UK V8 conversions?

[MonkeyArmDealer]

I love the Flyin Miata idea of shoving a huge Chevy V8 into a mk1 mx5 so much I wondered if anyone had ever done a successful and reliable V8 conversion in the UK, and whether it kills the car? And is it prohibitively expensive (thus in the realm of people with more money than sense just tweaking one of their 'collection')?

Reading up on the LS1/3(?) conversion it looks like it doesn't add 'that' much weight, doesn't appear to kill the fine balance of the car and gives it so much power you may as well be driving a rocket. One of those rockets that shoots out of the barrel sideways and misses the target by several hundred yards...



PS I'm not thinking of doing this to my car, the post christmas budget barely covers changing wiper blades...

[MX-5 Lazza]

I know someone with a Rover 3.5L V8 in a Mk1 but I guess you mean bigger than that...

[MonkeyArmDealer]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I know someone with a Rover 3.5L V8 in a Mk1 but I guess you mean bigger than that...

A little........6.2l LS3 with 480hp!

http://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/Dan/index.php?start=5...

[Munter]

I must be getting old. The idea of a V8 in the MX5 doesn't feel as good as it used to. In a TVR yes. But the Mazda (or a se7en), I feel like should be a small engine. There's something about a small engine car punching above it's weight that appeals. And the MX5 does that for me.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Munter said:

I must be getting old. The idea of a V8 in the MX5 doesn't feel as good as it used to. In a TVR yes. But the Mazda (or a se7en), I feel like should be a small engine. There's something about a small engine car punching above it's weight that appeals. And the MX5 does that for me.

I agree with you. However, what I'd really like is one of each - a big V8 engined '5 for the day to day driving and a little, highly tuned 1.6 with TBs and a raised rev limit for weekend & track fun

[MX7]

What about 12?

I don't see much attraction in this either. A supercharger seems more appealing, although it would be a nice challenge.

Edited by MX7 on Sunday 9th January 13:33

[rob0971]

There is a couple of guys on MX5nutz putting Lexus V8's into them.
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1...

Edited by rob0971 on Saturday 8th January 19:09

[MonkeyArmDealer]

rob0971 said:

There is a couple of guys on MX5nutz putting Lexus V8's into them.
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1...

Edited by rob0971 on Saturday 8th January 19:09

Several hours later I've read the entire thread - enthralling! Thanks for the link!

[MonkeyArmDealer]

MX7 said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZLnrOeu0KE

I don't see much attraction in this either. A supercharger seems more appealing, although it would be a nice challenge.

Just got round to watching this...mental. Utterly mental. Surely this theory has been the mainstay of sports cars for the last century! Small car with big NA engine up front, what's not to like!

[Gizmo!]

I absolutely want to do this myself. The idea doesn't go away, it just gets more and more tempting.

My '5 isn't exactly concours at 120k but it's solid and non-rusty: it'd be a perfect base. If only I knew the first thing about spannering...

[MX-5 Lazza]

I kind of like the idea but I'd much prefer an na 1.8 with balanced & lightened crank, IRTBs, gas-flowed & ported head, standalone ecu with rev limit raised to 8500. That way you could get close to 200bhp (I've heard of 190bhp from a 1.6).
It would take a lot of power to get away from something like that but what else would have the thrill of an engine like that?

[maser_spyder]

In the pipeline for me....

I've now got the workshop sorted, ordering parts is next ln the list, have pretty much worked out where it's all coming from now, just need to get my act together and get them all in one place for shipping to me.

Was nearly ready to get moving, when I found a Healey 100/6 for restoration in Cali, which would need container shipping. That would mean spare space for engines and subframes, and a big new toy to play with too! Sooooo tempting....

[piefacemate]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I kind of like the idea but I'd much prefer an na 1.8 with balanced & lightened crank, IRTBs, gas-flowed & ported head, standalone ecu with rev limit raised to 8500. That way you could get close to 200bhp (I've heard of 190bhp from a 1.6).
It would take a lot of power to get away from something like that but what else would have the thrill of an engine like that?

http://www.xsspeed.co.uk/natuningirtbs.php

214BHP and a 9000rpm limit.

Yes please.

[MX-5 Lazza]

piefacemate said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

I kind of like the idea but I'd much prefer an na 1.8 with balanced & lightened crank, IRTBs, gas-flowed & ported head, standalone ecu with rev limit raised to 8500. That way you could get close to 200bhp (I've heard of 190bhp from a 1.6).
It would take a lot of power to get away from something like that but what else would have the thrill of an engine like that?

http://www.xsspeed.co.uk/natuningirtbs.php

214BHP and a 9000rpm limit.

Yes please.

I want that engine!

[piefacemate]

MX-5 Lazza said:

piefacemate said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

I kind of like the idea but I'd much prefer an na 1.8 with balanced & lightened crank, IRTBs, gas-flowed & ported head, standalone ecu with rev limit raised to 8500. That way you could get close to 200bhp (I've heard of 190bhp from a 1.6).
It would take a lot of power to get away from something like that but what else would have the thrill of an engine like that?

http://www.xsspeed.co.uk/natuningirtbs.php

214BHP and a 9000rpm limit.

Yes please.

I want that engine!

You might be interested in this thread if you've not seen already. Looks like they're building one to this standard for the purpose of racing; unfortunately the OP wont reveal the power figures lest the competition get wind of the thread! Impressive bit of work going into a MK1 though...

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?s=538b74d01...

[IN51GHT]

I've been thinking of something along these lines, but with an F-Type R engine in, I know of a couple.......

[DennisTheMenace]

I was looking at this, but I just don’t have the time to do a project

http://www.rocketeerltd.com

[magpies]

Check out Lewis's Friends AJ30 V6 Rocketeer conversion in Pistonheads/General Gassing / Readers Cars........ I've just read it

[dom1102]

Interesting thread, thought I’d revive it. I’ve just bought an MX5 / Lexus V8 conversion this weekend from an exotic vehicle dealer who took it in PX . I have zero history on the build, there’s a post from a previous owner (Biggzy) on the Driftworks forum in 2018 (https://www.driftworks.com/forum/threads/v8-mazda-mx5-using-lexus-1uz.268393/) re selling it due to a baby on the way. I have posted a reply there but I’m not holding out for a response. Actually I’ve nicked one of the pics from the post as I haven’t even photographed it yet. It’s looking a bit tidier now than it did back in 2018, the awful spoiler in has gone and the black wide arches are now body colour and extend all the way down to the sills(??). The rear bumper is now straight and it has much nicer wheels and anodised green wheel nuts! It has also had the suspension and brakes sorted. Be great if anyone can help fill in the blanks so to speak! Oh and it absolutely flies!!

Edited by dom1102 on Monday 1st July 07:09

Edited by dom1102 on Monday 1st July 07:11

[Gedd]

This is all my creation other than manual swap on the engine which was in omega originally. I took off all of the steering and suspension mods and put them back to stock when i let go of the car.

Lil vid of it in santa pod

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcBdTK-EIQg