LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Miata Parts, Intakes, Superchargers, Headers, Exhausts, Shocks, Springs, Sway Bars, Brake Kits, Autocross and track mods.
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

Fuel surge/swirl tank report: it works a treat.

Tested on Sunday, ran the car round and round till it read completely empty in the main tank, got another half lap out of it and then it started to sputter and came to a stop a few turns later. Towed back to the pits, pulled the top fitting from the surge tank and ran a dipstick down it to see how low we ran it. There was only about 3/4" of fuel left in the bottom of the surge tank. That's like, 1/20th of a gallon. Yep, it's working.

With the fuel starvation issue out of the way, I'm able to peel back a layer and find the next issue that was buried a bit deeper. It seems I have a communication issue between the ECU and throttle body, which ALSO sends the ECU into limp mode, just like the fuel starvation. This helps everything make a lot more sense because at GTA Finals we were scratching our heads because sometimes it would go into limp mode under one set of circumstances that we were sure was fuel level related, and then other times it would go into limp mode under circumstances that couldn't possibly be fuel level related. With one out of the way, it was a lot easier to find the second. In the morning it would go straight into limp mode upon startup or after a short bit of driving, then after a good ol' code clear and tug on connectors and wires by hand, it started working. Ryan Helmuth, another LFX Miata head, was at the track the same day and when I had the issue narrowed down to ECU, TB, or wiring, he very awesomely offered to loan me his throttle body for a session to see if that made a difference. I ran a session with his TB, then a session with mine, both successfully, so I feel we've crossed that off the list and I think it's down to the wiring and factory connector. I need to try to find that factory connector in fresh form so I can run new wires from the ECU with proper strain relief, heat protection, etc. and pin a fresh connector at the TB, then go test again.

Image
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

Some fancy new rear hubs just arrived. For those who noticed that we took one of the GWR NCs to Superlap Battle USA in February, waiting on these hubs and a couple other custom parts is the reason Hyper didn't make it.

But we have them now! Onward!

Image
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

I've been quietly working on Hyper in bits of spare time here and there. Lots of cool stuff in the works. Debated about how much to share because inevitably once I start showing stuff others start to copy it. But I'll risk it, want to bring you guys along on the journey.

Let's start off with explaining that this update is specifically and only happening because of where this car competes. Global Time Attack has evolved to now require a spec tire model in each class. The tire for Limited class is the A052 and that is not available in any wide sizes for 15" wheels. Fitting larger wheels on a Miata properly is not an easy feat, and this likely means we'll see less NAs/NBs competing in GTA events. But unlike others who run their cars for fun in many different series, the HyperMiata is a single-focus car that is all about trying to earn that top spot at the largest time attack event, and that is GTA. So I'm doubling down and committing a lot of time and money to converting this car to run some big rubber.

Left: our old 15x10 with 245/40/15 Rival S 1.5. Right: 18x11 with 295/30/18 Yokohama A052.

Image

Custom 5x114 front and rear hubs get the wheels bolted to the car:

Image

Image

Brakes have to be changed to work with the new hubs. I've got half the parts or so for that already with drawings done and parts in the works for the rest.

Now let me be clear: our recommendation has always been and will continue to be that you NEVER want to put large 17" or 18" wheels on an NA/NB. Don't do it! This car's situation is so specific, and even then I agonized over whether to pull the trigger on this for a while. The new tire offers a larger contact patch and stickier compound than the smaller Rivals we were running, so the potential is there for more speed, but there are some massive challenges caused by the larger wheels that all have to be overcome otherwise it's just a big step backwards.

Custom hubs and brakes are the easy part. The real mountain of work is in providing room for the massive wheel's range of motion.

Current state of things is I've been cutting... and cutting... and cutting. Basically cut out as much car as needed until full range of motion is there, and then see how much car is left and rebuild around that. This is cutting into some rather critical parts of the tub so as I'm cutting I'm planning how I'm going to rebuild these areas to keep load transfer through the areas that need it. Otherwise the car would end up a floppy mess.

