N/a or boost?
 

Hey guys just bought a 93 Miata and I'm torn between the all motor route or boosted applications. What are some all motor numbers you guys are making on some moderate to serious builds? Boosted? I just feel like the Miata being the smallest vehicle I have ever own would make a nasty little n/a screamer done right. Perks and drawbacks from your guys experience with the Miata platform would be great.thanks

N/A: The Expensive Way To Go Slow

Correct. But then you go fast, and your motors are cheaper, so it doesn't hurt so bad if it blows up.

A stock unopened naturally aspirated original motor to my car.


You're looking at a motor/trans/rear end swap in your car either route you take, just FYI.

Seems how this is miata turbo there will be a lot of turbo advocates. NA=slow and never hit 200whp. Turbo=fast and easily over 200 and upwards of 400 if done right

https://mkturbo.com/9905NB.html and a 1.8 swap you could probably do everything for under $4000

Well that's just because you bought a 1.6 car.

Assess power goals first, then make decisions. 150whp or less, VVT N/A. 150whp to ~230whp, 1.8 swap and MKTurbo. 230whp-350whp, build motor, TSE kit, 6-speed. 350whp+, LS swap. Doing a poor job of assessing power goals up front will lead to wasted money.

X2 on this. I originally just wanted 300 and since starting i want 400 now and a k swap would have been smarter

I'll chime in here. I stopped counting how much I've got into my N/A motor after around $5k, (close to probably 7k in reality) and I've got a little 8k RPM screamer... and its been reliable since 2006 when I built it. I run an MS3pro PNP, '01 pistons, ETD rods, 99 head with big valves, DIY port/Polish, SUBs, and some Motorola cup camshafts. I'm probably around 150-160 hp..

Positives:
- The thing is an absolute blast on tight twisties Instant response. Also on the freeway... pulls way harder up top than any 4cyl should.
- I've also driven a 4.6 Mustang GT quite a bit.. this car makes the mustang feel like a limp unresponsive dog.
- Reliability. With a big rad and a coolant reroute it doesn't run hot, only battery and alternators have left me stranded, but that's nothing to do with the motor. I think I have around 40k miles on it
- Rips hard from 4.5-8k.
- I won't be breaking trannies, rearends, etc. like the boosted guys do


negatives
- Someone with a cheap MK turbo is going to smoke you.
- Friends who have driven the car say its way too peaky for the street, I can agree. Driving in traffic with no torque down low, and a heavy clutch is a bitch.
- cost/hp - the numbers just don't make sense.
- emissions, lol - forget passing with big cams. At low RPM youre just dumping fuel into the exhaust
- you'll get better MPG day to today with a turbo. I get 18 city, but 27+ on freeway. kind of gives you an idea of the low RPM inefficency

all motor?

the miata has half a motor.

Any proper "all-motor" miata starts with a non-miata motor. Like a K series, an LFX or an LSx.

K sawap. 220 hp NA. reliable. Or buy my complete engine/turbo so i can fund a K swap. built 1.8, VVT, 6258, will make poop pants.

Man I can't wait to make poop pants