Heh, I'll pass. :) One underwater basketcase is enough! I suppose, but If it hasn't exploded in 60k miles, it's quite likely (assuming the compression numbers support it) that it'll go another 60. That's how I think of it when I look at used motors. It's the "fresh rebuild - 0 miles" ones that scare me. Same as a "built motor' with a huge nitrous kit on it and "never been sprayed"... makes you wonder WHY.
I started the 5.0 Monster Miata bit too, before I did the FC/LT1. You can find smoking deals... I sold it all for a large profit, funny enough: $500 - 89 Mustang GT complete, front end hit, running and driving (sold shell for $400, sold motor/tranny/PCM/wiring later for $600) [ebay - Detroit and towed home] $200 - 94 (?) Explorer 5.0, with GT40 intake and heads.. - Sold for $225 later [CL locally] $1550 - 92 (IIRC) Miata, with 'bad crank' (was the crank key, fell out and pulley fell off) - sold hardtop ($800) snow tires ($100), and car ($2000) [Miata.net - had it shipped] $500 - 91 junker Miata - parted out and broke even - $500 [CL Ann Arbor, towed home] $75 - 7.5" IRS with axles, open diffy [LKQ local junkyard] $50 - 7.5" locker diffy [LKQ local junkyard] So I spent $2875, and sold it all for $4625 (and I kept the 7.5" IRS, just in case I need it.. heh). Figure that plus teh kit, you'd be well under the $10k. I did it the same way you are, CL, ebay, local junkyard for the IRS, etc.. deals are out there if you are not in a hurry. The profits paid for the first FC/LT1 which was ~$3500 completed (not including suspension and rims/tires which were upgrades). The FC Vert is probably $10-12k right now, and I hope to maybe get $7500-8000 for it next year if I am lucky. The market is crap for a car like that right now. :( I remember the good ole days of a FM2 Miata fetching $13k+ (my first one was $13.5 and it was just FM2 + Koni Yellows + HD rollbar), you can't give them away at $8-9k anymore with full suspension and related upgrades. The LSx swap is damned expensive, and believe me, I wish it was cheaper. If you use a kit, I don't think you can do it for under $10-12k plus car once you add up all the crap you need. If you fab it yourself, it gets much cheaper but the time increases exponentially. I weighed the potential cost of $15k against what else I could buy that would perform similarly, and there really isn't much out there. the other option I seriously considered was a built Cobra kit but it was more money ($25k min I figure), plus no softtop for daily driving in Michigan. So, while pricey, an LSx powered Miata really is one helluva package for the money. You pay more than the 5.0 swap, but you get a lot more HP out of the box, a lot newer technology on the motor, 6 speed tranny, and a host of other things. Heck, that 89 GT I had was less HP stock than the turbo 1.6 the car has now. ;) Still nothing to sneeze at - V8 torque rocks. Wallyman derf <[email protected]> 11/13/2010 12:07 PM To [email protected] cc [email protected] Subject Re: Help with parts pricing, please? You can strip the shell and give it a sort of baptism in water somewhere. I, personally, might pay good money for a used FM kit and all the extras. But, a motor, no matter how well built is YOUR motor. All the important bits that give clues about strength, stamina, and longevity are hidden inside. You can inspect a turbo, and other parts. But the motor..........................it could easily go another 100k miles. Or, it could throw a rod next week. You will probably end up getting a high to fair price for the FM kit and almost giving the motor away to the same buyer. I'm collecting bits to do a 5.0 swap. My entire stage one budget will probably come in under what you paid for your V8 package, though. We tite around here. Most likely it will end up around the $10k mark, but I'm taking my time and finding deals on pieces here and there. I found a 96 roller, though, so I don't have to use my 94. The plan was to wait for the 94 to break and install clutch and supercharger, but three years and counting is a long time to wait for something to break. The Autorotor and cold side intake are sitting in the box drawing unemployment.
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