This is where the front is at, with still some more cutting to go. Those holes go into the interior of the car. If the fiberglass blanket wasn't in the footwell and someone was sitting in there, you'd see their feet through the hole.

Image

The rear is nearly done in terms of cutting and I've started some of the new pieces.

Image

Yep, that's the new rear wheel tub protruding through the rear parcel shelf into the interior of the car:

Image

When the sheet metal is done, the bodywork will be a whole separate project because new fenders will be needed. Feels like I've been at it for a while already but there's a mountain of hours ahead. Right now I'm just putting my head down and keeping on plugging away at it day by day. We'll get there.
MitchC635
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:06 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by MitchC635 »

Always impressed at how far you are willing to push to make this Miata even faster. Thanks for sharing.

Does the effective taller gearing work out well with the extra HP now available, or will it require changing out the rear gears? Those big wheels and tires are going to make it look super aggressive - can't wait to see the new wickedness.
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

MitchC635 wrote:Always impressed at how far you are willing to push to make this Miata even faster. Thanks for sharing.

Does the effective taller gearing work out well with the extra HP now available, or will it require changing out the rear gears? Those big wheels and tires are going to make it look super aggressive - can't wait to see the new wickedness.
The extra power certainly helps make everything turn, but gearing choice is no less important than ever. This change is happening while I'm also working on changing out the factory Camaro transmission for a 4 speed race box. The benefits of a race focused gearbox are lighter weight and can handle all the power I can ever hope to throw at it, but one challenge with most race transmissions is that top gear is almost always 1:1, whereas street transmissions usually have an overdrive gear. That 1:1 happens to work out well for me though - with a 23" tall tire (typical for 15" wheel) top gear would be too short and I'd have to try to find a very long rear end ratio to make up for it, but the 25" tire diameter stretches that out to get the top speed right about where we need it. Works out nicely. Another benefit of the race box is getting to choose the gear ratios for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, so with the new trans the spread between gears will be more ideal than the stock Camaro trans had for 3rd 4th and 5th.

Comparing to the Camaro trans you could look at it like this - With the ratios I chose, I effectively lose a 1st and 2nd gear, (which I won't miss because it's not a street car) and 3rd through 6th are now all much better optimized and much stronger than before. And lighter.
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

Detour from cutting up the chassis for a moment. After months of measuring, drawing, triple checking and revising drawings... parts are materializing to move the transmission project forward. 

Got this picture from CNC of the adapter plate being born:
Image

Less than 24 hours later I had it test fit to the motor, a couple final adjustments made, and now it's off to anodizing:
Image

With the adapter here I was able to do a final mock up of the bellhousing and trim that down to clear the thermostat housing on the motor:
​​​​​​​Image

And apparently Monday all the stars and planets were aligned because on that same day the custom flywheel arrived. This baby is CNC'd from a single piece of chromoly, designed for a 7.25" twin plate clutch, with a welded ring gear and integral pilot bearing (So happy to have a pilot bearing after the MV5/7 design that doesn't have one). It's almost 10 lbs lighter than the 'lightweight' aluminum flywheel from Spec, and almost 20 lbs lighter than the factory flywheel.

Image

Image
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

Left side of car is finished cutting. Before I start welding stuff in I have to cut the other side to match.

Image

Still early days on this project but getting pretty excited for how it's going to turn out. Approaching this from the standpoint of picking the wheel and tire I want to be on, placing the chassis where I want it relative to that, and just making everything else work around that. It's the right way to do it... but certainly intrusive. The list of items and areas that have to be cut, modified, relocated, reinforced, etc. has grown substantially from what I had in mind going into it.
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

Big wheel complications.

I have the front right corner all welded up.
Rebuilding the wheel well involved 13 different hand made sections, including several internal support pieces to ensure load transfer isn't compromised.

