Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » E30 vs fox body vs miata « 1 2 »

  • June 3, 2011 8:13 a.m. Liv2race None

    Hello everyone!

    Here is my dilemma. I currently own a BMW e30. I have addressed the steering with a quick rack, suspension, new bushings, rims/tires, etc etc. The drivetrain is stock but I just broke my first rocker arm. The prices on the motor swaps are scary and I'm tired of the stock m20.

    In was always a v8 guy so the closest thing to an American v8 e30 is a fox body. I have been doing homework and I know they can be made to handle but with money anything is possible. With a reasonable budget can it out handle my e30?!

    I also had a 92 miata. A while back. I loved it! Got ride of it because I started more road course rather and auto x and I couldn't make it leagle. So, this time around I was going to build a monster miata however I'm not really willing to not go to road race days.

    This car is not going to be a daily driver but driven a lot on the street. I would say.. 50% street 40% auto x 10% road course

    I have a budget of 4k and if I sell the e30 hoping to get at least 3k for that.

    Thanks soooo much!

    Opinions? Options?

  • DavidinDurango

    June 3, 2011 8:29 a.m. DavidinDurango New Reader

    V8 Miata.

    Yes, it is a compromise. but it is the best DD I've had - just peppy enough, handles well (not FTD though), stops well.

    Everything is a compromise . . . .

    I've cornered the market on old Ford stuff

  • ppddppdd

    June 3, 2011 8:31 a.m. ppddppdd Reader

    First time I've heard a V8 Miata described as "just peppy enough". Heheh.

  • June 3, 2011 8:33 a.m. Liv2race New Reader

    Thanks so much for the input.

    What's FTD?

    I really want one but I really want my track days!

    Any tracktion problems? What size tires you running?

  • jrw1621

    June 3, 2011 8:35 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

    FTD: Fastest Time of the Day (at the autox event)

    Does your track day location have a rule against engine swaps? Are you running a specific class type track event?

  • June 3, 2011 8:36 a.m. z31maniac SuperDork

    $4k?

    You realize you could do an OBD-I S52 with that much change.

    Mine with a good tune, headers, 3.5maf, OBD-I intake manifold put down 235whp. Which is just about perfect for a street E30.

  • jrw1621

    June 3, 2011 8:39 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

    Liv2race wrote: I have a budget of 4k and if I sell the e30 hoping to get at least 3k for that.

    Is the budget $3k (sold e30) plus $1k = $4k
    or
    Is the budget $3k (sold e30) plus $4k = $7k

  • mad_machine

    June 3, 2011 8:40 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

    how about a V8 E30?

    Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

  • mrhappy

    June 3, 2011 8:48 a.m. mrhappy Reader

    e30 V8 They have swap parts and a few videos of an e36 with a ford 302 in it.

  • Giant Purple Snorklewacker

    June 3, 2011 8:48 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

    You know... you could just pull the cam out the front and replace all the rockers. We have done it at the track, in the paddock in about 2 hours hampered by at least a 6 pack worth of booze. It is not a complicated or expensive job.

    EDIT: 2 hrs was to fix one rocker at cyl 5 not to replace them all. I'd pull the head if I was doing them all.

    Lord of drivel and harbinger of Floundering

  • ransom

    June 3, 2011 8:55 a.m. ransom Reader

    I'm not clear on why a Miata is an issue for track days. Am I missing something?

    Is it a matter of needing a roll bar or cage and/or hardtop?

    "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is." - Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut

  • Giant Purple Snorklewacker

    June 3, 2011 8:56 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

    ransom wrote: I'm not clear on why a Miata is an issue for track days. Am I missing something? Is it a matter of needing a roll bar or cage and/or hardtop?

    A lot of clubs do not allow verts of any kind without a full cage.

    Lord of drivel and harbinger of Floundering

  • HStockSolo

    June 3, 2011 8:59 a.m. HStockSolo New Reader

    In reply to Liv2race:

    I considered all three for my last purchase and wound up getting a 1994 325i.

    You should be able to find a decent E30 or E36 engine at the junkyard for pretty cheap. IMHO, The straight sixes make the E30 too nose heavy for autocrossing. An aluminum V6 conversion could be interesting. Front weight reduction should be a goal of engine swaps on most front engined cars. The E30 can benefit just from a shorter engine. Otherwise starting with an E36 chassis makes a lot more sense.

