How low can a V8 miata go? Are there clearance issues? I ask because I like my cars on the low side and my friend's and I's Miatas were always pretty low. But All the pics of V8's I see sit fairly high. Is there a reason for this?

 

On martins ford conversion kit they come with front springs which are to handle the v8. They also have you move the front springs that you just replaced with the springs in the kit and remove the rear and install the old ones from the front. This may be what your are seeing on some of the ford conversions with the kit from Martin. Most others upgrade the suspension with aftermarket kits.

 

So in order to lower you would either cut off a coil or find lowering springs with the same or better rating for both the front and rear respectively?

 

Order coilovers and put the ride height where you'd like it.

4.75" at the pinch weld seems to be the norm, with a 3/8" rake

 

Pics of some "low" monsters?

 

Here's mine pretty much as low as a Ford can get using Martin's headers:


Any lower than this and you'll start to beat up the exhaust pretty bad. Miata's aren't really designed for dual 2.5 pipes and two mufflers. You "may" be able to make a LSx conversion go lower due to their open front K-frames. You could also make a Ford go lower if you were willing to cut the firewall to fit long-tube headers.

-Jason

 

Thats what im going to try and do, Forgot who told me about them but Fat Cat Motorsports.com has a coil over kit that can handle a v8. I dont think im going to be able to get it as low as i had it but im going to get it back as low as i can. I Love a Low Miata!

Thanks
Channing

 

I'm trying to go the other way and raise mine up. I bought the V-Maxx shocks from Fly-in Miata and they seem to have really weak spring set and I really feel it wants to bottum out easy in normal driving. I have them cranked all the way up and only have about 5 inches of clearance under the exhaust. The Boss kit I used really has no place for the exhaust to go through the differential subframe so it has to go under.
Anybody have great shocks that have plenty of lift and flex on their cars????

 

The best suspension I have ever put under a V8 Miata was a Fat Cat revalved Bilstien coil-over kit made specifically for the needs of a V8 powered Miata. The whole thing cost me a little under $2000 but it made the ride of the car go from "kit car-ish" to OEM. I'd never driven a car with a suspension that could ride so comfortably on the street yet also handle the turns on a road course so well. My second and third builds I put together with this package.

The donor I used for my last build came equipped with a set of Koni yellows, ground control perches, and 500/275 springs. I was skeptical about whether or not it would work and though I'd be upgrading them as soon as I got the car on the street. Luckily, while not nearly as comfortable as the Fat Cat setup, the current suspension has been able to handle the car reasonably well.

I also run a hollow Racing Beat front sway with adjustable end links and no rear sway bar. I may add the stock one back on the rear to help reduce wheel hop...

My recommendation: Fat Cat revalved Bilstein coilovers if you’ve got $1500 -$2000 to spend. If not, put together something using Koni yellows and coil-over sleeves that would allow you to adjust the height and use generic race springs with higher rates.

-Jason

 

helpful, for me thanks!

Channing