LS3 525hp Mx5

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Discussion

OneDs

Original Poster:

1,629 posts

183 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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Anyone else seen this in-progress build diary, he seems to be getting a lot of help from Summit racing (good luck to him) and has resources you can only dream of, but looks like an exciting proposition. Has this kind of thing to this level of new parts and professional finish been done on a RHD car in the UK?

http://v8mazda.com/

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

226 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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There have been quite a few in the states. I haven't seen one over here but I wouldn't be surprised if there is one. The costs over here are way higher than in US though.
One day I will do the same. One day...

pewe

663 posts

226 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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Interestingly enough I was flicking through a back-issue of PPP from Nov 2011 (as you do) recently.
A guy called Gordon Addison who lived up North had converted his Mk1 to V8 power using a 4.9 Ford 302. Evidently there are parts available from the States like wiring loom and engine mounts but care is needed as these are for left hookers and not all Ford V8's are the same.
It looked a very neat conversion.
Using an auto box there was no need to chop the engine bay or trans tunnel about but it was a tight fit.
It required a fabricated engine frame and mounts which he trial fitted using a scrap engine bay.
He recokned 230bhp and 280lb ft torque - i.e. quite handy. It's the same spec as a '93 Mustang Cobra.
Now I've always wanted a V8 something so like Lazza one day, one day....
Having said that I do have a spare Mk1 knocking about....
Cheers, Pewe.

snotrag

14,932 posts

218 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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Toms turbo garage has been going a while on youtube - he did it all of his own back originally.

The 'sunflower' project is basically what my car is - a 93 with a Greddy kit, then throwing most of the Greddy stuff away.

He's obviously a smart guy as he's managed to get sponsored by Summit Racing (its clearly sponsored!) to build his own car.

Good build, but a bit money-no-object and unrealistic compared to his previous stuff.

LordJammy

3,114 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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An LS series V8 conversion in mine is what I'll do when I win the lottery on Friday.

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

226 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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Last time I looked, using the FM Monster Miata kit and a crate engine, it's looking like well over £20k to convert to LSx...

Oldandslow

2,405 posts

213 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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Ah no. There's drool on my keyboard again.

Turkish91

1,110 posts

209 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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I know it's like half the power of the one in the OP, but I saw a cool MX5 a few months back.

He might well be on here too, but someone in the UK has done an F20 (S2000) swap on a Mk1 MX5. He posted some pics and videos on CivicLife; it looked like an absolute riot and yet seemed so driveable still. Not over the top at all but still a substantial hike over a stock MX5 and still kept as N/A rather than going down the usual route of boosting the stock 1.6/1.8 engines.

Richyvrlimited

1,839 posts

170 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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I'm aware of at least 3 LS3 powered MX5's in the UK. There was an LS3 converted MK1 for sale on Nutz for ~10k a couple of weeks ago.

It's sold now unfortunately.

Henry Fiddleton

1,588 posts

184 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
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There is a chap from Mx5 Nutz with one, and looking into making it into a side line business.

I know this as I bought my NS2R tyres from him - they didn't generate enough grip for the power, so has gone for wider wheels.


TheJimi

25,754 posts

250 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Turkish91 said:
I know it's like half the power of the one in the OP, but I saw a cool MX5 a few months back.

He might well be on here too, but someone in the UK has done an F20 (S2000) swap on a Mk1 MX5. He posted some pics and videos on CivicLife; it looked like an absolute riot and yet seemed so driveable still. Not over the top at all but still a substantial hike over a stock MX5 and still kept as N/A rather than going down the usual route of boosting the stock 1.6/1.8 engines.
I heard about this car from a mate a few weeks ago.

He said it was a K20, so poss there's two VTEC 5's? Or is he getting his Honda nomenclature mixed up?

Either way, by the time he'd said "K20" and "Mk1 MX5" I was, well...excited biggrin

Richyvrlimited

1,839 posts

170 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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F20 swap is pretty (very) involved if you want to keep the steering geometry intact.

The K20 now has a kit so assuming you've the £$ it's almost a turnkey solution, it retains the OEM steering rack location too and is track tested for reliability.

It's one of the best engines for an MX5 IMO.

www.kmiata.com



AJV8

484 posts

153 months

Wednesday 6th May 2015
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I love these little cars but i'm not sure i'd drop £20k into one when you could get a top notch TVR for that money.

Cool project all the same

OneDs

Original Poster:

1,629 posts

183 months

Sunday 21st June 2015
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It lives!!!!! Cracking job by this guy and some great cross references to bad obsession motorsports and MCM.