780racer

Alright guys,

My name is Ryan.

I own a white NB2 that i have in "dd/project" mode.

I don't know where my project is going to go exactly, but i know after reading a LOT on this forum that i want a miata with about 225-250 whp. I also want to add that having a up to 300 whp miata would be a lot of fun, although from what i read they can get a little squirrely from time to time, and require a rather fat tire to get any kind of traction, and can cause some not so much fun time with exiting a turn in 3rd and lighting the back tires up. I am not looking for a V8 swap really as i have a buddy who does LS1 swaps (hot rod revolution) and i know the price and its too much for my wallet, but i do want to DD this, and not have huge problems with reliability, although i do realize the more parts/power/boost i make the reliability starts to deteriorate. I want something to carve turns, but also be fun on a strait away, although I realize from the get go that a miata is not a drag car, and i am not looking for that in this project.

So, i also want to go ahead and say that i DO NOT know everything, and if a make a stupid comment, please correct me as i am willing to learn, just need direction.


So now lets continue forward.

I have a few idea's bouncing around in my head, and i also want to get some input from you guys after i explain each scenario and what it takes/means...

I have 3 idea's in my head,

A: i can turbo my miata with a turbo kit and try to make about 225-240 whp (do-able) with my 5 speed (until it brakes) and my stock motor with little add ons, but no internals. I have heard that if i don't beat the crap out of my 5 speed, it should hold with about 225 but not too much more...

B: i could get the FFS supercharger kit, and make "225 whp" and have a nice responsive car.....

C: this is one that i have looked into and have a motor sitting in a friends garage sitting... a Ecotec out of a pontiac solstice GXP. But from what i have been able to dig up with Google, and what not, it does not look like that great of an idea from one stand point and a good idea from another.

The Ecotech is a OK motor, and i can get a hold of the motor for free, and get the rest of the parts for about 4K and installed with my buddy so no real labor.

BUT here is the other edge of the sword about that motor, i would want a manual, and the transmissions used in the saturn sky/GXP was the Colorado transmission out of the trucks, so not the best gearbox i can think of bolting to a miata......

But the motor makes ~250 hp stock and make close to 300 and have a cool different car, but the thing is, I have read its really not worth the swap as that number is achievable in a miata with the 1.8 and a 6 speed.....

I also want to add my real price point on this part of my build is really about 4K. I look to this community because you guys really have the more performance oriented miata's and i feel i can learn a lot on here from what you think about what i want to do with my car.

I look forward to hearing what everyone has to say, and ill get picks up soon!

Quality Control Bot

iTrader: (3)

Welcome to the site 780racer

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780racer

Let me go ahead before the flaming begins.


I AM NOT looking for a Turbo is better or supercharger is better thread. I also know what a 225 hp car costs and how i have to build it to an extent. What i more have made this post for is how you feel about those two options VS the ecotec swap.......

Plus I'm just stating what i want to do to the car and the options i have available to me.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Turbo the car.
The For ***** Sake thupercharger kit will not make 225whp unless you throw every bolt on imagineable onto it. It plain sucks. If you been reading on here a LOT like you said you should already know this crap.
The ecotec swap has not been done before and unless you're a fabrication and swap guru that's just a pipe dream.

Seriously.....Turbo it

FRT_Fun

iTrader: (19)

Needs turbo.

Also I like how you slipped in the thing about have a "nice responsive car"... Pretty sure a 2554 will give you plenty of "response".

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

Fast Foreword Stupidchargers are a MT.net "inside joke". Do a search and you'll see why. The Ecotec engine swap is cool and all, but I think it kinda sounds like a huge headache. I'd recommend you go for a kit sold by either Begi (Bell Engineering) or Flyinmiata. You can also pick up a used kit in the "for sale" section.

780racer

ok i can look into turbo kits then. Now my next question is with the power point between 225-240 what kit would fit that bill without to much additional work? i know the Flying Miata FMII kit would do that but its also like almost 2K above my price point. What kits do you guys really like?

Also thank you for not flaming me about the FFS kit. I come from the MX5atlanta.com forum, but i figured these questions are better answered on here.

Thank you guys! I will continue to read and learn about what kits are good and go turbo.... since the super charger looks like a lot more work for the power goals i want.


Edit: After looking at the begi kits i think i want to go with the S1 kit and getting the Xede ECU.... Thoughts? i know MSM is used a lot, and i have not used it before, but i see that the Xede also is "recommended" for the 99-04 miatas. and it also comes with 550cc injectors....

buffon01

iTrader: (9)

FFF is ****, serious. You want 225whp, how good are you at putting **** together? Cheap way to do is:

Starter kit from FM/Begi (or you can have one of the fab members make you a baller mani)
Cheap used 2560 garret or new chinaturbo from ebay with similar specs
MS/AEM/whatever you want
Injectors
Wideband
Random **** (gauges, etc)
Ebay intercooler and piping

And you should be 90% set (I am forgetting **** ATM)

OR, you could buy a whole kit from either of the previous vendors and save the time piecing **** together.

