Chris GTO TT Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 Back to summer mode! http://i1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag459/christobal65/Miata%20Stuff/IMG_20160323_190736_zpsfskqqgk1.jpg 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I wish mine was in driving mode... Hope to make a little more progress this weekend... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 Miata tow rig update... Spent last week in CA helping my parents move out of the house they've lived in for the last 49 years. The time had come for them to move into an assisted living arrangement. Anyway, took the camper so we would have a place to stay during the packing. The suspension mods paid off, and it was generally a pleasant trip, though the pucker factor was high in some of the SoCal traffic. Pic from Yarnell Hill overlooking Congress, AZ to the Southwest: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/RAM3500/Lance%204-8-16%201_zpsjacql8qr.jpg Truck returned an average of ~11mpg over the round trip, running 65-70mph. Ugly, but at least diesel is cheap right now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted April 16, 2016 Author Share Posted April 16, 2016 Pucker factor is always high in Los Angeles traffic if you're not used to their style of driving. Otherwise sounds like a successful trip. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 (edited) I grew up there, so I'm OK with the traffic. It's the 8 1/2' wide, 12k lbs, high COG rig that makes for the pucker... There's no way to keep with traffic, so you just do the speed limit while everyone else is doing 80+, but some of them do some stupid stuff getting around you. Edited April 16, 2016 by rodan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted April 16, 2016 Author Share Posted April 16, 2016 Yeah pretty much... Most of the time I lived there I drove a 92 Explorer with nearly 200k on it. I didn't have the weight or the width, but keeping up with traffic wasn't really an option in that car too. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 Actual Miata content! Finally got around to cleaning up the engine compartment. I still need to remove some stuff to get into the nooks and crannies, but at least the big chunks are knocked off... especially the grunge on the steering rack and crossmember. Before: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_9572_zpswsskfuiw.jpg After: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_9577_zps5ga8lm8y.jpg 949 Racing clutch hydraulics are inbound, so after that's installed, I'll be pretty close to getting the engine back in the car. I do want to dissect some of the factory wiring to remove/repurpose unnecessary stuff (cruise, airbag sensors, MAF, etc.) before it goes back in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDII Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 When you remove the engine do you use a hoist or just one arm lift it out? j/k! Also: needs more LS1 Need forum help? Private Message legGTLT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 An LS1 Miata is awesome, but at that point is not a Miata anymore. The engine is a big part of what makes the Miata such a great driving car. --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GipsySpec.B Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I've ridden in an LS1 Miata and it's SCARY. I really like the new MX-5 RF but at that asking price I'd rather find a used Lotus Elise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 On that note I'm taking my NA to work today! --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 An LS1 Miata is awesome, but at that point is not a Miata anymore. The engine is a big part of what makes the Miata such a great driving car. Having driven an LS3 NB, and ridden in Keith Tanners LS3 NA on the track (525hp!), that's really not true. An LS powered Miata is just a Miata turned up to 11... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/TargaMiata%20ride%20FM14_zpsgbjn28wv.jpg http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEyLzAzLzIxLzIyXzQ1XzA0XzQxX2ZpbGUKcAl0aHVtYgkxMjAweDk2MDA-/988f3c2d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I have a hard time believing the NA chassis can handle 500+ hp. Did you get to drive it? And I would think that heavy motor would really ruin the handling of the car even without that much power. Tip toe through the corners and hammer it on the straights to compensate. Maybe a faster lap, but not as fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I did not drive Keith's car. The NB I drove was tight as a drum. Remember, these are not just stock chassis cars. They have additional bracing, are seam welded, have roll bars, and in Keith's case, a full cage. I don't think anyone would go to the trouble of swapping in an LS without addressing the chassis. Hell, I've already done most of it on my car, and it will probably never get an LS. The biggest issue is hooking up the power... club footed drivers and all season tires need not apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I missed your point about the "heavy motor", so I'll add a little bit... This is a really common misconception about the V8 swaps in a Miata. An all aluminum LS motor doesn't weigh a whole lot more than the stock iron block 4 cyl. Most of the ~200lbs added in the swap is in the transmission (T56) and differential, both of which are at or behind the centerline, and low in the chassis. The end result is that the front/rear balance doesn't really change, and often comes out at 50/50. The car is just as tossable, and way more fun to drive with all the added power. Like I said, it's still a Miata, just turned up to 11... A Ford swap is slightly less ideal, although the engine with aluminum heads is not much heavier than an all aluminum LS. The T5 trans typically used weighs a lot less than a T56, so overall the weight added is a wash, but the Ford swap will have slightly more weight on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Ok. Now I know what I want for Christmas. And that Martini livery on the Miata is beautiful. The Martini colors/stripes are second only to the Gulf blue/orange stripe of old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Keith's car is pretty cool. You can rent the movie they made of running the Targa Newfoundland on Amazon. