GM power parts.

I want to use a T5 dog box rather than the T56. It's smaller, lighter, faster, and who needs 6th gear on the track? But that will have to wait a season or two. They're not cheap, either.

The suspension and brakes will be maxed out right from the start. $2,300 for shocks and springs is a lot of money. But the best isn't cheap. Same thing with the brakes. Big Wilwoods all around.

I figure it will be about this time next year before it's ready to drive and get some track time. Our first race is usually April. I want time to work the bugs out and get some suspension set up data before that.

Patience is not always my strong point. But I'm working on that. :)

What are you going to use for the fuel system? My original plan was to use AN twist fit hoses and fittings. Expensive, but often worth it. But lately I'v been considering the nylon hoses, just like the factory does. 10mm should be plenty to feed a mild LS1. It's a whole lot cheaper, not any easier, and much lighter.

Since I'm feeding essentially 3 miata engines all at once, I'll upgrade the in tank pump to something better. AEM makes one specifically designed for E85, and that's all this car will use. When I get the pump hanger in my hand, I'll figure out how to modify it for better flow.

Have you heard anything more about the windshield kit? The guys at Flyin Miata have not heard of it. I sent a couple of e-mails to Atlanta, but never got any answers.

I have not heard from Kevin yet (two emails to them this month). I am trying to be as patient as possible.
My car will use the Walbro 225l/phr pump and braided 1/2 lines with push-lock AN fittings as Nadine did. I never had an issue with that set up.

The new Mishimoto 3 core radiator arrived yesterday. Very nice piece! Polished, cap and drain plug included, side mounts match....just transfer the rubber cushion and sleeve over and bolt it in. Worth every penny and it was a lot cheaper than the Griffin I had custom made for the last car...I used the extra cash to get the aluminum shroud and fans.

pics pics pics ..... please :)

That's the one I was planning to use, too. Flyin' Miata makes the best radiator on the market. I don't think you'll find anything better. But it's nearly $1,000. For a track only car, I don't think I need that. If I was building a street car, I'd spend it and not think twice.

For my use, I think the Mishimoto will do fine, and it's half the cost. I hope. If it gets too hot on the track, I'll call FM and spend the big bux.

Not much to see yet, really. Still collecting and refurbishing parts. Don't expect the kit to arrive until early april.

Progress is slow but steady, I have a set of rear lower control arms that are going with me to the shop this am. I will sandblast them at lunch and then paint them this weekend. I have a new Momo shift knob coming and the rad shroud is due on the floor any day now.
I did hear from Warren at Exocet USA. He says the windshield mount is worked out and will be installed on my chassis. They are hoping to have glass for it later this year but I should be able to get one cut and installed locally.
I am parting out a 95 M edition now and will use that rear subframe. Once it is out of the car it will go off for sandblast and be painted to match the LCA's.
I have a friend that does powdercoating and I did receive 2 pounds of the same powder as what is being used on the chassis. I might save all the parts and have them done at once. Then again I could do these in paint and the set for the V-8 in powder so that I don't have to scrape for any needed mods.

Looking forward to watching this build come about.


How bad was the chassis on the 95M that it is being parted out?




Bill S.

The rockers were rotted so bad that it sagged when you opened the doors and the floors were gone....235k miles in New England winters will do that. Wish the guy had washed the car from time to time.
Just a tip to those that drive their cars in the salt belt....wash the underside after every storm. Then get the cheapest tire shine you can find and spray everything but the rotors....salt cant stick to silicone!

I got the shroud and cooling fans yesterday. Grabbed a couple bolts to test fit the assembly to the rad today. Nice fit up with the bolt holes and there is a 1/8th or so gap between the shroud and rad fins. The inner edge of the shroud is folded so even if things get tweaked some how the shroud shouldn't cut into the core. Even still, I have some 1/2" wide self stick 1/8th foam I will be adding to this just in case. Bonus was I found out the fans run in either direction so if I need to move them to the front of the core to use as pushers, all I need to do is TIG on stand-offs and go.

Trying real hard to keep up on the thread.... I ordered wheels last week and also found a set of Wilwood brakes for the car. I am going forward on the build and gathering as many parts as I can before I deliver my old car Nadine to its new owner. I want to pay as much up front so that when that cash infusion hits I have the money to finish it off quick and right.
Speedhut is ready to build my new gauges... I am doing a quad gauge (Temp /amps/oil psi/ and fuel level) in place of the tack and the speedo will be 0-160 swept up the left side of the pod and RPM up the right side but from the 3 o'clock position toward the center. This way I have a clear view of both through the Momo steering wheel.
I have tubular rear upper con troll arms and have been looking for a set of lowers as well as front sets. Have a friend that is willing to make them.
Seat heaters arrived. Yah I know.... but it is an open cockpit car and I live in New England. The car will have a custom dash with heat and defrosters by the time I'm done too. I will be doing a stereo as well cause I hate to drive without tunes!.....sue me!

New wheels are due on my doorstep today. I should be picking up the new tires next week.

