LS3 V8 Mazda MX-5 “Flyin’ Miata” Sounds Insane, It's More Than an Engine Swap

The legacy of the Flyin’ Miata V8 conversion, however, soldiers on. Hoonigan AutoFocus had the opportunity to drive and check out the development prototype “Habu” in great detail, which develops more than 500 ponies at the crankshaft.

Of course, the bone-stock stick shift had to go because 489 pound-feet of torque are too much for Mazda’s transmission. Keith Tanner of Flyin’ Miata explains that the T56 Magnum is the perfect replacement, a six-speed manual that can easily handle 700 pound-feet or more with cryogenic treatment and REM polishing.

Keith also mentions that the LSA – which is based on the LS small-block V8 engine architecture – doesn’t quite fit in the ND because of the supercharger. Even the LS3 makes do without the hood’s insulating pad, so don’t expect to service this cutesy convertible without scratching your head and getting your fingers hurt.

The rear end? Well, that doesn’t come from an MX-5 either. The Pontiac G8 or Chevrolet Camaro are perfect for this application, and both donors are GM designs like the eight-cylinder lump. Of course, the electrics and electronics have to be adapted for this drivetrain as well, a bit of a headache in its own right.

Habu has two powertrain control modules if you can believe it, the stock one from Mazda and a GM unit along with an interface box that “translates” all the information imaginable. To sum it all up in layman’s terms, the turn-key package from Flyin’ Miata is a lot more than your typical engine swap.

When it comes to the driving experience, the man behind the steering wheel says something interesting at the 1:14 mark of the following video. “I just can’t help but laugh,” said Larry Chen, which is pretty much the whole point of this ludicrous conversion.