K24Z3 Miata NB2 by ex-BMW snob - "Booger" Story of a Benchwarmer to Starting Line-up
 

Although a few other names were tried, Booger was the only one that stuck. Because it's green and flies like snot?.. maybe more so now with a K swap.

Here it is the day I brought it home. It already had a bunch of track worthy parts and even ran in SCCA Nats 2020. Below is a photo of the CCP car at NCM that day in the tech line. But look behind it, that's Booger before I knew it was even for sale! Coincidence or fate that my future car was in a random photo I took.

Here's the kicker... reason I bought it? I have a BMW E36 that dropped a valve in late Sep 2020 and I had already committed to a couple of track events. Always wanted to tinker with a Miata found one "track ready". I still can't keep that damn BMW running right so the Miata was my go-to.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b1d15ba6_c.jpgIMG_7306 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...62b6fe27_c.jpgIMG_7378 by D S, on Flickr

I've been to more tracks in Booger than both my E36 and F80, and have always had more fun. It's been to VIR, Mid Ohio, Putnam Park (can barely see it behind the Viper giving me a point-by), NCM, and Road Atlanta.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d119a832_c.jpg4S9A1025-(ZF-7678-15208-1-051) by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2c993ffe_c.jpgIMG_2054 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7097967c_c.jpgIMG_8485 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cb503e43_c.jpg131330291_770947113494679_5374358497412549821_n by D S, on Flickr

First step to K swap, is to acquire all the parts. I've done a bunch searching and have come up with this list of parts! It's a public and live Excel document with part numbers and prices. Might be relevant to anyone doing the swap 2021-2022.

https://1drv.ms/x/s!AgVXBXahR9kktByZ...RU7qE?e=GXDl0y

Got the motor home safe in a Kia Sportage.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2bcae8d6_c.jpgIMG_8564 by D S, on Flickr

Took of the covers just to have a look. 83k miles on the motor and looks good to me. Valves look clean and I'd bet plugs are original. I'm sure most have seen a K24Z3 with covers off but this one is mine.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...92cdeb78_c.jpgIMG_8566 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f1ab9f3f_c.jpgIMG_8572 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...003ff23b_c.jpgIMG_8570 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ed1cc9c4_c.jpgIMG_8567 by D S, on Flickr

Those are original plugs, some folks get 150k out of the iridium plugs now days. I tell my customers to wait until the car complains (check engine light) before changing the plugs.
The brown/red ring at the base of the porcelain is combustion leakage which you normally don't see before 50K. Those plugs look fine as well, probably good for another 50K before they are swapped.
Motor look nice for a 83K engine, it's had regular oil changes and the one intake port is far cleaner than most are at this point.
Look like you hit a home run regarding the engine.
What did you have to pay for it?

I got lucky and paid $400 for it from from someone who bought it but never attempted the swap. However, I did have to drive 14 hours round trip. So with gas it was closer to $525 plus an entire day.

Oh cool, I didn't know you were kswapping. Kmiatas at NCM are no joke! Here's TomO in my car in GLTC trim:




Good luck with your swap! I'll be following along and feel free to give me a shout if you have random questions.

Hey flier, yes, of course, all of us Miata guys at NCM are fully aware of that video!!! Not sure I'll be able to drive it that fast. Waiting on Black Friday to order my 9LR kit. With the K swap, not sure if I should add the gurney or not. Suggestions would be great!

Engine looks good, plugs are definitely fine. For what it's worth the TSX manual states to change spark plugs every 105,000 miles so unless the previous owner was conned by a shop they should be original.

No amount of K-swapping will make you fast. Give up and sell your car and swap parts to Andy. <3

Don't know who this guy is! So let's leave a negative cat. But he may or not be the fastest Miata friend I have.

:hatecat::hatecat::hatecat::hatecat::hatecat:
lol - I'm just jealous (And I wish I was the fastest). I'm still pondering swapping the rotrex over to the silver car (and turbo'ing the exocet) so I can try to keep up. I'm not sure a K-swap is in the cards for next season. I can't wait to see how the build shakes out!

Got my KPro ECU back today. I was apprehensive that the PPA ECU from a 2002 CR-V automatic 4WD would be accepted because KPower says it will but Hondata doesn't list the automatic as an approved ECU. Surely they would not have modded and returned if it wasn't going to work... or would they?

I must say I had to do a double take and wondered if the ECU had even ben modified as it looked exactly how I sent it in until I saw the USB port. Installed the sticker just because.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...343fb743_c.jpgIMG_8755 by D S, on Flickr

While waiting for K swap parts figured I should start installing other parts I have accumulated.

A1 Ground Control bushings going in. A little paint on the arms while in there really cleans it all up!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...532415d9_c.jpgIMG_8907 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e3958e4d_c.jpgrear up by D S, on Flickr

Diff bushings seriously needed replacement. I'm assuming these are the original 20 year old bushings on a 125k car. Wanted solid Delrin but couldn't find any in stock so Energy Suspension poly went in. Ring and pinion "looked" good as well.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2a385f2f_c.jpgdiff1 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4707d8c3_c.jpgdiff by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...dccbd676_c.jpgringpin by D S, on Flickr

Rear end all back together and looking fresh! Moving onto the front and man are these ABS sensors a pain to remove!.. What's another part to wait at this point???

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7637c879_c.jpgrear2 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b9bdca84_c.jpgrear by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a62b3697_c.jpgabs by D S, on Flickr

More ugly control arm bushings. These must have been bad for a while... can't wait to get on track with "good" bushings!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f27c87e4_c.jpg66008855368__123842E0-2717-48DB-92E3-A1B11EE16A62 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b62b2502_c.jpg66008849941__8F7085D6-B182-4AC4-AAEC-6D36FFBE5596 by D S, on Flickr

Also took some time now to depower the rack.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bd096b1f_c.jpg66017603567__965F7FD7-7AF2-42F0-A9E5-AFF887EF129F by D S, on Flickr

It's a boy! Out with the VVT motor. Lots to clean and prep but still waiting on KPower (it's been 65 days), I hate waiting on parts.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...604baf07_c.jpgIMG_8951 by D S, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...987e829f_c.jpgIMG_8952 by D S, on Flickr

Well at least I'm not the only one, I'm on day 70. Placed my order September 23rd for the "basic" swap kit plus a handful of other items. I exchanged some emails with David late October in which he said they were at "about 60 days out right now on swaps". I'm now very jumpy every time I get an email notification.

Me too! See how fast I just replied to your comment!