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Mazda MX-5 Miata

My ULTIMATE Miata Build - Pt.1
Make
Mazda
Model
MX-5 Miata
Sub-Model
NA
Year

Kostas' Mazda MX-5 has been a relentless 19-year project car that evolved from a stock 100 hp roadster into a wide-body, V6-swapped track weapon. This rebuild — carried out at Track-Speed in Greece — strips the car to bare metal for a full chassis refresh, FIA roll cage, and comprehensive recommissioning after 35,000 km of hard European touring and Nürburgring laps.

Best for —Track-day enthusiasts wanting a lightweight V6-powered roadster + Miata owners considering a full ground-up build + Fans of long-term project car journeys + Drivers targeting Nürburgring lap times in a small sports car + Anyone wanting NA Miata with modern V6 powerest · review

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8.2/ 10

Expert rating est · review

285hp
stock: 100+185
216lb-ft
stock: 96+120
4.8sec
stock: 8.5-3.7
13.2sec
stock: 16.5-3.3

Kostas is on a mission to redefine what the iconic NA Miata can be, and this first chapter of his ultimate build makes an emphatic statement. At the heart of the transformation is a full LFX 3.6L V6 engine swap — a dramatic departure from the Miata's traditional four-cylinder roots — breathing life into a chassis that was never meant to carry this kind of firepower.

With 285 horsepower and 216 lb-ft of torque pushing a notoriously lightweight platform, the performance numbers tell a compelling story. A 0-60 sprint of 4.8 seconds and a quarter-mile pass at 13.2 seconds place this NA Miata firmly in sports car territory, while a top speed of 145 mph underscores just how serious this build has become. Dedicated LFX swap-specific exhaust and header kits ensure the drivetrain package is cohesive and purpose-built rather than cobbled together.

To keep the added power in check, Kostas paired the engine work with an upgraded cooling system — including a new radiator and revised coolant plumbing — addressing the thermal demands that a V6 conversion naturally introduces. Complementing the powertrain work, a comprehensive suspension overhaul featuring new springs, dampers, and bushings brings the chassis dynamics up to a level worthy of the power on tap. With a build score of 8.2, this is only Part 1, and the foundation laid here suggests something truly special is still taking shape.

Kostas reflects that the car grew far beyond its original intent through incremental steps, and that taking it fully apart — something that had never been done properly — was the only way to truly finish what was started. His takeaway is that a project car needs a definitive reset moment to realise its full potential.

  • Full bare-shell strip and chassis inspection
  • Measure and straighten chassis for a 30-year-old shell
  • Install welded FIA roll cage
  • Full respray / paint refresh
  • Properly recommission LFX V6 swap
  • Achieve a sorted, reliable, fast track car
  • Address all deferred maintenance after 35,000 km of hard use
Scraped from Youtube · source ↗