hello from the us. i built a ls1 mx 5

be good · Post by **be good** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:01 pm

hello everyone. my name is Johnny, i'm from chicago. i stumbled across your forum wile mindlessly searching threw google. i too have a v8 car in the form of a mx-5 that i swapped a corvette motor into (ls1). i hope you guys don't mind me sharing my build.

^ the day i got the car. i bought a 1999 miata ith 250,000 miles, and a blown motor.

i ordered this bad boy. a built, dual syncro t-56

the ls1 in question

while i waited for my car to be ready i used my race seat to play video games.

building custom gauges

this is how they came out

be good · Post by **be good** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:17 pm

the full build and my race results are on my web sight www.johnnycichowski.com

Not bad! Rpm, oil temp, water temp, oil pressure, and fuel gauge. only what i need. I'll need to do something about the wheel. I'm thinking Nardi.....

Building race cars = a big mess.
see my championship winning 1.6l miata in the background. (with white wheels)

Diff came in!! I went with a factory replacement. with the small wheels I'll be running this should have no issues locking up.

I cheated and went the easy way out with a new harness

before

After!
Seam welded. You can really fell the transitions allot better without all that glue holding the car together.

Another example of my crap welding.

BIG stoppers for my little car

stance is a local company so if i need to change spring rates or valving i can just stop on buy. i actualy went to a 10k 8k spring rate after my first track event.

more pics of my mess

my tiny wheels next to my wife's wheels. she has the red 350z

they don't make big tires for 15" wheels so i had to go super sticky tiny wheels.

prep for paint

got the motor in there

new 1/2 cage

new sub frame

got it swapped. took me about 20 min to swap everything

be good · Post by **be good** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:27 pm

new rad

300% larger

mmmm fancy!!

pulled the motor for the new camshaft

new diff mounts. i use the differential from a 1987 thunderbird with a rod racing lsd

looking like a car somehow

that's a big green bumper!!

first start up

be good · Post by **be good** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:29 pm

this is the finished product. i have more videos and event results on my web page www.johnnycichowski.com

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:49 pm

OH MY!!
What a build Johnny.
Respect

BMWE36V8 · Post by **BMWE36V8** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:04 pm

Thats Awesome...!!!!!!

I love it, got any video's of it in action..??

be good · Post by **be good** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 1:56 am

yep i got a lot! i'm youtube i'm begoodchopshop. or i post them to my websight www.johnnycichowski.com

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:57 pm

Excellent !!

Ive seen a few V8 conversions before, but most seemed to chop the bulkhead quite a bit. You dont seem to have done that ? Is there much room for the V8 in there ?

Must be pretty hot to drive !

JJMclure · Post by **JJMclure** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:13 pm

nice, what wilwood calipers are those?