Coming to track near you in 2014...

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:59 pm

A few of you know about this already, but for those who don't, take a look at a couple of project pics on Kendt's project we are calling the Miata MX-5.0. We have been working on this off and on for the past couple of months and yesterday we made it to the engine/tranmission fit-up stage. I can definitely say putting an engine and transmission already mounted to the front subframe from below is much easier than the alternative.

The 302 fits like a glove and it's going to be a beast. Stay tuned...

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

It's going to be vinyl wrapped using a Hawaiian shirt print, right?

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:27 pm

VK is becoming quite the specialist with putting 5.0s in Japanese cars. I expect the Prelude to have a transverse mounted one next year.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:49 pm

clinehall wrote:

VK is becoming quite the specialist with putting 5.0s in Japanese cars. I expect the Prelude to have a transverse mounted one next year.

In some ways it was actually easier on the 500SX even though the Miata swap is more well documented. On the Miata the subframe and oil pan each have to be modified and on the Nissan both were re-used with no modifications.

It's a long way from done, but the Miata will will be streetable when finished.

Mark Barnes · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2013 3:44 pm

Looks good. Valve covers are on the wrong sides though.... unless they are supposed to be that way.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2013 3:46 pm

Mark Barnes wrote:

Looks good. Valve covers are on the wrong sides though.... unless they are supposed to be that way.

The engine came to us that way, but those are the wrong size (too short for the rockers w/o using a double gasket) so they will be coming off once it's done. Their replacements will have some Ford Racing bling.

Mark Barnes · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:15 pm

You must have some fancy camshaft or rocker arms in that thing. My Ford Racing crate motor worked with those same valve covers. I had to remove the really nice "Boss 302" valve covers that came with the engine because they will not fit under the intake manifold (even with a spacer but a taller spacer might work. Hood might not then...).

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=9837

Sell them to you.... one of these days they are going on Ebay.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:27 pm

Mark Barnes wrote:

You must have some fancy camshaft or rocker arms in that thing.

This ain't no stock 302. :twisted:

The Edelbrock aluminum heads were professionally ported in addition to internal goodies. With the lightweight of a Miata, yeah, it's going to be fun.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Sat Nov 30, 2013 4:32 pm

I smell a sunbeam tiger. I am curious to see if it cna put power down.

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