Mazda MX-5 vs. Mazda RX-8: Which Is Better With a 300hp Chevy LFX V6?
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- Опубликовано: 27 дек 2024
- How to build a fast, fun track car? How about a V6-powered Mazda MX-5 or V6-powered Mazda RX-8? Which Mazda platform makes for a better track car when fitted with a V8 Roadsters Chevy LFX V6 swap kit? We took them both to the track to find out.
V8 Roadsters: v8roadsters.com/
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Last time I checked, the NC Miata chassis is from the RX8. Not the other way around.
I've been very curious about swapping this motor for a few years, the engines are light, and with the narrow v it will fit in many cars easier than a wide v8. The current v6 camaro offers more hp than v8s from not that long ago.
I agree, along with the 3.7 Ford V6 same power figures but from the blue oval family. Not to mention I've heard this engine can get 30+ mpgs!
Can we see more of the LFX Miata
So you’re basically saying buy a 350z and save some a bunch of money?
A 350z doesn’t weigh 2300lbs like a miata
Or less 3000lbs like a rx8
@@jasehonfroy8086an NC miata is more like 2650lbs
@@seanhaberman4619 yeah I’m referring to NA/NB, you’re right though.
I don’t think it’s physically possible to get a 350z under like 3000 pounds much less 2500.
Can the v6 be swap to a ND Miata?
Personally love my rotary powered RX8
Fantastic review. I've owned both cars and prefer the rx8 chassis. While I'm interested in the lfx swap for my rx8 track / autocross / time attack / hillclimb car, the rebuilt renesis is still going very strong after 4+ years of hard competition thrashing, so it looks like I'll have to wait a little while longer!
Do you think a renesis swapped NC miata could outdo the Rx8?
I guess the chassis/bodyshell will be nowhere near as rigid and will need some work?
@@tobythomas5079 maybe. It'd be lighter. Rx8 has good rigidity and the longer wheelbase makes it easier to handle. But a 2.5L NC is probably just as good and simpler and cheaper
@@rx8matt 2.5L from what car?
@@tobythomas5079various mazda and Ford products.
Would ever consider a hybrid 13b renesis with partial pp?
What subframe was used to install the lfx in the rx8? They don't have one available, at least to the general population
The answer : grab all the nice bits from the RX8 Put them on the Miata done
1: u compared a miata to a rotary. some rx8+rx7 owners say the rx8 handles better
2: you compared an auto to a manual.
great share i thank you horrible comparison when you see an opportunity you take it i understand but don't pitch this as anything relative if ones auto and ones manual can't compare the drive in any aspect except for a straight line.
If the goal is track toy why would you go with more weight ? I don't see how 300HP can be too much for NC at the track , seems perfect .
you need more grip (downforce). this NC has just about the same power to weight as a C6 base LS2. the car feels like a gokart, fun, but twitchy. not stable in the same way you would get from an RX8, 15inch longer wheelbase.
@@mannnygz I agree that wheelbase does give some twitch oversteer compare to RX8 or E36 and other cars with longer wheelbase. On the other hand that makes it very challenging and exciting to drive on limit .
@@driver46 didnt even realize who i responded to, im subscribed to you hahaha. I daily my stock cam 2.5 NC and its quite a treat whenever I hop in the seat. But maybe I do too much high speed cruising in it because the chassis just doesnt seem up to the task, whenever over 100. Its planted, but sensitive doesnt even begin to describe it, even with your aero I think you understand lol. I hope to get an RX8 soon to be able to benchmark both simultaneously and understand what I really want.
@@mannnygz there are some very affordable RX8 on the market . I saw one fully track prepared for 6,9K . I am planing on some M3 soon for the track , got little bit tired of NC transmission issues and 2.5s just can't survive over 7K rpms for more than a year on track.
