Parts for the V-8 Miata ConversionI've been researching and accumulating the necessary parts for the V-8 conversion for nearly two years. I probably have about 80% of everything needed at this point, and am beginning work on sub-assemblies. Some of the parts I've chosen are shown below, divided out into service groups.Rear axle assemblyThe rear drive system is based on a Lincoln Mark VIII/Ford 8.8" IRS assembly. The differential housing is aluminum, bead-blasted and clear-coated. All bearings and seals have been replaced. 3.27 Ford gears were installed, along with a Zexel Torsen gear-drive limited slip unit, the T2-R high bias racing version. CV axle assemblies are based on Ford T-Bird units, with custom, shortened connecting shafts from Panache and special outer CV boots for shock absorber clearance. The stock Miata hubs were rebroached to fit the Ford axles. New Mazda rear wheel bearings, MazdaSpeed heavy-duty wheel studs, and all grade 8 hardware insure durability. MazdaSpeed 40% durometer carrier mounting bushings and polyurethane front diff housing bushings will improve control of the housing under high torque loads. The rear differential hanger and front torque plate were also fabricated by Panache in San Marcos, CA. Braking systemThe added performance potential of the car with 4 times the original HP and torque requires the best in braking systems. Discs are Wilwood Racing 11" ventilated rotors with Wilwood Dynalite front brake calipers and bigger, RX-7 rear calipers. A Wilwood adjustable brake proportioning system will be used to balance the system. Installation of these Wilwood components is possible due to the custom, "big brake" kit from Panache, which includes custom-machined, lightweight anodized aluminum alloy rotor hats and mounting brackets, plus all hardware. Hawk HPS pads will be employed, as well as MazdaSpeed braided stainless steel brake lines at all four corners. A new Mazda 929 power brake booster and master cylinder will ensure powerful braking with minimal driver effort. When the great brakes make the owner overconfident, the air horns warn other drivers of impending doom.Electronic engine controlsFord Racing Performance Products supplied the main EEC-IV computer wiring harness, the engine harnesses, sensors and relays package, and speed sensor connector harness. Mass air meter and air filter are Pro-M 80mm. SIA Electronics furnished the refurbished and reprogrammed engine control computer. Hidden at the left edge of the main wiring harness (it rolled off of the bubble wrap bag before the photo) is a genuine Honda S2000 "Start Engine" push-button switch to "set the mood."Oil, Cooling, and Fuel groupAeromotive anodized billet pieces include high-volume fuel rails, in-line fuel filter, and remote-mount fuel pressure regulator. Large fuel cooler is for return fuel line, will be mounted ahead of radiator. 32 lb/hr. fuel injectors are a /- 3% matched set from Accel, Bosch type design. Fuel pump is a 255 LPH Walbro high pressure model with Miata mounting kit. Oil filter sandwich adapter will allow adding a remote oil cooler and 3 quart oil accumulator. Blue HD silicone hoses kit from FRPP. Summit Racing provided two chrome brackets for routing hoses. Moroso 3 quart oil accumulator, remote solenoid valve, and mounting brackets assure that engine will always have oil, and that oil pressure will always be supplied to the engine prior to starting. Suspension and SteeringNew, complete, manual rack and pinion assembly. Racing Beat sway bar system including tubular front bar, solid rear bar, HD chassis brace, all polyurethane bushings, heim joint sway bar links, new upper control arms with ball joints, KYB AGX adjustable shocks, Ground Control adjustable coilovers with Eibach racing springs, new front hubs with wheel bearings, four 40% durometer upper shock mounts from MazdaSpeed. Heavy-duty steering alignment bolts and cams from MazdaSpeed. New shock boots with bump stops will be trimmed to fit the AGX shocks. Complete car set (28) of MazdaSpeed 40% hardness suspension bushings.General InteriorInterior is highlighted by custom Katskinz leather seat covers, solid black leather with perforated yellow leather center inserts. "Cobra V8" insignia is embroidered just below headrest. All seams are double-stitched in matching sunrise yellow thread for accent. Matching leather door panels have same highlight stitching. RCI seat harnesses are employed. Both seats will have inflatable, adjustable lumbar supports and dual-stage seat heaters. 