Shot out of a Canon today

Nicad

Nicad

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I had the most intense moment in a Car so far today. Morning started off smoothly enough as I drove my 1999 Miata out of town to a specialist shop to get a new convertible top put on. Perfect Sunny, slightly cool weather. While there I was having a nice time talking to the owner of the shop and his mechanic about my car, Miatas, tires,etc. I then noticed that his Miata was parked beside mine. I hadn't noticed much about it other than it had fatter tires. I assumed it was a boosted Turbo Miata, which I know he has dabbled in. He lifted the hood and I found out it was an LS3 Corvette powered Miata. Beautiful installation. The car weighs 200 pounds more than a stock Miata, but has the exact same weight distribution. It has Wilwood brakes, Sparco seats, Roll bar, Cadillac CTS rear end and a lot of additional bracing underneath. For suspension he was running AST adjustable shocks with 700 pound springs up front.


Since this garage is located about 35 miles from my house, he offered to drive me to the commuter train to get home. The car drives amazingly well. Totally smooth, fantastic ride, tight. Just like a Miata with additional rumbling soundtrack. He got around a few slower moving cars instantly. The car just pins you. I thought all was fine till he turns down a completely open industrial road that appears to go on for about a mile. Straight, no cars, flat.
Once pointed straight and in second gear, he hits the gas and I just became part of the seat and remained pinned till we were going so fast I could barely see. All I could think of was my kids…Paul Walker… please let me LIVE!! I think we must have hit 5th gear. My speed guesstimate is ??

Anyway nothing bad happened. I could barely talk when he dropped me off at the station. Could just mutter….Thanks Man


Note: 480 HP with I think around the same amount of torque
 
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Hi Gary, yes your car would run better with an LS3! The owner told me that on the highway it gets 30 MPG at speed turning 1800 RPM in sixth. My stock Miata gets around 28 MPG on the highway. Maybe I can coax it to 30 by going a bit slower. Quite an amazing engine the LS V-8.
I would find it way too fast to be fun though. What I really like about the Miata is you can drive it with anger around town. 50 more HP would be better though. Many years ago I produced a video segment on the Monster Miata when it was a current car and got to drive it. The 225 HP Ford V-8 in a Miata is still probably the fastest car I have driven. This 6.3 litre all aluminum Chevy engine is a whole other beast though.
 
I think you would be surprised how quickly you would "adapt" (yea, that's it) to that power after driving it a couple of weeks. And its not a bad thing that your car can scare you every once in awhile. Keeps you young and alert!
 
Miata V8

Ever since I saw Stacey David's "Gearz" episode a couple years ago on this subject, I thought that a V8 Miata would be my next project.......Black primer/sleeper. At the rate I'm going on the coupe, gas may not be available by the time I'm ready to tackle it.

Check out- http://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/
 
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