Miata Mailing List: May 1996, Message #185
sponsored by



     


   From: Brian Goodwin 
Subject: V8, and other into Miata Engine ideas
   Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 12:53:02 -0400

Hi Everyone,

Looks like we are back to one of the favorite topics--putting more engine in
the Miata.  Obviously anyone considering putting a V8 in a Miata should talk
with Monster Motorsports of Escondido, California because they do this work
for a living.  There are also numerous magazine reviews of the pros and cons
of this conversion.  The obvious pros are rubber burning torque and that
great V8 sound and feel.  The cons include a Miata not as well balanced as
the stock car because an EXTRA 300 pounds is sitting in the front end.  I
considered doing this conversion myself but decided against it because of
the weight balance issue.

Somebody noted that they did not think the most recent rotary engine would
fit.  Incorrect.  If a V8 will go in so will the very small Mazda rotary
engine.  In fact, MazdaTrix was doing these conversions for a while (they
may still be but I have not talked with them in a long time).  For 10,000
MSU's they would take a turbo RX7 engine and put it in your Miata along with
the rear end, transmission, etc.  Turbo magazine ran a review of the
conversion a few years back and spoke highly of it because the 1.3 liter
rotary added grunt without detracting from the great balance of the Miata
chassis.

Myself, I have been wondering what it would be like to have a really good V6
engine in a Miata.  I like the idea of a V8 but not the idea of having an
extra 300 pounds in the front end.  So, given that iron block engines are
out of my consideration I was thinking about good aluminum block engines
that I would like to have in a Miata.  What I think would be great would be
a Miata using the current 300ZX V6.  You could use the stock normally
aspirated or twin turbo engine.  In stock normally aspirated form you get a
compact aluminum high performance engine that makes 222 horsepower.  With
the basic 5 liter V8 conversion you get much more weight and about the same
horsepower.  Anyway, the really power hungry could use the twin turbo
powerplant which makes about 300 horsepower in stock form.  HKS, Greddy,
Millen, etc., can show dyno printouts demonstrating the engine can be pumped
to the 450 horsepower range for those insane enough to think they could want
or use that much power in a Miata (like me).  



Brian Goodwin
Autorotor Laguna Blue 94