Low psi build. Trying to get my feet wet with room for improvement later.
 

Hey guys! I have a 1992 miata that im looking to turbo. Ive done reading on other builds and have been reading maximum boost by corky and I think im ready to start the buying. Let me outline my plan and you guys can poo poo on it and tell me what im missing.

Step 1
Ill start out by buying a DIYPNP (still not positive if a MS3 will be worth it in the long run)
Next up, buying rx7 injectors (550cc? Im not planning on going past 220~ hp, so would 460cc suffice?)
Then buying a wideband (not positive how this connects to the pnp ECU?)
Possibly a TPS? Or should I wait till I turbo. (Also not sure how this connects to the ECU)
Also not sure if I need COPs for such a low boost.
Then install these onto the car and learn to tune all this and get a good map going.



Step 2
Purchasing the BEGI Shanghai-s turbo kit. Anyone have any experience with the china charger? Ive read decent things about it but I wonder how much better it would be to source a garret sr20 or something of the like.
Also I was curious if the braided and steel coolant and oil lines were worth the upgrade? I wouldnt have a problem replacing rubber lines occasionally if they are overkill. Or can I buy these lines cheaper somewhere else? Also I will be upgrading the materials to stainless to prevent holes.

Then I should be boosted at around 6psi.

This seems like a fun place to start that will get my feet wet into turbocharging. I know I will only make around 150-160hp with this setup and thats completely fine. I just want the experience right now. Down the line when I have more money id like to do the clutch, and add and intercooled setup.

What do you guys think? Did I miss anything?

Step 0. 1.8. A stock 1.8 will give you a little less than a shanghai 1.6 at 6psi.

The price of a stock 1.8 long block + the kit to swap it in can probably be found cheaper than the MS3 + Injectors.

Aside from the obvious 1.8 suggestion sounds like a decent plan. If you order anything from begi expect to wait like a year to get it.

I'd do the clutch just cause, I know when I put a td05 on my 1.6 it ate the clutch up really fast. You might also fish around for used 1.6 turbo stuff as plenty of folks here sell them when they end up going to the 1.8, as after the 1.6 goes under boost you'll have that desire for more.

Step 1 is written all wrong. Wideband and diypnp (or ms3). Then play around with tuning the stock motor.

Step 1 is not sorted by installation times. All of those would go in at once.

A year? Is that seriously the wait time on these systems?

I don't understand boosting a car to only run 6psi.

That's a little like chasing the supermodel you've tried to bang out for years.

Then just putting in the tip and calling it good.

Because I dont have the time or funds to go full penetration right now. But I feel like this is a good starting point. Once I have the ability I will do the clutch and intercool and turn up the boost.

LOL give the guy a break. He's actually got a solid plan

If you can save up to half-ass it, you can save up to do it all.

I mean, do what you want, i just don't understand it.

If you're going to do a clutch eventually, just do it when you have half your car apart to boost.

Instead of doing a half ass job and then pulling it apart again, do a 1.8 from the start so u're not wasting any money. Of course you never said what your "improvement later" goal is.

At 6 psi with no intercooler on a 1.6 you will actually make 120whp, so no you're far from your 150-160 whp goal.

FWIW I made 150whp on a dynojet at 8psi with a pretty conservative spark map (~24 degrees at peak power and WOT) on my 1.6 with a SR20 T25. Granted mine was intercooled. I'd think at 6psi you'd see around 130whp. Before my clutch was in I was running around 11-12psi and didn't realize the clutch was slipping until I got the new one in. Mechanical empathy is important with the stock 1.6 parts.

Goal is most likely 180hp. I honestly wouldnt mind pulling the engine later. Im young, having projects is what gets me better at learning to do car builds. If it means taking apart the car a year from now to do an engine swap then so be it. And I guess I could go intercooled when I buy the shanghai kit. Does anyone have any recommendations on ebay intercoolers? Also ill have to give BELL a ring (hah bell, ring) and ask them the wait time on there parts. If its over a year then ill have to scrap that plan and see if I can source a kit somewhere else.

Step 1: MS, and Wideband.
Step 2: Swap in 1.8, preferably a vvt motor.
Step 3. Turbo
Step 4: Profit.


The steps are easy, follow them.

What were you making at 12psi?

Also have you factored in $500 to swap to a 1.8 rear end yet? That is something you will need to do.

A good friend made a solid 200hp on a CARB legal BEGI S1 kit @ 10psi with a GT2554R, MSPNP (gen1), RX7 460's and Bell #1 intercooler. This was with a shagged out 150k+ mile 95 1.8, so not even the "good" 1.8.

Seriously consider a 1.8 swap before you start buying 1.6 parts. Why start with 90hp when you can start with 120?

So you'll buy a 1.6 kit, then scrap it and buy a 1.8 kit? One step forward 2 steps back eh?

See above corrections in red. As others have said, a 1.8 with MS would be a great start, however possibly slightly unnecessary. However I haven't experienced anything past 185hp, so what do I know.

No clue, my setup has changed enough that it wouldn't be a direct comparison anyway.

If there's any chance that you'll change the setup or go 1.8 in the future start with a used turbo and manifold. There's really no point in buying new with as much turnover as there is with FI parts. If you 1.8 swap and find something new in the future that really gives you a boner, go for it at that point, and sell your twice used setup for pretty much what you paid.

Awesome response! Thank you! Props for actually answering some of the questions. I dont think people realize I dont need CRAZY SPEED! I just want a fun project to work on over the summer. On the TPS, are you saying that you got away with not having one?

This is a great idea. The only things that are not compatible between the two engines are the mani and the downpipe correct?


Also im thinking of going a different route for sourcing the turbo and mani. Underdogs thread is a huge help and I like the t3 turbo. But im having trouble finding a turbo on ebay I can trust.
How do I tell the good ones apart from the shit ones?
Are the chinachargers that cheap? Id be willing to go up to 300 on the turbo or so.
Does anyone have any seller recommendations?

Also ive heard good things about this mani: http://www.ebay.com/itm/89-93-MAZDA-...item35c17fde82

Things are starting to get cheaper in this build :)

Yes, that is a great manifold for a low power 1.6 build.

Unfortunately, there is no 1.8 manifold. Or a downpipe for the 1.6. If you'd like, you can go through all the trouble of fabricating the downpipe, run it for a bit, and if/when you upgrade to a 1.8, you'll have to buy an all new manifold and exhaust. I'd suggest chatting with FM. Ask them if 1.8 downpipe and exhaust will work with a 1.6 manifold. I'm fairly certain that it will.

Then find a used BEGI (fairly certain they're interchangeable) or FM 1.6 manifold, and run it to your hearts desire. You've got a higher quality manifold than the ebay unit, and a much easier upgrade path if/when you go 1.8.