Meet and Greet Say Hi. De-noob yourself.

I want to build a fast Miata

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-08-2010, 09:01 PM
  #1  
Newb
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
mpicanco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 38
Total Cats: 0
Default I want to build a fast Miata

Hi everybody, I'm a new Miata owner. I bought a 1995 Miata with 160k and I'm in the process of stripping the car down. I plan on doing new pistons, rods, head work, turbo, etc.. I would like to build the motor to 300+rwhp. I'm open to suggestions from all the Miata experts. [IMG][/IMG]
mpicanco is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 09:19 PM
  #2  
Newb
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
mpicanco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 38
Total Cats: 0
Default

Current picture[IMG][/IMG]
mpicanco is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 09:29 PM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Full_Tilt_Boogie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 5,155
Total Cats: 406
Default

9.0:1 forged pistons
Rods
T3 flanged turbo mani (lots of choices in 300+hp Turbos with that flange)
good sized FMIC
3" exhaust
standalone ECU

That should do the trick
Full_Tilt_Boogie is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 09:31 PM
  #4  
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
 
shuiend's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 15,176
Total Cats: 1,680
Default

Originally Posted by Full_Tilt_Boogie
9.0:1 forged pistons
Rods
T3 flanged turbo mani (lots of choices in 300+hp Turbos with that flange)
good sized FMIC
3" exhaust
standalone ECU

That should do the trick
You forgot the Check Book or Visa, most important part of the build.

Goodluck with the build. I would highly suggest you got for 200hp to start with and then move up. Mostly so you do not kill yourself.
shuiend is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 09:37 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
bayside blue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: seabrook nh
Posts: 396
Total Cats: 0
Default

Welcome.

I agree the check book is gonna be the worst part of the build. I spent just under 9k to build my motor and all required upgrade parts for one of my last miata builds.

Its also funny that I recently bought a turboed miata(97) in that same color from someone in lowell.
bayside blue is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 09:43 PM
  #6  
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
southernmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: TN
Posts: 328
Total Cats: 4
Default

I hope you aren't putting those cams on the floor back in the car. ;P
southernmx5 is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 09:50 PM
  #7  
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
18psi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,481
Default

have you driven a 300whp miata? Just wondering.....
Just about every other noob jumps in with hopes and dreams of 9000hp and conquer the world then usually disappears.

I'm not saying you can't do it or shouldn't, if you pull it off I'll just compliment you, just want to make sure you're not pulling that number out of your ***.
18psi is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 09:54 PM
  #8  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
fooger03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 4,140
Total Cats: 229
Default

For 300 hp;

Step 1: Plan to replace nearly the complete drivetrain, from the air intake box at the front, to the rubber touching the ground at the rear. The only unmolested factory OEM parts in my setup are the rear axles/hubs.

Edit: Oh, and the rubber exhaust hanger mounts too, but not all of them
fooger03 is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 10:09 PM
  #9  
Newb
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
mpicanco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 38
Total Cats: 0
Default

I remember seeing that Miata on craigslist bayside blue. I had bought my 95 right before your Miata in Lowell was posted. Small world. 9.0:1 pistons why not 8.5 pistons?
mpicanco is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 10:11 PM
  #10  
Elite Member
iTrader: (51)
 
gospeed81's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Spring, TX
Posts: 7,257
Total Cats: 26
Default

Welcome dude...good plans.


300whp Miata

Cost: $6000 minimum, $8000 realistic

Amount of driveline changed:
Transmission, completely built motor, full exhaust and intake tract, maybe a TorSen rear, massive rubber, high torque clutch needed

Stupid fast


250whp Miata


Cost: Can be done, well, for $2000-3000

Transmission fine, motor fine if strong, LSD not a necessity, cheaper clutch options, basically just get a good clutch and change the full intake and exhaust tract, pick up some cheap 15x7s and there are lots of good street rubber choices

Pretty damn quick




Do a compression and leak down test on your motor and see where to go from there. If it does need a rebuild anyway you might as well at least put rods in it and be able to play around between 250-300whp. Lots of guys pushing close to 300 on stock pistons, but rods definitely need to be forged.

A 200whp Miata is hella fun, and 250whp is really the sweet spot with these cars.
gospeed81 is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 11:23 PM
  #11  
I'm Miserable!
 
SlideRuler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 489
Total Cats: -6
Default

I'd start with the $3400 Flyin Miata turbo kit for 180whp at 8psi. Get hard oil/water lines. Flyin Miata happy meal clutch kit, race radiator, bigger intercooler if you don't have A/C, and a turbo exhaust. If you decide you want more power, you can always purchase the Hydra ECU separately and run 12psi and 265whp, and get the upgraded injectors with clips. I trust FM. This is the route I'll be taking when I'm ready to purchase all the parts at once early next year.
SlideRuler is offline  
Old 07-08-2010, 11:31 PM
  #12  
Newb
 
ModZZilla's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 18
Total Cats: 0
Default

I agree with GoSpeed. 250 is the spot. For autox I found that # to be very trackable and affordable. And at 426hp, you can't shift a Miata gearbox fast enough
ModZZilla is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 03:39 AM
  #13  
Elite Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Bond's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Southlake,Texas
Posts: 3,219
Total Cats: 15
Default

Originally Posted by ModZZilla
I agree with GoSpeed. 250 is the spot. For autox I found that # to be very trackable and affordable. And at 426hp, you can't shift a Miata gearbox fast enough
And you know this because...
Bond is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 11:46 AM
  #14  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
fooger03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 4,140
Total Cats: 229
Default

Originally Posted by Bond
And you know this because...
+1 In for answer!
fooger03 is offline  
Old 07-12-2010, 12:49 PM
  #15  
Moderator
iTrader: (12)
 
sixshooter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 20,650
Total Cats: 3,011
Default

Originally Posted by mpicanco
I remember seeing that Miata on craigslist bayside blue. I had bought my 95 right before your Miata in Lowell was posted. Small world. 9.0:1 pistons why not 8.5 pistons?
+1

8.5 is better. 8.0 is more bettererer still.
sixshooter is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
elesjuan
Build Threads
9
11-14-2018 12:18 PM
babydriver
Meet and Greet
10
11-12-2015 12:53 AM
Johnny Tater
Engine Performance
3
09-23-2015 06:10 PM
ProjectDDoS
Build Threads
1
09-09-2015 01:52 PM
main
Meet and Greet
2
09-05-2015 01:03 PM



Quick Reply: I want to build a fast Miata



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:25 AM.