Alright, well since all hope of getting a miata is gone for now (planned to get one, and eventually drop a 5.0 in it), I'm gonna do some mods this christmastime.

I'm thinking exhaust and TLOK/gears will pretty much use up my entire birthday/christmas presnets from my parents (and then some, haha), I figure I'd get it all done at one time. I've got a shop that will do the exhaust for 170 + mufflers I'll bring in, and then I think they can do diffs, so I'd get a TLOK and 3.73's. I really can't afford gas at these prices anyways, so whats 1-2mpg gonna hurt. haha. I'll just cut back one or two trips to the movies every month.

Anyways, do I need the install kit for the gears/tlok, or should the shop have all that crap, and it would be included in the price? The only reason I'm doing this, is because I'm really disappointed in my cars performance, and since I'm stuck with no chance of getting a better car for a long while, I might as well do something to make myself happier with the car, and exhaust and gears, that should definitely make me grin for a week.

So, I figure I'll spend like 250ish for the exhaust total, and then how much can I expect to spend on a TLOK (200 bucks), gears (used or new?), and install for the gears? I'm gonna ask the shop if they'll give me a small discount for doing it all at the same time at their shop.

 

no offense but a miata with a 5.0 or 350 chebby??? make me puke. it would be a nose heavy horrid handling car.

a buick turbo V6 or ford 3.8 with a turbo however would make a Miata a very nice combo.

as for the differential, since you have a 5spd forget the T-lok. it will break on hard launches even at your power level. it will last alittle while but the rear will start to clunk just on slow takeoffs and after hard breaking. that's when the spyders are ready to go. even if you plan on a road course car the T-lok will quickly burn up the clutchpacks. the detroit has none to ever worry about.


if your going to do it just spend the extra money on the detroit truetrac and save money by buying used 3.73's from MPS. Yes you need the full install kit. they are only about $80 from DTS. you will need the 28 tooth black speedo gear from www.steeda.com also.


please take the advise and get the detroit. the ford T-lok will not handle much abuse from a 5spd. if you had an auto it would last longer at a higher power level.

 

+1 Agreed

 

If I put the 5.0 in, I'd make it an all out race car, remove the AC, Power Steering, etc, and lighten the nose up, and get it fairly close to the 50/50 distro is has stock. They really aren't any more nose heavy than a V6 stang, probably less, once you do a little deleting and whatnot.

I'm planning on making this into an autox car. Detroits are like 400 bucks aren't they? So that, plus 160 for gears and install kit, plus 300ish for th einstall, thats lookin at 700ish. I really don't want to spend 700 bucks on my rear end, when 700 bucks would make it handle superb, with front and rear sways, and springs and shocks/struts.
I think I'd benefit more at the moment from suspension than gears.

SO now I guess the question is used wheels and some decent tires, or suspension. My tires are pretty bad. They're Walmart goodyear touring tires, and they're 205's, which is way too damn narrow for the power even the V6's make.

I suppose I'll wait until summer for the rear end, so now its either wheels, or suspension, but I think I may go suspension, because the stock wheels aren't ugly, and 18's just don't look right on a nonlowered car.

 

You need an LS1 to swap into a miata

 

lol. The reason they put 5.0's into them is because they're like a perfect fit. I'd much rather have an LS1 in it, but hey, more work then I'd do when I can get decent performance out of a 5.0 for less work.

 

5.0 in a miata sounds fun

 

I think I'm gonna go suspension, but I was looking around, and I've heard a few people mention conrol arms. Are they worth it? I mean,I'm gonnado sway bars, springs, and shocks, front strut tower brace, subframe bracing, and maybe control arms if they're any good. I'd rather have a well handling car, as compared to gaining like 30hp from the same amount of money.

 

Instead of a Miata buy a cheap 240sx and throw in a 5.0 or LS1. It will look better and you'll have a back seat.

 

Hey instead of any of that, buy a geo metro and put a V12 in it! (Thumbs down!)


We're talking mustangs here. Welcome back to the topic.