V8 conversion

chris · Post by **chris** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:24 am

Donovan wrote:didn't realise people went on about LS swaps in MX5's. Pretty sure there is a lot more 1UZ conversion's running around in NZ than LS conversion's (3 that I am aware off including mine).

I too looked at the Rover (light, cheap, but wast of time horsepower wise), 1UZ, and LS conversion, and went with the LS for one reason alone, POOOOWWWWEEEERRR. As Chris said, insane amount of HP out of them before even going to forced induction, but not cheap. 1UZ conversion is about a 1/4 of the cost of the LS conversion. And GM parts aren't all the cheap, better getting them from the US, but still not cheap after all the other add on's.

In all fairness, when I look at engine swaps I don't look locally - I look globally. New Zealands modification market is very interesting to say the least.

There may be more UZ swaps here, but when I look at V8 swapped Miatas, the most common by a landslide would have to be the LS.

If I were ever to do it, I'd either do a supercharged 1UZ to make it worth my time, or the LS and just take years doing it.

4A-GE · Post by **4A-GE** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 10:50 am

Reddit indeed...

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:20 pm

What is this Reddit?

4A-GE · Post by **4A-GE** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:35 pm

Front page of the internet.

BRM · Post by **BRM** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:43 pm

^^lol

Simonmx5 · Post by **Simonmx5** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:51 pm

Angreal wrote:What is this Reddit?

An addiction. It has become pretty much the only site I go to on the net now

Skilfil · Post by **Skilfil** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 4:42 pm

4A-GE wrote:Front page of the internet.

And /b/ is where the internet goes to die.

Simonmx5 · Post by **Simonmx5** » Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:06 am

Skilfil wrote:
4A-GE wrote:Front page of the internet.
And /b/ is where the internet goes to die.

I could never get the hang of /b/

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:13 pm

chris wrote:
Donovan wrote:didn't realise people went on about LS swaps in MX5's. Pretty sure there is a lot more 1UZ conversion's running around in NZ than LS conversion's (3 that I am aware off including mine).

I too looked at the Rover (light, cheap, but wast of time horsepower wise), 1UZ, and LS conversion, and went with the LS for one reason alone, POOOOWWWWEEEERRR. As Chris said, insane amount of HP out of them before even going to forced induction, but not cheap. 1UZ conversion is about a 1/4 of the cost of the LS conversion. And GM parts aren't all the cheap, better getting them from the US, but still not cheap after all the other add on's.
In all fairness, when I look at engine swaps I don't look locally - I look globally. New Zealands modification market is very interesting to say the least.

There may be more UZ swaps here, but when I look at V8 swapped Miatas, the most common by a landslide would have to be the LS.

If I were ever to do it, I'd either do a supercharged 1UZ to make it worth my time, or the LS and just take years doing it.

Think the only reason why the LS conversion are done globally (well in the US) is because it is so cheap for the engines and gearboxes over there. For the same price as just a 2nd hand LS1 motor here in NZ (no ECU or loom) you get a brand new LS3 motor, a clutch kit in NZ for them is $2K, less than $500USD, pretty silly really.

chris · Post by **chris** » Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:14 pm

^ Yup the market price hugely dictates engine swaps!

But, the LS is a tried a proven method, with pages and pages of support and parts.
Albeit left hand drive parts.

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 8:41 pm

Well its in and running. Had a couple of issues with my wiring skills, but after a quick visit from the auto spark she fired straight away. Very smooth engine. Few things to sort before the first drive but she should be ready for cert in a couple of weeks.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 9:56 pm

Good luck with the cert, who are you getting to do it?

Just as a side line, and not meaning to hijack the thread, but Terry at ADL (White MX5, Lexus V8 Supercharged with NOS) is thinking about possibly selling his.

4A-GE · Post by **4A-GE** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:05 pm

Donovan wrote:White MX5, Lexus V8 Supercharged with NOS

Sounds like the most crashable thing in the history of everything ever.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:31 am

4A-GE wrote:
Donovan wrote:White MX5, Lexus V8 Supercharged with NOS
Sounds like the most crashable thing in the history of everything ever.

