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Hi, I'm Will.
I live in Georgia.
Long time lurker, but finally have some data worth sharing.
I have owned this miata since 2013. Bought it with 89k miles on the 1.6. I boosted the original 1.6L and daily drove that setup for 4 years on rudimentary street tuning done by my friend and myself.
In 2019, driving in a bad storm i splashed a puddle big enough to hydrolock my engine. Fast forward to now and it is back in action with a 1.8L I did an OEM rebuild on with the addition of forged rods and ARP headstuds. Everything else pretty much OEM Mazda other than the King Racing main bearings, I couldn't source mazda ones in the STD size at the time. The pistons are also OEM with new OEM rings. I'm running 1000cc injectors, AEM 340 fuel pump, kraken manifold/2.5" down pipe (he wasn't offering a 3" at the time, but I would really like to get my hands on one now that he does), chinese turbo sold as 2871 but I think it is more closely to a 2860. It does have a billet compressor wheel upgrade which is a nice bonus. I purchased this specific turbo for its larger exhaust housing at .84 AR. This past friday my set up was dyno tuned at Victory Motorsports in Loganville and I will attach the dyno plots below. It was handed back to me making 318HP and 261 lbs/ft TQ @ 17.6 psi. It made 285HP on the first pull. This is all on 93 pump gas. I have everything in place to go E85, but chose to hold off and get accustomed to driving the car at this power level. Then I'll upgrade my ignition setup and go back to get set up on E85. I will have video of it on instagram: @ MiataManMadrid
Those are decent numbers for your turbo size, boost level and pump gas.
Many people are quick to knock the churbos. Great bang for the buck. You just have to keep in mind what you're getting and not over expect. In the early 90s I ran some Garretts, and Rotomasters on a couple small block chevy projects. Had some of them fail as well but looking back some could be attributed to user error. The churbos are just easier on the wallet when they let go.