Well guys and gals. I have had my 88 4.9 Fiero for several years now and I am now having a V8 Miata built. (5.0 Ford) To see the Fiero, and the Miata build, you can check out the web site at http://home.comcast.net/~bill_1269/site/

When all is said and done I will give an up front assesment of living with the two cars.

Bill Horn

Looking forward to it. I am hoping to get a slightly used Miata by this time next year.

I hope you have better luck than me at updating a blog. Although I have plenty to say, I can't seem to make the time to update mine..


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Check out my web site:
Tallahassee Fiero News
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[This message has been edited by Cheever3000 (edited 12-13-2008).]

you gotta head to head race them!

wow,,i have to scratch my head at this 1,,

Now the ford v8 will walk onthe 4.9 but if the fiero had a 327 or 350 it is any ones game

I kind of agree with Ducattiman. The venerable 4.9 just doesn't have the juice of a modern 5.0

Better talk to PBJT and find out how to give it some breath (HER86GT turbo)

Arn

I've considered a V8 Miata for a long time. I've owned 2 Miata's and they are great little cars, lots of fun to drive. I've built 2 Shelby Cobra replicas, so I know how nice it is to have a V8 in a small, light car.

The reason I'm doing a V8 Fiero is for emission laws. In Ontario we have Driveclean, and any vehicle 1988 or newer has to pass emissions. The oldest Miata is 1990 so it would have to be emissions legal. I know there are ways around it, but for now, a V8 Fiero doesn't have to pass any emissions test (as long as you don't start with an '88). Oh, the Cobras didn't either since they are classed as kitcars.

Rick

If you're going to race on a straight road, the 5.0 Miata wins. But if you're going to race on the curves, the Miata may be too heavy in front to take the curves as well as it did with a lighter engine. The Fiero might have an edge.

ive driven a Monster Miata...
it was very unbalanced with most of the weight in the front compared to the beautifully balanced stock Miata
If you are just wanting a small car with tons of torque and power its perfect then and still a blast to drive.

another Miata Ive driven had a v6 turbo... much better balanced.. the engine's weight actually sat back further
in the car and still used the stock suspension and had a much more usable power band. It didnt have the instant
rush that a v8 has, but after 2500 rpm it made as much or more power - 400 hp peak on pump gas... and got almost
the same gas milage as the 4 banger

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87 Fiero GT 5sp with Vortec L35 4300 Turbocharged V6
Bully Stage 2 clutch
Syclone intake manifold and engine management with Moates adapter and chip burner
Air/water intercooler and Devil's Own progressive water/alky injection
50lb injectors, 3 bar map sensor, Walboro fuel pump and Jabasco Intercooler pump
LM1 wideband on custom manifolds and 3" stainless exhaust system
T31/T04B H3 turbo and a S10 caliper conversion.
Murphy's Constant Matter will be damaged in direct proportion to its value
Murphy's Law of Thermodynamics Things get worse under pressure.
Arthur C. Clarke "Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"

quote Originally posted by vortecfiero: ive driven a Monster Miata... it was very unbalanced with most of the weight in the front compared to the beautifully balanced stock Miata

Flyin' Miata is now making kits for swapping in an LS1 into the Miata. Should take care of that front weight bias thing a little :-)

http://flyinmiata.com/V8/index.php


-jeff d

Always wondered about that. Every since I came across a V8 Miata a while back. I always wondered ...
... Who exactly would be seeing who's taillights?

Good luck with the new project.

Tina

I have driven a Monster done correctly and I found it to be balanced. It must be noted that some of the monsters are thrown together with springs and shocks that are used, beyond their life span. I'm sure that some of us have driven a Fiero that was all over the road (not even a V8) for the same reason, the suspension was toast.

The weigh difference is about 250 lbs, which in the grand sceme of cars is not all that great. Yes, maybe for a track car but when you get to the HP to weight ratio that the car is at, for a street car, you should be able to balance the car for equal weight if you really wanted to. Larger fuel cell, larger battery and tubes of sand in the trunk when all else fails. Then to make up for the weight maybe a little shot of nitros. That could get you close to 50/50 balance.

I went on a parts run to buy some stuff for our Miata and met a guy who has an LS1 in his. it was, for all intents and purposes, a bolt in. It has a slight front bias, at 52.3%. Not bad.

http://home.comcast.net/~npartist/index.html
The site chronicles the entire build in great detail, and includes a bunch of pics. Also vids of the completed car.
Looks like a lot of fun on the autocross course.

Here's his FAQ
http://home.comcast.net/~npartist/faq.html

Edit - A V8 Miata will spank a similarly equipped V8 Fiero, if for no other reason than it's 3-400 lbs lighter.
I'm still considering doing an LS1 in ours.

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Raydar
88 4.9 Formula IMSA Fasback..........................88 3.4 coupe -soon to be something other than red

Read Nealz Nuze! Praise the Lowered!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 12-13-2008).]

quote Originally posted by Raydar: I went on a parts run to buy some stuff for our Miata and met a guy who has an LS1 in his. it was, for all intents and purposes, a bolt in. It has a slight front bias, at 52.3%. Not bad. http://home.comcast.net/~npartist/index.html The site chronicles the entire build in great detail, and includes a bunch of pics. Also vids of the completed car. Looks like a lot of fun on the autocross course. Here's his FAQ http://home.comcast.net/~npartist/faq.html Edit - A V8 Miata will spank a similarly equipped V8 Fiero, if for no other reason than it's 3-400 lbs lighter. I'm still considering doing an LS1 in ours.

And said equiped Miata will likely have a nice strong posi rear and not just smoke one tire! If ya cant put a posi rear behind a V8 why bother?

quote Originally posted by Francis T: And said equiped Miata will likely have a nice strong posi rear and not just smoke one tire! If ya cant put a posi rear behind a V8 why bother?

Agreed, and it's why I put a Torsen in the Getrag of my V8


-jeff d

Here you see a LS1 vs a track miata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyPRDRDYMfo

Bill, good to hear you got the 4.9 running again and are working on the Miata. I check those sites you gave me every once in a while and now have another to add to the list. We might get down your way next year sometime to visit relatives, maybe you will have the Miata done by then.....

Mark

Mark- Great to hear from you! On the road and having fun. Let me know when you are coming down. Do not have an exact date but I hope the middle of January for the Miata. FYI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3bf-k0NsWk&NR=1

When they talk about cones down, in autox they use cones to show the way you are to go.

[This message has been edited by DC88fiero (edited 12-15-2008).]

eh it is ok...I like this one better no offence....
http://globalnetspace.com/miata/

To drive that as a daily driver? Not working for me.

Found this in reference to LS1 on the track.

Review: LS1 powered Miata at Sebring

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Absolutely incredible! I have Tein Flex with 10/6 rates, and left them on full soft since I was on 215 street tires, and all I can say is wow! The car handles better than a stock MSM that I drove recently, which pushed like a plow. Incredible grip, insane power, and driving for dummies control. Even in the tower turn, I could stab the throttle at the apex in 3rd, and it would not get sideways, just grip, and go. It was so awesome having M5's, M3's, 911's, and Vette's wave me by just to name a few. They expect you to be on their ass in the turns but they would do a double take in their mirrors as we would exit the turn and I would be in their back seat I would go through turn 1 at 84-85mph on the GPS, and occasionally it would get a little loose, but a small flick of the wrist and it would straighten up and fly. I had to cut the day short because my CV boots exploded.... Guess ford Explorers rear ends were never meant to travel upwards of 140mph! Anyway, I have newer stronger boots on the way, I will be putting less grease in them, as well as cable ties around each rib to keep them from swelling at extreme speeds. (thanks Nathan)

I just wanted to post this to clear up any doubts about the handling of these cars after the swaps. Everyone I took for laps, and my buddy who I let drive, all said it was pretty much the coolest car they had ever seen. I will not even be wasting money on R-compound tires.... the car had tremendous grip, and I liked being able to slide a little. Not to mention, some of the people I passed came up to me in the pits and almost had a heart attack that I was on them, and the car was that fast"

2/6/09 update
The Miata is running, tires on the car. Several issues of the computer (Ford) not setting the check engine light (that is for the smog gastapo) Several days before it gets on the road.

Bill
New photo's
http://home.comcast.net/~bill_1269/site/

I believe that the V8 Miata will be faster in the 1/4 mile, the 4.9L Fiero faster in the 1/8 mile. As for overall speed and ET, so far the fastest Fieros have been 3800SC's. In theory the V8 should be faster but so far only one V8 Fiero ( and it was a drag only SBC car) has laid down similar times to Don Kraus or Fiero X (Ryan) who run 3800SC's . I wish that some of the guys with LS2 Fieros would start putting down some times as I believe many are curious as to what these cars can do.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

Bill,

Like your blog. You got me hooked looking at that Monster site. Maybe Maybe

Mark

I know this won't be a popular opinion but...you can take a turd, paint it green, polish it till it glows and its still a turd. Miata's are chick cars. My opinion only but to each there own. I have actually only known two guys that owned Miata's along with loads of girls. Those two guys had matching cars, and they were a couple.