@@driver46 cant blame you, youre pushing that drivetrain much harder than Spec MX-5. Ive had my limiter set to 6.6k and no point to even bounce it like the 2.0 could... thats just not fun. A proper built bottom end 2.5/2.4 would be ideal, but id like to see if I would enjoy the different size chassis before investing heavy in a commuter engine. RX8 would surely would feel familiar, and is a very similar size to a corvette. I can make a 6.0 fit behind the front wheels if I aggressively massage some firewall.. But you cant go wrong with any M3, BMWs win. Id like an E63 eventually, I've stared at pictures of B6 GT3 for way too long.
What was the transmission in the manual miata ?
Mv5
If you're going to be doing a power unit swap into a RX-8 or MX-5, how does the cost of an LSX swap compare to an LS1 swap, and what is the weight & weight distribution difference between the options?
Reddit and forums are your friend. Idk but you can probably find the answers there. Lsx is like 10K tho isn't it? And that's just the motor lol
@@joogullae3456I think he meant LFX in the video. I'd bet the DOHC V6 isn't too much lighter than the pushrod LS. as for cost, swapping ANYTHING into a car that it doesn't belong in will cost at least 6-8k if done cheap DIY. 15k is very common. So you gain more by putting an LS into anything lol. I wouldn't want an LS NC, RX8 is the same size as a Vette but 200lb lighter, and can get even lighter after that.
@@mannnygzfirst of all the alloytec engines LFX LLT are freaking light , at least 100-200kg’s less than the 6.0 6.2 pushrod v8’s . Unless you’re chasing insane power and making the weight more imbalanced then yeah . Also Corvettes are dfientely bigger than an rx8
@@wizzfizz6800 FIRST of all, an LS1 is 70kg or 150lbs heavier. that's a good difference but you're losing out on 100+ tq.. power to price you are making WAY more with the LS than the LFX, good luck finding cams, hell even boltons are uncommon. I just saw my tuner post an LFX rx8 and the guy did cams, ported TB/intake, and headers. it only put down 315 wheel. what's it take an LS1 to do that? a used 6.2 cam would get you there lol. it doesn't make sense to put the lighter engine in as you aren't gaining anything but lightness, LS1 RX8 already does 50/50 with a driver. and also, a C6 is an inch shorter than an RX8, 2 inches wider. Same wheelbase.
Mace performance makes upgrades for the engine.
Are you going to put a baffled oil pan in your swap to keep oil pressure in the turns
It has no pressure drop issues in turns
It just bolts right in???
Miata. Because why swap a regular engine into a RX8? The rotary is what makes the car
Rotary engines are crap
Although I haven't driven either car I would imagine the rx8 would be a little more prone to understeer because the renesis motor that's being replaced is so small. This means the LFX has to be a little in front of the axle. Also the fact that it has a longer wheelbase. Maybd it's the same situation with the Miata, I'm not sure. Either way you could probably mitigate it through changes to the alignment.
Personally I'd rather have the RX8 because the chassis rigidity is fantastic on those. RX8 as a platform in general is a great option.
The Renesis is very small, but the MZR in the Miata is a VERY light engine as well. I think the effect would be pretty similar to both cars' balance.
The manual is basically a truck transmission. Is there anything better that’ll bolt up to the v6?
Honda J-series V6 also seems to becoming quite popular, so Honda vs Chevy V6. Pros and cons, why or why not?
Would also love to hear an informed opinion here.
The J-Series is a tank and has been around alot longer which is why they are being used more and more for swaps.
J series:
SOHC
V-TEC (exhaust only)
Timing belt (interference engine)
Somewhat limited exhaust lift because of cam set-up
Forged Crank
Cheaper
Usually sub 300hp
LFX:
DOHC
VVT
Timing chain
Forged crank
More expensive, more variants above 300 hp
I love the very idea of LFX swaps. 120lb lighter than an LS6, revvy character suits lighter cars, and shorter front to back, to boot!
Do you know of anyone in northern CA that do v6 engine swaps on Miata ?
45psi?, that is a bit too much. Shame would've been totally different car with 30psi
kinda same thing fiffrent shapes same platform either war nc or rx8
Just put one in my ND, only one in Australia
curious as to how the rx8 handles with that engine. is still 50/50 weight distribution?
