How much would it cost to build a V8 Mk1?
How much would it cost to build a V8 Mk1?
Author
Discussion

hornetrider

Original Poster:

63,161 posts

228 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
With an LS?

scratchchin

Has it been done in the UK? anyone got the expertise over here?

Fred Gassit

13 posts

187 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
I just added up the parts list on the Flyin Miata website for a turnkey LS376/480 conversion.
It comes to 25,000 bucks.
Plus labour of course!

hornetrider

Original Poster:

63,161 posts

228 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
That's all new kit though right? I'm thinking more along the lines of picking up a lightly used LS, and dropping it in with ancillaries etc. No gumption to do it myself but if one wanted to throw some money at the problem...

Mr MXT

7,774 posts

306 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
Instead of an LSx, what about a 1UZ-FE, Lexus 4.0 v8?


hornetrider

Original Poster:

63,161 posts

228 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
Has that been done? Obviously Lexi engines are far more readily available over here, hmmm

Mr MXT

7,774 posts

306 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
Probably... I know they go into 200sx's quite often...

eta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6I3xJuY9i8

hornetrider

Original Poster:

63,161 posts

228 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
Mr MXT said:
Probably... I know they go into 200sx's quite often...

eta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6I3xJuY9i8
Sounds frickin awesome eh.

However...

Comments said:
It took two years working about 2 eight hours shifts a week, give or take. Knowing how to do it, the next one was built a lot faster. There are two out there, running this solid, all street legal, all emissions legal. The only British Racing Green Hardtop Lexus V8 in the world. Done here first.
Ah'm oot!


Richyvrlimited

1,870 posts

186 months

Monday 7th November 2011
quotequote all
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1...

This one took 3 years.

The LSx isn't exactly a good choice in this country, not many car come with it fitted.

Fred Gassit

13 posts

187 months

Wednesday 9th November 2011
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
That's all new kit though right? I'm thinking more along the lines of picking up a lightly used LS, and dropping it in with ancillaries etc.
As pointed out above, "lightly used" LS motors aren't common here, and importing a s/h lump would cost 75% of a new crate motor (according ot the article in PPC mag).

Unfortunately the "ancilliaries" you mention in passing amount to most of the cost:
gearbox, clutch, diff, driveshafts, hubs, subframes & chassis braces, fuel system, exhaust system and a custom sump seems to be essential as well.

IMHO if you want LS power you would be better off building an Ultima or GD T70, something that is designed to take 400+ bhp from the off.

Fred Gassit

13 posts

187 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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Check out the "Project Banshee" on Gearz TV:
Banshee

Good job!

pewe

680 posts

242 months

Friday 18th November 2011
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If you go to http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid... one of the guys on there is giving away a Rover V8 and box for the cost of collection from the NE.
Can't get any cheaper than that.
Cheers, Pewe

Richyvrlimited

1,870 posts

186 months

Friday 18th November 2011
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That's the cheap bit anyway though...

madmover

1,764 posts

207 months

Saturday 19th November 2011
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In this months practical performance magazine there is a write up of a guy that's put a cobra v8 in wink

maser_spyder

6,356 posts

205 months

Saturday 19th November 2011
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Just waiting to get on top of my Frogeye project, then the LS3 Mk1 is next on the list.

Have the workshop, tools and funds, just need to find the tim. smile

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Saturday 19th November 2011
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We all need a Tim.

Mr MXT

7,774 posts

306 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
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There is no I in Tim.

maser_spyder

6,356 posts

205 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
quotequote all
Bloody iPad keyboard. irked

hehe


The odd thing is, my local grease monkey who does all my little odd jobs is called Tim. So I have a Tim already, and no need to find another.

But if somebody wants to send me a Tim, that would be great.

I could do with some time too...

jammy_basturd

29,778 posts

235 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
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Personally I always thought an AJP8 '5 would be awesome. It's actually a rather compact engine.

deviant

4,316 posts

233 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
There are two people in the MX5 club I am in that have built one using Flyin Miata parts and I know a 3rd person that has just started his.

We are lucky here in Aus that the US$ - AU$ exchange rate is very favourable so the cost of all the parts to do it are very bloody reasonable. We also have a ready supply of LS engines and suitable manual gearboxes as well as plenty of off the shelf power mods for the engine.

Having looked around these cars and chatting to the owners / builders it is a pretty simple conversion (as far as engine swaps go) to do if you buy all the FM stuff and have everything ready to fit. It could be in and running in a few days of full time work with a couple of mates.
Note that even with a kit in a box there is still going to be more stuff to buy. Obviously you need to sort out brakes, suspension, wheels, tyres and then there will be some tools you need and wiring and cooling parts and a bit of welding to be done and then while the engine is not in the car you would do all the belts and seals and put a brand new clutch on it etc etc etc!!! And then when it is running there will be more to tweak and fix up!

Again with our good exchange rates it makes a hell of a lot of sense to do it if you want a big power MX5, you wont get a reliable 450BHP at that price going down the turbo 4 cylinder route.

Downsides to doing it? Getting the power on to the road and slowing it down again. All of the above are track junkies and the mid-build car is actually being done to my old turbo race car and will be in full competition next season. The completed cars are running 15 X 10in rims with semi slicks and they will still arc up in 4th gear on hot tyres. Both owners went with Wilwood brake kits which to be honest are complete shat for circuit use...in fact the first car to be built here was destroyed on track a few weeks back when they finally cried enough trying to bring the car down from 140MPH - 60MPH...So you WILL need to factor in a decent and custom brake set up. My old race car has Skyline GTR discs with Impreza STI calipers.

As for fitting a 1UZFE or Rover V8. I dont know why you would bother to be honest. Neither are particularly powerful as standard and with no manufactured kit you have to fabricate everything yourself. If you are after power then a turbo kit will see you with more rear wheel horespower in a shorter time.



rovermorris999

5,317 posts

212 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
Surely a V8 is just too heavy? The whole point of an MX is that it's relatively light.