http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/850715239.html

Not affiliated or anything, just looked interesting. Seems well sorted, but cost is a bit high.

 

That looks a lot like my Uncle's Monster Miata, but his had a black interior and a full cage. (I think)

I tried to buy it when he passed away but my Aunt wanted more than I could afford...

 

thats is S.D but it has A.Z plates

 

dudes out his mind,

miata with blown motor - 1000k maybe less...
motor - 1000
tranny - 500
kit to put it in 3k ish

thats a total of 5500...

so 15k in labor?? i think not....

 

Heres one for 17k....

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/852943284.html
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You have no clue.

 

 

Kits closer to $4000 I believe and that does not include the differential

Motor can be done for a grand but if you want to be sure it's reliable and want more than the stock 225 hp it will cost a bit more

tranny for $500, your taking a chance

A miata is that nice of condition, paint, body and interior, not likely for $1000

install time, probably at least 5K if the shop likes you a lot, more if they don't.

I think you would be hard pressed to have a finished project for much less that 15K if not more.

Sure you could do it for less, but you'd have a raggady mess.

 

thats a beautiful vehicle!

 

this quote is exactly why I don't understand this conversion....12.8 is hardly an impossible number on the 1.6L, with +25mpg to boot.

 

Torque. You know that things gotta be a hoot to drive, don't deny it. Ford 302 makes over 300 ft*lbs stock.

Plus the V8 obviously has more potential. It's something different. Nothing wrong with that. And yeah 20 mpg sucks for a V8 miata. Hell mustangs with 302's can get 20 mpg highway with the right tune.

 

Couple explanations: if he has decent power coming from the V-8, the 12.8 is likely traction limited. Like the gazillion HP supra guys that run 12's because the spin all the way down the track. Or, he used a stock 5.0 which is only 225 hp but has good torque down low with not waiting. If it's the later, it does not take very much money or effort to get to the 300-400 hp level. You could pick up 100 or more rwhp with a head/Cam/Intake swap. which could be done for less than 2K if you bought brand new and half that of you shop around for used parts which are plentiful. or, throw a cheap used SC or turbo kit on it and you could see close to 500 rwhp with realtive ease. I think it's more a matter of preference in many cases.

 

for ******** sure

 

I definetly get your point, a bolt on MSM will get pretty damn close to that. We had a local guy with a bolt on MSM that turned a 13 flat and he was not a good drag racer and was on street tires. If I were to do a V8 swap I'd use the lighter chevy LS/XX based engine. But I doubt I'd do it, for some reason a turbo for seem better suited in a miata....just me.