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Hi guys
So I've always been curious about boosting my car, I came across a used MKTurbo setup for a fair price
and handed over the dough. I was initially looking for a MS to play with tuning and later down the road piecing together a turbo setup but it seemed like a good deal and great for my application.
I am a straight noob on miata turbo stuff so I've been living on this forum doing as much research as I can.
I like to think I rescued my miata, got it for a steal, with a bent rear subframe... sat in this dudes driveway never to be fixed so I tossed a subframe in in his driveway and drove home with a perfect miata.
Here is my car as it sits today, 97 with 92,000 miles:
The Goal:
Make a reliable 180/200 whp
What I have installed:
-Exedy stage 1 clutch (rated at 200 ft/lbs)
-Mishimoto radiator
-hard dog rollbar
-corbeau fx1 seats/3in harness
The plan is to pull the motor and do timing/waterpump and a reseal of everything, as well as tap the oil pan for return. Play with megasquirt until I feel ready to install turboz
I need to decide if I'm really going to need a coolant reroute as I'd like to do it with the engine out with everything else...
Alot of people on this forum are back and forth on whether it's needed for a street car or not.
I will update the build as it comes along here! MiataTurbo has been the best resource and I wanna contribute
Also, yesterday cleaned up most of the surface rust on the downpipe and used ceramic high temp paint to finish it up.. plan on heat wrapping it before install.
Get rid of the Exedy clutch and buy FM, 949Racing, or ACT. You don't want to cheap out on the clutch as they are a pita to change. You will be breaking the 200whp barrier quickly.
Also put your location in your profile so we know where you are at.
What are you going to do for the exhaust from the downpipe back?
I've been on a ride along in his car and it was definitely plenty fast for me at the 230-240 hp he was at back then.
Yupp this is Colipto's old setup, I haven't put much thought into the rest of the exhaust though, would like to do something similar to the mk turbo kit's exhaust
Get rid of the Exedy clutch and buy FM, 949Racing, or ACT. You don't want to cheap out on the clutch as they are a pita to change. You will be breaking the 200whp barrier quickly.
Also put your location in your profile so we know where you are at.
Yeah this is something I've been thinking about, I still have alot of money to spend and not sure what to buy first
Ill be picking up a MSpnp next week, along with AFR gauge and injectors hopefully...
plan on pulling motor to do timing, seals, reroute and clutch if I have the room in my wallet at the time
Shipping kills any just exhausts unless you are within driving distance of me. My stuff is big and heavy.
FWIW, I paid $100 for someone to ship the 2.5 exhaust I bought. I think they had a fedex account. It shipped in two boxes. One was long as hell.
I mean, folks buy exhausts from ARTech and Enthuza too right? They definitely pay for shipping there as well. I was just saying that if it's not a zero sum thing for you, it might be worth it to see what the market decides.
That's enough of a thread derail from me.
On topic...
OP, I'm a newb too though I'm likely a little older than you. I have a few friends coming over this weekend to help with the install on a turbo kit in my car. I have an FM kit with the 2.5 inch exhaust. I've been running on megasquirt for about a month. I would recommend the MS3X (braineack) or MS3 Basic (Reverent sold by trackspeed). It's more expensive than the PNP or the MS2, but it's awesome. I've enjoyed learning the basics of tuning a lot more than I thought I would.
As an aside, if you're good with soldering etc. You can always build one. Brain has his instructions posted on Trubokitty. I would have loved to do this, but it's just not something I was comfortable putting all that time into right now.
FWIW, I paid $100 for someone to ship the 2.5 exhaust I bought. I think they had a fedex account. It shipped in two boxes. One was long as hell.
I mean, folks buy exhausts from ARTech and Enthuza too right? They definitely pay for shipping there as well. I was just saying that if it's not a zero sum thing for you, it might be worth it to see what the market decides.
That's enough of a thread derail from me.
I have to get custom boxes made to ship the mufflers and the mid pipes. It is $60 in boxes and packing materials alone. Actual shipment costs vary between $150-$200 depending on where they are going in the US based on the size, weight, and value of the boxes.
Enthuza keeps costs low by separating exhausts into multiple pieces which you then have to use clamps on to put together. He also uses a muffler that is a ton smaller and easier to pack. Same with Artech.
Believe me if I had a cheap way to ship my exhausts I would be doing it, it is just not cost effective. Since I can fit the rest of the turbo hardware in the boxes with the muffler and mid pipe, its the only effective way to cover those costs.
I have a Begi spacer. The spacer just wants Miata thermostat gaskets. Go to a local parts store & get a handful of peel & stick gaskets for like $1 ea. That way, you can locate and apply the gaskets before you shove the parts behind the head.
I'll be installing with the engine outside the car along with timing and clutch, just curious if a non peel and stick gasket would be more efficient at sealing. Thanks!
Yo, OP. Jon here. Glad to see you started a thread. 97 will be fun with inspection, since you will have to swap the ECU and injectors and put the MAF back in every two years to pass inspection.
For clutch, the 949 racing or FM1 is the way to go. I have the FM1 in mine. Can't go wrong with either. Come take my car for a spin this weekend to try out the FM1.
For the exhaust, hit up Dan's Auto in Newton NJ. They can make you one. You will need a cat or something for inspection though or the state places will fail you right away.
Injectors, just get the Flow Force ones I mentioned. MSpnp2 should be perfect for your needs.
As far as rerout on a street car, it can't hurt. You can get a cheaper kit than the BEGI one I am fairly sure? I know there is a spacer set for like $110 or something. I can help you get it in.
Oh, don't forget to dk the rear main seal. I have the FM tool.for that and a tool I made for cam seals as well, you are welcome to borrow them.
Feel free to hit me up if you need help with anything.