Lurked and read forever, finally getting into buying stuff
12-06-2018, 04:08 AM
#1
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Lurked and read forever, finally getting into buying stuff
Hey guys!
I’ve owned my 91 Miata for a little over 3 years. Still has the original 1.6 engine with about 220k miles. I daily drove it for 2 years then bought a turbo Mini Cooper S (P.S they suck)
Over the 3 years, I tried to upgrade everything when I had money with the exception of the engine. It currently has a 4.1 Torsen diff, axles, and driveshaft out of a 2002 NB, 2000 non-sport NB brakes, 5 speed 1999 transmission, 10lbs flywheel, etc, etc, etc...
I’ve essentially been working to bring everything up to spec to focus on getting an engine to a reliable 250WHP and start daily driving it again. Or at least every other day driving it.
I’m living on my own and still paying for classes, so I don’t have the biggest budget, but I’m trying to not cut any crazy corners. I’m definitely not opposed to saving money where I can.
This past couple months, I purchased a MS2, AEM afr guage and o2 sensor, new coolant and boost gauge, coolant reroute, sweet oem BMW vaccume lines that have a fabric braiding, all the appropriate wiring and fuse boxes to have switched and fused connections to everything I’m adding in as well as do a mild wire tuck in the engine bay.
The current plan is to install everything and learn how to tune with Tuner Studio on the stock engine. Once comfortable enough, I would like to throw together the cheapest 1.6 manifold, turbo, and downpipe together to, again learn how to tune on it. Once I figure out what I’m doing and subsequently blow up the 1.6 I have intentions of having a VVT 1.8 ready to swap in and use my new found knowledge to tune it and get it running with a nicer manifold, turbo, and downpipe.
I have a garage with more tools than the typical dude (welders, plasma cutters, jigs, every hand electric and air tool imaginable, as well as the general skill to use them.
I’m not trying to toot my own horn, more just trying to avoid the negative feedback that is associated with this forum to all that show mercy to a 1.6 Miata engine.
Any feedback, as well as any advice would be great! I’m not new to rebuilding engines, although I am new to tuning and turboing it myself but I am excited to learn! I’ve only ever owned a couple turbo cars but never put them together myself so I’m excited to finally start the journey that will eat up my little remaining budget I have to live.
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12-06-2018, 10:25 AM
#4
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Computer Engineering, eventually. Only downside is I work two jobs as well totaling an average of about 55 hours a week on top of classes, so the “eventually” is definitely coming into play.
Thank you, thank you! I’ve been reading for a couple years now and from that I gathered that you guys are a tough crowd to please, haha! But I’m excited to start getting more into the build and learn more with your help
Thank you, thank you! I’ve been reading for a couple years now and from that I gathered that you guys are a tough crowd to please, haha! But I’m excited to start getting more into the build and learn more with your help
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12-06-2018, 02:33 PM
#5
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I dont think your diff is from an NB if it is a 4.1. At least not originally. Also, it sounds like you want to boost the car and then make it reliable. Is it not currently? Adding power to an already unreliable engine sounds like a poor idea tbh...
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12-06-2018, 06:36 PM
#6
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I get that quite a bit. The pinion gear was swapped out for a higher ratio. I always forget to mention it. The engine isn't unreliable, it's just done some miles. I have no fear that the old 1.6 will handle whatever is thrown at it for a little bit. I'm simply utilizing this not new, not freshly rebuilt engine to practice and learn on for a few months, then once I get a hang of tuning it or when it blows due to it's age I'll have the 1.8 ready to swap in. I'd rather take a risk learning how to tune on a engine I don't mind losing rather than on a fresh new engine.
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12-07-2018, 10:07 AM
#8
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You mean, if I change the gearing ratio of only one of those things, it wouldn’t work? I can’t change one without the other? Holy crap, how did I manage to drive 15,000 miles by only changing one?
I felt it could have been assumed that if I swapped out one, the other would obviously have been swapped out at well.
But you know what they say when you assume... sometimes you’re wrong
I felt it could have been assumed that if I swapped out one, the other would obviously have been swapped out at well.
But you know what they say when you assume... sometimes you’re wrong
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12-07-2018, 11:54 AM
#11
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If you are here long enough, you will find Six to have a very balanced approach of when to be snide, and when to be calming. He likes a respectful interchange, when respect is earned. However, he can give the beat down with the best of them, when that is needed.
Kind of like a really good referee in a soccer match. Let the play, as long as things don't get out of hand. Then control the game.
There I go; sounding like a SixFanBoi again.
DNM
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12-07-2018, 04:53 PM
#14
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I apologize for my sarcasm, Ryan. I'll try to keep it to myself in the effort to brighten the community a bit more.
I'm not 100% sure. I think it was originally a 3.9 but it was a while ago. I just bought the ring and pinion in the ratio I wanted to swap into the diff I got from an NB parts car. It was mostly from when I opened up the differential to inspect it, I found little chips and marks I wasn't happy with. I figured I might as well put the ratio I wanted in if I was doing it anyways.
The original plan was be be fun with it and put an S2000 4.77 ring and pinion. I'm glad I didn't do that now though..! I used to want to be a low power, go kart track, drifty boy. I'm glad I found the light.
The original plan was be be fun with it and put an S2000 4.77 ring and pinion. I'm glad I didn't do that now though..! I used to want to be a low power, go kart track, drifty boy. I'm glad I found the light.
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12-08-2018, 08:23 AM
#15
I had no idea you could, in some cases, change just the pinion. Never come across that before.
my comment was purely based on my thinking that you were somewhat new and were just speaking incorrectly.
Edited because I forgot what it was like to converse with the drift crowd.
my comment was purely based on my thinking that you were somewhat new and were just speaking incorrectly.
Edited because I forgot what it was like to converse with the drift crowd.
Last edited by ryansmoneypit; 12-08-2018 at 09:04 AM.
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12-10-2018, 04:08 PM
#17
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I had no idea you could, in some cases, change just the pinion. Never come across that before.
my comment was purely based on my thinking that you were somewhat new and were just speaking incorrectly.
Edited because I forgot what it was like to converse with the drift crowd.
my comment was purely based on my thinking that you were somewhat new and were just speaking incorrectly.
Edited because I forgot what it was like to converse with the drift crowd.
The drift guys are definitely an asinine group, but I love it still. I don’t think this Miata will be going in that direction anymore. Maybe another chassis in the future when I get rid of my Mini..
I can’t decide if I should start a build thread or not. I would imagine this isn’t the apropriate place for “updates” so I’m going to try to just keep it to a general official introduction to the forum.
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