Hello!

I bought a junk yard 1.8 for $195 today because I saw it posted on facebook and knew that was super cheap. I got there within 30 min of it getting posted and pulled it with a coworker. The motor turns by hand but I couldn't check if it ran because it had no battery.

I would like to autocross the car and do plenty of canyon driving. I would like to think I may some day track the car but at 200+ per session I cant justify the cost. I have owned a miata for 3 days so I have VERY limited knowledge about these cars. I do know that its turning out to be a lot more expensive than I anticipated to build a turbo motor. I have been watching the car passion channel which is what convinced me to buy a miata.

I would like to spend 1500 or less to do this motor build including clutch and flywheel. If I can spend significantly less than that, awesome! I have a coworker who used to be a nissan master tech and has built quite a few motors. We plan to build it ourselves and pay for machine work at a local machine shop. I will be paying my friend, probably $50 an hour.

I want to have room to grow in the future power wise but I know the amount of power is limited by the strength of the drivetrain which will eventually be a problem I would imagine. How much power can the transmission and rear end hold with hard use?. Whats a realistic goal power wise with my budget? Do you have recommendations on parts?

 

IF your know what your doing you should be able to make a decent turbo setup for around 1500$ But, due to the fact you say your want to pay your "friend" to build your motor I highly doubt that's something you want to tackle by your lonesome.
Also read the stickies, those questions could be solved with a simple google search

 

Stickers seem to have a lot of general information but finding specific information or a post with similar budget and intended use will be difficult. I'm paying him to teach me. We are going to do it together but his time is valuable as he has other jobs and projects he could do and get paid. I'm paying much less than his normal rates

 

You must not be very good at reading or using a search function
Stock 5 speed should be good for 250 whp
stock rods 240 ft/lbs about
stock pistons 300 whp
torsen should be good for 300 whp?
Read a few build threads and read the responses, should help you decide if a product is good or not

 

You need to search and read a ton more. Also you say a budget of $1500. What exactly is that the budget for? Just the engine or engine and turbo or what?

 

I really like how Forrest has grown up in such a short amount of time.

 

 

See my turbo build thread for a lot of DIY fab work on the cheap. I'll say now some of it is ridiculous but still if you're on a budget and can turn a wrench it might help.

 

like I said 1500 is for the motor build and clutch/flywheel. I want it done so I can swap it in then worry about doing the turbo stuff later. I plan to spend another 1500-2000 to turbo the car including the megasquirt.

 

You will need to expand your budget. It is vastly lower then what everything will end up costing you.

FM1 Clutch is $400.
Ebay rods are $300.

That is half your engine build budget right there and you still have a ton of other things to buy and labor you have to pay for.

 

So after the rods and clutch ~ 700

Pistons for turbo, not necessarY but good insurance ~500
Bearings and gaskets~300
ARP studs ~ 100
MACHINE WORK ~ 300~700 depending on what if anything you do to refurb. The head.

 

I have my half written list of How Much To Turbo....Need to sit down and finish it.

 

Yes you do. Then me and you won't have to keep answering the same questions on miata.net.

 

You need to read moar and create threads less. Re-calibrate your distorted understanding of what it costs to build a motor properly, learn at least the basics of these cars, then come back and ask more intelligent questions so we can try to help you. Do not create another thread until you do this.

Welcome to the thunderdome. So far you made a good choice by picking up a 1.8 to start with

 

I've got OEM Head Gasket and Valve seals if you're interested in rebuilding and need some parts. PM me!