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JeepinMatt
JeepinMatt Reader
12/20/09 6:46 p.m.

You wouldn't have clicked on this if I just typed V8 Solstice.

It's an interesting idea that me and about 94% of the country's population had, stuffing an LSx into a little Solstice (or Sky, whichever) I know that Mallett did them. And I know that Hot Rod Magazine did an LS7 swap in cooperation with GM. Supposedly the LSx fits rather easily into the car and makes it a formidable GM version of a modern-day Cobra.

One thing that jumped out was that HRM said the drivetrain swap added 700 lbs. I can't see this. Ok, so the stock EcoTec is aluminum block and heads, like the LS7. The LS7 is about 460 lbs if I'm right. About a hundred pounds heavier than the EcoTec, or there abouts? Then they swapped the old 5-speed out and in went the T56, with the Corvette Z06's clutch pack. The rear diff is just the stock Cadillac STS-V unit. So where's all that weight? A new exhaust, if they're counting that, but I wouldn't think that would be all that much heavier, if not lighter. Assuming they didn't mistype and mean it all weighed 700 lbs together. As a side note, anyone know offhand what the stripped-out Solstices (Solsti?) being used in racing weigh?

This would seem like such a cool project in 10 years, when you can snap up a used Solstice and an old LS3 for cheap. Bonus points if you can grab a rare coupe.

Buzz Killington
Buzz Killington Reader
12/20/09 7:46 p.m.

or you could throw an LS into a miata now for 1/3 the price and have a usable trunk.

friedgreencorrado
friedgreencorrado Dork
12/20/09 7:58 p.m.

In reply to Buzz Killington:

Well, that certainly killed the buzz..(now I will duck and run away)

JeepinMatt
JeepinMatt Reader
12/20/09 8:02 p.m.

Bah, a Solstice will be cheap when you give them a chance to depreciate. And trunk space rates right up there with vanity mirrors and those plasticky flower holders they put in Beetles. If I cared about how many grocery bags I could fit into it, I'd be somewhere far away from Miatas and Solsticeses. Could argue in favor of snapping up an old MGB and doing the same if you wanted to find the cheapest donor car at the moment. That actually sounds pretty cool... Hmm, Lord knows they've done it enough, especially with Rover V8s. And find a GT for that added rigidity.

Tighe
Tighe New Reader
12/20/09 8:05 p.m.

Hell, I have a Miata and a Solstice and still manage to stay 30 pounds overweight. You just have to want it bad enough.

1slowcrx
1slowcrx Reader
12/21/09 12:28 a.m.

I'm rally liking this idea.. I know it might get me killed to say it but.. I like the happa cars way better then the NC miata.

I think this would be a perfect swap. Although a turbo ecotech is just as fast? true?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
12/21/09 12:39 a.m.

I gave the Solstice a chance. Its an awful car. Awful in the way that a bunch of people could take a great idea, make it their own... give it looks, give it specs on paper and then so totally E36 M3 the bed when it came to implementation that it defies any logic at all.

  • Cabin made out of broken dreams?, check
  • Understeer like a tugboat, check
  • Engine note like a chevette at Pikes Peak?, check
  • Shifter that cant even find itself without looking at it?, check

The answer was Miata... now its MX-5. Do not be fooled by the pretty car with the indian brand... its a poser.

To answer the V8 thing... berkeley that. Put one in a car that doesn't suck and be happier.

Tighe
Tighe New Reader
12/21/09 12:40 a.m.
1slowcrx wrote: Although a turbo ecotech is just as fast? true?

No...Torquey, quick, and very fun yes. But flat out, raw, brutal power? No.

JeepinMatt
JeepinMatt Reader
12/21/09 1:51 a.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I gave the Solstice a chance. Its an awful car. Awful in the way that a bunch of people could take a great idea, make it their own... give it looks, give it specs on paper and then so totally E36 M3 the bed when it came to implementation that it defies any logic at all. - Cabin made out of broken dreams?, check - Understeer like a tugboat, check - Engine note like a chevette at Pikes Peak?, check - Shifter that cant even find itself without looking at it?, check The answer was Miata... now its MX-5. Do not be fooled by the pretty car with the indian brand... its a poser. To answer the V8 thing... berkeley that. Put one in a car that doesn't suck and be happier.

Ah come on you giant purple snorklewacker, the GRM answer to that is, well, I guess it's Miata, but I was going to say fix it. A new shifter isn't a big undertaking. Some better tires, suspension goodies and tuning would fix that handling. They're popular with the Kappa folks and you can make it much more neutral. And I don't know if you mean the cabin quality is crap, but as far as looks I think it was one of the best interiors on the market. The Solstice has done very well in stock racing, even against the Miata, so it gets respect in my book.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
12/21/09 7:25 a.m.
JeepinMatt wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: ... a terrible opine on the Solstice ...
Ah come on you giant purple snorklewacker, the GRM answer to that is, well, I guess it's Miata, but I was going to say fix it. A new shifter isn't a big undertaking. Some better tires, suspension goodies and tuning would fix that handling. They're popular with the Kappa folks and you can make it much more neutral. And I don't know if you mean the cabin quality is crap, but as far as looks I think it was one of the best interiors on the market. The Solstice has done very well in stock racing, even against the Miata, so it gets respect in my book.

