My LS1 Miata

[ls1_miata]

Hi, I'm Nathan and a caroholic. :)

I'm a mechanical engineering student at Georgia Tech.

I decided I was tired of the Flyin' Miata FM2 kit on my miata after about 6 months of ownership and wanted to do a LS1 swap. I don't have the tools at home to do any real fabrication nor the time really so I opted for Racing Concept's kit which includes everything needed for mounting a LSx and Ford 8.8 diff as well as a custom driveshaft, axles and a few bits here and there to get things like the clutch to work.

I used a 2002 Camaro LS1 and T56 complete with all accessories, wiring and PCM. I got the PCM flashed with a C5 Z06 tune. I use a Ford 8.8 diff with 3.55 gears.

I tore my car apt in October 2007, brought it to the paint shop, ordered the kit, got the car back from paint in the beginning of Feb 2008 (only 3 months behind...) and started the install.

I have made a detailed website with tons of pictures and info so check it out.

My Website: http://home.comcast.net/~npartist/

I just dyno'd it saturday at Dynolab and was REALLY happy with my dyno numbers, 328whp 355 wtq! Those are some great numbers for a stock engine. Here is a video. I have several videos on streetfire to view.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Dyno_195945.htm

https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/Nov%20Dyno%20(custom).JPG

Also, here are some pics

http://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/completed%20engine%20bay%206%20(Custom).JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/exhaust%20v2%2014%20(Custom).jpg
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/center%20console%20(Custom).JPG
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/Nov%202008%20Photoshoot%202.jpg
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/Nov%202008%20Photoshoot%203.jpg
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/Nov%202008%20Photoshoot%205.jpg
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/Nov%202008%20Photoshoot%206.jpg
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/Nov%202008%20Photoshoot%207.jpg
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/Nov%202008%20Photoshoot%208.jpg
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/Nov%202008%20Photoshoot%2012.jpg
https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/images/Nov%202008%20Photoshoot%2014.jpg

[amaff]

Mr. Sumner I presume?

I saw the dyno run on Facebook (fire your cameraman btw) that thing sounds nasty. Methinks you need some more rear rubber. Just sayin ;)

[ls1_miata]

you are indeed correct (about the Sumner part). More rubber is harder to fit and just makes it THAT much more obvious that I have something under the hood. Trying to keep it a secret. :cool:

and i think I will have a new video of the run soon.

[Sawyer]

Looking good! I was actually just talking about LS1 swapped Miata's today!

[Roadster]

Welcome to the forum, Nathan! Gotta see this car in person asap. Pure evil. :)

[mustangtomiata]

Ironic...I'm going to tech in a couple of years, assuming i don't change majors, to be a mechanical engineer also and was thinking about doing the same thing. I'll have more time to work on it becuase I'll have my jeep ready to be daily driven.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Very sick sound to come from a Miata!!!
Impressive numbers and congrats!
And I love the license plate. http://www.sixthsphere.com/phpBB3/images/smilies/icon_twisted.gif

[deerock]

very nice car.

im terrified to even hear it start up. :jawdrop:

[Doppelgänger]

Hey man, good to see ya made it over! Did you ever figure out why the diff was puking at TGP?
Pictures don't do the car justice... it's sooooo damn clean!

[ls1_miata]

Hey man, good to see ya made it over! Did you ever figure out why the diff was puking at TGP?
Pictures don't do the car justice... it's sooooo damn clean!


Yeah, the backlash was too tight. Think the housing was messed up so I got a new one.

The car isn't THAT clean. I think the pictures hide the flaws, which it has many of.

[ls1_miata]

Due to many request, I have added the FULL wiring instructions for the swap.

https://home.comcast.net/~npartist/electrical.html#3

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

:jawdrop: I'm speechless... what a car!

[ls1_miata]

Got the car corner weighed.

With me in the car, 3/4 tank, both tops on:
Front Weight Distribution: 52.3% :D
Left Weight Distribution: 51%
Cross Weight: 50.2%

Why is this better than what flyin' miata reports with the V8 roadster kit? Well we know my engine is farther forward so it must be the fact that I have more weight in the back, like full-size optima battery, hard top, 6-point roll bar, etc. I do weigh about 100lbs more than them.

[MeFryRice]

That is freaking awesome!! I miss TQ. :(

[ls1_miata]

NEW VIDEOS!

