DSM Miata

elocneas · Oct 11, 2012

Just wanted to say whats up to everyone. About to start a project with a 1991 miata that I have. Looked at some different power plant applications and have decided to go with the 4g63. I have a good friend that has a lot of knowledge on DSM's and going to help me make it happen. Going to make it a rear mount and possibly use a t56 trans with a custom bell housing.

eclipsyco · Oct 11, 2012

That would be interesting to see, I mean Miata is a small light car and 4g63 powered and RWD hmmm sounds interesting post some pics when you start to see what's going on!

Spyderman7 · Oct 11, 2012

Cool idea and glad you chose to go with the 4g63 powerplant you .but why not just turn the motor sideways up front and put a powerglide in it .I think it would be better balanced for drag racing that way but thats just my opinion.Post pictures ofn the progress. :hellyeah:

elocneas · Oct 11, 2012

Ya I will be documenting the process and the fab work that its going to take. Getting the funds right now and my parts list together.

91stocker · Oct 11, 2012

I'd run an aluminum block ls1 in a miata over a 4g personally. I'm willing to bet the weight would be almost identical. They even make kits for the swap using a t56 for like $1200.

I'd bet it would cost a lot more then that to swap a 4g.

elocneas · Oct 11, 2012

91stocker said:
I'd run an aluminum block ls1 in a miata over a 4g personally. I'm willing to bet the weight would be almost identical. They even make kits for the swap using a t56 for like $1200.

I'd bet it would cost a lot more then that to swap a 4g.

I am going to cost out the build also to see what its going to end up costing. I know from what I looked at from the LS1 platform the kits to swap in the motor, t56, and a ford diff were around 3 to 4 k. I also like easy of mods for the 4g. I think the setup I want to run will be E85.

genegoesfast · Oct 11, 2012

The ls1 is an expensive option simply based on the cost of the motor. A stock 4g63 with a 20g/50 trim/hx35 could be at the same power level for less than half. The t56 trans would be the choice either way, and tuning options for the 4g platform are very numerous. Also the power band of the 4g63 is a better pairing to the light weight chassis of the miata in that it won't be as likely to roast the tires all the time.

elocneas · Oct 11, 2012

I am hoping that the cost will not get out of control but will see.

AK Maniak · Oct 11, 2012

Screw the ls1, 4g63 ftw. Just the fact that there is a kit to swap an ls1 says volumes about how unoriginal it is.

genegoesfast · Oct 11, 2012

AK Maniak said:
Screw the ls1, 4g63 ftw. Just the fact that there is a kit to swap an ls1 says volumes about how unoriginal it is.

Thank you. Forgot to add boring to the list of reasons why not to do the ls1.

yhype · Oct 11, 2012

LS engines are cheap and plentiful....get them from junk yards for like 500$

genegoesfast · Oct 11, 2012

Not near us they aren't. No luck on anything under $2800.

arrowhead · Oct 11, 2012

Glad you are doing this, have a friend that has been planning same thing, with a T5.
What are your plans for the rear end, the stock miata rear will not take this kind of power, even the Thorsten.

When I got my car, 98 TALON, I was going to convert it to RWD, and the first option I look at was this rear end since it is light and parts are available, but even with their 1.6 they are fragile,.

Good luck, I will be following your build.

arrowhead

Airsign89 · Oct 12, 2012

The rx7 Turbo II rearend has been put in 1st Gen miatas with relative ease and is proven to handle quite a bit more power than the stock one.

burkgonzo · Oct 12, 2012

genegoesfast said:
Not near us they aren't. No luck on anything under $2800.

He said LS engines, not an LS1. The 4.8/5.3/6.0 engines are pretty cheap for what they are. Also if the cost of the project is a huge factor if you are going to do it or not then its gonna be hard for you. But I hope you can get this done, I love out of the box ideas.

genegoesfast · Oct 12, 2012

It's about efficiently using funds. It's obviously going to be expensive. I just think the 4g option is a more a efficient way to spend the money. It's also going to leave a lot more room in the engine bay, and be easier to tune....for me at least.

1995gstdsm · Oct 12, 2012

Lots of the miata guys run those 8.8 rear ends when they do the v8 swap, super cheap and tons of them at junk yards: i.e. thunderbirds , mustangs. And I believe theres kits made up for the rear swap already. Check out monster miata

elocneas · Oct 12, 2012

arrowhead said:
Glad you are doing this, have a friend that has been planning same thing, with a T5.
What are your plans for the rear end, the stock miata rear will not take this kind of power, even the Thorsten.

When I got my car, 98 TALON, I was going to convert it to RWD, and the first option I look at was this rear end since it is light and parts are available, but even with their 1.6 they are fragile,.

Good luck, I will be following your build.

arrowhead

Probably going with the ford 8.8.

arrowhead · Oct 12, 2012

Best choice, plenty around and all kinds of gears for them, and also calipers, wheels, another benefit would be that from your bellhousing back everything will bolt up.
You probably know about projectzero.com, lots of info and a person named Bill Hincher that makes the bellhousings, he is also on this forum, he has done many of these by now.
Congratulations on your build and it will not be that expensive.

NewTurboTuner · Oct 12, 2012

I'd just put a V8 motor in it, and forget the hassle of custom fabing everything. You've already got lots of bolt-in ready V8 kits and mods for the miata. You can even buy bolt-on v8 exhaust for it. It wont be as difficult and its still pretty trick.

genegoesfast · Oct 12, 2012

There's a bolt on bell housing. The only fabbing would be motor mounts. The driveshaft and rear end would be custom items with the v8 swap anyway.

elocneas · Oct 12, 2012

NewTurboTuner said:
I'd just put a V8 motor in it, and forget the hassle of custom fabing everything. You've already got lots of bolt-in ready V8 kits and mods for the miata. You can even buy bolt-on v8 exhaust for it. It wont be as difficult and its still pretty trick.

I do think i will hit some issues but it is going to be a cool learning experience for me. I do agree there are some good v8 kits out there.

g4ebguy90 · Oct 12, 2012

Hate to say this but I would take a mazda 1.8L DOHC BP-ZE over a 4g63...
Reliable as heck, Non interference, nice aft mkt, there was turbo versions made, I have driven them over 250k and be spot on internally still.

Putting a v8 in a miata kinda ruins the whole point of having a miata.

91stocker · Oct 12, 2012

g4ebguy90 said:
Putting a v8 in a miata kinda ruins the whole point of having a miata.

How so? An aluminum v8 would nearly identical to a turbo iron block 4cyl. So the balance wouldn't be affected.

casperfast · Oct 12, 2012

ever see anything radical and awesome that was easy? no v8

this sounds cool,good luck.

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