S2000 with a supercharger.
S2000 with a supercharger.
You folks are going to enjoy the May issue of GRM. There's a feature on a V8 Solstice and a guide to LS V8s as swap candidates for you to enjoy.
After driving a few V8 Miatas, a few Solstice/Sky samples (not V8s) and a few Corvettes, I'd nominate an NB Miata as my ideal candidate. A brand new Corvette probably wouldn't make me cry either, so any of them would be a pretty sweet arrangement.
I think the swapped Miata would be significantly cheaper than a swapped Solstice. Add in the fact that the Miata has a trunk, and that the swap affects weight distribution far less (Keith probably has exact numbers, but IIRC the V8 swaps from Flyin Miata are like 52% 48% rear; it's still a remarkably well balanced car.) and that you'll be able to reach the window controls without having T-rex arms, it's a pretty easy pick in my book.
In reply to Tom Heath:
Yeah, the issue showed up in my mailbox last night, looking forward to reading through it.
Tom Heath wrote: ...and that you'll be able to reach the window controls without having T-rex arms, it's a pretty easy pick in my book.
I hated that. And the worst part is there were other open areas they could have mounted them.
I personally think a V-8 TVR is a better idea than both of those.
V-8 MG for me please.
In reply to Tom Heath:
I loved that guide to the LS V8's...
LSx in a 951. Oh wait, I have one of those in my garage...
Between those two choices I'd like a NB Miata over a Solstice any day. Solstices (solsti?) make me laugh - they look like cartoon cars to me. Do not want to own one or even drive one.
Haven't done more than skim through the latest issue.
T.J. wrote: ...Solstices (solsti?) make me laugh - they look like cartoon cars to me.
Tom Heath wrote: You folks are going to enjoy the May issue of GRM. There's a feature on a V8 Solstice and a guide to LS V8s as swap candidates for you to enjoy.
Ha! How timely... mine just came today. I'll assume this thread was started by someone earlier in the delivery cycle.
Miata, the Solstice looks awful to me.
Though quite honestly... i'd rather have neither with a V8.
Solstice, assuming I can get the hardtop they made for about 20 minutes.
I'll deal with the typical GM panel fitment...
I'm not sure which would be better in the end... It's like asking what flavor of awesome you want.
Assuming the engine is roughly the same on either example in the end, then it would depend entirely on the resulting balance and poise of the chassis. If the Miata still felt like a Miata, and the Solstice still felt like a Solstice, it'd be the Miata. However, if the additional power/weight made the Miata twitchy and the Solstice went from semi-frumpy to lively, then I'd have to say Solstice.
Definitely the Miata. I don't fit in a Solstice/Sky. Tried them when they first came out and was banging my elbows on everything. But I have no problems dirving my friend's NA Miata.
What kind of V8? A Ford 302 in a Miata versus a 540 crate motor in the Pontiac?
Cost no object, I would want a 2011 MX5 with stock hood hiding the V-8 from the new McClaren. 
bravenrace wrote:T.J. wrote: ...Solstices (solsti?) make me laugh - they look like cartoon cars to me.
My Internet fu is failing me at the moment but I think that is modeled after a Jag, bu tI can not find it at the moment.
As for the question at hand, if I had to choose I would go with either a hardtop Solstice or a Sky but I perfer to leave either with the turbo 4. So if it had to be a V8 I would go Miata.
In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:
I didn't mean to imply that it was supposed to be a Solstice, but it doesn't look all that different either.
In reply to bravenrace:
I did not mean to imply that you had, sorry. Just frustrated that I can not remember what car it looks like.
I'll take the V8 Corvette
In reply to Tom Heath:
I read the article, and was both impressed and disappointed. Sure, the car came out killer and looks very factory, but it doesn't seem very GRM to me. Drop the car off with a pro and a large bucket of money, and voila, instant hot rod. Not really the GRM philosophy, at least as voiced by this board.
I own a 5.0 powered Miata, and I am building a pair of LS1 powered Miatas. The V8 Miata still feels like a Miata, just with more power. With the addition of a roll bar the weight balance is close to 1% nose heavy. Not too much off of stock. The car gained less than 200 lbs.
The LS1 should be lighter than my Ford powered one, so I expect they will feel even more Miata like than my Monster. I haven't spent any seat time in a Sky/ or Solstice, but having worked on several newer V8 Gm cars that came that way from the factory, I can say that it is easier to work on either engine in the Miata than the engine compartments that GM designed!
The other non-monetary factor to consider (at least where I live) is emissions testing. I am not sure that I could license an OBD2 car with this kind of swap. There aren't any OBD1 or earlier Solstices.
Hotlinked FTW:
FDs really are pretty cars...{wistful stare}
EDIT: Do I see skinnies up front on that S2k? Why go through all the effort of putting an LSn in an S2k to just go in a straight line? Aren't there other, lighter chassis that it would be significantly cheaper/easier to drop that motor in?
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