Not Really, pretty much the same HP at my LS1 MX5, and after a year I still haven't crashed mine, and only 2 telling off's by the long arm of the law.

Anyhow, I reckon a high HP turbo MX5 is a heck of a lot easier to crash than a V8 powered one, the V8 power is linear, and torque available right from the word go, it's a doodle to control.

4A-GE · Post by **4A-GE** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:45 pm

Ls1 in a 5 is still nuts, but I'm still jealous.

You are right about the torque curve. That's why I'm... Sort of put off turbos.

CordedBowl · Post by **CordedBowl** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:50 pm

"It's a doodle to control" is now my new favourite saying, thanks Donovan!

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:01 pm

Anyhow, I reckon a high HP turbo MX5 is a heck of a lot easier to crash than a V8 powered one

You are right about the torque curve. That's why I'm... Sort of put off turbos.

Has anyone who has ever driven a decent turbo MX5 ever said this...?

Sorry but I call BS on this "turbo are hard to drive theory"

You guys are dreaming.

Not to say that a v8 MX5 isn't awesome, it certainly is. BUT I disagree with the quotes above.

P.s Hampton - 1.16.xx yesterday with passenger...better get those brakes and tyres sorted Donovan, your lagging behind

I feel a low 15 or high 14 when things are sorted....

Furai · Post by **Furai** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 6:45 pm

Interesting debate, torque down low spins wheels easy but so does turbo lag?

Would they just be crap in different ways but depend on individual car setup as to ease of driveability?

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 7:41 pm

Furai wrote:Interesting debate, torque down low spins wheels easy but so does turbo lag?

Would they just be crap in different ways but depend on individual car setup as to ease of driveability?

By crap meaning they need ITBs instead?

I'll sit on the fence on this one

MrGrey · Post by **MrGrey** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 7:51 pm

Lets be realistic, although they have different acceleration characteristics, if you are familiar and comfortable with the vehicle, maintain it mechanically and drive to the conditions then they are both relatively safe.

Although I am speculating, I would wager that if you took out 3rd party incidents (eg another car crashing into you, a bee flying the window and stinging you and other examples of things more of less out of your control) then you would find that most crashes from performance cars (either V8, supercharger or turbo) are from either mechanical failure or underestimating your driving ability (driving like an idiot).

just my 2c

4A-GE · Post by **4A-GE** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 8:41 pm

Furai wrote:Interesting debate, torque down low spins wheels easy but so does turbo lag?
Would they just be crap in different ways but depend on individual car setup as to ease of driveability?

This is closer to the mark than what I was tryna say.

For the record, and let's not turn this into a dick measuring contest; I have had a turbo car before. Sucked down gas like a MF and could be quite unpredictable to drive sometimes. It was 100% factory.

CordedBowl · Post by **CordedBowl** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:05 pm

It's not like the powerband ever changes though to make it less foreseeable, you know it's coming so you prepare for it, you wouldn't put your foot in it so the boost came on while you were still deep into cornering, that'd be silly, it's not hard, it's just a different type of power.

No different than a N/A car with cams or some type of modern variable timing system that brings more power on later in the revs.

I think the guys coming up with this wisdom are talking about huge turbos for big power, but that's not what most people put on their MX5, you use a small to medium sized turbo for quick spooling and it creates quite a linear power from low revs.

I've driven Donovans car and MadKiwis, they're both great and clearly very good in different ways, you can't just say one is better than the other, neither of them are certainly shit and are both just as crashable.

harlansmart · Post by **harlansmart** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:35 am

Um, so lets get this straight, the blown car of Mad Kiwi lays down faster times than the LS1 powered car, correct?

Well there is your answer, the only answer, why debate, speed is everything, thats why we increase power, to go faster, for more speeeeed, and the stop watch tells the truth.

Now, someone tell me where my hair drier is

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:57 am

harlansmart wrote:Now, someone tell me where my hair drier is

It's on the sink next to your hair straightener

chris · Post by **chris** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:00 am

^ Sounds like you stayed over

#hagayyyyy

Different car setups, require different driving styles. Simple.

V8 conversion

V8 conversion

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