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Rock-Days-Targa-Newfoundland/dp/B00HIITNLO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461174404&sr=8-1&keywords=racing+the+rock]Amazon.com: Racing the Rock: Six Days at Targa Newfoundland: Keith Tanner, Janel Tanner, Brandon Fitch, Zach Bowman: Amazon Digital Services LLC[/ame] Lots of vids on youtube as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 A V8 miata is awesome, but is not a Miata anymore. It is some other car. Noises and engagement are not the same. --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 More progress today... Got the header bolted on the VVT engine. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_2011_zpsyk3cucgz.jpg Not pretty, but the stock '01+ header is supposed to be within a couple HP of the aftermarket stuff. Good enough for now... Looks better covered up with the stock heat shield... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_2012_zpsdmifrykh.jpg Also got the MazdaComp motor mounts installed, as well as the 1.6 oil pressure sender, which is an actual pressure sender, as opposed to the later versions which just signal oil pressure or not. And then this happened: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_2013_zpsv04ohxqx.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_2014_zpsmurkcyno.jpg Going to start with pulling the AC condenser, airbag related stuff, and other unnecessary crap. Then I need to get down to cataloging some wiring, tracing wires and cleaning up the harness. The VVT motor has sensors and wiring the 1.6 didn't, but I won't be running an MAF, and there are several other wires I can re-purpose to avoid having to run new wire. Fun stuff... It's been satisfying to see the pile of engine parts in the trailer shrinking, but now it's been replaced by interior and dash parts... oh, well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Oh, sh*t... this is getting serious... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_2028_zpsr1zblglf.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_2029_zpsmxlzdjf8.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 When does the cage get welded in 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 It's on the list... maybe next winter. It's gonna be hard enough to get this ready for FM summer camp as it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodan Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Been a while... and not too much has been happening. I was deliberating some options regarding wiring and not getting much done. I finally came to grips with the fact that it's not likely to be done in time for FM's Summer Camp anyway, so I should stop thinking about shortcuts and just do it right. In the meantime, I switched the springs in the wife's NC. Two years ago, I installed Progress Springs, going for a 'civilized' package. Last year, I installed Koni shocks, as the stock Bilsteins weren't cutting it. Over those two years and ~20k miles, the front springs had sagged ~1", and it was scraping over lots of driveways and speed bumps... irritating. So I swapped in some FM springs, and got my ride height back, as well as a little more spring rate, which will help the NC on track. I wanted FM"s new Fox coilovers for it, but they're just not in the budget this year... So, on to the NA... I had originally planned to use a breakout box to adapt the MS3 to the factory harness, and repurpose/add additional wires for the VVT and other new features. I've decided to just use the MS3 harness to run the engine, and connect to the Miata harness only where necessary. I think this will be less work in the long run, and leave no questions as to the engine wiring. So first, I finally eradicated all of the airbag wiring... Mazda was nice enough to keep the airbag wiring in separate looming, though it was wrapped into the main harness. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_9580_zpsjxgjixxk.jpg Amazing how much of the bulk of the harness was taken up by airbag crap... The really tedious part is done... I've got the harness mostly unwrapped, which was a PITA without removing it from the car, which I didn't want to do. The parts in front of the firewall were the worst, less room to work. The tape actually came of pretty well considering it's almost 25 years old. Fortunately, Mazda doesn't use really sticky crap, so there's no residue on the harness. Here's the driver's side: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_9581_zpsjwqf9hzr.jpg The AFM wiring and diagnostic box wiring still need to be removed... All that will be left on that side when I'm done will be the headlight, headlight motor, running lights and horn wiring, and relays for the headlight motors and headlights. Inside's kind of a mess, but I can easily trace wires with the harness unwrapped... I did end up removing the steering column and clutch pedal for easier access. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_9584_zpsqkfinubv.jpg ECU side: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/VVT%20swap/DSC_9586_zpssp5ozoy2.jpg I'm starting to understand why FM gets $50k to build a turnkey LS3 car... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris GTO TT Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 Wow that's pretty cool. I decided to buy a cool breeze scoop and a roll up window shade from Moss Miata's interior sale. 2003 Baja 5MT 2016 Outback 2.5i Premium w/Eyesight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDII Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 I love this thread Need forum help? Private Message legGTLT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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