Hello Everyone,
I have a 1996 NA8 Miata, being the first year of OBDII, In Pennsylvania I'm required to pass a emissions test every year and as far as I can tell that's only possible by keeping the stock ECU.
I want to turbocharge it with the goal to make 200 WHP or more but keep it emissions legal for now.
I'm aware that the easiest and most cost-effective way is to go standalone but that's frankly not an option if I want to daily drive this car without getting it re-titled as a street-rod.
I was looking into a kit from Flying Miata or something similar but I was unsure of what all the options are out there, Any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated, and I'm more than open to DIY at home build's as I have access to a full shop.
If I were to guess I would need a piggyback or parallel ecu of some sort but I have no clue where to start there.
Thanks!!

 

At least you’re not in California!

For those of us not from PA, can you explain a few things?

Who does the emissions inspection? Is it a government building you go to, or do independent mechanics shops do it?

Is there a visual inspection?

Is there any grandfathering or aging-out of the system? In some states once the chassis reaches a certain age, it may no longer be required to do the inspection.

Is the inspection computer-only or do you have an actual tailpipe test? If so, is it idle-only or under load on rollers?

Hopefully someone from PA can jump in with actual experience - maybe a mod can update the title to reflect that this is PA specific. Most emissions questions are about CA and not worth answering.

 

Who does the emissions inspection? Is it a government building you go to, or do independent mechanics shops do it?
The emissions inspection is done by independent shops approved by the state.

Is there a visual inspection?
In certain counties there is just a visual inspection but I live in a county that requires OBDII and Gas Cap tests.

Is there any grandfathering or aging-out of the system? In some states once the chassis reaches a certain age, it may no longer be required to do the inspection.
Everything 1996 and later requires an OBDII test and there is no easy way of exemption besides registering as an Collectible but that comes with mileage and driving restrictions.

Is the inspection computer-only or do you have an actual tailpipe test? If so, is it idle-only or under load on rollers?
For 1996+ vehicles in OBDII counties it is just a computer test no visual inspection, for counties without OBDII testing it is just a visual.

The computer test needs to check the emissions monitors set in the stock ecu,
I think a piggyback system would be the only real way to go unless I retitle the vehicle as a modified/street-rod but that comes with paperwork and state approval and the hassle of insurance afterwards.

I am a certified emissions and safety inspection mechanic in Pennsylvania but even with my knowledge of the program I don't see an easy way to get around the tight restrictions besides tricking the stock ecu with whatever values it wants to see or just retitling the vehicle as modified.

Emissions Regulations
Safety Inspection Regulations

 

FM and FFS both have CARB options I believe, 200whp might be possible.

Piggyback or even FMU might work. I ran a low boost build using FIC 6 successfully like 10+ years ago.

FYI CARB is an involved process that costs quite a bit of money and will always result in a moderate power build on a 1.8 if the CARB compliant configuration is retained.

 

Possible solution: ECU-Master DET3 piggyback. These are very capable and cheap units and have a lot of support in Europe. They can also do EBC and stuff, its very clever.

 

Fuel Management Unit’s seem like a simple option and may be the easiest way to go to start until I make the jump eventually to bigger boost.

The AEM FI/C 6 does seem like a quality option to achieve this all so i’ll look into that or he ECU-Master DET3, both seem great in practice but seems to likely be way more involved to where a full stand-alone may just be the better use of time and titling the car as modified to get around emissions.

Also trying to make this thread beginner friendly as I have been looking around the forum and all the acronym’s are quite confusing the first time you see them.

 

I've used a speeduino in parallel with the stock ecu on a 98 F150 for years. The initial install involved the speeduino only handling fueling. Even with the speeduino only handling fueling the stock ecu would generate codes relating to unexpected changes in AFR. If the Miata ecu is anything like my F150 ecu you're still going to have problems.

 

I believe FM stopped selling their turbo kits, but I may be wrong.

 

Your best bet is the FM kit, and if you want more power you can swap the ecu/injectors out, and then swap them back to stock for emissions testing.