Flyin' Miata : Projects: The Pi Car

January 6, 2010 - The engine bay is painted.
The color is the one used on desert HMMWVs - not a typical Miata color! The rest of the car will be painted later after the conversion is done.
entry 16

January 6, 2010 - With the chassis finished, it's time to start unpacking drivetrain parts.
Everything is brand new and shiny, of course. It's so nice working with new parts.

Sorry, it's difficult to take a cool picture of a transmission.
entry 17

January 6, 2010 - We use this plastic LS engine for test-fitting.
It's a lot easier to move around than an engine that's all filled up with horsepower. We can bolt transmissions, intakes and accessories to it.
Here, we're about to do a final test fit in the body before we put the real think on the subframe.
entry 18

January 8, 2010 - The engine is in!
Okay, it's still on the engine stand and we just dropped the car over top. But it looks good. We're doing this so we can run the wiring before the engine install.
entry 19

January 8, 2010 - On the NA Miata, we need to cut a new hole for the GM wiring harness.
There's a big hole we can use on the NB. Inside the car, Jon has to extend the harness so the fusebox can go in the trunk.
entry 20

January 11, 2010 - The crate engine we're using comes with the flex plate for an automatic application.
Here's a peek at the big clutch and flywheel we use instead. We're actually using a standard GM clutch because we find the engagement nicer than many aftermarket parts.
entry 21

January 20, 2010 - After a brief break to build a cute little Miata engine, Jon's back at work on the car.
He's just installed some nice and shiny new carpet.
entry 22

January 25, 2010 - The engine computer is mounted to the Miata firewall.
There's a reason we strip the cars down so far, it's a challenge to run all this wiring on a car that's still half-assembled. All the wiring in the picture is for the V8.
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January 25, 2010 - The fusebox is mounted in the trunk.
It's a challenge finding a place to put it. This way, it's just beside the battery for a nice clean power supply.
Jon claims this is not the final mount design.
entry 24

January 25, 2010 - With the ECU under the dash and the fusebox in the trunk, the harness has to be extended.
It's painstaking work to do correctly.
entry 25

January 25, 2010 - While all this work is taking place on the body, Tyler has been working on the suspension.
All of the control arms have been stripped down, re-coated and given a fresh set of Energy Suspension bushings.
entry 26

January 26, 2010 - The rear subframe is nearing completion.
The new differential mount is welded on - Tyler can really lay down a bead - and the diff is installed. It's such a nice installation that it's hard to believe it isn't factory, actually. You can see the new uprated hubs installed in the uprights here as well.
entry 27

January 26, 2010 - The bouncy part of the suspension is a set of FM springs on Koni shocks.
entry 28

January 26, 2010 - The engine, transmission, flywheel and clutch are all assembled and mounted on the subframe.
Since we have access to a lift, we find it easiest to simply lower the car onto the drivetrain instead of wiggling it in from the top.
entry 29

January 29, 2010 - Since the LS3 runs on drive-by-wire, we have to alter the stock pedal box for the new pedal.
It's surprisingly easy to do. The pedal comes with the new ECU.
entry 30

January 29, 2010 - Tyler puts the finishing touches on the rear subframe assembly.
Next step is to simply bolt the whole thing in.
entry 31

January 29, 2010 - Naturally, the car is receiving a set of FM big brakes to make sure the whoa matches the go.
In the rear, the stock caliper is used so we can keep the parking brake. It might be hard to believe, but those are just used calipers after a good cleaning.
entry 32

February 3, 2010 - The engine is in!
Now it's time to start hooking things up for real.
entry 33

February 3, 2010 - It doesn't look so big from down here.
The tubular subframe really opens up a lot of room.
entry 34

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