I'm not new to the Miata game, I had a turbocharged Miata a couple years ago that made 240rwhp, so I know my way around them.

Just as a practice car, I want to build a junkyard v8 Miata. my plan is to buy a crappy shell on the cheap, tearing it up and swapping in a v8. I want to use a T5 transmission, not sure which bell housing fits the best though.

I want to use a 305 or 350 if I'm lucky. But I need to learn more before I commit to anything.

I'm here to learn.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

You can build a Ford 302 (306) for under $10k using the Monster Miata kit. Using a kit really speeds things up and takes some guess work out.

Here's my builds:

http://www.mccullyracingmotors.com/i...les/builds.htm

Let me know if you need any help or advice,

-Jason McCully

 

My take on a dirt cheap V8 Miata is to find a running 91-93 Tbird/Cougar and transplant the entire drivetrain into the Miata, cutting and fitting as required. All Tbirds are automatics, not altogether a bad thing, but you can find a bellhousing and trans from a Mustang pretty reasonably on CL.

How are your fabrication skills? That's important, because without a welder and some other tools (big hammer, grinder, sawzall), you would be better off with a kit, which of course is much more expensive.

You mentioned 305 or 350, the 1st gen chevy is a little bigger and heavier than the Ford; there are a couple of them out there in Miatas, but the Ford ruled as a Miata V8 install until the Gen III chevy came along. Pricewise, a pickup truck 4.8 or 5.3 Gen 3 is getting to the level of a good 302, primarily because the 302 is getting dated, hard to find a good low mile 302, but low mile Gen 3s are out there. It's also a newer design by 30 years, more power, more efficiency. Gen 3 automatics look better pricewise, because the T5 for a Chevy is not as readily available, and the 6 speed is kinda pricey.

Keep us posted

Mike