I'd build this....


Before I built another miata.

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______________
Chase Wakeham,
Concept Fabrications

quote Originally posted by johnyrottin: I know this won't be a popular opinion but...you can take a turd, paint it green, polish it till it glows and its still a turd. Miata's are chick cars. My opinion only but to each there own. I have actually only known two guys that owned Miata's along with loads of girls. Those two guys had matching cars, and they were a couple.

You know Fieros were considered chick cars in the 80s, right? They also have been on sale for about 5 times longer than the Fiero ever made it. Regardless, I'd take a properly built Monster Miata over a V8 Fiero any day. A proper transmission that won't grenade, a real rear-end with Posi, a purpose-built suspension and all on a car that wasn't built out of the corporate parts bin.

Like I said it is all a matter of opinion. Where I grew up, there were a few girls that had Fieros, one named Melissa...wow...hammer!...oh back to the situatuion at hand. Anyway, a few girls had base model 4 cyls but most owners I knew had 6 cyls and more than 95% (not a scientific survey) of teh people I knew who had them were guys. like I said, it is a matter of preference. Don't like Miatas, never have, never will. I am sure if you but a 350 into a VW ghia it would be a rocket shipe but I still wouldn't. Still a turd. Talk about strange combos...Jimmy DeGiani in my hometown built an AMC Pacer with a blown 327 in it...faster than anything around because it weighed in so rediculously low...still a turd...a polished, shiny blue one to be sure but a turd none the less.

ok 1st comes i love fieros. than comes ehhh i still love it but getting bored with it. than comes i like my fiero but i wana see what else is out there. than comes a miata hahahaha. im kidding iv always liked the miata i had a choice of one before my firo came around but took a firebird insted. good luck dude

quote Originally posted by johnyrottin: Like I said it is all a matter of opinion. Where I grew up, there were a few girls that had Fieros, one named Melissa...wow...hammer!...oh back to the situatuion at hand. Anyway, a few girls had base model 4 cyls but most owners I knew had 6 cyls and more than 95% (not a scientific survey) of teh people I knew who had them were guys. like I said, it is a matter of preference. Don't like Miatas, never have, never will. I am sure if you but a 350 into a VW ghia it would be a rocket shipe but I still wouldn't. Still a turd. Talk about strange combos...Jimmy DeGiani in my hometown built an AMC Pacer with a blown 327 in it...faster than anything around because it weighed in so rediculously low...still a turd...a polished, shiny blue one to be sure but a turd none the less.

People can, and do make the same argument about Fieros. I just say its a matter of opinion. People like different cars. Consequently, more gay people like Miatas than other cars:


You can't argue with the Miata's spot on that list!

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Never knew a list like that existed...I wonder what colors top those charts???? No doubt the Flaming Fusia on that Toyota!

http://www.gay.com/style/au...kage.html?sernum=503

Heh, this thread was just pointed out to me. I'm planning on getting started on a Monster Miata myself in a week or two, provided I find a suitable donor. Here's the thread I started over in T/OT:

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum6/HTML/062545.html

quote I know this won't be a popular opinion but...you can take a turd, paint it green, polish it till it glows and its still a turd. Miata's are chick cars. My opinion only but to each there own. I have actually only known two guys that owned Miata's along with loads of girls. Those two guys had matching cars, and they were a couple.

I never thought I'd see this on a Fiero site. Corvette or Mustang forum? Yes. Fiero? No.

And yet, here it is. It's too funny to me, that someone would avoid a car they may love, just because "people might think they are gay." It's like me not buying my Grand Marquis, because people might think I'm an old lady. Or running out to buy a Dodge Ram to ensure people will know I'm not someone to be messed with, what with my huge equipment and all.

And I would never ride a bicycle, because, you know, someone might think I'm gay (aren't all those bicyclists gay). If I did happen to ride a bicycle, it would have to be a mountain bike, not one of those faggy road bikes. Even though Lance Armstrong nailed Cheryl Crow, everyone knows who he really wanted. Right?

And I would never ride anything other than a Harley, because at least if I'm on a Harley, everyone will know I'm straight. You'll never catch me on a rice burner. The moment those guys turn off their engines, they run inside and orgy.

And you'll never see me in a Jetta anything. Especially a diesel Jetta, you know those tree hugger diesel drivers are all fairies.