I doubt it seriously... And you have to take into account the center of gravity.
Just looked them up. (We were able to knock roughly 35lbs off the factory curb weight and retain a 52/48 distribution.) I would guess that’s only because of the tubular k member.
How about making a LFX FC rx7 swap kit? I'll volunteer for R&D. 🤗 I blew my 13b a few years ago and bought an 04 ls1 to swap into it. I have the CX racing swap kit already but this would be interesting. I'll have to do more research on the LFX engine because I joked about this with my brother once.
Can easily you keep the aircon with this swap?
Yes, keisler automation offers a complete swap kit in USA.
I have an lfx rx8. Its phenomenal
Hi Mike. I was thinking doing the same thing. Which kit did you use and do you have AC?
@@atrip9052 im using the keisler automation kit. It keeps the eps an allows you to have ac.
Are they better than a Camaro?
Why does it say V8 on the side?
That car is owned by the company that makes the LFX swap kits. They also have V8 swap kits: v8roadsters.com/
Shame the Mx5 wasn't set up properly.. Hardly a fair comparison
My thoughts exactly.
Why not a 170HP 2.5 Mazda V6 KLDE and then Turbo it . The sounds are orgasmic !
A Nissan VQ would be amazing and the best V6 with this car imo, pairing up with a CD009 transmission. It's very light, much more popular and has solid tuning potential. Just want to know your opinion on this setup?
The VQs are physically very wide motors.
@@The52car I just found two VQ37 swapped RX-8's online, so it's definitely doable probably with a VQ35 even, but there's no swap kit available for it, it's all custom work.
A VQ is also very tall.
VQ is less reliable and more expensive. and you need headers. faiL
If only there was some engine sounds 😕
I wanna see one with a Ford 3.3 V6.
Thank you for ditching the rotary in the RX-8. With a manual, that would be a great daily and regular track weapon.
My wife says you're not a good influence. I disagree wholeheartedly. Wheels are turning....
Swaniawski Trail
Im sorry but ruining an rx8 with a run of the mill v6 is shameful.
all the gas goes out the exhaust of a rotary. People can do whatever they want with their own
The V6 didn't ruin it, the engine that needs to be rebuilt every couple years ruined it, there's a reason these things are sitting on marketplace being sold for pocket change
The one that keeps its fucking rotary is better.
Blasphemy! Just put a procharger or a turbo on your RX8.. ..
Interesting. Why not a V8?
We love V8 Miatas, too, but the LFX is a completely different driving experience. The LFX swap doesn't fundamentally change the character of the car like the V8 does.
In a tire limited car 99.9% of people will be faster with the V6. While it has a very flat torque curve it's not making 400ftlb off of idle. It's easier to drive at the limit
Lfx in an rx8 hits tt3 power to weight ratios perfectly. Also not everyone needs v8 power plus the ls costs a ton more to be track ready.
In a stock miata, you're all throttle all the time. With a V8, you're modulating throttle a lot more on track. I believe they mean the LFX can be driven with less finesse.
Another guy on RUclips knocking the rotary reliability with absolutely zero knowledge of those engines.
An automatic!? Gaaaaaaayyyy!
Such a shame the RX8 is an automatic. What a let down. Ruined it. Owner needs to learn to drive manual.
Points for doing something that's at least minimally creative. (Not yet another Vanilla Ice Cream Chev V8). I'll stick with my rotary engines (17 years and going strong on my RX8) but you do you.
Trash talking about the rotary then doesn't even pick between the two choices has to frankenstein an option. 🤦🏽♂️ Wasting my time
Was interested in watching the video until I saw the rx8 had a chevy engine. I get it but a rotary car needs to have a rotary in it. Love my 12a. #rem (rotaryenginesmatter)
Have you considered joining RADL?
@@chrisbrookshire861 if its got to do with rotary engines and rx7 I'm interested
Umm Chevrolet??? 👎🏼
That GM V-6 is the only reason I would even look at either of those cars. Finally those cars have an engine to back up the performance they've always pretended to have.