Hey guys, anyone want to start up a thread with a database of different drivetrain combos that people are using? Post up what you use and how it's mounted(kit or homebrew). Also, please post up how you use your car and if you have had any issues with your setup. The more info the better. Pics would be great.

This will help people decide what to run for their future swaps (me included).

 

1990 Miata. Boss Frog Kit. Patriot Performance 383 Gen I sb.
1998 Camero T56. Ford 9" Posi-Trac rearend 390 gears (still searching for a supplier). 16" wheels/spacers, 245-45-16 tires. Any suggestions or info will be greatly appreciated.
I have found over the years that there is no substitute for experience!

 

1999 NB Miata, V8R conversion, GM 480 HP (415 rwh) crate motor, T-56, 3:42 Getrag, 16 inch Konig wheels with 225/50 T1R's on them, V8R tubular control arms, Hard Dog deuce roll bar, FM's big brake kit, Frog Arms, Racing Beat nose. Pictures are posted on this site. This car replaced a 1989 Testarossa and I enjoy the MX-5 much more than the Ferrari. (for starters you can walk away from it in a parking lot and there are no $5,977.00 services due every 15k miles) This car is just used to blast around the curvy roads of northwest Louisiana and east Texas on nice days. FM did the conversion and many folks that see it, say it looks like it came that way from the factory. FM's quality of work is incredible. Everyone does not have the time to do a conversion but still want's it done "right". This car is so much fun to drive that it's hard to measure. The only change we will make on our next conversion will be to use a GM 638 HP LS9 instead of the 480 HP LS3. Wiz.

 

1991 Miata with a 306 Ford installed with a kit from Monster Miata. T-5z transmission & 7.5 Ford differential with 3.27 limited slip. Extras include Kenne Bell supercharger, home made cold air intake, Pro-5.0 shifter, Monster Miata big brake kit, Racing Beat front & rear sway bars, Koni struts, poly bushings, Hard Dog hard core bar, Toyo tires (215/40zr16 front 245/45zr16 rear), Katskin leather seats, & Magnaflow exhaust system.

 

Build One:
1990 Silverstone with a rebuilt and blueprinted Ford 306 bottom end: Ported E7-TE iron heads, stock intake, E303 cam, stock A9L computer (Mass Air). T-5 non-world class trans (bronze sycros), steel driveshaft, Thunderbird 7.5 limited slip, 1994 Miata brakes, AGX shocks with Martin's kit springs. 1995 R-package front sway bar, no rear sway.
225 rwhp

Build Two:
1993 LE (black with red interior) with a rebuilt and blueprinted Ford 306 bottom end: Ported AFR aluminum heads, Edlebrock intake with 65mm throttle and C&L 72mm air tube, E303 cam, stock A9L computer (Mass Air), 24 pound injectors and Holley adjustable fuel regulator. T-5 non-world class trans (bronze sycros), aluminum driveshaft, Thunderbird 7.5 limited slip, 1994 Miata brakes (with Axxis pads), Fat Cat motorsports custom coilover suspension (custom valved Bilsteins, coil-overs, 500 pound front, 325 pound rears), Racing Beat hollow front sway and adjustable endlinks, no rear sway bar.
290 rwhp

Build Three:
1990 white with a rebuilt and blueprinted Ford 306 bottom end: Ported GT-40 iron heads, GT-40 intake (Explorer) with 65mm throttle (Explorer) and 72mm air tube (Thunderbird), 1992 Mustang cam, stock A9L computer (Mass Air), 19 pound "design three" injectors. T-5 world class trans (tyflon sycros), steel driveshaft, Thunderbird 7.5 limited slip, 1994 Miata brakes (with Axxis pads), Fat Cat motorsports custom coilover suspension (custom valved Bilsteins, coil-overs, 500 pound front, 325 pound rears), Racing Beat solid front sway, no rear sway bar.
245 rwhp (and 24 mpg...)

