They get loose real easy. As is, in stock form, the car squats and transfers weight pretty well. But, once you add that much weight to the front, it just doesn't transfer the weight as well. It pretty much loses its handling characteristics. It'll still hold the road OK, but nothing like it does with the light weight 4 banger sitting up front. Its a trade off, but a worth while trade off IMO.

The frame doesn't need any reinforcing with a LS1 swap. If I were to got that route, I would still do some subframes, torque boxes, etc, but it isn't absolutely necessary. Miatas are pretty stiff stock.

 

My boss has a '99 six speed car that is built and blown(S/C). Its making an estimated 275 RWHP. It's fast, nasty fast. I have driven it. Needless to say he was spent more in mods/labor then he did on the car brand new, and he can't run from a dig. Sure, his power the weight ratio is sweet, but it isn't exactly a 1/4 mile brawler. Its deadly from a roll, and handles well, but I bet low 12's will be a challenge.

As for wanting to mod everything, thats understandable to a point. Might as well pick one car to mod seriously, instead of a few things here and there on different cars.

^ My humble opinion, of course. ^

 

yeah idk about that i should be running mid 13's? haha

and i dont know how you drive that F*cking car, i had to drive one from north jersey south and i couldnt move the seat all the way back and it was just wayyyyyy to small for me. Did nice donuts though haha.

 

^^^ yes they are very small and uncomfortable inside. Plus no cruise control sucks on longer trips. They get good MPG though

 

Just can't be happy with the Mach huh stone?? I def understand it. I have that "problem" too, can't leave anything well enough alone. At least you have a decent platform to start with. The miata and SI should be pretty quick with relatively little work. The Mach speaks for itself.

The only thing I have worth modding really is the wife's durango. And that takes a $5g supecharger and 4.56's to get it to mid-13's Thats pissing in the wind.......

 

I'm a short bastard, lol! My coworker couldn't even get his legs under the dash last Friday, he had to prop his knees against the dash board. The car is still a riot though. Where I work, I have to get off the highway and travel down a couple miles of dirt roads in order to get to the shop. I keep it sideways the whole time. I'm surprised they're not used as rally cars cause it gets sideways and straightens right back up, no problem. I'm talking 60 mph here, on a dirt road. I'll get some vid one of these days and try to post it.

GeeTee, I had an aftermarket cruise put on mine, but it still half *** works. Gas mileage is good around the city, but 4k rpms at 75 mph kinda kills the MPG on the highway.

94BLK, Does his car sit there and spin from a dig? Does he have DRs or street tires?

97, I can't help it man. I gotta be tinkering on something different all the time. I want all three of those cars to be badass. The Miata is definetely the cheapest and easiest to mod. There's really not to much I can't do to it right where it sits. I do need to do one at a time though, lol! A mid 13 second Durango would be sick! Talk about a sleeper.

 

It was dead on with my 11.7. It called for an 11.74@116 I've gone 11.79@118.5

 

LS1s are getting pretty cheap now!!!

 

205 "ultra performance" streeters. Thats as wide as he can go on the stock wheels. Even with drag radials, traction enhancing suspension mods may be hard to come by... It spins all day long.

 

Damn near exact for my car. It spit out 13.65 @ 100.0 mph, and I have run plenty of low 13.6x @ 99-100.

I would think any kind of V8 would completely throw off the weight distribution, thus taking away the entertainment value in the twisties. I would do a small turbo setup, I believe Corky Bell makes a kit for Miatas. (Most turbo guys know the Corky Bell name)

*EDIT*

http://www.bellengineering.net/index.php?cPath=5_11_49

Don't know how much you were looking at spending, but there's all kinds of options ranging from 150 hp to "250+" as it says.