MX-5 engine

[Glenn]

There's been talk in the past here of putting an MX5 engine into a Bellett.

Here's almost the opposite....... a Corvette LS3 v8 of 525hp into a MX-5.

This is a very professional high dollar job, all new parts etc. Interesting part is that the front to rear balance is almost unaltered from the original engine.

http://www.v8mazda.com/photo_video_updates.html

[Farmer]

Manic! That would require traction control I reckon, or a front diff!
Matt.

[Glenn]

Manic! That would require traction control I reckon, or a front diff!
Matt.

Not sure if the MX5 has any electronic traction aids but the guy put everything back that it had. The rear end was replaced with 3.43 diff from a Cadillac CTS i think it is. Plus a kit to fit that. Front end is a tubular adapter. Has coil overs all round and plenty of trick stuff. 0-100k in 4.1, standing 1/4 in low 11's. He doesn't seem to indicate there are any traction issues.

Appears he was given most of the stuff by Summit racing who make kits for various implants into MX5. It actually started out as a turbo'd MX5.

[Glenn]

just found out the cost for this conversion on a drive in, drive out basis, US$50k !

I think there used to be a mob in QLD that did a conversion using the Lexus V8. Are they still doing it?

[Stickman]

That was "Bullet" at Yatala near the Gold Coast.
Still around as a performance parts supplier but no longer build the Bullet Roadster based on Mazda Mx5's.
One of my mates worked there for a couple of years before going to work in the mines.
They started out firstly with a 13B rotory conversion for the first couple of years then moved onto V8 options.
The first ones were full Mazda MX5 bodies from the fire wall back with custom front chassis running Mazda RX7 motor & brakes and modified front end (guards, bonnet etc)
Once they moved into the V8's they put a whole new space frame chassis under the Mazda body shell.
Initially the Rover 4.6ltr (out of the TVR) then the Toyota 1UZFE (initially std then later supercharged) They also did a few special order supercharged Ford 5.0ltr V8's (same as in the Mustang) and a couple that went to NZ got 20B triple rotors in them (one of those has since been upgraded to a 26B quad rotor with over 600hp)

Rumor had it in 2010 that they were ditching the MX5 bodied roadsters and were going to build their own designed Australian build supercar...... but that was then and not sure if that ever came to fruition

[Glenn]

That was "Bullet" at Yatala near the Gold Coast.
Still around as a performance parts supplier but no longer build the Bullet Roadster based on Mazda Mx5's.
One of my mates worked there for a couple of years before going to work in the mines.
They started out firstly with a 13B rotory conversion for the first couple of years then moved onto V8 options.
The first ones were full Mazda MX5 bodies from the fire wall back with custom front chassis running Mazda RX7 motor & brakes and modified front end (guards, bonnet etc)
Once they moved into the V8's they put a whole new space frame chassis under the Mazda body shell.
Initially the Rover 4.6ltr (out of the TVR) then the Toyota 1UZFE (initially std then later supercharged) They also did a few special order supercharged Ford 5.0ltr V8's (same as in the Mustang) and a couple that went to NZ got 20B triple rotors in them (one of those has since been upgraded to a 26B quad rotor with over 600hp)

Rumor had it in 2010 that they were ditching the MX5 bodied roadsters and were going to build their own designed Australian build supercar...... but that was then and not sure if that ever came to fruition

ah yes that brings back the memory cells again. I think they were featured in one the Car Mags too at that time and i recall the whole front end re-build.

doing an Oz supercar though is a path to destruction. many have tried, about the best at least in terms of numbers, was the Bolwell.