Hey Guys, Just checkin in.

Background:
Have Camaro.
Camaro goes fast...in a straight line...for now.
Have Blazer
Blazer has become a pretty much off road vehicle.
Want Miata

So thats the consolidated version.
I live in North Texas, just joined up so I can use the search button and look at some of the dynos posted. Probably wont hear to much from me for a while as Ill probably just be reading up.

 

Silence is golden newb, now go back to your closet.


Jk, welcome fellow Texan. Put your location in your profile as well so people can see it later when you post up needing help or in the classifieds.

If you get real serious about buying a miata and want one that comes with a lot of turbo parts, let me know. If my project doesn't wrap up really friggin fast I might be tempted to sell.

Reading is good...I'm about 1/4 of the way done here.

 

No Id probably buy a stock one, Started looking already and cant pick up a decent 91-95 for pretty cheap.

I bought the camaro already slightly modded. From now on Im startin from scratch so I know for sure everything is done right and the way I want it.

And itd probably be a while before I did anything major to a miata anyways. Gonna finish up the new motor for the Z28 before I start another project.

If I bought a miata Ill probably do suspension and maintenance then go back to work on the Z.

 

Cool, you should be able to find a decent one either up near dallas, or here in Houston. Will let you know if I see anything.

 

alrighty. Be glad to hear from you, and yah I found quite a few in dallas already.

Pretty much my only prerequisites are
RED Good-decent paint
MANUAL
nothing HORRIBLY wrong with it. I can fix most things.
And Cheap as in under 5K

 

That shouldn't be hard. Saw a red one here in decent shape WITH a hardtop go for $3300 recently. That should be a pretty good baseline.

 

Meh Im not a big fan of the hardtop.

Quick question, Ive been reading but there are so many differences between years (Im used to Fbodys and Y bodys) and I just cant keep up. Is it worth paying the extra money for a 95 and up, or get an earlier one for cheaper. Cause for some strange reason I seem partial the really early ones.

This question excludes the 1.6, I wouldnt mind having it and probably wouldnt swap it out. Im refering to any suspension, drivetrain or brake differences.

 

94+ had bigger brakes, but you can upgrade a 90-93 to those. No need though, just get the right brake pads and the 90-93 brakes do fine.

94+ also have the chance of having a Torsen diff. 90-93 was all open or VLSD and the ring/pinion are smaller. 94+ definitely has the preffered differential, but you can upgrade your 90-93 to the Torsen (need the diff w/ housing/carrier, halfshafts, and driveshaft) but it will set you back $600-1000. Also, some 94+ came with open, so you need to confirm it has a Torsen.

 

Oh I know the differences technically speaking and that wasnt what I was looking for.

I was wanting advice from people who have owned the cars, and upraded them, and wanted their personal insight on wether its better to pay for it on the original purchase of the vehicle or get a cheaper car and upgrade it.

For example, get a 90-93 and leave the stock sized brakes but upgrade them. Or get a 94 plus and keep the stock stuff, it will perform just as good as the upgraded 90-93 stuff. What im saying is, does the 94 stuff have an advantage over the upgraded 93 stuff or is it simply just a better canvas to start with because of the bigger brakes.

I know thats kinda hard to follow, sorry.

 

Yeah, search around here. There's A LOT of discussion on 90-93 vs. 94+. There is no "answer" really. Yes, the 94 has a bigger engine, bigger dif, and bigger brakes. But some would rather get an older miata and upgrade all those things. 94's are regarded as the "best year" by some because they had the bigger brakes, bigger diff, almost every 94 had a torsen, bigger engine, real working oil pressure gauge, OBD1, and a few other things. Do your research, but if I were you, I'd buy a clean low mile 94' for 3500 before I stole a 92' for 2200. Because you'll end up spending a lot of time and money upgrading the older one if you want everything that came on a 94'.

 

EWH. I forgot all about OBD1. Im really not a fan of OBDI, because I love how easy it is for me to get my OBD2 car inspected.

But I will have to do with it because I really dont want a 96+ miata.

 

Thats what I was looking for, but before I decide I guess I really have to find out what kind of performance im looking for and how far people are going with the stock stuff.

This wont be an all out build like the camaro, Im really only looking for about 200 to maybe 250whp that handles pretty darn good.

 

What's wrong with 96+ miatas?

 

Nothings wrong with them.

Im just really partial to the first couple of yeras a buddy of mine had a 91 and thats what got me into miatas.

Shots of it in action.
Excuse the filming action it wasnt me, and excuse the driver he was eating cheese fries haha.

 

Don't forget about the fragile rearend of the early Miatas.

Just a FYI.

 

There is no difference between a 94/95 and a 96/97 other than the later being ODB-II.
I see more reading in your future

 

Meh. Im used to a fragile rear end haha.

My car has a 10 bolt in it. It didnt like the drag radials.

 

We need pics.

Welcome.

 

Pics of what? The carnage?

If thats what your talking about I didnt even pull the diff cover.

I side stepped the clutch at about 4.5K and it moved about 3" then just hit the limiter. we pushed it back into the pits, threw it on the trailer and about a week later took it to my tranny guy.

About a year ago, it has since started whinning again, haha.

 

90-93 = same
94-97 = same

You visually can't tell the difference from a 94-95 and a 96-97. Period. End of story. But, if you want OBDII, you want 96-97. You are just a bit mixed up on your years.

Read this. You will learn much about the different years.

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