Sports car dreams

[Kabowest]

Here's my collection of necessities.
2013 Mustang
2020 Tacoma
2019 Hurricane

 

[Diogenes]

Diogenes - So have you driven anything else besides the C6, Mustang GT and Tesla? Interested in your initial impressions if you have.

A while ago I'd driven a V8 Miata (Ford 302 engine) and a V8 Datsun 260Z (Chevy 327). Both were too loud and too brash, but lacked vigor, probably because the engines in question were tired and; wheezing. The lesson was that merely having a V8 in a light-weight car isn't enough. Better to have a good engine in a heavier car (if necessary) than a meh engine in a light car.

Next up, I want to test drive a C6 Z06 Corvette, with the 7.0 liter engine. And a NA Miata (same generation as mine) with the Honda 2.4L swap. The latter is grudgingly accepted by purists, who are OK with a 4-cylinder to 4-cylinder swap. I want to experience a "high strung" 4-cylinder to assess the incremental benefit in an otherwise fairly stock Miata, which I know very well.

Another person recommended a V8 Cadillac. That hadn't occurred to me, and they're rare, at least as stick-shifts. But I will look.

Meanwhile, as coyly slipped-in in an earlier posting, I plan to revisit my Datsun project, currently in storage. It already has radical firewall setback and a roll cage, but is woefully incomplete (or improperly engineered) in some other regards. I also want to cozy-up to local engine builders. As a few of you folks have gleaned from private messages, engine-building isn't entirely a novelty to me. Getting it right, according the proper attention to details, is another matter.

 

[glennz]

Next up, I want to test drive a C7 Z06 Corvette, with the 7.0 liter engine.

Another person recommended a V8 Cadillac. That hadn't occurred to me, and they're rare, at least as stick-shifts. But I will look.

Watch out on those. I looked at one seriously, then doing my due diligence found out that they have some sort of carbon compound brake rotors. Can you say $10k brake jobs? The enthusiasts put on steel rotors and suitable pads, and save the carbon stuff for the track.

I think your posts indicate you are fixated on a V8 (which would be the Cadillac CTS-V), but I'd recommend looking at the ATS-V V6 variant. Smaller package, but with super power and handling, and a stick available. I went the way of a '22 Mustang Mach1 Handling Pack car, else I'd have an ATS-V.

I love this thread!

 

[stepford]

A while ago I'd driven a V8 Miata (Ford 302 engine) and a V8 Datsun 260Z (Chevy 327). Both were too loud and too brash, but lacked vigor, probably because the engines in question were tired and; wheezing. The lesson was that merely having a V8 in a light-weight car isn't enough. Better to have a good engine in a heavier car (if necessary) than a meh engine in a light car.

Next up, I want to test drive a C6 Z06 Corvette, with the 7.0 liter engine. And a NA Miata (same generation as mine) with the Honda 2.4L swap. The latter is grudgingly accepted by purists, who are OK with a 4-cylinder to 4-cylinder swap. I want to experience a "high strung" 4-cylinder to assess the incremental benefit in an otherwise fairly stock Miata, which I know very well.

Another person recommended a V8 Cadillac. That hadn't occurred to me, and they're rare, at least as stick-shifts. But I will look.

Meanwhile, as coyly slipped-in in an earlier posting, I plan to revisit my Datsun project, currently in storage. It already has radical firewall setback and a roll cage, but is woefully incomplete (or improperly engineered) in some other regards. I also want to cozy-up to local engine builders. As a few of you folks have gleaned from private messages, engine-building isn't entirely a novelty to me. Getting it right, according the proper attention to details, is another matter.

Can you make that Z handle right?

Back almost 50 years ago my first sports car was a 240z into which I eventually swapped a modified 280z motor. It sounds pitiful now, but I was pretty thrilled that it did 0-60 in about 6.5 sec (i.e. slower than a modern Camry). More to the point, I ran that thing for a few seasons in SCCA Solo II where I saw lots of variously modded Z-cars - among them several V8 swaps. While these were usually faster than I was in a straight line they all plowed terribly due to the weight imbalance of that heavy motor up front. They did well on "Corvette courses" - which had long straights favoring brute acceleration - but were helpless in tight twisties.