I tried really hard to like it and maybe I'm bitter because I still think the car is hot looking. When I first saw it in magazines... I wanted one. I wanted it to be awesome and I'd have settled for just kinda really good because I wanted to like it. In real life - its not a sports car at all. Its a parts bin econobox all dressed up like a supermodel. It was so mediocre that fixing it would require pretty much everything. Maybe the GXP is the answer... It needs a different motor, different suspension and really, if that interior is the best they could do without calling the aussies... good riddance to Pontiac.

ZOO
ZOO GRM+ Memberand Dork
12/21/09 7:35 a.m.

I'd love an LS powered Solstice Coupe:

Rob

Buzz Killington
Buzz Killington Reader
12/21/09 1:52 p.m.
JeepinMatt wrote: Bah, a Solstice will be cheap when you give them a chance to depreciate. And trunk space rates right up there with vanity mirrors and those plasticky flower holders they put in Beetles.

...says the guy who'd rather drive the wide 2800 lb car than the small 2200 lb car. ;)

JFX001
JFX001 Dork
12/21/09 2:17 p.m.

Just a link for the Mallett version:

www.mallettcars.com/solstice-conversion.htm

JeepinMatt
JeepinMatt Reader
12/21/09 3:42 p.m.
Buzz Killington wrote:
JeepinMatt wrote: Bah, a Solstice will be cheap when you give them a chance to depreciate. And trunk space rates right up there with vanity mirrors and those plasticky flower holders they put in Beetles.
...says the guy who'd rather drive the wide 2800 lb car than the small 2200 lb car. ;)

GRM will eat me alive, but the S2000 and RX-7 FD are both high on my list of cars I'd like to get, higher than either of those two.

4cylndrfury
4cylndrfury Dork
12/21/09 3:54 p.m.
JeepinMatt wrote:
Buzz Killington wrote:
JeepinMatt wrote: Bah, a Solstice will be cheap when you give them a chance to depreciate. And trunk space rates right up there with vanity mirrors and those plasticky flower holders they put in Beetles.
...says the guy who'd rather drive the wide 2800 lb car than the small 2200 lb car. ;)
GRM will eat me alive, but the S2000 and RX-7 FD are both high on my list of cars I'd like to get, higher than either of those two.

Its no roadster, but Id rather have an (actual ) E36M3 to those two. If I was going for steel from the far east, IS300 for me please

RexSeven
RexSeven Dork
12/21/09 4:20 p.m.
JeepinMatt wrote:
Buzz Killington wrote:
JeepinMatt wrote: Bah, a Solstice will be cheap when you give them a chance to depreciate. And trunk space rates right up there with vanity mirrors and those plasticky flower holders they put in Beetles.
...says the guy who'd rather drive the wide 2800 lb car than the small 2200 lb car. ;)
GRM will eat me alive, but the S2000 and RX-7 FD are both high on my list of cars I'd like to get, higher than either of those two.

Agreed, esp. on the FD.

Back OT, there is also a Sky drift car with an LSx swapped into it:

Last I read on the Solstice forum is that Mallet is either out of business or has just stopped doing the Solstice conversion. There is still a couple of other places that do them though.

As far as the Solstice and GPS's comments... I don't know. I LOVE my Solstice. I test drove a MX-5 before my Solstice and while it did have some things that were better it wasn't a huge difference.

Both are around 170 -180 HP, The Solstice handles just as good as stock MX-5 (there has been a LOT written about the lackluster performance of the NC's handling). They both understeer a bit. A decent alignment helped the Solstice. The Miata does have a better trans/shifter and does have a usable trunk, I'll concede that. As far as the interior goes I also agree that the materials used feel a little cheap, but it does look good.

When it is added up the MX-5 IS a better car...... barely, but the Sol just looks so much better.

sobe_death
sobe_death New Reader
12/21/09 8:11 p.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I gave the Solstice a chance. Its an awful car. Awful in the way that a bunch of people could take a great idea, make it their own... give it looks, give it specs on paper and then so totally E36 M3 the bed when it came to implementation that it defies any logic at all.

I was in the camp of "want the Kappa to be better than it was" once it came out. I really, truly was. I was torn between the S2000 and the Sky redline until I saw one at an auto show. I opened the door and was amazed to find seats worse than those the Corvette has ( didn't think it was possible in a sports car) and an interior that felt like after 5000 miles I'd be jamming bits of paper under panels to stop squeaks. I was truly sad, and lost faith in GM that day.

I love my S2000

wspohn
wspohn New Reader
12/21/09 8:54 p.m.

Don't run down the qualities of the Solstice before you really drive them.

The NA version is lacklustre, low power, but the GXP is very good, and with the factory 290 BHP tune is better than many in its class.

The stock handling is better than most other sports cars in stock form, and when you tune it, it is really excellent.

