romanservices

Hey all, Just got my first Miata today. I have been searching for a while for a good track / autocross car. Most everyone says get a Miata so I did.

Here's what I got.

1999 1.8 107k Miles - in fair condition - some scratches, dings and dents no major rust or show stoppers however the hood needs repair in the front as well as the rear bumper.

I was able to pick one up that has already had some mods. The previous owner was very good about keeping receipts and handed them all over to me when I bought it. I think with a little work I can get these mods back up to spec and have a decent car.

The following list was from the sellers listing - I have confirmed visually and with receipts that this is accurate. Could not visually confirm the motor rebuild but have receipts and sn's of parts used.

Suspension:
Tein Flex coilovers corner balanced @ Atspeed in Hanover, MD Full
Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings along with polyurthane differential mounts.
Racing Beat rear anti-swaybar w/ adjustable endlinks.
DBA slotted brake rotors
Braded brake lines (not installed)
Racing Lugstuds extened length and stronger than stock for the 15/225's
949 Racing light weight lugnuts

Motor:
Mishimoto aluminum radiator
Racing Beat daul tip muffler and Roadster Sport mid-pipe w/ cat.
Motor was build to handle boost w/ lower compression pistions, stronger rods, and 1mm oversized valves both intake and exhaust
225lb walbro intank fuel pump
Mazda Speed competition motor mounts
K&N air filter
Stock limited slip differential


Not Installed but came with it:

Xede ECU with fuel maps on a CD, 550CC injectors, exhaust header and down pipe, Garrett M24 ar.80 turbo (needs to be rebuilt) Confirmed this is the BEGi kit as i got the install manual with it.

Interior:
Stock Nardi steering wheel
Voodoo shift ****
Hard Dog Hardcore rollbar w/ harness tabs
Trackdog Racing 3 guage guagepanel w/ autometer boost guage and a clock


I'm happy to take advice on what to look for or what to start with first. - I know I want to get this turbo on and working. First I need to go through the entire car tighten/torque everything and clean up some rushed work. Should I get this M24 rebuilt or go with something different?

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Welcome.
I don't think m24 is the turbos name. Its probably a 2554 or 2560.
What are your plans and power goals with the car?

Also post pics and update your location in profile.

romanservices

Thanks, I will get some pics up tomorrow it's dark out now.
I would like to hit 200 whp start off with. run that for a while to get used to the car then bump it up a bit.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Should be easy to get to 200 with your mod list, but definitely add an intercooler to that.

romanservices

Ok here are some pics

anyone able to tell me what turbo this is?

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

sure on the right path for a noob.

Sean

iTrader: (12)

Nice car seems you are pretty much set to get started. Welcome to the forum I am another MD guy too, I live in Frederick. If you really wanna go fast though you are defiantly gonna need a 2JZ in that thing. You could put it in cheap if you need any help let me know.lol

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Where in MD are you? I am in Baltimore and have a heavily modified miata.

If you want to be able to get through MD emissions without trouble, I would stick with the xede. You can hit 300hp on that though which is pretty damn fun.

The engine bearings and headgasket in the pics confuse me. Didn't you say that the engine that is in the car is built? If not, stick to a 240whp target.

Need some more details on that turbo. Any other markings or numbers etc on it?

romanservices

Thanks for the good words, Im in the Pasadena area. as far as the turbo its marked Garrett M24 A/R.80 - I need to replace it(it's shot). The extra gaskets and bearings worried me also when I pulled them out of a parts box. however I think I know why they are there. in the engine rebuild receipt it indicates that after magnafluxing the crank they found a crack and got in a new one, so I'm thinking they had to use a different size bearings on the new crank. The seller told me that the first head he had done from flying miata was bad and had to get a new one so that + the rebuild kit = 2 sets of head gaskets ?? I hope ...lol



Faeflora I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questions down the road, 300 whp in this car sounds demonic....and I want it!! I did find some other mods already done like a light weight fly wheel and heavy duty clutch.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

why is the turbo bad?

romanservices

the shaft wiggles like 1/4 inch side to side and back n fourth. I have not taken it apart but I sure the housings are shot from contact.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

1/4" is a lot. if you cant make the wheel the contact when spinning, it should be okay. Push on it hard and rotate trying to make contact.

Sean

iTrader: (12)

The M24 Garrett is the stock turbo off a sr20T They can be had for under $100 all day on ebay I am trying to hunt one down right now for my 1.8T jetta. They are small but not too small and are easy to come by. I would not worry about it too much and if you have that much play deff get a new one.

Does it look like this?



This seems to be the most common configuration. I have seen and they make them in a bunch of different A/R's

romanservices

looks similar however mine does not have the 2 bolt flanges - the hose just goes right on - darn I hate beening a noob not knowing what to call things. lol...

Sean

iTrader: (12)

Its all good if you ebay search Garrett M24 there is a bunch of them and worst case if you buy one with the 2 bolt inlet flange you can get the adapter on ebay for another 30 bucks or so. Trust me being a noob is no big deal just think twice before asking a question and always Google and search your question first.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

Or if the turbo is bad, You could pick up any other sized t25 and put it on.

romanservices

update, project delayed during the summer but is back on track. Got a used turbo installed with a new intercooler and BOV. My xede turned out to be bad. Sent it to BEGi for testing, long story short DHL lost it on the way to Australia .. Lucky for me BEGi insured it so I got a new one at no cost.

I keep reading about the budget builds and I think I have everyone beat. When I bought this car I was handed a stack of receipts of everything done. So I know all the mods are legit. Once I got home I totaled it up and it was pushing 12k for everything.

here is the kicker... I bought the car for 3k paid an extra 500 for the turbo parts, xede & injectors. I picked up a solid used turbo for about 100 and the intercooler and BOV were another 300

3900 so far into the entire car... How am I doing so far for a noob ;-)

18psi

iTrader: (76)

pretty damn good it sounds like.
now just get it all to work, run right, and stay that way, which is the hard part.
you're definitely on the right track though. good job

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

You need to be at the dyno day on Saturday in mt Airy, MD. Be there or be square.

romanservices

as in this next saturday? can't :( car is not ready yet. still working out the tune, need to install the 550 injectors and ahem.. i kinda need to solve this headlight issue I am having. In my routing of the IC tubes I decided the headlights were to bulky and in the way. figuring there must be some sort of aftermarket solution out there I took them out. Right now I'm looking at using just the clear lense and fabbing up a back panel to hold some round projectors with halo's