roninsoldier83

Hello there!

My name is Brandon, and I just recently picked up a 1990 Miata that is slated to be my new project car, that will serve as an autoX/track play toy!

I come from a bit of a tuning background, mostly piggybacks & flash based tuning software (mostly on turbo Subaru's, but have played with a few other platforms here and there as well). However, this is my first Miata, so I'll have to excuse my ignorance, as I'm new to the platform

Currently, my daily driver is an E90 BMW 335xi (twin-turbo, direct injection I6) 6MT which is a great daily, but aside from an OTS flash tune (will eventually self tune it when Cobb releases ATR self-tuning software haha), it's stock, and I plan on keeping it that way, as I've been known to go a bit overboard with daily driver's in the past haha.

In the past, I've owned an Infiniti G37x, a '06 Subaru STI, '06 Mazdaspeed 6, '03 Nissan 350Z, '04 Subaru WRX, a 2nd Gen DSM & a 1991 Toyota MR2 turbo, all of which were modded to some degree (some further than others haha).

The 1990 Miata I recently picked up has 129k original miles on it, a few mods here and there (intake/exhaust, coilovers, torsen LSD, RB FSB ect), but passed emissions with flying colors and the motor/tranny seem to be in pretty decent health. The car was a little banged up (previous owner hit a fence haha), but I've just replaced a couple body panels (just hood & headlight lids- it's being painted as we speak) as well as put in a new soft top and ordered a few bits here and there that needed to be replaced. The A/C has been removed, and the power steering has been de-powered, and since this isn't my daily driver, I'll like keep it that way

While I've considered a V8 swap (we have a couple of V8 swapped Miata's locally that I dig), at this point, the long term goal of the car is to boost it! I'm considering picking up a 1.8L LB (sounds like the 1999-2000's have a better flowing head with VVT, so it looks like the route to go), building it for boost (forged internals/low compression slugs) and throwing a decent sized snail at it. No particular power goals, but I'm thinking somewhere around ~200whp should keep me happy

I won't lie, I'm still researching engine management solutions for this bugger, and it looks like a PnP solution like the MegaSquirt might be the route to go. Although, I realize the NA Miata's don't have knock sensors from the factory... does anyone know is the MS can/will support an aftermarket knock sensor & apply knock correction? Also curious about using the MSPnP with a 1999-2000 block in a 1990 chassis, if everything will be compatible (i.e. harness), but maybe those are questions that I should be asking in the tech section(s) haha!

Either way, glad to join the community, and look forward to boosting this bugger!

-Brandon

roninsoldier83

I figured I would update this thread as I finally got around to snapping a couple pics of my cars. My 335xi is almost stock, just a Cobb AP stage 1 flash (I'll be tuning it myself once they release ATR software, but no other plans for it, with just the flash, it pulls on my brother's '06 400 LS2 powered GTO at this altitude), and my Miata has mods listed above, with many more to come.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Welcome. You are off to a good start. There is much already written here about the information you seek. Start with the DIY FAQ and then the search button. I seem to remember several good discussions about knock sensors. Beware, the thread titles often don't tell the story about where the conversation goes.

Good luck.