92 with 00 engine, what to look for before buying?
 

Hi everyone.

Saturday I am hopefully going to look at and buy a 1992 Miata with a 2000 engine using the FM kit. I have never owned a Miata, but have owned almost everything else, Top-mount twin scroll s13, Ball bearing turbo wrx, turbo honda's etc.. Not new to cars..

My questions are:
-What and where am I looking for such as engine casting #'s? I think I should be looking for "4W" on the head?
-Also, what ECU setup should I be looking for? Granted they wired in the VICS ( i think)
-Differentail wise; what should I look for to determine if it is a 1.6 or a 1.8 diff. And did LSD cars come with anything that would set them apart from open-diff model cars?

Thanks everyone!

Also, will the '00 motor in an NA chassis give me megasquirt issues down the road? As in, making it harder to set-up.

Thanks!

Woot-first post.

-Mark

*** Here is the listing text***


3750 obo
5 speed

body has 240xxx miles no rust at all recent paint
2000 1.8 flyin miata engine swap w/ 85xxxx miles
good tread on tires

lots of extras
Racing beat coilovers
hard dog roll cage
garage vary lip spoiler
planet miata side skirts

interior is a little rough, drivers side door doesn't open from outside, but otherwise car is in great shape runs and drives excellent. Really is one of the best handling cars its incredibly rigid and fun to drive. Just too small for me looking for a little bigger car. clean title in hand

From my research: Racing-beat does not make coilovers?

racing beat makes sway bars, not coil overs. he might have meant raceland

1.8 conversion kit mentioned in ad - http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?...umber=04-70500 - look for those parts, mainly the throttle body spacer.

ask him if he has the rest of the 2000 1.8 engine stuff (2000 throttle body is nice, 2000 cam/crank sensors are nice and can be all fit with minimum fuss!)

for your diff questions - http://www.miata.net/garage/diffguide/index.html

ask what version of megasquirt (probably MSPnP)

look for rust. get way down and hit the low part of rocker panels. they may look kind of healthy but are probably rusting.

if it doesn't have the MAZDA logo on front bumper or the 3" black beltline at the bottom, it was repainted

ask how exhaust is setup. you can mate 1.6 and 1.8 exhaust systems at a few places (manifold, adapter pipe, w/e)

ask about brakes, if it has original 1.6 ones or if they were upgraded to 1.8

ask what kind of rollbar it is. bring a caliper and measure the tubing. 1.5" is sport, 1.75" is hardcore version.

Thank you for the reply and link!

Assuming the car doesn't have MS as the owner hasn't mentioned yet. I was more so asking as a " what if- future reference"

oh, if it doesn't have MS then it's even better.
That way you can buy MS3+MS3X, 36-1 protege trigger wheel and run your car LIKE A BOSS.

Fact: I do enjoy doing things like a bawse

Thanks for joining, DEEPfrom1!

Thank you sir!