K24Z3 Miata NB2 by ex-BMW snob - "Booger" Story of a Benchwarmer to Starting Line-up
#1
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.
IMG_7306 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_7378 by D S, on Flickr
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.
IMG_7306 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_7378 by D S, on Flickr
Last edited by bimmerboy; 02-23-2022 at 01:56 PM.
#2
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.
4S9A1025-(ZF-7678-15208-1-051) by D S, on Flickr
IMG_2054 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_8485 by D S, on Flickr
131330291_770947113494679_5374358497412549821_n by D S, on Flickr
4S9A1025-(ZF-7678-15208-1-051) by D S, on Flickr
IMG_2054 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_8485 by D S, on Flickr
131330291_770947113494679_5374358497412549821_n by D S, on Flickr
#3
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
https://1drv.ms/x/s!AgVXBXahR9kktByZ...RU7qE?e=GXDl0y
#4
Got the motor home safe in a Kia Sportage.
IMG_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.
IMG_8566 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_8572 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_8570 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_8567 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_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.
IMG_8566 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_8572 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_8570 by D S, on Flickr
IMG_8567 by D S, on Flickr
#5
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?
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?
#6
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?
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?
#7
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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.
Good luck with your swap! I'll be following along and feel free to give me a shout if you have random questions.
#13
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.
IMG_8755 by D S, on Flickr
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.
IMG_8755 by D S, on Flickr
#15
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.
diff1 by D S, on Flickr
diff by D S, on Flickr
ringpin by D S, on Flickr
diff1 by D S, on Flickr
diff by D S, on Flickr
ringpin by D S, on Flickr
#17
More ugly control arm bushings. These must have been bad for a while... can't wait to get on track with "good" bushings!
66008855368__123842E0-2717-48DB-92E3-A1B11EE16A62 by D S, on Flickr
66008849941__8F7085D6-B182-4AC4-AAEC-6D36FFBE5596 by D S, on Flickr
Also took some time now to depower the rack.
66017603567__965F7FD7-7AF2-42F0-A9E5-AFF887EF129F by D S, on Flickr
66008855368__123842E0-2717-48DB-92E3-A1B11EE16A62 by D S, on Flickr
66008849941__8F7085D6-B182-4AC4-AAEC-6D36FFBE5596 by D S, on Flickr
Also took some time now to depower the rack.
66017603567__965F7FD7-7AF2-42F0-A9E5-AFF887EF129F by D S, on Flickr
#19
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.
#20
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.