Mad Max Miata ..with turbo
 

Hi All,

I am creating a Mad Max styled Miata (MX5 over here in the UK) based on a 1999 1.8 litre NB which was destined for the scrapyard before I bought it. I was thinking of fitting a very low boost turbo to enhance the post apocalyptic effect, without jeopardising reliability, but I know very little about them. It would be fitted properly but if it looked ugly then that's a bonus :-)
I'm on a very tight budget and was wondering what sort of bodgery i.e. upside down standard exhaust manifold (header?) etc I could incorporate. If I could get away without an intercooler or fuel delivery and timing mods etc it would be better though I appreciate costs will be involved somewhere and there will be some technical issues I need to consider. It ideally needs to look like it makes power gains but if it adds very little power then that's fine.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

If you don't actually care about the power, then just don't hook up the compressor side. Put some pipes in so it looks like it does, but actually put your intake somewhere else behind the bumper or something. The turbo will still spin up and make noises but you don't have to worry about tuning it.

With no back pressure, I suspect the turbo would overspeed and destroy itself. However if you capped the compressor outlet, and put a whistle on it - win-win.

Thanks for your input everyone.

Even though no boost is generated, would the turbo still need supplies of oil and coolant ?
TIA.

This is an interesting thought experiment! Short answer - yes. It will be seeing exhaust heat, and spinning at least at normal, if not higher, speeds. To stop overspeeding, it should see some back pressure, ie boost. So capping the outlet will be essential, it will require a wastegate and blowoff valve so the back pressure doesn't over-slow the turbo and lead to choking of the exhaust,

Probably best to just rout the compressor outlet to the intake ... as you want 'mad max', do it in a convoluted way, with lots of steampunk gadgetery and theatricality. Ooops, that makes it a turbo, and then you need to manage the boost.

It would be possible to simply get a blown turbo, take the rotating assembly out, seal the opening between the exhaust and the compressor side, so the exhaust can flow without interruption, and just make it a totally dummy 'turbo'. This removes all operational necessities such as oil and water, and management of the compressor output.

I'd just wire the wastegate 1/2 way open (or similar) and whatever small amount of boost makes it in should be fine.

Thanks for your help everyone...I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers.

So, you want to build the same car as Eyesore Racing has run in several 24 hours of LeMons events here in the states.

Their build thread is here: https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...ons-car-25699/

Thanks for linking that! I had no idea they had a build thread here. I've seen them on YouTube and am super interested to learn more.

The Eyesore Racing set up looks fine....but I don't know what the UK plod would make of it :-)

Thanks for the link.