Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats. - I didn't buy another Miata today and it was a good day...

I was all lined up to buy another Miata ('94na) and after a brief back and forth with 18psi I stopped for a minute and reevaluated where I was with my current '97. Then I spent hours re reading tons of posts on miatas, engine parts, suspension and actual meaningful improvements to these cars. After looking back over the research I've found something I missed in the past. The biggest detriment to improving these cars is having a Jackass throwing random parts at it. Instead of fixing what was broke I turned into a jackass and threw a completely unknown and expensive engine in the thing. That could have been $1800 I put into xida's, instead I thought I was going to get an easy fix motor I wouldn't have to worry about. I realized very quickly I was again going to go an "easy" route and buy another stock running car only to start all over again finding out what was what in a whole new car. I was pretty much looking to spend sizeable chunk the money I had put aside in the fun fund for a clean body and obd1.
If you read my first post in the introduction forum you'll see I already tried to go quick route once and bought a re man engine instead of just fixing the motor that only had 125,000 on it. I just spent money to learn a lesson about what happens when someone else slaps a motor together from parts bins.

Thursday around 4pm I decided I wasn't going to buy the '94. I got back on Craigslist to look at the tab I had with the guys ad open to see he raised the price, I smiled and hit the back botton. Talk about a sign from the car god's. This was on the first ad on the newly refreshed page, it had only been up for 7minutes. I called immediately as it was 10 minutes away.

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(Empty shipping container at work is perfect hardtop security!)

When I got there he kept lamenting he was really hoping to get the $1200 he had it posted for, but he couldn't tell me if it was OEM, it didn't have side latches and it has a couple dings in the paint but not the smc material itself. Oh boy I do love to dicker and I know how hard it is for a lot of people to say no to someone's face. I held out $900 and after asking me if I had anymore money I asked him if he had change for a 100, got it for $950. It's smurf, it's OEM, it's going on the car, I think I did alright.

So now that I've decided to keep my car and put some sick lambo doors on it I have to figure out a game plan.
I sat for a moment and listed the work I have done to the car, what kind of money I can realistically spend on the project-- TO THE MOOOON!!!--, and what my ultimate goal is for the project.

This is what I came up with.
A perfect street car (mechanically) that I can cross/track day. So 95% street use. Don't know on HP- I need to get behind the wheel and get further input on turbo options. Don't think I'm going to supercharge.
Built (as much as needed) motor with '99 head with an eye toward final HP goal with forced induction.
Mega Squirt ecu
Xida's.
Fuel system and ignition
Appropriate stopping power.
Hard top.
New roll bar that will fit under the top.
Wider 15" wheels.

I have an awesome wife, love my kids , and someday I want to retire so like all good things this is going to take awhile.
On top of all that down the line all these things can go straight into any other na/nb if I so choose.

First I'm spending the money to fix the cars original engine (Other then arp studs I'm going stock, any suggestions are encouraged )
Second I'm going to get a roll bar that will fit under the top.
Here is where things get sticky. I could slap the xida's in there tomorrow but that leave little left for other stuff in the immediate future.
The car is sitting on tein street advanced suspension and I'm only on the street so I want to focus on ecu and injection followed by by brakes and tires. Then get into the real world of suspension and HP.

Any thoughts about it are welcome. Suggestions, insults and above all advice.. please drop any links you feel are relevant.

Little Mazda's coming back!
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