In and out of car auto-x video:
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Nov_199591.htm

Yes, the camera points to far down in the in-car, I was having a mount difficulty... Atleast you get to see more of me working the wheel.

EDIT: see my other videos once you get to streetfire.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Love it!!!

First video around 25-26 seconds, hear sirens when you decelerate. :lol:
And :lol: at the turn signal in vid 2.

[ls1_miata]

haha, yeah. those sirens weren't for me. Luckily.

[MoD_Scotty]

I'm really not a fan of LS1s in general, but I love this car. Awesome work.

[Doppelgänger]

The gauges are sweet too...

are you going to do the Santa Run event at TGP next month?

[ls1_miata]

don't know about it, care to give details.

[Doppelgänger]

www.santarun100.com

That should help ya :)

[ls1_miata]

i registered as fill-in

[ls1_miata]

Installed my Goodwin BBK yesterday!

[MoD_Scotty]

NICE!

[RotorNutFD3S]

Very nice! I want...

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Beautiful. Hella jealous.

[mustangtomiata]

You don't need brakes, your racin!...sad but i actually heard someone say that(not cars but during a dirtbike race) beware of durhamtown goons.

[Doppelgänger]

wow... those are some nice stoppers!
I'll eventually get some upgraded stuff soon....fortunatly the sport brakes are actually pretty big. The big advantage for me getting a BBK is the weight savings.
What pad compound did you get?

[ls1_miata]

New video from the Santa Run at little tally. I will have a good high-def in-car video up soon.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Track_206273.htm

I was really happy with the handling. Very neutral, and quick... I beat a range of cars, factory 5 cobras, mustand cobras, exige, AMG CLK63 black series, stock and modded (one 520whp...) vettes, turbo 350z, ls1 rx7, etc. But much of the time difference was probably driver, many of them appeared to have never seen a track. The one car to beat me was a Modded 08 STi with 300whp/400wtq from Top Speed and one very good driver. My best time was a 66 and his was a 65.4. Next was the Exige i think at 67.

[ls1_miata]

wow... those are some nice stoppers!
I'll eventually get some upgraded stuff soon....fortunatly the sport brakes are actually pretty big. The big advantage for me getting a BBK is the weight savings.
What pad compound did you get?

I used the E compound at the track day but those were chewed up in 75miles... Now I have a set of H compounds for the next TGP track day dec 29th. After reading more, I should have gone with the Carbotech pads and will once these run out.

[RotorNutFD3S]

I have to say that it is just so odd but so awesome at the same time to hear that rumble out of a Miata. An LS swap is definitely my next project.

[leadfoot_mf]

nice seeing you at the track nice car and great lap times.

[mustangtomiata]

That's so bad ***! Too bad you wren't at at mellow mushroom today, i want to ride in this car someimte.

[ls1_miata]

Alas, the HD in-car track video is up. Poor vette's didn't have a chance.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Track_207341.htm

[wonton]

all i could say when i saw those pics is ( OH MY GOD ) its so beautiful! wish my
NA looked half that good!

[ls1_miata]

So I went to the track (Little Tally) again on monday and busted my passenger outboard CV joint (a miata cv). I did (as always) a complete check over of the car before heading to the track so I know everything was good before getting to the track. When I was leaving the pits to do my third 20min session, I heard clicking so I turned around and pitted to investigate. I saw that the CV boot was busted and grease was everywhere so it was pretty easy to conclude the cause of the clicking. I packed up and decided to drive on it home (100 miles...) since I didn't have a way to tow it and have to replace the joint/axle anyways. Despite clunking and howling, it did make it home.

I do not know the root cause of the failure, it could be that the boot busted and the joint dried up or it could be that the cage or bearings couldn't handle the abuse. I will take it apart and try to determine the failure mode. Dan at Racing Concepts is willing to help me out to get it replaced. More to come....

[RotorNutFD3S]

Sucks that happened! Please post when you find out the cause. I have had one boot failure already, and I think the same side was about to have problems again when the engine went.

[mustangtomiata]

Just a hunch but I think the cause may have something to do with the fact that your axle/driveline steup was designed for a third of the power you make lol. Glad you made it home though and i hope to see you at a track event sometime in the near future, looks like you can handle that car pretty well too.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Staggering car. I really hope to see it sometime. Hope you manage to troubleshoot the problem mate.

