1.6 VS 1.8 TURBO BUILD
 

Hello everyone,

New to the form and still doing my research but I wanted to reach out with a question and say hello as well. I currently have a NA ( 90) 1.6 long noise crank motor. the motor has roughly 40k miles on it. the car itself has 95k on it. The car is in great shape and I do use it to commute back and forth to work with. I am no rookie to engine building or modifying cars, but I am new to the Miata world. I am on the fence if I should just boost the 1.6 or bite the bullet and invest in a 1.8. any recommendations or links are greatly appreciated. I know the diff is one of the first things that goes and my priority is the diff, followed by the clutch ( If I keep the 1.6 and boost it ), then the boost or motor depending on my path forwards. my goal is anywhere between 200 to 250 whp. Of course a compression test is on the list before I do anything to the 1.6. Just getting a rough game plan. Appreciate the help and recommendations.

read.
learn.
repeat.
ask an actual question worth asking.

What he said or you will have a bad time here

You can boost a 1.6L to a reliable 200-230hp. Is it optimal? No.

Most here will tell you a 1.8L is a better engine in every way. Boosted or not.

Do you have a minimum of $4-5k budget to reliably boost your 1.6L?

The thousands of threads asking this question before all got the wrong answer.

The 1.6 is actually awesome, screw a 1.8. This is the first one EVER to get the right answer.

Ive heard both ways. some people say the 1.8 is the way to go. others say the 1.6 will hold boost better than the 1.8. so honestly this question is worth asking especially when there is multiple answers out there. I mean the form is designed to be able to ask questions that are not sure of, get an answer from people that have experienced it. I understand read read read. but everyone has different views and opinions on every subject or issue. So why not just ask?

And yet you still made this thread, despite the dozens like it that are answered the same way.

Pls explain.

Just because I am still doing my research doesn't mean you cant ask the question to get more opinions. People come up with new results daily both tuning and the build process. I am sure there are 1.6 Miata's out there that are turboed and running strong at good hp numbers that wont say anything because they will get bashed. I don't understand the concept of not asking a question that has multiple opinions and results because there are other people that have asked. I am here to learn from people that have experienced both sides and why so when I do my build I can adapt that knowledge.


This is something I am trying to figure out from builders with that experience. I have been told from a Miata owner that the 1.6 is a stronger engine for boost I don't know his reasoning but my assumption is based on the cylinder walls being thicker on the 1.6 vs the 1.8. but like I said I don't know its just an assumption.

The 1.6 and 1.8 work exactly the same for boost and have the same limits. The limits are the rods which are exactly the same. The benefit of the 1.8 is that you get a good upgrade in mid-range torque and spool with zero difference in build costs.

If you have a 1.6 and it has healthy compression then it will be fine to boost. Order a MKTurbo setup from me. Get it all within a week or two. Install it all and enjoy boost. When you feel like upgrading to the 1.8 all you have to do is swap to my 1.8 manifold.

Who are these people? I'd like to shake their hand for seeing the light.

There aren't any different views or opinions on this issue.

:laugh:

I have turbo 1.6 with decent power. Its a waste and there is a reason i am building a 1.8. Seriously stop this debate. YOU WANT A 1.8 if you know it or not 1.8 IS WHAT YOU WANT. dont do the 1.6 becuae 1.8 IS WHAT YOU WANT.

But that is just my opinion because i have a 1.6 now

From my experience with starting with a 1990 a few years ago and where I am today if I could do it all over again I would sell the 1.6 and start off from a solid platform of the newer 1.8 with a torsen diff and a 6-speed tranny, better brakes, better clutch. All of these things you will eventually want to upgrade on your 1.6. Granted, yes, all of those things will bolt up to your 1.6 but the money spent to buy all of those upgrades you could've straight out bought yourself a whole car by the time you're done upgrading all that shit. My buddy bought his 1.8L Miata with a lot of those upgrades already installed for $1,600. I've spent more than that on upgrading the engine and diff alone.
I think the only thing the Na6 has going for it is the pop-up headlights which you can still have with the Na8.

So my final opinion: Unless your 1.6 has some sentimental value to you, like you lost your virginity in it or something, ditch that thing. Get a proper 1.8L na8 or NB. If you live in Cali then get a '96 so you can have a standalone ECU and not worry about that stupid OBD II b.s.

