Bloopdog

Couldn't find much on this but I have some questions some of which I know the variety of answers ill get. Recently got done doing new valves in an r56 n14 Mini Cooper S. Nice 1.6l turbo. I have a 2002 Miata and I think the time has come to start gathering parts to turbo it. This isn't an off the wall buy a just-bolt-it-together kit hence why this is in diy turbo category.

Anyway whilst working on the mini we had some parts we needed fast and not necessarily new; to the junkyard we go where I find a pristine r56 n14 with an untouched engine bay. Had been crumpled in the rear. Now these minis aren't known for their reliability, but most of that lies in seals and engine components.
Turbo, lines, manifold, hell intercooler all in tact, with no shaft play in the turbo, good looking blades. I can get this turbo, manifold, and lines for a little less than 70$. Grab a cheap catless downpipe offline for it, and cut-weld it to my exhaust. Now we have a turbo with a very steep downpipe that will clear the firewall in the Miata. Next is the manifold. This part would be a little crude, but I'm not too shabby at fabrication, I would take a cast manifold for the Miata, cut and weld the Minis manifold flange to the Miata manifold (both cast). now the turbo bolts up to the block.

Grab some oil lines with banjo fittings, new crush washers and the lines are done turbo side, then do the usual methods to get the drain to the pan and feed to the turbo. Same with the coolant lines, shouldn't be a problem. The mini turbo's inlet would face towards the front of the car, giving me easy access to do an over the radiator intercooler setup, however I don't see why I couldn't route it down to the sides of the intercooler. The only thing I'm unsure of is how the solenoid implemented into the mini's turbo would be either utilized or worked around. The rest of the diy turbo setup would be the normal and straightforward options for a diy turbo Miata.

I'm well aware this is a small turbo, but I wouldn't need anything bigger to get to my power goal. These turbos spool incredibly quick on the minis 1.6 engines. I know very little about turbo specs and how they relate to turbo performance and I'm sure it shows, I'd like input good or bad about how you all think it would perform given everything works and worst case scenario I'm out maybe $200 maximum for the junkyard parts and a new manifold/lines. Any input is appreciated!

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

Do you know how to weld? You will be building a DIY manifold and exhaust to use that turbo.

Bloopdog

Yes, I can weld and do decent fabrication.

Gee Emm

You seem confident enough in your welding capabilities, if I am reading that correctly go for it. The issue as I see it is not the outlay or your ability to complete a successful installation, but the reliability factor with the manifold.

If you tick the welding box, it is a no-brainer.

Can't help with the solenoid. That raises the issue of engine management, if you need intercooling presumably you have that covered?

Having said that, you are being a pioneer. I have learnt the hard way that the way of the pioneer can be winding and rocky, and almost never follows the script written at the start. But life is an adventure, right?