I am prepping Nadine for delivery and then I will pay off the chassis. With the money I have put into other parts up front, I should be able to pick up some of the V-8 swap parts. I will need the stainless exhaust ($1600) a front subframe ($600) and the rear subframe mount ($450) as well as the driveline kit ($1600). The only option for the driveline kit is steel or aluminum driveshaft. I'm not worried about weight but might go for the upgrade...what the hell, it's only money! From there the only big ticket item is the MSD Atomic fuel injection system. At $2500 it is a big nut but it will support cam or injector changes without needing to be re-flashed by computer. It will also handle the supercharger when I can afford to drop that into the mix.

Once the new chassis arrives I can pull apart the white car and get the 4cyl version running in short order. Time will be tight to make C&C for Father's day but that is my goal. 14 weeks from date of order puts me at the first week of April. Worst case scenario is the first week of May for another 30 day build! It's been done before!

I know it is more work, but any chance we can see some pics? Looking forward to seeing this progress and eventually in action.

Sounds fun.

I would love to post pics, but since I don't have the chassis here yet its kind of useless. I expect it to be on the garage floor between the first week of April and the first week of May....if everything goes right at Exomotive that is.
So far I have a couple pictures of the gauges, the painted lower control arms and the 69 Trans Am tail lights...

LCA's here

I nailed down a BF front subframe from a member here so it should be inbound soon. I save a few bucks from BF's price (Thanks again Brandon!) but the real savings is the fact that I don't need a specialty oil pan. The BF kit allows use of the stock F-body oil pan and pick up. The subframe is actually about 1/4 inch below the bottom of the pan and since the center of the pan is between the wheels it stays protected when going over speed bumps ect.
My Wilwoods arrived today (4 piston kit, again a good deal and fast action when the add got posted, saved big bucks). Unfortunately my son didn't answer the door when the mail man tried to drop off so I have to chase the package now....uuugh!
Next item on the hit parade is the MSD Atomic Ignition.... have a friend that is a distributer so I am seeing if he can save me a few bucks on that.
After this I need to deliver Nadine to her new owner, pay off the chassis and then use the leftovers for the FM exhaust and the rest of the driveline (driveshaft/half shafts/mount/trans cross member). Oh yeah....that's the other thing I learned this week! V8R has a new trans cross member for the v8 Exo.... theyare only selling through FM and Exomotive so if you are doing one of these, add that to your source list ;-)

I plan to use the BF subframe, for exactly the same reason. I can add baffles to the F body oil pan and save about $600. When you get the sub frame, I sure would like to see some mock up photos.

Which Wilwood kit did you get? Again, I also plan to use Wilwoods; I vacillate between 4 and 6 pistons. I expect it's a pretty straight forward install. But if there's anything unusual, I'd appreciate a heads up.

Nice to hear about the new cross member. I had planned to fab my own. Depending on the cost and complexity, I may still fab my own.

What do you plan on doing for the exhaust? I have a lot of thoughts on that, but without the chassis sitting in front of me, it's impossible to truly decide on anything. I would like to use side pipes, like a '65 Cobra. But I'm not sure there's enough room behind the front tire for a 2.5" pipe. I'll be using a 275/35-15 Hoosier tire - pretty wide.

Long tube headers will make a little more power than short tubes. But the difference is small, maybe not enough to make the hassle and cost of long tubes worth it. At the moment, my favorite choice is the BBK shorties, because they exit high up on the block.

I don't like the FM long tubes because of the huge cut out in one primary for the steering shaft. I'd like to move the steering shaft outboard a couple of inches to make more room for the header pipes. But, again, without the chassis in front of me it's hard to plan that. And, the FM headers are pretty expensive.

If I can't fit side pipes, then the exhaust has to go down the center of the car, next to the transmission. Looking at the pictures, there's plenty of room for that on the left side, but it doesn't appear to be much room on the right side. What do you plan to do about that?

I did not use side pipes on Nadine due to the drone factor... I can't hear out of the right ear as it is and didn't want to be deaf from my own exhaust. Think about it, the exits will be right in front of the rear tire and that is directly below your head.
I am using the FM exhaust complete from headers to tails as well as their rear diff mount and driveshaft kit. It will clear the exhaust better than the BF mount did, the smaller rear diff is an added bonus.
The Wilwood kit I picked up was from a guy who was building a car but life got in the way. These are the 4 piston units and I have to say that with them on Nadine, I never had an issue slowing the car smoothly and predictably. No reason it should be any different on a lighter car. Sure, 6 pistons are sexy...but these work.
Heard back from FM today on the trans cross member... I wont dish on the price quoted as they say it is still in development and very close to production.... but the price is very reasonable indeed!
Pics when I have hard parts on hand

I hear ya, even though you didn't shout. ;) My current race car is a Cobra replica, with side pipes. I wanted to carry over some of the flavor of the Cobra to the Exocet. Side pipes would really make the car, I think.

I looked at the FM exhaust system. I'm sure they could make me a set without cats. But do I really need to spend that much money on a stainless exhaust with a 50K mile warrenty for a track car? Probably not. I could probably get better bang for the buck somewhere else.

