Slowest turbo Miata ever
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
Hope you don't mind I post this in your build thread...
Met up with Dillon today to check out his turbo Miata. I had never ridden in one before so I got in touch with him and we made it happen.
I had doubts before when I read people saying that 240 WHP in a turbo Miata is really fast. I thought that level of power would be quick, but not real-sit-you-back fast.
We know Dillon's Miata isn't putting out anywhere near 240 WHP -- Probably somewhere just under 200. But holy shiznit that thing flies. Totally caught me by surprise. Real quick spool, good solid boost. I am also super jelly of his exhaust. Nice burble at idle, nice roar under WOT, but very quiet with no drone at all on the freeway. I will copycat.
His Miata is really well done and you can tell he has a passion for it. He has only ever owned this car and a Pontiac Grand Am, so his build is even more impressive since it's the first car he's built (as he stated at the beginning of the thread). Big plans appearance wise for the car, and when he's done he will have one of the best-sorted, cleanest Miatas on MT.net (or anywhere).
Big props!
Met up with Dillon today to check out his turbo Miata. I had never ridden in one before so I got in touch with him and we made it happen.
I had doubts before when I read people saying that 240 WHP in a turbo Miata is really fast. I thought that level of power would be quick, but not real-sit-you-back fast.
We know Dillon's Miata isn't putting out anywhere near 240 WHP -- Probably somewhere just under 200. But holy shiznit that thing flies. Totally caught me by surprise. Real quick spool, good solid boost. I am also super jelly of his exhaust. Nice burble at idle, nice roar under WOT, but very quiet with no drone at all on the freeway. I will copycat.
His Miata is really well done and you can tell he has a passion for it. He has only ever owned this car and a Pontiac Grand Am, so his build is even more impressive since it's the first car he's built (as he stated at the beginning of the thread). Big plans appearance wise for the car, and when he's done he will have one of the best-sorted, cleanest Miatas on MT.net (or anywhere).
Big props!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,718
Total Cats: 830
From: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
Thanks man, i appreciate it. It's always a pleasure to give people rides in my car.
With all that good news, i bring you slowest turbo miata ever videos.
With all that good news, i bring you slowest turbo miata ever videos.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,718
Total Cats: 830
From: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
Any luck finding a car Ed? I hope i didn't scare you off with our little trip downtown.
I figured i'd just post a little update. I haven't stopped working on the car, i've just been doing a ton of working and saving up my money. I did get some fancy **** in the mail to complement my steering wheel.
A damn good match i must say.

Easy to install.


Threw sta-bill in it, put the stock wheels on, removed battery, winter storage mode now.

The plan is to start ripping everything down over winter (exterior body) and get it ready to have body work and repaint done. Got a few quotes and i think i'm going to be saving well into the spring. But it should cost less than adding this turbo to it.
This engine is still making a ton of noise i feel it shouldn't, so it's only a matter of time before i'm building my spare.
Oh yeah and i'm probably going to be buying a house by the end of the year... lol, we'll see how things go i suppose.
I figured i'd just post a little update. I haven't stopped working on the car, i've just been doing a ton of working and saving up my money. I did get some fancy **** in the mail to complement my steering wheel.
A damn good match i must say.

Easy to install.


Threw sta-bill in it, put the stock wheels on, removed battery, winter storage mode now.

The plan is to start ripping everything down over winter (exterior body) and get it ready to have body work and repaint done. Got a few quotes and i think i'm going to be saving well into the spring. But it should cost less than adding this turbo to it.
This engine is still making a ton of noise i feel it shouldn't, so it's only a matter of time before i'm building my spare.
Oh yeah and i'm probably going to be buying a house by the end of the year... lol, we'll see how things go i suppose.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA

yessir!!
The shift boot and e-brake boot look slick on there. Your car was super nice man, in fact, in many ways it's quite a lot nicer than the car I just bought. The paint on this car sucks when you look up close. But it's pretty wicked. I look forward to putting a 6-speed in it with a torsen and setting up a better tune.
Dude... wanna sell one of your extra set of wheels? I needs a set..........
That car has been all over the place! I hope you keep it for a while. If it had been for sale from 18psi just a few months earlier I would have bought it and saved myself a lot of work.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,718
Total Cats: 830
From: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
Awesome. I'm excited.
I actually just put my Konigs up for sale on xceed. You can buy them, i forget what price i told you though.
I actually just put my Konigs up for sale on xceed. You can buy them, i forget what price i told you though.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
Stock NA wheels would fit over stock NB brakes right?
I think I'll shop around for something cheaper, maybe some curb rashed stock wheels or something. I don't really care what the wheels look like, lol!
Thanks!
Just joined xceed... last thing I need is another forum but hopefully I can sift through the Honda crap and find some good stuff :P
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,718
Total Cats: 830
From: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
They were the black ones, and should fit. I'm sure they will.
I have them listed for $400 because of xceedtax. I'll do you $320? I paid $350 for them, but put about 1000 miles on them.
I'd get a picture but i'm at work.
I have them listed for $400 because of xceedtax. I'll do you $320? I paid $350 for them, but put about 1000 miles on them.
I'd get a picture but i'm at work.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
Thanks!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,718
Total Cats: 830
From: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
Well it's been a minute since i had a real update.
Ordered parts from 949. Somehow they shipped from just about the next city over and got to my house overnight. Unfortunately i was not home every time the delivery man came to my door. So i picked this stuff up from the FedEx building just now.



These things are TINY!!! That's 440rd spam can of 7.62x54r they're sitting on. Just look how small they are.
So i've never done this before. But it didn't stop me from putting the turbo on. Gonna start tearing into the 50k engine soon as the weather gets above 32F. MIGHT bore it to 84mm, not sure yet. 84mm 9.5:1 guys, think that's a good idea??? Or keep the stock bore, @ 9.5:1? I figure it's just a safe bet to wait until the engine is torn apart and figured out before getting pistons. Where is everyone getting their OEM bearings from?
Ordered parts from 949. Somehow they shipped from just about the next city over and got to my house overnight. Unfortunately i was not home every time the delivery man came to my door. So i picked this stuff up from the FedEx building just now.



These things are TINY!!! That's 440rd spam can of 7.62x54r they're sitting on. Just look how small they are.

So i've never done this before. But it didn't stop me from putting the turbo on. Gonna start tearing into the 50k engine soon as the weather gets above 32F. MIGHT bore it to 84mm, not sure yet. 84mm 9.5:1 guys, think that's a good idea??? Or keep the stock bore, @ 9.5:1? I figure it's just a safe bet to wait until the engine is torn apart and figured out before getting pistons. Where is everyone getting their OEM bearings from?
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
looks awesome. quite an adventure to tear into! Good luck!
You need e85 for 9.5:1? mazdaspeeds run 9.5:1 all day on pump. not that fm is the authority on boosting but they mostly recommend running 9:1. If i hadn't gotten a deal on my low comp supertechs I probably would have went with 9.5:1 too.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
Why go with 9.5? My car on 9:1 makes very acceptable power off boost -- nothing like other turbo cars I've had that are super sleepy down low. The thing feels stronger off boost than my stock '97 did.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,718
Total Cats: 830
From: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
We get pretty good gas around here very high quality 94. Plus i have a few stations that sell e85. Not that i would need e85 for 9.5:1. Just because it's that "little bit more" in case i ever want to do silly things and make a ton more power than my current goals. Plus that CR will make my quick spool even quicker, and i like that. With that being said, i have not found any actual data showing how much of a difference 9:1 and 9.5:1 really is. I'd assume there would be some, if i were to even notice i doubt it. Maybe someone can prove me wrong.
The plan was to tear town the engine and get everything measured and figured out before ordering pistons. Like Vlad said i'll probably not bore it over unless i have to. 83.5mm seems to be what everyone is doing.
Edit* lower compression, crank the timing? I'm afarid to add timing, i'm tuned way conservative now.
The plan was to tear town the engine and get everything measured and figured out before ordering pistons. Like Vlad said i'll probably not bore it over unless i have to. 83.5mm seems to be what everyone is doing.
Edit* lower compression, crank the timing? I'm afarid to add timing, i'm tuned way conservative now.