 

[Koolau]

A while ago I'd driven a V8 Miata (Ford 302 engine) and a V8 Datsun 260Z (Chevy 327). Both were too loud and too brash, but lacked vigor, probably because the engines in question were tired and; wheezing. The lesson was that merely having a V8 in a light-weight car isn't enough. Better to have a good engine in a heavier car (if necessary) than a meh engine in a light car.

Next up, I want to test drive a C6 Z06 Corvette, with the 7.0 liter engine. And a NA Miata (same generation as mine) with the Honda 2.4L swap. The latter is grudgingly accepted by purists, who are OK with a 4-cylinder to 4-cylinder swap. I want to experience a "high strung" 4-cylinder to assess the incremental benefit in an otherwise fairly stock Miata, which I know very well.

Another person recommended a V8 Cadillac. That hadn't occurred to me, and they're rare, at least as stick-shifts. But I will look.

Meanwhile, as coyly slipped-in in an earlier posting, I plan to revisit my Datsun project, currently in storage. It already has radical firewall setback and a roll cage, but is woefully incomplete (or improperly engineered) in some other regards. I also want to cozy-up to local engine builders. As a few of you folks have gleaned from private messages, engine-building isn't entirely a novelty to me. Getting it right, according the proper attention to details, is another matter.

Every car company seems to be supplying their cars with turbos these days. So I keep wondering why Mazda doesn't offer the Miata with the current engine breathing through a turbo. It still wouldn't be a Vette killer but would take the Miata to a new level IMHO. I know there are some after market turbos for Miatas but I wouldn't touch anything that wasn't factory (I'm too old to be grubbing under the hood of a roll-your-own hot rod).

 

[stepford]

If you really crave a Mazda sports car with a factory turbo you can always try to find one of the 3rd generation RX-7s from the 1990s. Great performance when they worked.

 

[Diogenes]

Can you make that Z handle right?

Back almost 50 years ago my first sports car was a 240z into which I eventually swapped a modified 280z motor. It sounds pitiful now, but I was pretty thrilled that it did 0-60 in about 6.5 sec (i.e. slower than a modern Camry). More to the point, I ran that thing for a few seasons in SCCA Solo II where I saw lots of variously modded Z-cars - among them several V8 swaps. While these were usually faster than I was in a straight line they all plowed terribly due to the weight imbalance of that heavy motor up front. ...

Radical firewall setback. It isn't just an engine swap. It means welding the unibody to supports, and welding the supports to a chassis jig. Then lots of jigging and cutting. Then lots of fabrication. English Wheel, anyone? Big block V8 crank pulley ends up behind the steering rack.

If you really crave a Mazda sports car with a factory turbo you can always try to find one of the 3rd generation RX-7s from the 1990s. Great performance when they worked.

Drove one in the mid 1990s... a local friend had newly bought one. Beautiful car, but not my style of torque curve. All top-end.

 

[Koolau]

If you really crave a Mazda sports car with a factory turbo you can always try to find one of the 3rd generation RX-7s from the 1990s. Great performance when they worked.

I had an RX2 in '74. Talk about a stealth car! It was still pulling hard at the 7000 RPM red line.

But the seals are only good for about 75K.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

Every car company seems to be supplying their cars with turbos these days. So I keep wondering why Mazda doesn't offer the Miata with the current engine breathing through a turbo. It still wouldn't be a Vette killer but would take the Miata to a new level IMHO. I know there are some after market turbos for Miatas but I wouldn't touch anything that wasn't factory (I'm too old to be grubbing under the hood of a roll-your-own hot rod).

The 2004 and 2005 Miata's did have a special Mazdaspeed edition that was turbo charged, raising the HP from 142 to 178.

They discontinued this package due to a factory fire, slow sales, and a corporate change in direction to appear more upscale as a brand.

 

[splitwdw]

Didn't any of you read his reply in post #152 & 202? He already has a project car.

 

[Koolau]

Didn't any of you read his reply in post #152 & 202? He already has a project car.

Hey, a subject like "Sports Car Dreams" takes on a life of its own. We've already forgotten about OP.

More of us than just OP might still have those dreams.

We're just glad OP brought it up so we can talk about it.