paNX2K&SE-R

iTrader: (8)

Cool, I bet you'll find a good one before you know it. Try searching craigslist using www.crazedlist.org and you might find a deal.

I picked up my SE-R with rod knock out in Philly back in 2001 after I saw it on ebay. I swapped a Bluebird DET into it and ran it with the stock t25 for a long time. Over this past winter I upgraded to a GTi-R manifold, a GTi-R T28 turbo with a T04B compressor housing swap (from an S14 T28). It has S4 cams, STi 525cc injectors, and a Z32 maf with a Calum laptop programmable ecu. I haven't dyno'd it after the upgrades yet but I'd guess around 280whp @15psi going by similar setups. I weighed it on some Longacre scales in April and it came to 2529#. Its a lot of fun.


They're Konig Wildcards. I picked them up back in 2000 for my NX2000, pretty old school I guess heh.

BradC

iTrader: (6)

Nice SE-R man, I've always had a soft spot for them.

Ok guys, another Miata question.

I have seen some for sale that have alignment issues between the hood and headlight (when retracted). Is this a common issue that is easily fixable, or shoddy repair work?

Thanks!!!

Preluding

iTrader: (10)

Hey, that car does sound like a dud...

I was looking at it too hoping someone on clubroadster would recongnise good quality parts... none to be found ...

I'm out!

BTW... talked to the guy and offered him 2 grand, lol
Lowest he'd go is 3500

BradC

iTrader: (6)

Guys, what's a '94 with about 200k but in good overall shape worth?

ScottFW

iTrader: (4)

If it's just the rear edge of the headlight cover sitting lower than the edge of the hood, that is common. It is usually caused by dipshits leaning on the headlight covers while working under the hood. It is easily fixed by tugging (gently) upwards on the back of the headlight cover, closing the hood, checking alignment, and repeating until it's just right.

As to the original question, I went with option #1. Got my '94 last year with about 70K on it, waited a couple months to find a good car with a Torsen, and it had fairly new Konis that the PO installed. I'm slowly building it up as the budget allows. A significant advantage of doing it this way is you will know exactly what has been done to your car, and you should learn enough in the process to be able to solve any issues yourself. If you buy an already turbo'ed car that was just bootyfabbed under the hood and has a rat's nest of wiring, it could be difficult to track down any problems that crop up.

I wouldn't have any qualms about buying one already turboed, provided it was done properly by somebody who's competent and pays attention to detail, AND you are already familiar enough with turboed cars that you know what you're getting and how to keep it running right.

BradC

iTrader: (6)

Thanks man, appreciate the advice. Good to hear the headlight issue is easliy remedied, I kept thinking "oh God, hope that doesn't mean the car was hit..."


I think I might have found one I like, a 94, 100k, couple mods (Konis, hard dog, exh, intake, etc) for around $4.5k...we'll see...

My last car was turboed, I modded it and have cut my teeth on friends boosted cars when I was younger (DSM's, turbo dodges, etc), so I feel confident working on them, troubleshooting them, etc, etc. Thanks for the advice guys!

Toddcod

iTrader: (8)

Dude, that is alot of miles. That should be cheap. I had bought and sold Miata's trying to fine the right one for almost 2 yrs. Just about the time I get one to turbo, it starts smoking, Or I would find a better one and step up. What are your power goals? If you want 200-230 either motor is good. That is all I shooted for. So i got a well taken care of 92 1.6 with some cool ricer mods."not Ebay mods." I think the guy tried to buy "go miata". Now I have the car i like, but can afford to turbo it.
I have the modded valve cover, rear tonea cover, door plates, rims, head light cow, cold air induction, and suspension. And I am adding turbo.

Take your time Don't just buy crap. If you find a good deal you can clean up and resale. Buy it, sell it and step up. You will know when you have one to turbo. Otherwise it is a nightmare to work on.
There are a few guys here that have turbo miatas for sale. Some reasonable. You may have to drive a little.

BradC

iTrader: (6)

Hey guys, how much should a '95, Montego Blue, unmolested with 128k be worth?

Zabac

iTrader: (39)

Realistically, no more than $2500, but with todays prices who knows...$4000??? Which I would not be willing to pay.

Pitlab77

iTrader: (3)

get the 1.8.

Larger motor,
Larger Brakes,
Better diff.

Less to swap, More up front rather than having to hunt down parts.

I'm wanting to buy a turboed 1.6 but I would have the 99 race car in the garage that could do daily duty if I found out that a new car I got was a pos.