Schwiiiing...............

[darien87]

I'm going to build me a track car one of these days and it will most likely be a Miata with a 327 SBC and Ford T-Bird rear end. 300hp+ in a car that would weigh in around 2200-2400lbs and still have almost perfect 50/50 weight distrubtion.

There was a speed shop back home that used to make "Monster Miata's". One that I saw had a Mustang 5.0 engine in it with a Kenne Belle supercharger. That thing had so much power it was ridiculous. It was like trying to drive on ice. It was near impossible to not spin the tires from a stop.

 

[Warpdrv]

To use your analogy; on a race track with twists and turns, (much more fun than a track with long straights anyway), the Mustangs lighter weight and better handling would enable it to pull away from an SS in stock trim. A supercharger would give the GT an even greater advantage.

Yeah but in the end.... you still have a FORD...

I'll take a Chevy over a ford any day of the week....

Anyone that works in our service center and has to work on that junk will tell ya the same thing... poor electrical, and sloppy design, implementation and manufacturing.. Not just my opinion...

but its your call...

 

[Matt34]

There was a speed shop back home that used to make "Monster Miata's". One that I saw had a Mustang 5.0 engine in it with a Kenne Belle supercharger. That thing had so much power it was ridiculous. It was like trying to drive on ice. It was near impossible to not spin the tires from a stop.

Yup, there is one on ebay with a realtively stock 5.0L going for $8k atm. Youtube has some good videos of some with LS1, 5.0, 350 etc. conversions. There are plenty of companies that make conversion kits so it would keep the fab work down to a minimum, to the point where it's almost a bolt on modification.

I can't find it now but there is a company that offers a 500hp LS7 kit.

http://www.monstermiata.com/

http://racingconcepts.net/miata.html

 

[mperfct]

I it seems that almost everybody thinks it is poorly designed all-around car with a powerful engine as the saving grace.

Have Camaros EVER been any but that? IMHO, the Vette is the only true American Sports Car, and really has only become that since C5.

 

[darien87]

Yeah but in the end.... you still have a FORD...

I'll take a Chevy over a ford any day of the week....

Anyone that works in our service center and has to work on that junk will tell ya the same thing... poor electrical, and sloppy design, implementation and manufacturing.. Not just my opinion...

but its your call...

Sloppy design??? Are you nuts? The S197 is a beautiful car. Don't even get me started on how Fugly the interior of the Camaro is. Now THAT's some sloppy design and implementation.

I'll take a Ford over a Chevy any day of the week. To each his own.

 

[Davemcc]

Have Camaros EVER been any but that? IMHO, the Vette is the only true American Sports Car, and really has only become that since C5.

I liked my old 81 Camaro. It served me well for a number of years. Right size, looked good, durable, good mileage with the 267ci motor and awesome handling in snow. In fact, there's a nearly identical one for sale locally that I might look into buying. Considering that that body style came out in 1970 and sold well until 81 with only a minor refresh, I would argue that it was a successful design. If you consider what else was available on the market in 1970, it was also a radical leap in styling

 

[mperfct]

I liked my old 81 Camaro. It served me well for a number of years. Right size, looked good, durable, good mileage with the 267ci motor and awesome handling in snow. In fact, there's a nearly identical one for sale locally that I might look into buying. Considering that that body style came out in 1970 and sold well until 81 with only a minor refresh, I would argue that it was a successful design. If you consider what else was available on the market in 1970, it was also a radical leap in styling

Oh don't get me wrong, certain iterations of the Camaro and Mustang have been very pleasing to the eye. My point was that a true sports car (IMHO, again) must have a balance of handling and speed (and braking, for that matter).

American car designers had a bit of tunnel vision in regards to performance at the strip, not on a road course. Big engines, nice designs, but not overall great performers. I'm hoping that things will change soon.

 

[darien87]

Oh don't get me wrong, certain iterations of the Camaro and Mustang have been very pleasing to the eye. My point was that a true sports car (IMHO, again) must have a balance of handling and speed (and braking, for that matter).

American car designers had a bit of tunnel vision in regards to performance at the strip, not on a road course. Big engines, nice designs, but not overall great performers. I'm hoping that things will change soon.

Well my 07 handled as well as my heavily modified 95 right out of the box. Now that I've put swaybars, springs, and shocks on it, it handles even better. So they have made improvements in handling. The brakes do indeed suck though. The GT500 Brembo front brakes will probably be my next mod.

True an American car isn't going to outperform a European sedan without modifications. But you don't pay near the money either.

 

[Davemcc]

My point was that a true sports car (IMHO, again) must have a balance of handling and speed (and braking, for that matter).

American car designers had a bit of tunnel vision in regards to performance at the strip, not on a road course.

Not to split semantic hairs but the Camaro, like the Mustang and the Challenger, have never been marketed as "sports cars". At least not in the sense of the Corvette, E-type, 280Z, 911, etc. It's a pony car, a GT, arguably a muscle car. It appeals to a different buyer than traditional sports cars. If you can put yourself into the mindset of the buyers of these cars, it might make more sense.

 

[Sheep]

I'm going to build me a track car one of these days and it will most likely be a Miata with a 327 SBC and Ford T-Bird rear end. 300hp+ in a car that would weigh in around 2200-2400lbs and still have almost perfect 50/50 weight distrubtion.

If you're going for a Car purpose built for racing, get a kit car. Easier to live with, no trying to mix and match.

SheepStar

 

[mperfct]

If you're going for a Car purpose built for racing, get a kit car. Easier to live with, no trying to mix and match.

SheepStar

You mean like this...

 

[Matt34]

You mean like this...

They are also at least 3x as much as what a V8 Miata will cost me.

 

[agarwalro]

You mean like this...

Or, this... drool...

 

[mperfct]

They are also at least 3x as much as what a V8 Miata will cost me.

No argument there. I was just sayin...

 

[Matt34]

No argument there. I was just sayin...

If I had the coin I would have a fleet of those Atoms, very cool cars....0-60 in like 2.8 secs and handle like they are on rails.

 

[Tomorrow]

Personally, I prefer my 800 hp to come in a 15 year old rice burning package.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

There was a speed shop back home that used to make "Monster Miata's". One that I saw had a Mustang 5.0 engine in it with a Kenne Belle supercharger. That thing had so much power it was ridiculous. It was like trying to drive on ice. It was near impossible to not spin the tires from a stop.

A monster Miata...LOL NICE!! My sister had one of those for a daily driver back in the day. (not a monster)


PS... (knowing you are a STANG guy) I visited a Ford Dealership today/work related. While I was there, I slobbered over a couple of Roush Mustangs on display. Those things WERE hot!! The Roush STANGS had bold striping with a big 427 painted on the side......but they don't have a 427 engine??? Why would it have that decal?? I'm pretty sure it had a smaller supercharged engine.

Maybe because it equates to the HP? They were listed at about 425HP...

427...as in HP?


PS.....they stickered at $47K.
not too bad for what you get in performance......

 

[darien87]

Roush's and Saleen's are nice, but they're a tad overpriced IMO. I remember looking at a couple Roush's before I got my GT, and the Stage 1, which is just the body kit, some interior upgrades and mufflers added about $8,000 to the car!!!

Shoot, I could buy the body kit and stuff for less than that.

I'm a bang for the buck kinda guy. I'd rather buy a stock GT and customize it myself with whatever body kit and supercharger I wanted. That way it'd be a bit more unique and less expensive. The only drawback is not having the resale value that a Roush has.

 

[Sheep]

They are also at least 3x as much as what a V8 Miata will cost me.

Initially, once you get it going, ****'s going to break. Welcome to modifying cars.

Oh Tomorrow!!!!!

4WD rolling burnouts. Yeah, probably burns a LOT.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I'd rather buy a stock GT and customize it myself with whatever body kit and supercharger I wanted. That way it'd be a bit more unique and less expensive.

I'm totally feelin' ya......

One of my golf buddies bought a new GT...... I can't remember how much he said it cost exactly, but he paid roughly $8-10K for an intercooler/supercharger upgrade and his car dyno's at 650HP!!!! It's a total sleeper.... Looks completely stock from the outside unless you know where to look for the intercooler under the front nose. When he gasses it.......you immediately know something isn't right/normal. When it idles, it ain't right either......LOL It sounds like a tin can is loose and clanking around inside the block....


The first time he took it to the track, he ran low 11's. He has cracked the high 10's since......and this is with a manual stick shift with no other mods that I know of. He still runs the tiny/skinny old school tires too......LOL

The only thing he did that wasn't normal was to install the louvers over the rear/side/back windows......60's'ish style........