Looks like there's a V8 over on the right that would fit!
After a flawless endurance race, our project turbo Miata blew its engine with the most inconvenient timing: while being moved between shops during our pre-race prep. That next race takes place this Saturday.
We diagnosed the problem as a failed turbo oil feed line, and started prepping our spare engine for installation. Oops: One look at the engine, which had been sitting in the back of a shed for years, and we realized it was a 1.6-liter Miata engine. Besides being down on displacement, few of our existing accessories would bolt on. So we started searching for a replacement. Fortunately, we didn’t have to search hard: Treasure Coast Miata had a good used 1.8-liter Miata engine in stock, and we had it the very same day.
Check out the slideshow for a step-by-step of the engine replacement. After a few nights in the garage, our Miata is back up and running. We haven’t had a chance to do any on-track testing, though, so we’re going into Daytona blind. Wish us luck on Saturday!
Watch the pages of Grassroots Motorsports for the full project car series. Subscriptions start at just $10.
Looks like there's a V8 over on the right that would fit!
Might take a little longer to install.
Has anyone stuck a Rover V8 in a Miata?
Keith Tanner wrote: Might take a little longer to install.
Eh, just line it up, set it in there and wiggle until it fits, right? 
rslifkin wrote:Keith Tanner wrote: Might take a little longer to install.Eh, just line it up, set it in there and wiggle until it fits, right?
That's what SHE said! Wooo!
dean1484 wrote: Has anyone stuck a Rover V8 in a Miata?
Oh yes. Not so often in the US, but there are a few in the UK.
In reply to dean1484:
The president of my local Miata club owns a Buick or Olds 215 powered NA . The engine was a NOS unit, squirreled away in someone's garage before being installed in the Miata
Keith Tanner for the Win!!!
I have a '94 NA8 with about 200,000 on it, it was slightly overheated leading to some white smoke. Put a new headgasket on with new bolts, lasted about a month before it started puffing again, and I pulled it. Crank has been JB welded to fix a key way issue. I will let it go pretty cheap.
dean1484 wrote: Has anyone stuck a Rover V8 in a Miata?
There is a Jaguar V12 powered Miata running around in Australia
So, what happened at Daytona? Did the new motor fail or was it something else?
frenchyd wrote:dean1484 wrote: Has anyone stuck a Rover V8 in a Miata?There is a Jaguar V12 powered Miata running around in Australia
I thought it was in the US. That's the one that keeps changing hands because nobody can really make it work, right? :)
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