Yes, the interior/dash is as uninspiring as any corporate effort usually is, but the seats are quite comfortable. luggage space doesn't enter into it - who ever bought a sports car for luggage space?

As for stuffing V8s into them, yes, that seems to be the American way, but it should be noted that the LNF Ecotec is an amazing engine and swapping isn't the only way to achieve power in these cars. low 300 range with 340 ft-lbs is dead easy and you can do more extensive mods to attain 450 + BHP out of this little 2 liter engine which gives you V8 like power - and remember that torque is one of the qualities of a turbo engine.

We have guys with a bit of computer retuning, turnng sub 13 second 1/4 miles with the original engine. How fast do you need to go?

I bought my coupe because this was the only American built car in 20 years that even made me look twice (I am not a Corvette fan, although I admire them, I wouldn't own a Viper on a bet, and the last one I liked I bought - an 88 Fiero GT, and then doubled the power output).

You shouldn't judge the old Fiero by one of the base models with that Iron Puke 4 cylinder in it; why would you judge the Solstice by the base model, when the GXP has totally different engine and suspension settngs?

JeepinMatt
JeepinMatt Reader
12/22/09 1:25 a.m.

GRM seemed to really like the Solstice and compared it favorably to the MX-5. It's surprising to read this stuff here and then go read the article. Per wrote up the article three years ago. Maybe he'll chip in if he sees this.

daytonaer
daytonaer Reader
12/22/09 7:47 a.m.

I love the saturn or the pontiac coupe. so pretty.

However, when I think "kappa v-8" I think corvette, better all around and cheaper...IMO

The main instigator of that thought was seeing both cars at a "new car show" and realizing they are very close in size. And I really don't know why they put a trunk in that car, seriously, its beyond a cruel joke.

wspohn
wspohn New Reader
12/22/09 8:33 a.m.
daytonaer wrote: And I really don't know why they put a trunk in that car, seriously, its beyond a cruel joke.

Yup. There are actually two closed cubbies in the back of the coupe, arranged around the space that the stock muffler takes up. Replace the muffler with a performance exhaust that has twin in line mufflers and there would have been room for a normal, albeit shallow trunk under the back deck. On after market concern actually offers such a thing, but at $1,000 for the conversion I think I'll pass.

The issue isn't so much space, as there is reasonable space back there (not big enough for a golf bag though) but concealed space. I think I may get a large black beach towel to cover anything that I put back there that is too large to go in the compartments.

GM thoughtfully provides a cargo net that attaches to built in attachment points, obviously knowing owners will stuff the back with whatever and wanting to avoid lawsuits when the whatevers become projectiles in a crash. The net is handy, though. Just can't figure out how to keep a small dog under it, mind you....

Other than that, the coupe gives you a compartment at your elbow between the seats (large enough for a radar detector or a few CDs, a regular glovebox of decent size, pockets between you legs in the front of the seats to keep things like change for meters (although the nice lady at the toll booth might wonder if you are looking for something or are just glad to see her...) and a couple of other small areas to stuff things..

Certainly not up to some British car standards, although an MGA raodster with top down and spare in the boot w ould be similar. Never before thought of my TR-3 as a veritable moving van among sports cars, with a decent sized boot!

Cotton
Cotton HalfDork
12/22/09 8:36 a.m.

We bought out GXP coupe after living with a GXP convertible for 3 years. We liked the convertible a lot, but like the couple even better. I didn't buy my 911 for the interior...same with the Solstice.

As for trunk space....the convertible one was usable with some creative packaging, but the Coupe actually has a lot of storage space in the hatch area.....much more than the convertible.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
12/22/09 9:02 a.m.
Cotton wrote: I didn't buy my 911 for the interior...

Neither did I but my 911s interior is 20yrs old and still made out of better stuff. Its also faster, lighter, makes more power and handles better than a Solstice GXP. It was a lot cheaper too. Its also not really a fair comparison.

They should have just asked the folks at Holden to build it. Truthfully - the coupe looks so good that I might just wait until I can get my hands on one for under $5k and replace the parts I don't like with a roll cage and coilovers. It will solve the weight problem too.

Cotton
Cotton HalfDork
12/22/09 10:00 a.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Cotton wrote: I didn't buy my 911 for the interior...
Neither did I but my 911s interior is 20yrs old and still made out of better stuff. Its also faster, lighter, makes more power and handles better than a Solstice GXP. It was a lot cheaper too. Its also not really a fair comparison. They should have just asked the folks at Holden to build it. Truthfully - the coupe looks so good that I might just wait until I can get my hands on one for under $5k and replace the parts I don't like with a roll cage and coilovers. It will solve the weight problem too.

My 911 is an 85. What year is yours? Mine has 207HP stock and the Solstice has 260, so no it is not more powerful. The Solstice GXP also handles much better. Have you driven a Solstice GXP? I drive the 911 and GXP back to back at times and I love my 911, but I'm really not sure what you're talking about....faster (no), lighter (yes), more power (no), handles better (no).

I agree it really isn't a fair comparison....I guess I'm just comparing it to cars I currently own. My 944 Turbo would actually be a better comparison.

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