Image

I was going to move to the left side and do the same, but on the driver's side there's a complication: the tire hits the clutch master. Significantly. Yeahhh, you read that right.
So the clutch master can't be on the engine side of the firewall. The need to re-do the clutch pedal snowballed a bit, and I'm doing a full pedal box now, so the booster and 929 MC will be deleted.

Image

A pedal box isn't a small bit of work, so that's what I've been working on for the past week and a half. It really changes the ergonomics as well. I had to re-build the throttle pedal mount to raise that pedal 2" so it is in-line with the new pedals as my heel sits on the false floor now.

Here's an in-progress shot as its sits right now. Everything is mounted and the false floor is made. I have some grippy stuff on the way for the floor. Next up is to measure and figure out each line length, fittings, etc. and get all the brake and clutch lines made.

Image

Image

A non-boosted brake system needs entirely different piston sizes at both the masters and the calipers than a boosted system. So I've been back and forth with the StopTech guys and we're swapping all the calipers out for new ones with different piston sizes to make everything right for the new configuration. Conveniently, I was already going to have to basically build a whole new brake system at each corner anyways thanks to the 5 lug change... so it's the right time to do this.
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

Tubbing the chassis is finished! We now have full unhindered bump travel in the suspension front and rear, with turning in the front. It's required some substantial cutting and reshaping of the front and rear tub, side exhaust, side skirts, and suspension geometry changes. I still have the body work ahead of me, but pretty darn happy to have reached this point. Here is the suspension at full compression:

Image

The change to 5x114 had a domino effect that resulted in my revising everything in the brake system. The new front setup borrows the 309x32mm rotors from StopTech's NC BBK, and uses the StopTech C43 caliper in nickel finish with SS noses and piston sizes chosen for this car's brake setup and targets. But the critical caliper bracket to fit these parts to an NA/NB doesn't exist, and that's precisely why I invested in a vertical mill this year; for those times when what we need doesn't exist and has to come from a block of raw material. I machined radial brackets in house, and now have Hyper's new front brake package completed.

Started with this:

[https://photos.smugmug.com/2020-Q1/Fron ... 076-XL.jpg[/img]

Learned a ton these past couple months figuring out the mill. Making these brackets took some creative setups and getting familiar with the rotary table. Progress:

Image

Final brackets finished, anodized, and studs installed:

Image

Full package for one side:

Image

Test fit. Naturally, miles of room inside this big 18x11:

Image
Ryan @ GWR
Posts: 497
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:37 pm

Re: LFX Engine Swap (GM V6) at GWR

Post by Ryan @ GWR »

More machining fun :mrgreen:

Rear brakes needed some changes to accommodate the 5x114 change as well. First, new hat was obviously needed with the new lug pattern. V8Roadster's front hats for their NC floating BBKs had the bolt pattern I needed, and after much comparing of measurements, the other dimensions were close enough that they'd work on the car with some adjustments to surrounding bits.
Bonus is these are designed to use the same StopTech 8mm floating hardware as the new front brakes, so same hardware all around.

Image

The 5 lug hats have a slightly different offset than the previous NA/NB sport rotor hats, so a correction was made to the brackets to account for that:

Image

The 5 lug hats are also slightly larger in total diameter than 4x100 hats, which caused an interference with the caliper. So rotor friction ring ID and OD were increased slightly to get the clearance needed. Then I fired up the lathe for my first real project with that machine and made small radial spacers to move the caliper for the larger diameter. The finish on them could be better, learning as I go, but paired with longer bolts they'll work perfectly:

Image

Finally, the 5 lug hats have a center register hole for an NC hub, but my rear 5 lug Miatahubs were made with a center to match NA/NB specs. So project #2 with the lathe was a set of hubcentric adapter rings for the rear rotors.

Started with this:
Image

Progress shot, this is after all the forming operations, just starting to part off the individual pieces:

Image

And individual rings finished and back from anodizing. Two for the car, one for the spares box:

Image

Centering ring mounted up with the new rotor on the 5 lug Miatahub, carnage in the background ;)

Image
Post Reply