Ford: Ford 3.0 302 V8 engine in a Madza Miata

The 5.0 is a very compact engine and will fit in a lot of vehicles. Will it fit
in a Miata? Do not know, but I suspect it will. The Sunbeam Tiger is a good
example. Very small British car with a Ford 302 sold through Chrysler. I believe
it was Bob Glidden that had a Ford 460 powered Opal GT on the NHRA circuit. That
would be the very opposite of the spectrum, but the point is if you have the
time, funds and skills anything is possible.
"CyberWolf" <com> wrote in message
news:YsLcb.4901$news.atl.earthlink.net... 

I _was_ going to leave this one alone, but now that the misinformation is
sneaking in...it's time for straightening you guys out.

The 5.0 in the Miata is a very common swap, and even has/had a company doing
them.

Monster Miata: http://monstermiata.com/

The Sunbeam Tiger (I used to own one) was initially a product of a British-owned
company, the Rootes Group. Beginning in 1964, it was offered with the Ford 260
2v V8. In 1967, it was offered with the 289 4v. Never with a 302, although it
is a straight swap. The Rootes Group was purchased by Chrysler in 1967, but the
318 wouldn't fit, and Chrysler killed the Tiger.

As far as Bob Glidden driving a 460-powered Opel GT, I seriously doubt it,
although I am not 100 percent sure. I do know he had a 427 powered 64 Fairlane
Thunderbolt and many 351C powered cars in the 70's, but since Bob was a Ford
mechanic at a Ford dealership, it is very unlikely he ever had an Opel GT.

Gerard
Thundersnake 14
 


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<com> wrote in message
news:com... 
British-owned 
260 
it 
the 

302 is the same physical size as the 289, so the use of 302 is generic. Chrysler
did eventually kill the Tiger, but not right away. It did market the car.
 
Fairlane 
I said I believe it was Bob Glidden, meaning it could have been some one else.
But some one was running a 460 powered Opal GT, and I am still under the
impression it was him.
 
fit 
believe 
That 
can 

Thomas Moats opined in news:supernews.com:

 

It very well COULD have been.... remember this was around the time of the
genesis of the "Funny Car" and that's where Glidden excelled.
But the classes that SHOW the Opel GT from that era are "{class}-Altered"
and "{Class}- Gas".

I did a search and did not come up with a Glidden / Opel connection but
a nostalgia prints site shows a Panella & Miner Opel Gasser (Funny config)

http://www.precision-illustration.com/

And the KS Pittman Opel listed as Altered but part of the Gasser family..

These WERE funny cars... the bodies were fiberglas replica

I KNOW Gasser's used straight axles... and believe Altered's did too.

Remember the 64 Thunderbolts and Cyclones were "A F/X" factory experimental

On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 20:45:53 -0400, Thomas Moats <me@net> wrote:
 

I have seen a Miata with a HO 5.0L v8.. he had to rebuild some of the
engine compartment (shallowed the wheel wells slightly, and had to lessen
his steering travel to make it fit) so yea, it is possible

Owner of the beast was the shop manager of a no-longer-in-business Mazda
dealership..

Just remember, that car's tranny was designed for a 4cyl, and the increased
torque of the V8 can likely cause some serious damage to the rearend if you
dont also do something there.


Chuck

thunderbolts and cyclones were B F/X cars
the A F/X was a falcon

He also ran a Plymouth Arrow in 79. In 98 and final season behind the wheel, a
Pontiac. As to the Opal, still not sure but I'm leaning that direction.
"Backyard Mechanic" <com> wrote in message
news:168.3.44... 

I saw a write-up in I believe 5.0 Magazine about the monster miata. They
first bolted the 5.0 straight in using the rest of the Mazda drive line but
the car was geared way too low with that configuration. So for drivability
it is not a straight forward swap.
<com> wrote in message
news:com... 
doing 
British-owned 
Ford 260 
although it 
but the 
Fairlane 
Ford 
it fit 
good 
believe 
circuit. That 
the 
 
you can 
and 
the 
anyone