Those smart cars? Noooooooowayyyyyy! I can hear the fags running at me now, wanting my number. I'll stick with Hummers....uh, well, you know. The big masculine truck.

Let's also stick with straight clothing. Only dark colors, nothing too tight fitting, lots of big belt buckles. And cowboy hats are always a good sign someone is straight as an arrow. Right?

Basically, we should all take his lead here and make sure we drive nothing but approved transportation devices, lest someone might think we are homos. Which means we should probably sell our cars and shut the forum down. Let's all go buy F-350's (not the faggy 150's) and drive around fully confident in our sexuality. Everyone will know, just by what we drive, that there isn't anyway we are anything but STRAIGHT.

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Spent my days with a woman unkind Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine...

quote Originally posted by joeveto: <snip>

ROFL. Too true. I don't care what people think about my cars. Not One Bit...

quote Originally posted by pswayne: If you're going to race on a straight road, the 5.0 Miata wins. But if you're going to race on the curves, the Miata may be too heavy in front to take the curves as well as it did with a lighter engine. The Fiero might have an edge.

Time to think outside the box. Here is an MX5 owned by my old neighbours brother. Built for under $10K. Which is good when you consider an old MX5 sells for that here. He started with a wreck and 4.0 litre Lexus V8. Over here there is no way you are allowed to put a V8 in an MX5 with a standard chassis. It is just not strong enough, period. We have tough engineering laws, but it makes for safely engineered cars. Well over engineered in many cases, but that is better than a car twistng and breaking.

I notice a lot of the USA V8 Miatas have no real chassis strengthening. They might appear to be ok, but wait until one has an accident and its undectable to the eye stress points come into play.

So this one has the 4.0 litre V8 and a Limited Slip 9" diff. Built on a full chassis. He built it for the road but it is a demon on the track. Future plans include twin turbos.

quote Originally posted by AusFiero: Over here there is no way you are allowed to put a V8 in an MX5 with a standard chassis. It is just not strong enough, period. I notice a lot of the USA V8 Miatas have no real chassis strengthening. They might appear to be ok, but wait until one has an accident and its undectable to the eye stress points come into play.

Watch this video from about 4:45-5:40

Monster Miata has been putting V8s into Miatas since 1991 with many original examples still on the road and there's been no problems with "undectable to the eye stress points come[ing] into play."

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-09-2009).]

See, I knew someone would take it the wrong way. Let me rephrase this...I don't like them. They may be fun to drive, they may be fast with V8s in them. They may even be faster and better handling than a comparably equipeed Fiero. They may be faster than a Bugatti, Ferrari, or Lambo, but I still don't like them. Man, a person can't even have an opinion if it differs from someone elses without them being offended.

And then you do exactly the same thing you profess to detest by slamming another type carowners forum? Really? Why would you see that on a Mustang forum? Read the context, it was factual and not opinionated. Fact is that those people owned them. Nice people no less but there orientation was what it was. It doesn't make me like them less and it doesn't make me like them more. I am sure there are different orientations that enjoy italian sportscars as well...doesn't make me like or dislike them, except the Jalpa...can't seem to wrap my head around that one.

[This message has been edited by johnyrottin (edited 02-09-2009).]

quote Originally posted by johnyrottin: See, I knew someone would take it the wrong way ... Man, a person can't even have an opinion if it differs from someone elses without them being offended.

Ahem, I believe your exact words were:

"Miata's are chick cars."

and

"I have actually only known two guys that owned Miata's along with loads of girls. Those two guys had matching cars, and they were a couple."

There is a difference between an opinion and an insult. Your opinion was that you "don't like them". Your insult was that "they are only girl's or gay guy's cars."

[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 02-09-2009).]

Okay you got me...I did call them chick cars...but I did relate that to the fact that I have only known girls that owned them, with the exception of the other two. Also, I am not ridiculing them on their choice of car but good point to call me out on that. Let me fix my statement...I don't like them. If you want the reasons then you can refer to the above but you're right, I shouldn't clasify the type of person that drives the car as only that. Of course there are others that drive these cars. Hell, I remember reading about the monster miata in some car magazine. We all know it would be fast and it might handle ( i don't know about the handling) but, like always someone slams someone if their opinions differ regardless of reason. Like the truck posts where they say vehicles are getting to f-----ing big! No, its because people are getting too f---ing careless! But if you don't agree...god help you.

[This message has been edited by johnyrottin (edited 02-09-2009).]