    A supercharged or turbo charged Miata is a decent SSM autocross car. I wouldn't ruin the Miata's balance with a V8, unless it was that little one they are putting into the Ariel Atom, but that certainly isn't cheap.

    The Fox body is inferior to the E30 in almost every way other than power.

    Other than the E36, I am still thinking about the 240SX and 1991 318is for autocrossing. Power is overrated.

  • Greg Voth

    June 3, 2011 9:03 a.m. Greg Voth HalfDork

    You should just buy my 5.0 Miata for $4k. Already has a cage as well. You would just need to put the top windows, HVAC and radio in it.

    Located in Daytona Beach, FL.

    If not that stick a 5.0 in the E30. I would take that over a Fox.

  • pres589

    June 3, 2011 9:29 a.m. pres589 Dork

    To get a Fox or SN95 to handle I think you're looking at about $3k using all new parts. If you can fit in a Miata and a Miata fits your needs for size/space, a V8 Miata seems like a better solution. A V8 e30 sounds like a treat but I didn't want to deal with a swap so I ended up with an SN95 when I was car shopping earlier this year.

  • tuna55

    June 3, 2011 9:36 a.m. tuna55 SuperDork

    pres589 wrote: but I didn't want to deal with a swap
    pres589 wrote: a V8 Miata seems like a better solution.

    Confused. Is the E30 V8 swap harder than the Miata V8 swap?

  • RossD

    June 3, 2011 9:37 a.m. RossD SuperDork

    HStockSolo wrote: ... I wouldn't ruin the Miata's balance with a V8...

    Ask Keith if a V8 ruins the balance of the Miata.

    http://www.targamiata.com/miataspecs.php

    Why would someone use a horribly balanced car for a targa vehicle? .

    I've got no V8 miata experience myself but my little 1.6 could do with some more ponies.

    00100001

  • June 3, 2011 9:45 a.m. camaroz1985 Reader

    We did a V8 swap in an E30 with a Lemons budget.

    Testing V8 E30

  • pres589

    June 3, 2011 9:47 a.m. pres589 Dork

    In reply to tuna55:

    I was talking about what I myself felt like I could accomplish in my basic garage in the amount of time I would want the thing completed. There were two separate statements there; I didn't want to deal with a swap myself, and both a V8 Miata or e30 sound like great vehicles for the OP's purposes.

    Since I want a DD that's fun to drive that I can throw some amount of stuff into, a V8 e30 would in some ways be the "best" for me. I think. Maybe. But since I don't want to be yanking engines and funking around in junkyards right now, I went with the car that came with a V8 from the factory.

  • HStockSolo

    June 3, 2011 10:20 a.m. HStockSolo New Reader

    RossD wrote: Ask Keith if a V8 ruins the balance of the Miata. Why would someone use a horribly balanced car for a targa vehicle?

    Targa <> autocross

    Sure, you can tune the suspension of a front heavy vehicle (ST Civics are a good example), but it still will not turn as fast as one with less front weight that is as well tuned.

  • njansenv

    June 3, 2011 10:33 a.m. njansenv HalfDork

    ^I "believe" a good LS1 swapped Miata isn't any more front heavy than a turbo 1.8 Miata.

  • ProDarwin

    June 3, 2011 10:52 a.m. ProDarwin Dork

    HStockSolo wrote: The Fox body is inferior to the E30 in almost every way other than power.

    And a Fox body can fit waaayyyy more tire.

  • Giant Purple Snorklewacker

    June 3, 2011 11:21 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

    ProDarwin wrote:
    HStockSolo wrote: The Fox body is inferior to the E30 in almost every way other than power.

    And a Fox body can fit waaayyyy more tire.

    You sure about that?

    Lord of drivel and harbinger of Floundering

  • 92CelicaHalfTrac

    June 3, 2011 11:22 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

    SCAVENGE THE SEA FLOOR FOR NUTRIENTS

  • ProDarwin

    June 3, 2011 1:56 p.m. ProDarwin Dork

    Yes, I am sure about that.

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