Sqwrly

Starting a build thread for my car. This will likely be slow going after my initial info dump.

I bought this in May of 2021 with 64k on it. I've put 3k miles on it as of this writing. It's pretty damn clean. It has some tiny dings and scratches but no rust. The current plan is to shoot for 250HP and later down the line do some bottom end work and push it to 300ish. This is a street car that I will take to some track days for fun. Not a pure race car. After buying this I sold my Tacoma a few months later. We just use my GFs Fit as our "daily" I work from home full time so the Miata is technically my daily but I never leave.

I replaced the timing belt and did a QMAX coolant reroute right after buying the car. I also replaced both soft top latches, the passenger side was only working because it had a sheet metal screw in it. When I first bought the car I really wanted to get a hard top, but after having the car for more than a year without one, I don't want one. I take any chance I can to have the top down, I love it. I also put my double din Kenwood head unit that was in my truck before I sold it so I can enjoy my Android auto.

In spring of 2022 I picked up some bronze 15x8 RPF1's with 205/50/15 ECS tires.

This shot is right after I had it detailed over the summer.



My favorite little mod has been putting Jeep Commander vents in. I was waiting for a black set to pop up on ebay for cheap. They are easier to aim, stay in place and you can close the ones not in use for more flow. All around, great little mod.



After that I put in a hard dog M2 Sport roll bar. While I had most of the carpet out for the roll bar I put some dampening on the floor pan and rear shelf. I also added some extra insulation around the transmission tunnel. I topped that off with the thick DEI under carpet insulation. I also replaced the rear shelf carpet with one I picked up from a local. The one that was in there was still nice and dark but it had a horrible smell to it. Smelled like cat ****. Happy to say the smell is now 100% gone with that piece of carpet replaced.

This is a pretty current photo and the only one I have with the bar in. Forgot to take pictures of the whole car after I put the bar in. I took lots of pics as I installed it and did the under carpet stuff. (Yes I know my gas cap is popped and it needs a bath lol)



I also did a shifter rebuild and bronze bushing while I had the center console out for the roll bar. I topped it off with a delrin shift **** I got on ebay. It was the right threads but wasn't threaded deep enough as sent. It also wasn't countersunk to fit the part of the shaft that gets thicker. So I tapped it the rest of the way and used a step drill bit I had lying around to counter sink it. Honestly the shifter rebuild didn't change the feel much. I guess mine was still fine and not quite in need of a rebuild yet.

Before:


After:



Currently it's back on the factory wheels with Kumho Ecsta PA51s for the winter.

Now for the future there is a lot planned and a lot already purchased.

I have an MS3 Pro PNP and AEM UEGO ready to go in. I've just been taking my time watching Megasquirt videos so I can attempt to tune it myself on the stock setup before adding the turbo. I'm debating doing the MS3 and tune during the winter, haven't decided yet.

I have a slowly growing pile of Miata parts in my living room. We'll see how big the pile can get before my gf gets upset. But overall she's cool with it and loves the Miata(it's her dream car).

It's a 5 speed and as far as I know it's an open diff. I tried asking Mazda but they said they don't have the records anymore. I haven't tried the one wheel on dirt on on pavement method yet. But I'm assuming it's open.

Stuff I have ready to go in:

Xida Race 700/400
V8 Roadster Pro tubular control arms(time will tell if I hate myself for going with the spherical bearings over bushings)
Supermiata sway bar end links
Kraken top mount with EFR 6258, 3" exhaust w/cat, 7" intercooler setup and water lines.
Supermiata crossflow radiator and new OEM coolant hoses for all but the one for the reroute
Canchecked gauge to replace the oil pressure gauge
Valve cover that already has the AN fittings on it so I can just swap my old one out.
Project-G bikini top
ARP head studs(not sure they will be necessary but I found a sweet deal on them still new so I grabbed them)


Things I still need to acquire/decide:

EBC (probably a 3 port?)
Turbosmart waste gate actuator
Turbosmart Kompact BOV that fits in the EFR
Fuel pump
Fuel pressure regulator
Injectors
Flat top intake(though I have plans to pick one up from a local when he's back from vacation)
eBay throttle body
Harmonic balancer(probably fluidadmpr)
Maybe a head gasket. I'm still running the VVT head gasket with my reroute. From reading on here people seem to think that's better than no reroute. Not sure if I should change it out to a pre-VVT when I do the turbo, could do head studs at the same time since I have them.
Flywheel and clutch. Haven't decided on these yet. I don't want to go crazy, it's a street car that my gf will still drive.
Brake upgrades
Turbo blanket/heat shielding
Front radiator support bar from from matrussell112

I thought about fuel rail and coils but that seems like overkill for my current goals.

That's about it for now. If I decide to do the MS3Pro during the winter I will update as I go. I don't have a garage. There is a garage on the property my landlord said he would clean out by winter for me but that didn't happen, you know how it goes. He says it's fine to work on in my driveway though. I also think I'm going to get a set of quick jacks while they are on sale at Costco.