11 Autometer Carbon Fiber gauges keep tabs on everything. Empty Autometer box in picture is for the differential oil temperature gauge; it was sent back to Autometer to have special, custom 10 ft. thermocouple installed. Billet shifter and custom Italian leather shift knob. Tunes by two pair of Infinity Kappa speakers and a high-power Alpine head unit. Only a couple strips of the complete, new carpet and floor insulation set from Moss Motors are shown. Not shown is a Momo Corse leather wrapped steering wheel and Racing Beat double loop chrome bar, as they've already been installed in the car. Engine dress-upA number of polished aluminum goodies will brighten up the engine compartment. Polished 3G 130 amp alternator insures keeping up with the electrical demands. Weiand reverse rotation water pump provides high volume.Engine and Ancillary partsEngine comes out of hibernation from it's plastic engine bag for a beauty shot. 347 cubic inch bored/stroked small block Ford. Balanced and blueprinted in Ford Racing B50 Sportsman block. AFR 185 heads with upgraded valves and springs, custom angle-milled for 55cc chambers, and heli-coiled threads. Scorpion roller rockers. ARP 7/16" rocker studs and ARP poly-locks. Custom roller cam by Ed Curtis at FlowTech Induction. Scat 4340 forged crank, Probe lightweight, forged 4340 I beam rods with floating pins (fully CNC profiled, polished, shot peened, and fitted with ARP 7/16" 220,000 lb cap screws), Forged SRP pistons with center dish provide 10.35 to 1 compression, JE rings, block leveled, squared, and zero decked, drilled/tapped for 1/2" ARP head studs, every fastener in and on engine is ARP, Clevite 77 bearings, 9 position billet true-roller timing set, Probe 5/8" billet steel Track Dominator main stud girdle with ARP main studs, fully ported/polished Holley Systemax II manifold, Accufab 75mm throttle body and EGR spacer, Romac SFI harmonic balancer, SRE Pro-Torque mini-starter, MSD pro-billet 5.0L distributor, FRPP plug wires, MSD Digital 6-plus CD ignition, MSD coil, MSD ignition harness. Custom ceramic-coated headers by Panache. Fidanza 13.5 lb. aluminum flywheel with billet steel friction surface, Centerforce Dual Friction clutch, Tremec bellhousing, B&M Supercooler for engine oil, Fel-Pro and Earl's gaskets, Reider Racing adjustable billet timing pointer, Goza Racing billet aluminum overflow tank, new Motorcraft A/C compressor and clutch, misc. engine brightwork from FRPP, March, Weiand, and PA Performance. Desktop Dyno 2000 (inputting actual head/manifold flow figures and actual cam timing) says 447 HP @ 5500-5800 rpm and 473 lb/ft at 3900 rpm. Should provide a "noticable increase" from stock...aTremec TKO-600 transmissionI have one of these newly designed and recently launched units on order...or should I say, eternal back-order. Should be worth waiting for with close-ratio, 2.87 low gear set, special .82 road-racing overdrive gear, Hurst-built billet shifter, and factory-rated for handling 600 lb/ft torque. Tremec manufactures both this TKO-600 and the ubiquitous T-5; the new TKO-600 is rated by the manufacturer to handle 100% more torque than the T-5.Back-up PlanA complete NOS nitrous system awaits installation, for those "difficult highway passing situations." Even if the motor misses the Desktop Dyno projection by a full 10%, a very mild, 80HP shot should take it to over 500 honest HP. That should scoot the 2650 lb. roadster right along.Are you wondering what the stuff in the lower part of the picture has to do with the price of tea in China? The twin cats pictured will need all 9 of their lives when Mr. Happy starts passing Gas. The Evans waterless coolant has 375 degree boilover protection, which may come in handy when the smallblock is booming out the heat from producing over 500 HP.