The practical (and cheap) part of my brain tells me to use the 4 piston calipers and save some dough. But the racer in my heart keeps yelling, "Bigger!". For balance, I'll probably use the 4 pistons. I can upgrade later if I think I really need it.

FM used their Little Big brake kit on their car, and they say it's the bee's knees. That kit uses 4 piston calipers and stock rotors. But their car is a 4cyl.

Tracking number received from Brandon today. My BF subframe is inbound! Brandon was nice enough to call me rather than just text or email. I wish I had a few more minutes to chat with him but I was late to pick my son up from choir practice.
No real news to report on the car as I am still in hurry-up-and-wait mode for the new chassis. No hard feelings with Exomotive, its just hard to watch the clock for an hour never mind 16 weeks!

I am not too far from them if you would like for me to go by there & slap them around a little.

:slap:

Thank you for the offer but I am trying to be patient.... Besides you could get me the NASCAR penalty.... End of the longest line!

You realize, of course, that if there are no pictures, it didn't happen. :)

Do you want a screen shot of the FedEx tracking or the trucks they use? LOL!

I've been holding off mentioning it but it’s true. It’s really hard to live vicariously through you with the painful lack of photos in this thread! :sleep: And you to Bob! Although the Cobra video makes up for a lot...:D

PS I've also been meaning to tell you your comments in post #5 of this thread are framed in my garage... Dare to be different and well said!

WOW! Tough crowd.... what can I do without the chassis?
I will post some pics of the painted rear diff if it makes you happy????

At least I know you folks still read this little blog. Thank you for that. It have a hard time keeping motivated right now as I am so limited to what I can do. The chassis is kind of a really important part to have to build the car. Once that arrives I will be begging the MODS for band width to host all the pictures!

LOL OK you make a great point!

Just so you know there is a better way to post up photos though than using this site. Check out this post:
https://www.v8miata.net/build-thread...age3/#post8223

Received the BF front subframe today. Brandon went all out packaging it for me creating a crate that would hold off damage from a Bomb Blast! Yes... "It's a Major Award!"

When its 3 am and I cant sleep, what do I do? Assemble shocks and finish painting the diff.....

LOL I've done that! Acutally in the dead of winter it's usually racing sims but I've done my share of shop work at that time of night as well. I know you are in for a loooong day at work today...

I think my calendar is broken....days aren't passing quick enough! I heard from another Exocet builder that his frame took 17 weeks to ship. I am sure it was a week to arrive. Time will be getting short in a hurry then.
In the mean time, I worked out how to mount my gauges in the stock cluster. I am not using the original dash printed circuit but will clip out what I need from the wiring harness to run the Speedhut Gauges. They shipped yesterday and should be here early next week.
To mount them I am having 2 sheets of stainless cut to the size of the face of the stock gauge pod. I am having a piece of perforated metal cut the same, and a 1/4" thick piece of aluminum cut to the outside dimension but with reliefs in it to add depth to the mount. The perforated metal will be powder coated black and the aluminum polished, the stainless will be brushed so looking at the pod you will have different textures surrounding the gauges themselves. Cheap, easy, and it should look great when done.
Yeah, yeah, yeah...pictures will be posted ;-(

I got a note from FM last week. Exocet's running about 4-5 weeks behind. I won't get mine until mid-end of May.

When did you order? I don't like bugging them. I ordered mine on New Years

I don't want to bug them either but I sent them a payment 12/26 and the order was placed electronically. I have yet to receive a reply to an email since they confirmed receiving the deposit.
I am very understanding of production delays and know that weather down south played a factor here but SOME type of response is needed.

Just heard back from Kevin at Exomotive.... good news is they are busy fabricating chassis at a rate of 2.5+/- per week. I have been assigned chassis number 70 and they are on #53 right now.....looks like another 8+ week wait. Kevin says that they are hiring fabricators to relieve the back log so it could be shorter. I am really hoping they can get it to me sooner but it is what it is. Glad to have communication at this point.

I ordered mine on 12/10/13, through Keith at FM. I don't know what my chassis number is.

Yikes, 8 more weeks? I think you ordered yours a couple of weeks before I did. So I probably have another 9-10 weeks. Oh, well. It gets here when it gets here. I have a lot of other stuff to do right now anyway.

For those craving pictures.... I can't show you a frame I don't have but I can show you the gauges that arrived today.
The Left side will be the 4 gauge pod with water temp, oil psi, volts, and fuel level. Each has a warning light that can be preset to your liking.
The right side is the 0-160 speedo with a tach set to the side. It also has an LED for shift point and another for High Beam. The re are two others for turn signals. The screen at the bottom is for over all odo, trip odo, digital speed, top speed attained, 0-60 read out, 1/4 Mile elapsed time, altitude, compass, clock, and highest RPM. It runs off a GPS signal and is very accurate. The 4" size can be modded to fit a stock Miata cluster as I did on Nadine. These will be mounted in a stock cluster mount but closer together and without the other warning lights ect.
I also got the rear view mirrors with LED turn signals this week. I can't wait to start getting it all together!