1.6 DIY turbo info
 

Hello, here are some DIY turbo options I have researched. This list is for the budget limited poor folks like myself wanting to boost but cant afford a flying miata kit or efr options.
I know, boost isn't cheap and you should save up for a proper "kit" or what have you, but not everyone can do that in reality. Here I will line out a simple list of affordable options that aren't complete turds, but not top of the line either, that should offer a decent ability to make your car somewhat faster and not always broke down.
1: Manifold options.
Kraken T2 cast iron manifold and downpipe. https://www.facebook.com/Krakn08/ very good quality stuff here.
Ebay t3 cast iron manifold and get a custom downpipe fabricated (ebay manifolds come and go so sometimes they're not available) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cast-Iron-T...pe!93446!US!-1
Ebay T3 cast iron manifold filled and re-drilled to a T2 bolt pattern and custom downpipe (reliability?) or https://www.ebay.com/itm/MAMBA-T25-T...UAAOSw241YZcAs although not recomended.
Stay away from stainless garbage manifolds.
there are a couple of guys that will custom make log manifolds on facebook as well....
options on a budget are limited for a 1.6 so...


2: Turbo options
T2
Gt2554
Gt2560
ISR sr20det replacement turbo ISR Performance RST25 Replacement SR20DET T25 Turbo - ISR Performance Parts, LLC
cxracing https://www.cxracing.com/turbocharge...urbo/TRB-GT28S
Or similar churbos on ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/T25-T28-Tur...w~TBa1mU0https
www.ebay.com/itm/332579151837
try to source a sr20 turbo for cheap off of facebook or the forums
T3 turbo option:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/181261219983

on the turbo it is important to get the correct size. boost lag sucks. the ones listed above are sized for the 1.6

ECU:
DIYPNP https://www.diyautotune.com/product/...assembled-kit/ follow https://trubokitty.com/#/ instructions for 90-93 or have one built for you from here https://www.miataturbo.net/miata-par...ssembly-14598/
Megasquirt https://www.diyautotune.com/product/...-manual-trans/
Speeduino https://speeduino.com/shop/index.php...roller=product

Injectors:
Gt500 injectors from rock auto with flowforce adapter kit BYOI - Flow Force Adapter Kit for 1990-2005 Mazda Miata ? Flow Force Injectors .. Less exspensive but not flow matched (640 ev14) https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...504558&jsn=441
Flow force injector kit. Flow Force Miata 640cc Injector Kit - NA/NB ? Flow Force Injectors

G.M. Intake temp sensor https://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-IAT-AIR-...-/202263694381
wideband o2 sensor https://www.ebay.com/itm/Innovate-39...oAAOSw3NlZtuAo
Intercooler kit https://www.cxracing.com/intercooler...-IC0035-BOV009
electronic boost control (ebc)
boost guage
bov
turbo oil feed and return lines
turbo water lines
vacuum lines
upgraded aluminum radiator
1.8 clutch upgrade https://www.ebay.com/itm/XTD-STAGE-3...wAAOSwu4BV3Ouq or https://www.ebay.com/itm/XTD-STAGE-1...kAAOSwnDZUCNUX cheap kit people have had luck with or get a happy meal from flying miata or an ACT kit
1.8 diff/driveline/axle upgrade

I have been searching and researching for the past year for budget turbo options and this is the list I have come up with. I haven't tried these options myself, but considered many of them.
I used my research to find myself some quality used parts from this forum, facebook and craigslist. I found a cast manifold and downpipe, a gt2560r turbo, a cxracing intercooler kit, a diypnp ecu, a 02 lsd diff and driveline, bought new axles from rock auto, scored most of the other stuff from a dude off craigslist for next to nothing. All in all for my turbo system I am at about $1300. You can either be patient, take time and jump on good deals, or get some ideas from the list I have suggested for an affordable budget turbo system.
I am 100% sure I will get flamed for this, but so be it.

Note, most widebands come with an AFR gauge.

Also, would not go with a puck style clutch on a DD/street car.

noted

If I was starting from scratch, with a mid size budget I would buy the following:

kraken mani/dp and oil/water lines and fittings.
gt2560r
ev14 injectors
ms2 or 3. (Had both and both are fine)
eBay intercooler and piping
cheap bov (think Freddy brand)
any good wideband/gauge
cheap boost gauge
FM stage 1 clutch. YOU WANT THIS CLUTCH. Not some eBay stage 78 5 puck bullshit.

any way you slice it. It will cost $3k for a solid setup.

If i was penny pitching, i'd do what Borka mentioned but with the following changes

No boost gauge
Used wideband or a Spartan 14point7
I THINK Kraken sells a intercooler set-up now for fairly cheap.

The more info and advice/opinion the better!

kraken intercooler setup is not ac compatible, piping goes where the compressor currently resides

Im almost done buying everything for my diy turbo set up. you can just pick up generic IC piping kit, the CX racing kit listed is very expensive by comparison not to mention that intercooler will block nearly all of opening in the stock bumper. My computer is down at the moment (upgrading from win10 to win7) but I will be posting tomorrow (hopefully) the smaller intercooler. I paid $80 for the IC and $78 for the piping kit.

Ive been just adding appropriate parts as I read through old build threads. Usually the links would be dead but google would either have them cached or i could view the original listing and follow it to the current listing for the same item. Upside to doing it this way is everything is tried and true two three or four years back. Downside is I have done A LOT of reading over very random bits of info lol. I'll be updating my "shopping list" thread but i'll post it up here too if you want. Im mostly doing it to keep up with my cost but if it helps out anyone else going forward on a similar route I'd be glad to pass it on.

Didn't know that, looks like ebay is the best bet and then sourcing the 1-2 extra silicone couplers you might need afterwards.

I bought this intercooler based on a thread here somewhere ... it's a true bar and plate type. It's a little long but seems to be a quality piece.




Pic while installing shows how long it is ...
Attachment 228733

Here is my setup:

t3 cast mani 150
t3 50 trim - vband 150
greddy downpipe chopped and vband flange - 100
rdt intercooler - came w/car
ev14's - 300
coolant reroute 160
braineack diypnp 670
xtd 1.6 stage 3 clutch with new light flywheel (10lbs?) - 230
ARP head bolts, MLS HG/ copper sprayed. head surfaced .008 - 250
Lines and drain, $50
CXR Radiator -130

Making 270 whp and ~2000 invested.... Full boost by 3400. I would say do everything as cheaply as possible, and spend on the longevity parts (good injectors, coolant reroute and bigger rad, oil cool would be a good idea, mls hg, dont know if you really need arp's)

Steve, are you running 270 on the stock 1.6 diff?

270whp on a DYNO? if so very impressive. how much boost?

It took me 18PSI to get 265whp on a very nice 2560r setup with vvt and 3" exhaust.

Let's see dyno plot of that 270. Cause it don't smell right

As far as my input: never skimp on ecu, wideband, injectors. Never

Turbo failing usually doesn't toast the engine. Manifold cracking doesn't toast the engine. IC pipes or ic leaking usually doesn't toast the engine.
ecu/wb/injectors failing 9.9/10 times toasts the engine. not to mention the terrible drivability and general crappiness of a car running inferior ecu/injectors

Made on a virtual dyno, backed it up by taking an 03 cobra by 2 cars up to 120. I believe it but I can understand skepticism

Yes its the stock 1.6 vlsd

I think having a 16" dump is > a full 3". Does a 2560 really move that much more air than mine?

how many PSI of boost are you running for said 270hp?

around 200kpa, not more than 210

lol
you should back it up by actually running the quarter.

there's optimistic, and there's downright delusional