This 1990 Mazda Miata is for sale in Athens, Georgia with an asking price of $12,500. Under the hood sits a 3.2 L J32 V6 from an Acura 3.2 TL Type-S which produces 280 horsepower. The car was built by Super Fast Miatas using one of their Honda J-series V6 swap kits. Other upgrades include 3.3 LSD rear end, upgraded coilovers, and Wilwood disc brakes up front.
Source: Craigslist (click here if ad disappears) via Mini Tec
Stupid. Same weight and cost as an LS but less power.
There’s more characteristics that people are interested in than total hp.
And some might also consider 280hp plenty in a Miata.
Less weight than the LS
Claimed only 9 lbs more than stock Miata!
But I weighted my Odyssey motor – to be about 20 Lbs heavier
LS motor will be at least 100 lbs heavier than stock Miata!
Plus you can convert back to original if you wanted, not sure why?
The LS conversion involve more cutting and cost a lot more (to build) – in parts- complete different transmission and Diff.
As this conversion kept all Miata components.
250-280 is plenty for a 2300 lbs car.
That’s less than 10:1 power to weight ratio
Thanks Dennis for explaining the benefits.
Ha, ha, because I’m buying it
I was planning on building one, but after looked at what the car already had and how much all the parts will cost
This is less headache and cheaper and already running! And I know Honda (Acura) is very reliable and easy to maintain- I had two S2000s in the past (I was actually the funder of the Atlanta S2000 club)
Take it from me, I was building a Porsche 914 with JDM Ej20K Sti motor – Complete stripped the car on a rotisserie.
Brand new 911 and after market (coil-over) suspension and Boxster brakes (911 rear E-brake system), Spherical bushings on all 4 corners, Roll-cage, Cam adjustable plate over front coils,Digital display, and LED lights (headlights) – Already spent over $50K and now the project stopped because of wiring issue ;-(
This was a 5 years plus project that gave me so much stress! But I’m determined to finish it one day
Much easier to just buy one that’s already completed build and enjoy it!
You don’t need tons of Hp with light weight car.
They are easy on the suspensions, brakes, and tires as well.
I’m also currently building a Fiat 850 Spider into a Speedster (chopped windshield, no top or windows) with tubular chassis with Miata suspensions and will drop in a Haybusa motor hook up with Miata LSD Diff at the rear (Mid-engine configuration)
Hoping to be at around 1000 pounds weight and 200 Hp first before slap on a turbo
Wow those are some amazing projects! Do you have a build thread or project website?
It’s got VTEC bro!
None were finished or completed, that’s way I jumped on this one.
Just picked up today! The car is sweet!
Not super monster power, but enough for this little car – And felt like the combination of my Modified VW TDi (Torque) and S2000 high rev – Well, It revs over 7000 pretty quickly. But cursing at 2500 or lower is much better than my 97 1.8 Miata.
I’ve really pushing it, Need to look at the oil pan and want to add a skid plate under the motor – just like on my TDi
The power is so smooth and linear – I love it! not as exciting as the S2000, but tire spinning low end torque really makes up on the street (I love my S2000 on the track, but hesitate to rev the motor on the street makes people think I want to race them or something?
Here is some pictures of the Porsche 914
And there are many other albums in there – check to your left side for other albums The only project I didn’t have photo online is the Fiat/Miata Speedster.
http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/hsus2k/library/1974%20Porsche%20914/2014%20-%20Painted%20SPA%20yellow%20-%20Work%20from%20Paul
Its come a long way. It will be really something when done.
Sorry, can’t type or spell
I Have NOT yet pushing the JV6 Miata yet!
just little tires spinning and did a few high rev 1st and 2nd gear change – Looks like this car likes in 3rd gear (and 2nd) – almost like my VW TDi on the street. Enough torque, I can just stay in 3rd and let it slow down and hit the gas and go! (almost like an automatic)
I think I went 80 mph on 2nd? definitely over 60 mph in 2nd – And again the power is SMOOTH! not turbo lag or a small VTEC kicks (supposedly This J32A2 is a VTEC Type S engine, but nothing like the S2000 VTEC kicks – But when you push the pedal the car will MOVE! and pushes you back in the seat (not head snapping fast – Have not push the car to the limit yet)
Have not dump the clutch on this car yet, and probably will not until I got more familiar with the car first first (and put in a racing clutch when I’m ready) currently just a 3 years old Honda clutch? or pressure plate? Have get more info from Superfastmiatas
It sounds like you are having fun driving it. Personally I would prefer more bottom-end torque in daily driving as well.
That was the reason I got rid of the S2000 and got the VW TDi to play with (WVO)- Waste Vegetable Oil – Yes, My TDi ran WVO for over 4 years! and smell much better than the pump Diesel
But when half way thru the project, couldn’t find a transmission with the right gearing for track – So, kept the car for street , because it still get great mileage and still fun at stop light to stop light (no body and touch me from 0-40! but once they pick up speed – my TDi econo tranny fails me!
So, I started the Porsche/ Subaru Project – needing to go back on the track! (and still have fun on the street with A/C) to have more torque and enough Hp – Using JDM STi EJ20K motor – hoping to get 280-300 Hp and over 250 ft-# torque (weighs 2000 lbs with all the fiberglass doors, hood, trunk and bumpers)
But unfortunately the project currently ran out money and wiring issue (need more money to get it running!)
This Miata IS fun! very light and easy to toss around and nothing like the snapping over steer – That’s how I totaled my 1st S2000! I am loving it, and none of the stress still working on Projects!
Nice car, great price!
May I ask what wheel and tire size is on there? Any rub?
Thanks
I will be putting one of these kits in my mk1 in the UK. Will be the first over here. In fact I’ve had the engine and kit sitting here for almost a year while I save up.
The main benefits of this kit are: No turbo lag, no supercharger set up issues, barely any extra weight, engine sits further back than OEM as its one cylinder shorter, good noise, sensible fuel, keeps lovely original gearbox, you can keep to a miata 3.6 Torsen diff, so costs are lower.
Make sure you get the 260bhp J32A import or J32A engine for best power to weight. I also added ported runners, Holley plenum, 90mm throttle with custom adaptor from P2R. Large bore header, 3″ full system and AEM2 should push it over 320bhp.
Have fun all 🙂