limited to 275hp September 03, 2009, 06:23:58 PM ok well i have a project that im going to use the 302 i have from the bird. im sad to say the bird has to leave. but its going to live on in my next project. due to weight 300hp is my power ceiling. i know if i swap it over to an HO that i'll get around 210hp (flywheel right?) thats not bad for a stock motor and stock reliability. i know i can get some E7 heads and have them messaged at the machine shop.. same with the intakes. and if i go with heads and full port and polish would i need a better cam than the stock HO.. hows that with reliability and that 300hp limit?if i have to i might just get some head work and the HO conversion.. and that intake upgrade (i forget what its called, mass air?) just give me some advice on makin a 290hp 302. i'll appreciate it. Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #1 – September 03, 2009, 06:31:26 PM It would get you close, but with the stock pistons your limited with cam choice. Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #2 – September 03, 2009, 06:48:06 PM ok im no stranger to building the lower end of a motor. well a us v8 anyway. if i upgrade to some new pistons, rods, wrist pins, and have the mechine shop look at the crank as well as balancing the rods.. im guessing forged products? i think from what i've heard the ho pistons are forged vs the SO is that what you mean? i could possibly go with the HO bottom end and be fine for the 290 range? this would help reliability too correct? thanks for the help! Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #3 – September 03, 2009, 07:15:47 PM gt-40 intake and heads. Run large exhaust and buy a custom cam. Is this for the miata? Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #4 – September 03, 2009, 07:24:41 PM yea, the thing is so gutless. plus the motor was abused by a previous owner with a supercharger, so i dont have much faith in it. but it will spin like a top. right now im ganna replace the clutch and flywheel in it.. just drive it and take care of it. im about to start a 15 month course for welding and i just need the miata to get through that. when i start making real money i can get the kit thats guaranteed and factory backed.i may race this car, but only in parking lots. with the 290hp 302 i dont expect breaking too much when i get on it here and there on the streets. it'll be a nice street car that could prolly cut a good 1/4 mile... theres a mazda celebration at road atlanta that may allow me to get on the track for some hot laps.you know this car is freaky the way its built. i feel like i have half a car after driving a full sized thunderbird. almost like im sitting on the axel now. Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #5 – September 03, 2009, 08:09:58 PM You could have your pistons notched and that would solve the limited piston selection problem. Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #6 – September 03, 2009, 10:37:56 PM You can run Trick Flow heads on those flat tops with about any cam you'd want for the street... Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #7 – September 03, 2009, 10:54:23 PM Not to ruffle anyones feathers here but why would you want to swap a V8 into that Miata. You should probably just rebuild the 1.6 or replace it with a larger 1.8. Cross breeding isn't right regardless of what engine you are putting into what car. Yes I know Ford owns Mazda :D . Putting that kind of weight up front will kill the handling of that car and make it too nose heavy. Thus ruining what that car was originally designed for. Its entirely up to you what you ultimately do to the little thing. Honestly you should stick with the I4 and make a fast, great handling car. Save the V8 for the T-bird you have or a Mustang. Just my two cents.Peace,Dan W. Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #8 – September 04, 2009, 12:28:39 AM I have an 87 mustang gt short block for sale. I haven't posted it because I live so far away from everyone else. Has a stock cam and injectors, but has e7 heads. Brand new, around 10 miles on it, if your interested let me know. Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #9 – September 04, 2009, 04:34:02 AM actually, the motor only adds 200lbs to the nose of the miata. i've researched this just out of intrest for the longest time. i too would think a big 302 up front would ruin the car but i've seen videos of the cars pulling over 1 g on the skid pad. if you just drop one in, yeh you'll have problems, but if you go with some aluminum heads, get your suspension working right, it gets pretty fun. the ultimate swap is the lsX swap.. all aluminum motor barely effects handling.i mean the car as it is with the 4 banger is ok. but its too high strung and the lack of torque is . it takes me about 15 min of hard driving to get the car to 120mph.. it wont get there on its own. it's time i inject a little torque and power into the situation. Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #10 – September 04, 2009, 08:45:58 AM Quote from: Roehm;289809Not to ruffle anyones feathers here but why would you want to swap a V8 into that Miata. You should probably just rebuild the 1.6 or replace it with a larger 1.8. Cross breeding isn't right regardless of what engine you are putting into what car. Yes I know Ford owns Mazda :D . Putting that kind of weight up front will kill the handling of that car and make it too nose heavy. Thus ruining what that car was originally designed for.I am a believer in swapping V8s into nearly everything so you can guess my stand point. To be quite honest Miatas are fantastic little cars but imagine if you will you are some guy sitting at the light in your LS1 Camaro and a little miata pulls up, you think to yourself "Its just a Miata I can race it and win. Go me!" So you rev your engine and he revs back but thats no four cyl! You start thinking "What have I gotten myself into...." as you lose to a Miata. I think it makes perfect sense! ~AC I think you should do this and enjoy the spoils that come from your swap. There is no reason to keep the 1.6/1.8 in it if you hate it. Just remember its not easy to modify your DD . I think if you shoot for a 302 with Exploder heads, a good cam and intake I think you can easily hit your goal HP. Is the 275 wheel HP or at the motor? Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #11 – September 04, 2009, 10:41:31 AM im actually thinking about getting another car during this project. since im cutting and welding (its really not that bad as a kit) im ganna go a bit further and see if i can figure out how to move the motor and trans back an inch more than provided with the kit. i know this means im going to have to weld in reliefs for the motor in the firewall.i think the infatuation i have with this swap is i won a raffle ticket thing where i got to go around road atlanta in a v8 miata with a really bad ass driver. he was a regular in the spec miata series and knew the car very well and the track. that car weighs nothing so the 300-400hp he had he used and it was like a motorcycle. in those 4 point harnesses i relax and ride. but that car had me holding on to my buckles white knuckled. a c6 corvette has nothing on that experience. plus with racing theres so much out there for suspension i could make this thing.. should i say it? SUPERCAR. Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #13 – September 07, 2009, 03:15:26 PM why the 300hp limit? are you entering in a spasific class? Quote Selected
limited to 275hp Reply #14 – September 08, 2009, 12:01:51 AM I talked to a bunch of guys about the swap that have done it.. They say because of the weight of the car, 300hp is the limit, any more and all you can do is spin the tires. if i built it up to 450hp, i'd never get off the line at the track without blowing the tires off. the car only weighs ~2222LBs curb weight.. more than 300hp would be overkill for a daily driver once its done. thats why i want it to be streetable so to speak. 275-290hp would most likely be the best range of power for a street car that weighs 2200lbs stock.also if you look at the kit, they have special headers to fit the miata.. i just wonder what that does to power... i may build my own headers. http://www.monstermiata.com go there and check out the funky looking headers... Quote Selected
Topic: limited to 275hp (Read 1708 times)
previous topic - next topic
