It was only a matter of time before the mad scientists at Flyin' Miata put together a V-8 conversion for the fourth-generation ND-chassis Mazda Miata. That time has come, and the muscle-infused minimalist sports car is just as glorious as we could hope for.

Flyin' Miata has been offering go-fast solutions for the Mazda Miata since 1989 and has been shoehorning V-8s into Miata engine bays for the past eight years. The company says it took lessons learned from previous swaps and applied it to the newest Miata, addressing weak points from earlier conversions to make this one "the best yet."

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The Flyin' Miata V-8 conversion endows a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata with a GM LS3 6.2-liter V-8, offered in three flavors. The base kit sources a stock engine found in a previous-gen Chevrolet Camaro or Corvette and is good for 430 hp. A step up from that is the LS376/525, a crate engine with a hotter camshaft. Lastly, an LS3 E-Rod equipped with emissions monitoring gear is offered for customers in less hot rod-friendly states. All engines come backed by a T56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission with a custom shift lever. Flyin' Miata says it can also perform the conversion on the upcoming power targa-top Miata RF and the Miata-based Fiat 124 Spider.

All parts used in the conversion are new, and Flyin' Miata says it tries to use as many OEM parts as possible to make future part replacement easier. As you might expect, the V-8 comes with some extra weight. The conversion adds roughly 250 pounds to the Miata's curb weight, but the tuner says the car maintains a similar weight distribution (53/47 front/rear versus 52/48 stock). Flyin' Miata says the conversion will produce a "fully integrated car and not just a big engine rammed into a little car."

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To that end, the company strived to keep the Miata's handling characteristics intact. It also hopes to improve feel by replacing the standard electric power steering system with a variable-ratio hydraulically assisted unit. All other features that come stock with the Miata will continue to work, including the push-button start and original gauges. Traction control, however, has been removed.

How much will this marriage made in heaven cost you? The turn-key conversion starts at $49,995, not including the car. You could argue that you could almost buy a new Corvette Stingray for that money, but Flyin' Miata believes it's selling more than just a Miata with an engine swap. "The guys buying them aren't buying a Miata, though," company rep Keith Tanner told us in an email. "They're buying a hand-built V-8 sports car based on an excellent chassis."

Below is the company's full list of specs and options for the Flyin' Miata ND conversion.

Specifications

430 hp 6.2L LS3 V8 engine with a two year warranty - a 2015 Camaro SS engine

6-speed T56 Magnum transmission with a custom shift lever

FM spec Moroso steel oil pan with baffling

LS7 clutch and flywheel

AAM differential from a 2015 Camaro

custom-built dual pass crossflow radiator

dual Spal fans on a custom shroud

new aluminum driveshaft

heavy duty halfshafts

stainless steel headers and dual exhaust with a lifetime warranty

Magnaflow high-flow dual catalytic converters

upgraded fuel system

new GM-built engine wiring harness and engine management

Flyin' Miata custom engine dyno tune for more power and improved drivability with our specific parts

OE-style motor mounts for good NVH control

custom air intake system with hot air baffle

rear mount Odyssey battery with kill switch and engine bay jump start terminal

Corvette C6 starter

fully functional stock gauges

FM sway bars front & rear with adjustable end links

Flyin' Miata FOX Racing suspension

ABS

FM four wheel little big brake kit

air conditioning

Hydraulic steering conversion

relocated washer bottle

many custom stainless brackets required for a clean installation

Flyin' Miata alignment

Options and upgrade prices: