This is why people in our town don't make fun of Miatas.

Doesn't look like much, does it? It's probably the biggest sleeper to ever come out of the FM shop. There's a 480 hp V8 under that peeling hood. The kids in our town learned years ago never to mess with Miatas.

The owner is planning on painting it HMMWV desert tan. We've suggested a rollbar-mounted cannon to go along with it.

I love it. Wolf in miata-rat clothing. That flat desert tan will look bada$$. Pics when complete please!

With Falkens! Nah, you won't have any adhesion issues!

Seriously, that's pretty demented. And I mean that in a I'll-gladly-check-myself-into-that-asylum kind of way.

MOAR PICS!!!!!

Unfortunately, we're not going to get to see the final result in person, as this is how it's going back to the customer. And I agree, the Falkens are perhaps in for a rough time of it I don't know what he has planned for the footwear department.

Full build pics: http://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/pi/index.php

Not just Falkens, but Falken 215s. Just how old are those tires?

Ok I own a Miata and out of all of the cars I have owed (yes I have had many...ask the wife.....wait don't ask as it is a "rough" subject) I love the Miata the most.

So I am a big fan to say the least (and yes I am wearing a Miata hat at work right now).

Today I had one of our video editors laugh and say that a Miata isn't a sports car........that had to be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard.

BTW we were looking at a white '90 with 30K miles.....I did try to buy it on the spot.....don't tell the wife.

LSx? What's under the hood?

Coooool! Personally, I wouldn't paint it. I'd drive it as is.

You know the problem with Flyin Miata? No pro-bono work! No charitable Miata donations to those starving and needy for a Miata. Shame.

(my address is on file at GRM if you change your mind. Look under "potential psycho")

alex wrote: LSx? What's under the hood?

Yup, a brand new LS3 with a hot cam from GM Performance Parts. T56 transmission, Getrag rear end and all the stuff in between to make it work out. You know, stuff.

You know the scary thing? I've become blasé to these things. We have two completed ones in the shop right now waiting for their owners and another two currently under construction. Others have been and gone. It's become normal. We were getting Elvis (with a modified LS1) ready for Laguna Seca and I said to Bill, "You know, this is the slowest V8 car we've ever built. But it should still get people's attention with the noise". I've started thinking of that car as slow! Something is wrong with me.

. I've started thinking of that car as slow! Something is wrong with me.

Or maybe something is awesomely right!

Judging by the engine bay, the car was originally...desert pink?

The car was originally black. We painted the engine bay in the desired HMMWV desert tan before the engine went in - the customer provided the paint code. It's a preview of what it'll look like when he's done. The pinkish tinge is just an artifact of the flash, it's not a Land Rover colour

The effectiveness of the end result is going to depend on execution. It could look awesome.

Man, I'm almost tempted to go trolling for Mustangs.

Oh, no, I mean desert pink in the manlyest way. Like these bad boys

.

Maybe talk him into this:

480bhp in a Miata? Sounds underpowered to me .

I love the way it looks now; I'd be tempted to just keep it like that...

LSx miatas, for when you want to measure the life of your street tires in days

so... what're you gonna do for YOU when the GT is done?

so what does a conversion like that COST? Hardly grassroots, methinks...

I'm sure you'll find the cost breakdown on the FM website...

Actually I know that you do as I got stuck on that page when looking for supercharger prices - I'm pretty sure FM used to do those, didn't they?

stroker wrote: so what does a conversion like that COST? Hardly grassroots, methinks...

yes it may not be challenge priced, but I wouldn't be surprised if the owner has less than 12k into the car, including the swap, for something that has about 5 lb/hp and handles like a ...miata.

edit: nevermind, I checked the FM pricing page.

ok, so if you did the work yourself, you could probably replicate it for 12k..

bluej wrote:

stroker wrote: so what does a conversion like that COST? Hardly grassroots, methinks...

yes it may not be challenge priced, but I wouldn't be surprised if the owner has less than 12k into the car, including the swap, for something that has about 5 lb/hp and handles like a ...miata. edit: nevermind, I checked the FM pricing page. ok, so if you did the work yourself, you could probably replicate it for 12k..

I'm pretty sure 12k is a really low guess. An FM turnkey conversion starts at 25k. I think it's worth it, but it's certainly not 12k. http://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/configurator.php

Keith wrote: "You know, this is the slowest V8 car we've ever built. But it should still get people's attention with the noise". I've started thinking of that car as slow! Something is wrong with me.

Just refer to it as "least fast".

In reply to mw:

ok so about 4k for the conversion parts, 4k for a nice drivetrain, and 4k for an already somewhat prepped track rat miata.

like i said, doing the labor yourself and you could probably do it for that much using their kit.

Desert camo? Tire shredding power? I think I like this guy. He has fine taste.

Not grassroots? As long as he's driving it hard, it certainly is grassroots. If he parks it in a garage and does nothing but pose with it and clean it, I could see your point. Grassroots does NOT necessarily mean cheap. Do the best with what you've got and enjoy it at any budget.

So a quick look through the pictures and there looks to only be a little body/transmission tunnel alteration. Only that little "bump", is that right?