Hamster - a pre-loved NA VVT swap that is now mine!
 

I wasn't originally planning to start a build thread for this car because it was already built. But since purchasing Oct 2021, quite a few mods have been done and I think it's deserving! Also a way to say thank you to all the great support we have in the Miata community. Also, the primary driver here will be my wife, who by the way is still a BMW snob (see F80 build in signature).

Previous owner did a bare body repaint and update circa 2016 and literally put 5000 street miles on it, 1 track event, and a handful of auto-x's. Build photos can be found here...

https://wheelwell.com/ozzie-suarez-1...zda-mx-5-miata

As purchased, it already had several goodies installed.

1.8 VVT, 5spd, and 4.3 Torsen from a 2002
Braineack MS3 Pro in stock ECU housing
6point roll cage
Dynapro calipers with 11.75” rotors
Koni Race & Ground Control adjusters
Racing Beat front sway
Racing Beat exhaust from header to tip
Miata Hubs front hubs
MOMO Mod 78, SuperCup seats, OMP belts
Poly bushings everywhere
Nice track worthy paint job
AWR fender flares in rear, rolled & pulled in front
245/275 staggered rim/tire setup

Here it is on the transport truck from Miami, FL. Also on the truck is the saran wrapped wonder, aka @accordionfolder V8 kit shipping container. We purchased this NA, a rolling NB chassis, and a new V8 swap kit all from the same seller, thanks Ozzie!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5186e36b_c.jpgIMG_8757 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...65387085_c.jpgIMG_8758 by D S, on Flickr

And here's a brief shake down video on 245/275 Hoosier A7s. No extended lower ball joints were installed so it was camber limited but surprisingly didn't push nearly as bad as I imagined. Even with a stock rear bar! And yes, that's a real GT2...

We love all the supported track mods available to the Miata community! 9LR aero installed @flier129 . Dekegram 15x10s @doward on 245 RS4s. Xidas with 700/400 Swifts @emilio700 . Bauer lower balljoints @Good-Win Racing LLC . Door numbers from spinnywoosh. Rear subframe brace off eBay just because.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a1e861c4_c.jpgIMG_9302 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a8472d45_c.jpgIMG_9301 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bf055d4f_c.jpgIMG_9372 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...84548f89_c.jpgIMG_9378 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6068dce5_c.jpgIMG_9379 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5c67a4e4_c.jpgIMG_9329 by D S, on Flickr

Willwood 1" master cylinder and proportional valve @turbofan . The OEM NB2 strut brace needed some cutting and welding to fit. Completely necessary if using a BBK. The brakes would basically stand this thing on the nose with just a gentle press of the pedal so modulation is greatly improved. Rear prop valve definitely balances thing out as well.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d027fa2f_c.jpgIMG_9370 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3aab5a51_c.jpgIMG_9368 by D S, on Flickr

Looks great! Sorry again we didn't have the info about the STB but glad you had the ability to fix it :bigtu:

Wanted a cold side air intake. Headlights deleted and fab'd up some door brackets. No heat shield installed but this should still be better than the AEM short ram that was there before.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...92a90697_c.jpgIMG_1350 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0cd6b1a7_c.jpgIMG_1351 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...955dd40c_c.jpgIMG_1364 by D S, on Flickr

Hamster patiently waiting at MCR Tuning... based on the other cars there and the black C5 on their FB page... it's likely the lowest HP car he's gonna see. But nevertheless it's in some damn good company!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...323f375b_c.jpgNA by D S, on Flickr

Put a coolant reroute on your list if it isn't already there. IMHO it's part of a "minimum viable spec" for tracked Miatas. You'll hate life when installing it, but it really does fix a design compromise from way back when.

Definitely aware of the reroute and no, it doesn’t have one…. yet.

If he's going FI, yes it's a minimum viable spec. If he's staying n/a.... meh.

someone on the internet disagrees with me? Oh no! You are clearly wrong! I must have my vengeance, so I will taunt you by making references to your mother’s sexual proclivities.

or something.

Picked it up from the tuner and managed to make the last sessions of a club day to test here out!

Tuner didn't hit the stop button on the dyno graphs so you can't go with the peak torque as that was on the decel curve. It was in for drivability updates and not hp/tq gain pulls. Anything under 4k rpm and less than WOT had a lot of bucking and other issues that made street driving and paddock maneuvers a pain. And my wife is not a standard transmission driver to begin with. According to my tuner, the other issue its having now is an intermittent low voltage issue. Not sure if the alternator belt is slipping, or maybe a bad ground, or maybe a bad coil, or maybe a bade positive cable, or bad connection. Anyways... 134hp/116tq.

And it sounds amazing crossing start finish in 4th gear around 7k rpm and entering the braking zone foe Turn 1A! Flyby clip below as well.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c61755b1_c.jpgIMG_9432 by D S, on Flickr

Pretty fast data lap for Hamster by the fastest Miata guy we know! @accordionfolder Thanks Andy! It's ok, we know you haven't been on track all season and didn't tell you the cameras were on!

Got tired of finding the air dam out of the groove and having to dig out all the little pebbles to get it back in. Plastic landscape edging to the rescue along with some aluminum expanded metal to help the opening keep its shape. Rock solid now!

And of course, my dear wife couldn't resist adding a touch of color (Behr exterior paint color matched to the orange wing wrap) and a bunch of decals she had been hanging on to.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...74dc3425_c.jpgIMG_9499 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bbdb8347_c.jpgIMG_9500 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...392e202b_c.jpgIMG_9502 by D S, on Flickr

Added some hood vents from VRaptor. I was a bit apprehensive about cutting them out because I wanted to top mount... but I think it was still easier than trying to bottom mount.

Also made a no-bulb turn signal intake with some leftover material for the cold side CAI.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...80432649_c.jpgIMG_9519 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3f382a7e_c.jpgIMG_9530 by D S, on Flickr

First of many upgrades this coming off season!...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5db2a682_c.jpgint by D S, on Flickr

Make sure you shorten the screw that goes into the blind hole. It'll tighten,but its not holding the throttle body.

Thanks for the tip. Maybe Skunk2 changed their counterbore depth. But by my caliper, I have .030" to spare and that's without the gasket installed (it should add a little more clearance I would think). I'll sand a bit more off that bolt for safety as well.

There is a thread here on de-junking the Junk2 TB. I have followed the formula there and have never had an issue on the three (!) I have installed.

So painful! Glued down carpet material, glued down fluffy pad, and aluminum lined sound deadener on entire floor pan tunnel. Heat gun, scraper, mineral spirits, and single stage color matched urethane with a foam brush... not bad for a track car!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8e491332_c.jpgIMG_0160 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4c9950b1_c.jpgIMG_0166 by D S, on Flickr

Hamster's getting a freshened motor! Engine build here... https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-pe...-107276/page2/

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5c691ba0_c.jpgIMG_2173 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...26dbd8a0_c.jpgIMG_2172 by D S, on Flickr