I know everyone here likes MX-5's

[jbi]

So here's 4500hp's worth of them

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/11/this-is-what-4-...

Would be nice if we had summer camps in this country showing you how to put a V8 in your MX5

[JonnyFive]

Pretty cool!

The picture of the people putting the V8s into the '5s looks just like an MX5 owners club meeting

[Papa Hotel]

The MX-5 isn't supposed to be a big-power car, it's meant to be balanced and delicate. If there's a sure way to ruin it, it's stick a big V8 up front.

[Dangermouse58]

Papa Hotel said:

The MX-5 isn't supposed to be a big-power car, it's meant to be balanced and delicate. If there's a sure way to ruin it, it's stick a big V8 up front.

Is it meant to be underpowered and slow then? The more power the better imo, as long as the brakes and suspension are upgraded too.

[JonnyFive]

Dangermouse58 said:

Papa Hotel said:

The MX-5 isn't supposed to be a big-power car, it's meant to be balanced and delicate. If there's a sure way to ruin it, it's stick a big V8 up front.

Is it meant to be underpowered and slow then? The more power the better imo, as long as the brakes and suspension are upgraded too.

Imo not a V8.. Turbo/Supercharger is what they need.

[Bonefish Blues]

I always thought a tiny V6 would have been lovely in ours, perhaps with a smidgin more power via supercharging (say 170/80ish) - sadly the MX3's was designed for a transverse application so not an easy fit.

[Papa Hotel]

Dangermouse58 said:

Is it meant to be underpowered and slow then? The more power the better imo, as long as the brakes and suspension are upgraded too.

Yeah, that's what I said.

[RobCrezz]

I don't see a problem putting the ls v8s in there, it's hardly any heavier than the 4 pot

[Alfanatic]

Simple V8 roadster? I don't see the problem. I can't imagine it's any more ruined than a Cobra, and being a bit overpowered doesn't seem to have hurt that car's rep.

[roverspeed]

200-220 is just about ideal.


V8s are great but do think the car would suit a high reving v6

Klze from mx6 / ford probe with breathing mods being ideal.

Afaik the v6 is actually lighter than the iron block i4

Still a rare conversion tho

[GravelBen]

roverspeed said:

200-220 is just about ideal.


V8s are great but do think the car would suit a high reving v6

Klze from mx6 / ford probe with breathing mods being ideal.

Afaik the v6 is actually lighter than the iron block i4

Still a rare conversion tho

+1

Having had a standard 1.6 Mk1 and one with a 250rwhp turbo conversion, I think exactly the same as you - a nice revvy NA V6 with a bit over 200hp would be perfect. The KLZE makes 200 standard (Probe might have had the 165hp KLDE) so is in the right ballpark.

[roverspeed]

GravelBen said:

+1

Having had a standard 1.6 Mk1 and one with a 250rwhp turbo conversion, I think exactly the same as you - a nice revvy NA V6 with a bit over 200hp would be perfect. The KLZE makes 200 standard (Probe might have had the 165hp KLDE) so is in the right ballpark.

You seen the guy that did the klze conversion in an na with the italia kit on it?

White ceramic coated inlet and exhausted manifolds with throttle bodies off triumph speed triple i think.

Flying miata are putting a 350z engine in an na too, circa 280bhp standard but they have plans for twin turbo and 500bhp.

[HustleRussell]

I think a wankel would suit an MX-5 perfectly... V8s are just wrong IMO.

[Marf]

roverspeed said:

You seen the guy that did the klze conversion in an na with the italia kit on it?

White ceramic coated inlet and exhausted manifolds with throttle bodies off triumph speed triple i think.

Flying miata are putting a 350z engine in an na too, circa 280bhp standard but they have plans for twin turbo and 500bhp.

KLZE would be a perfect lump for the MX5 IMO

[rotarymazda]

HustleRussell said:

I think a wankel would suit an MX-5 perfectly... V8s are just wrong IMO.

[url]

Here's one I made earlier. Was at 230bhp, currently back at WGT for a 250-260bhp upgrade. That's about the limit of an RX8 engine without going forced induction.

|http://thumbsnap.com/pCI5JNlF[/url]

Engine is lighter than the 4-pot that it came with and as smooth as a V8. It's also placed lower and further back than the standard engine.

[KevSeymour]

If you've going to V8 it, do it properly!


Supercharged V8 MX5 by KevSeymour, on Flickr

[Gilhooligan]

Papa Hotel said:

The MX-5 isn't supposed to be a big-power car, it's meant to be balanced and delicate. If there's a sure way to ruin it, it's stick a big V8 up front.

This is what I thought initially but apparently the weight balance isn't massively changed when you take into account that some ls engines are all alloy and with a bigger rear diff adding weight to the back. Plus with all that power im sure a little dab of the loud pedal will cure any understeer

[Gilhooligan]

KevSeymour said:

If you've going to V8 it, do it properly!


Supercharged V8 MX5 by KevSeymour, on Flickr

As much as i love big american supercharged v8's I just dont think it works well on a small jap sportscar. I also dont think the wheels work well either imo. Bolt on arches, on the other hand, are awesome. Kudos for amount of work thats presumably gone into the build though.

[jbi]

Gilhooligan said:

Papa Hotel said:

The MX-5 isn't supposed to be a big-power car, it's meant to be balanced and delicate. If there's a sure way to ruin it, it's stick a big V8 up front.

This is what I thought initially but apparently the weight balance isn't massively changed when you take into account that some ls engines are all alloy and with a bigger rear diff adding weight to the back. Plus with all that power im sure a little dab of the loud pedal will cure any understeer

indeed... from what I gather the handling isn't affected as much as you might think, but you now have all that lovely torque and HP on tap.

[KevSeymour]

Gilhooligan said:

As much as i love big american supercharged v8's I just dont think it works well on a small jap sportscar. I also dont think the wheels work well either imo. Bolt on arches, on the other hand, are awesome. Kudos for amount of work thats presumably gone into the build though.

(British V8)

I see what you mean but respectfully disagree, I'm not sure there are many cars that aren't improved by installing a blown V8. If it's OE dynamics you want then fair enough, there are thousands of standard MX5's around - but sometimes what you want is to own (and as in this case, build) something unique.

I just like the fact that cars like this exist, the owner/builder has done a great job and the car looks as insane as it goes. The wheels are temporary, until his custom made set are delivered.