Build Four (will be started shortly, 95% of the parts are purchased, engine's about 95% done):
1994 Laguna with a balanced and blueprinted Ford 331 bottom end (forged crank and H-beam rods, domed pistons for 10.5:1 compression): Ported GT-40 iron heads, GT-40 intake (Explorer) with 65mm throttle (Explorer) and 72mm air tube (Thunderbird), E303 cam, stock A9L computer (Mass Air), 19 pound "design three" injectors. T-5 world class trans (tyflon sycros), aluminum driveshaft, Thunderbird 7.5 limited slip, Front Wilwood calipers over 1991 Corrado rotors (with Q pads), Stock brakes with Porterfields in the rear, Koni yellow shocks with ground control coil-overs (500 pound front, 325 pound rears), Racing Beat hollow front sway, no rear sway bar. Custom built, thermostat controlled oil cooler system.
??? rwhp

I’ve tried to improve upon the “formula” with every build. The first was a just to see if I could do it (and save up the $$$ beforehand), the second was a refinement in the suspension area mostly (the AFR heads and other improvements came after I sold it), the third was an opportunity to prove that I could eclipse the power of the first and gain better mileage than a stock Mustang as well as refine my wiring and AC systems, the fourth is an experiment to see if I can reach LSx levels of power with the 331 and incorporate a few other minor systems to make the car more track worthy (oil cooler and Wilwood brakes).

Out of the three that are already built the third one (white 1990) was the most “balanced.” It could hold its own on the track against modern Corvettes and S-2000’s but could also sustain a high enough MPG and level of comfort for true daily driving. The first one was a bit rough and the second is a bit more track-oriented. I’m hoping with the fourth one will have the “grunt” of the second with the refinement of the last. I’m also hoping that the only car that did pass me at the last track day (in build #3), a late model Z06, will have a little more trouble this year doing so with the 331 Laguna.

-Jason

 

1994 M-Edition Miata, same as a stock 1994 for this discussion.
Racing Concepts Kit
Stock LS1
T56 Transmission
Ford 8.8 Differential. All aluminum housing from a 2002 Explorer. Detroit Truetrac carrier with 3.53 gears, 31 spline.
Halfshafts are from the Racing Concepts kit.

 

Just another half finished L33 setup here....

V8R engine/trans mounting kit
PRC radiator (and hopefully surge tank!)
Sanderson headers (corrected now..... HOPEFULLY)
Euthuzacar SS header back exhaust
L33 engine
LS1 F-body T56
Spec Stage 2 clutch with aluminum flywheel
shortened LS1 F-body aluminum driveshaft
the rear end is a MUTT!! 929 pumpkin, T2 rear housing, T2 axles, FD differential, and Miataroadster hubs with a home brew front mount hanging off the subframe.

Not even getting into suspension/stiffening. That'd be another page or two in the making

 

Almost done

1994 M
Martins Kit
Trick Flow Head
Lightning 65 mm Throttle and 65 bbk spacer
Gt 40 upper and lower
Stock 5.0 lower end with Arp Rod bolts
Jasons Wiring Harness
T-5 with 2.95 first gear and higher ratio 5th
7.5 T bird 3.27
Custom exhaust flowmasters
9al computer...Will have dyno tuned in coming months.
and fully functional a/c with jasons help.

 

Finished August 2009 currently 2700 Miles one-off custom design / fab, no kit

New Corvette LS2 crate motor (dyno 438 HP) headers and K&N, 2006 GM PCM, my harness design, custom fabbed New FBW TB, GTO tune, performance ZO6 clutch, T-56 six-speed, 2002 Z-28 drive-shaft, shortened, re-balanced, Ford 8.8 (iron) Thunderbird IRS, 3:73 Ford Racing Gears, Eaton Posi, 300M axles, Mark Williams, OEM modded hubs, repatterned with ARP Corvette ZO6 wheel studs, Toyo T-1Ss 225-40-ZR16 on Konig Verdicts.