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

I'd go with a megasquirt, it seems to be the favorite of most users here and if it wasn't any good ppl here wouldn't want anything to do with it, plus since so many members are familiar with it theres more info on the sight about how to use it and more people to ask if you have a question. You can get a kit to build one at DIYautotune.com, buy an assembled kit from Braineack who is an Administer here or from the for sale section. There are probably other places to get them too.

FRT_Fun

iTrader: (19)

Clutch.

780racer

well my question about MS is this...... they don't have a PNP kit for the 01-04 miata's assume because of the VVT. So if i wanted to use MS i also have to get the VVT control box as well as the MS PNP kit for a 99-00?

i Dont like wiring..... So a PNP or something close would be proffered.....


I have a stage 3 F1 racing clutch and lightened flywheel already.... the clutch on my miata was going, and i knew i wanted FI in the future so i bought something that could handle 250 hp or so it claims....

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

I don't think Braineack builds PNP MS for VVT cars, but I think Reverant does. I'm sure somebody else will know.

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

Follow the mistakes me and many other members have made and save time and money.
In my opinion, to support your goal of 225-250whp, this is what I feel you should do.
1) Install a FM Level 1 clutch $350
2) Get this: http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?...%20BLK%20GAUGE
with the GT2560. $2995
3) Get a set of RX7-460 injectors, #195500-2210 for under $100 from someone on here selling them.
4) Get a fuel management that isn't a pain in the **** to set up, and can control your car's VVT.
5) This should easily yield 240whp at under 12psi, and cost under $5,000. Your car should get better fuel mileage than it did stock, and you'll make stock LS1 cars your bitch. The most important part is, you'll have a dependable setup that you can get parts for, and it'll be completely upgradeable when you feel necessary.

You can easily eliminate step #2 to make your wallet not so empty, but that's up to you if you want to find individual/ used/ etc, parts.

buffon01

iTrader: (9)

Your F1 will hold 300whp like a boss. No need for the FM1 clutch.

780racer

Yay! i knew my Ebay purchase was a good one! haha

so right now im in a legal battle with one of my old project cars that was sold without my consent and im not being given any money funded toward the car, or my aftermarket parts i brought it in the shop with either...... So once i am able to get the money i am owed i will be building my MX5+T and shoot for about 250 WHP. Now one other question, i have to pass emissions since i live in a county that requires it, and its OBD2..... My question is will MS2 work with that? Can i pass OBD2 emissions if i am running MS or how would i go about doing that?

FRT_Fun

iTrader: (19)

I'm gonna say if you want to pass emissions you need to run parallel. But others will prolly chime in with your real answer

780racer

If i run parallel, wouldn't it be the same as a piggy back then? reason i ask is if that's the case, then the MS sounds better than the XEDE kit they have since it is also a piggy back and most likely twice as much as MS2 from Reverant. Thank you guys for the information as i start to piece together what i need for this build of epic and awesome proportions, haha.

Also on a side note, i have herd from a few miata owners that the 5 speed is in fact weaker than the 6 speed. My question is how much power would you recommend to not blow my trans up immediately....... I am going to look now, but feel free to chime in if i cant find it before i find it.

Savington

iTrader: (31)

Where are you located?

BTW, the amount of reading you've done shows. Bravo, model noob.

780racer

Ok, i solved my own question, from what i have read thus far it looks like 300 whp is about the highest point before it goes boom, although my driving style can also make the trans last longer or shorter. It seems that my 5 speed will be just fine for my build, and i have also read that most people prefer to drive a 5 speed in a miata vs. a 6..... THAT i cannot really say anything about as thats opinion, and i have not driven a 6 speed, but i like the way my 5 speed feels...... Anyways guys thanks for the help!

Edit: I thought it was in my thread name? 2003 5 speed miata with torsen rear end, sport brakes, sport bilsteins, coil overs, the car has just about 60K on it. Have not done a lot of stupid stuff in it, i beat on it, but try not to beat on it too badly...


Also i live in Atlanta, GA

Edit: also checked the rear end, and it seems it should be suitable for my power levels as well as it looks they can handle almost 325 from what i read on M.net?

780racer

Cant tell if that was a compliment or a little bit of flame...... -_-

But i will take it for whatever it is worth..... IF i ask a stupid question, and i solve it i feel that I have redeemed myself to an extent....

Edit: read that i can run parallel and pass emissions.... My REAL question then is this, can i run it standalone until emissions time then swap it to parallel? What amount of work would that take? Thanks again guys!