Oh and read this thread. Lots of good info in it.
https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo...k-links-56507/

Wait for a 1.8 to pop up, decent amount of $$$/Time that can be saved to get your 1.6 ready for boost, learn from my mistake...
1.6 Cons
- Diff
- Axles
- Early 1.6 no tps
- Slower spool
- .2 displacement missing

P.s In this forum there is such thing as a stupid question... This would be one of them.
Read about 3-5 different threads about your questions before you ask.

Also: How are Racelands? My local friend says they're good.

They are a super solid stantzboyz coilover. I would recommend buying my tein flex coilovers and calling it a day.

I'm running xyda ultimos

The discussion around a turbo build for 1.6. and 1.8 is a non starter.
Thousands of threads demonstrate this and coming here of ALL places asking this you are going to have a very bad time.
This forum doesn't deal well with people who do not research. You are one of those people.
It has already begun to devolve into mocking because of this.

Please understand the major people here have been racing turbo miata/mx5 for well over a decade and are quite possibly the most knowledgeable people on earth for it.
You may not have read every thread but you should have a firm grasp and ask for specific information only.

Building a 1.6 turbo is not a bad thing it is just not optimal.
So unless limited by class or something else go with the 1.8 for better options.
It is that simple really.

This is not true. The BP engine is very well known and people like Emilio and Savington have exploited everything there is as well as improving everything worthwhile. Anything left is likely snake oil.
This sort of reply will only make this thread less helpful because you are telling people (not me) that actually know and can prove it with empirical evidence that they and all their customers are wrong.
You are going to have a bad time.

B6 and BP are the same architecture. Both have the same strengths and weaknesses. BP has far superior head flow so the gains over the B6 are more than just the 15% difference in displacement. The older BP05 head beats the B6 head in flow vs displacement. The later BP4W and BP6D head more still.

The advice has been given here many times, and it is correct: The single best modification to your B6 is replacing it with a BP.

Even factoring in having to rebuild a used BP, it's better to run an OEM rebuild BP4W than a modified B6. 200whp easy on a bone stock BP05. 250whp towards the top of what most experienced tuners would recommend for a BP4W or BP6D. At the very least do better engine bearings, heavier valve springs and forged rods. Keep the revs below about 7300, street use only and you can get away with everything else being stock. If it is going to be a track car and driven by and advance driver, that long block is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of prep and expense.

Making 250whp in a BP is cheap and easy. I think many here could do it for under $800 if challenged. Making it stone reliable under extended hard use is neither cheap nor easy. Figure $10k minimum to do it right once drivetrain mods, cooling, brakes, etc are all factored in.

^That synopsis is worth many thousands of dollars and the OP just got it for free. I hope he doesn't squander it.

:likecat:

I did a rods only 1.6 turbo build and it is OK. Just ok. Not wow holy shit this is awesome but it gave the car some much needed power. Buy the 1.8 and turbo that. I bought a 99 parts car for just that reason. I wanted more power than I had but your money spent will be worth more in a 1.8. I'm going to do a build on the 99 engine I have to hopefully make around 300 wheel horsepower. Plus the torque in the lower RPMs will help. The 1.6 is pretty gutless and a turbo barely makes it worth while.

The consensus - and not merely on this particular forum - favors the 1.8. This has also been my approach. I bought a 1991, because it was nominally "rust free"... but the engine was ailing. The cunning plan was to find a 1.8, swap it in, and then pursue various avenues of additional fortitude. Unfortunately, prospects of finding a 1.8 have thus far been muted. These engines are in high demand, especially the 99-00 (last years before VVT). The upshot is that one might end up massaging the 1.6, not because that approach is somehow preferable, but because alternatives are logistically sparse.

And yes, for what it's worth, I am very much in the market for 1.8.

thank you everyone for the education. I ended up purchasing a 99 drivetrain assembly. engine, 6 speed trans, and 3.9 torsen diff with axles and driveshaft. I have the motor disassembled and working on taking it to the machine shop. end game is 250 to 300 whp. once the machine gets the motor back to me I will be able to determine which way I want to build this thing. I know I can hit 250 with stock internals, but if I want to hit that 300 whp ill have to build the bottom end.

https://www.miataturbo.net/miata-par...ontent-100447/

buy his kit. Its a good deal and proven