i've recently done a motor swap on my miata. Im by far no pro.

What should i be prepared for if i decide to do a v8 swap?

how much does it usually cost?

 

More details needed.

Ford 5.0 or LSx based engine

Pick your flavor and watch the posts flow

 

Haven't even started mine yet, but my estimates for a 5.0 swap are running a little under 9k. That's with a monster miata kit, t-56 and a 331 stroker. I'm doing the work myself, I can wrench and weld, even do a smattering of bodywork. Unfortunately, I KNOW that all estimates on projects need to have at least 15% added and thats if your estimates are really good.

 

It will cost somewhere between $5K and $30K.

 

+1. That's about right

 

Yep. It depends on what you do. Modding an engine will cost more than a stock engine out of a donor. Going LS vs a Ford engine will change the cost, as well. Granted, there are those who say it won't be much more, though. Going new vs using the engine and tranny out of a donor. How much are you willing to fabricate? Will you go with plug and play items that make the job easier? It all adds up.

Mine is one at the upper end. However, my car is pretty much a ground up restoration of the car and has a highly modded LS6 engine. So far, Tim and I have over $30K in the project. Much was fabricated by Tim. It would have cost him much more, had he not done that.

 

He's right on the money......I've spent over $3000 already and haven't even begun the mechanicals.

 

As for the skills, I've built two airplanes and have been part of other airplane projects. Even though I'd spent time around airplanes, and even did my own maintenance, I'd never built one. Each skill was learned, easily enough, to get the job done. I see doing an engine swap as less difficult than building an airplane, even though many of the tasks are pretty much alike. Anyone who is willing to learn can get it done. One thing is to not let the overall project overwhelm you. Do one task, at a time. In the end, the tasks finished add up to a completed project.

 

I enjoy these posts. They let me know what I'm probably going to get into when I get home from Afghanistan. I just picked some some numbers from random sites and I'm thinking that since I still need to find the donor car I'll be sitting somewhere around 35 to 40k. If I can find a donor for cheap... maybe 30 to 35. This number is based on parts alone, not including the tools I'll need to do the job, the skills I'll need to hone, and the cases of beer I'll need to give to friends for helping.

Sounds like a good time, lol.

 

On a side note, I've observed these ideas of V8s in Miatas since I was in high school. Some 2002-ish time frame I got interested. It might actually happen some 10 years later.

 

Doing it yourself those prices are probably a bit high. Depends on the cost of your donor car and if you're going new or used with the engine/drivetrain for the swap. But hey, it's better to set a high ceiling then if you come in below that, you won't be shocked/disappointed like most of us who have already done or are close to completing their swap.

 

These are the numbers I use when I explain it to my wife, she says it's still a go. I figured that was the most important hurdle.

And really, after it's all set up and over with, I forsee myself coming close with all new parts, my love for interiors, and the stereo that will go in it that will run at least 4k, lol.