[ls1_miata]

I got some Traqmate GPS data from my last outing at Little Tally. I posted some graphs and numbers on the bottom of my specs page: http://home.comcast.net/~npartist/the_specs_page.html

Basically 1.2g's steady state cornering on 225/45/15 Toyo RA-1's on a mid-40's degree day. :thumbsup:

[mustangtomiata]

1.2g Miata FTW

[amaff]

No offense Nathan, and I hate to be "that guy" but I've recorded that (sustained) on street tires on the MaxQ data (.1 sec resolution)... what suspension are you running and how's it set up? On R's you should have been able to see a good bit higher. Either that or you weren't driving hard enough ;)

[FE3tMX5]

Lots a variables involved in attaining a max G to say what he was capable of at that moment - temps, track condition, data systems... I'd say the real indicator would be putting another driver in the same car on that day. Second might be comparing data with another similar car (like the LS rx7) from the same session.

[ls1_miata]

No offense Nathan, and I hate to be "that guy" but I've recorded that (sustained) on street tires on the MaxQ data (.1 sec resolution)... what suspension are you running and how's it set up? On R's you should have been able to see a good bit higher. Either that or you weren't driving hard enough ;)

I by no means am saying that the best max lat of any miata. Simply using it to show that the V8 doesn't destroy the handling. The track was cold and the tires are over a year old. I agree conditions can play a significant role in the results.

My car has Ohlins PCV 8/6kg coilovers, FM front bar on full stiff and stock rear bar. I forget what the height is but I think it in the 13.5 fender to center range. It is corner balanced (crossweight is 50.2%).

[mustangtomiata]

how much do the ohlins coilovers cost nathan?

[ls1_miata]

how much do the ohlins coilovers cost nathan?

A lot...haha. New they are $2350 now (http://www.ddmworks.com/miata/suspension/ohlins.html). I bought mine slightly used for $1380.

[ls1_miata]

Video of me leaving the Jan 31st meet: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Leaving_634760.htm

Thanks for the video Eric (RotorNutFD3S).

[scandmx5]

Video of me leaving the Jan 31st meet: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Leaving_634760.htm

Thanks for the video Eric (RotorNutFD3S).

lol that video made my day. purple fury...sick

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

God I love this car :D

Certainly put a new angle on the potential GRM challenge car I might do.

[ls1_miata]

new autocross video from today's wet SCCA Test and Tune:

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Feb-Autocross_638939.htm

There is a lot of wind/rattle noise from the camera unfortunately.

[ls1_miata]

new video from mountain run this weekend http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Run_644998.htm

I have also sent my axles to Gator Racing Axles to polish the miata cv cups and put on low profile boots. I haven't had my boots bust since I put zip ties on them but I figured this was cheap insurance.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Nice run! You can hear the middle bike start to take off after you, but it sounded like it was too late. :D

[matredd]

niice

[ls1_miata]

Yeah. I actually stopped a few miles down to wait for my friend behind me and the motorcycles rolled up. They said "man that thing handles great". I then mentioned it has an LS1 and "oh hell yeah, I knew that thing took off quick. Rev that $hit up!". So I did. haha.

Mountain runs are always fun.

[Doppelgänger]

Nice. I need to get some new/summer tires for one of my sets of wheels before I can seriously play in the mountains :(

[amaff]

the car sounds great Nathan.

[FooSchnickens]

I want one ;_;

[ls1_miata]

track video from yesterday. more to come.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-TGP-Day_691550.htm

[GVfanatic]

you should run a microphone down between the seat and the tranny tunnel. i wanna hear that ls1 roaring.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

I was thinking the same thing, that car in silent isn't quite the same!

[GVfanatic]

AMEN! i wanna hear the growl and rumble of that v8 nathan. pleeez

[ls1_miata]

I've added a quick comparo of the kits and ls motors. I can add more answers/details if you mention them.

http://www.swaptastic.net/answers.html

[ls1_miata]

Went to Waterford Hills track day yesterday and had a blast. I was told by some spectators that my rotors were glowing red at the end of the back straight.. :)

In the wet: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Track_709310.htm

Tearing it up in the dry: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Nathans-LS1-Miata-Track_709311.htm

[4sevens.com]

Awesome!

[MoD_Scotty]

http://www.swaptastic.net/for_sale.html

:(

[4sevens.com]

??? Whats next nathan?

[RotorNutFD3S]

That's sad. I wish I could afford it, I'd buy it in a heartbeat!