Alleycat Joe

I'm a Mechanical Engineer at Clemson, with a yellow 1990 turbo. I bought it after I broke my black 2000 N/A. The reason I went with a 1990 is mostly because of the headlights. And because I wanted to see how much I could get out of the insurance money from the NB. After I installed the turbo I was right at budget.
Everything I do is my own work and when I need help I come to forums like this. I used information I gathered online to help me turbo my first car (I bought it mostly stock) reliably and quickly. With all the parts and information together I was able to finish it within a weekend. I run a megasquirt computer and an ebay turbo, but boost is addicting and upgrades are coming.
When I bought my 1990, I was unaware of how badly the frame on the car was damaged from a previous accident, but it's these kind of things that allow me to really let loose with it, no regrets.

Schuyler

iTrader: (1)

You suck.

(A USC Student)

jk

pics

carid

Welcome to the forum!

Check out our site if you would be looking for some body or engine parts.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

DNMakinson

iTrader: (3)

Welcome. I'm in Seneca. Getting ready to do the 2nd half of my install. Got it in last winter, now will be adding EBC and COP's.

You should go to your profile and add Location.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Welcome to the forum. We seem to be flush with engineers.

Thankfully, we don't have to talk you into a Megasquirt and out of bandaids. The downside is the few inherent weaknesses of the 1.6 cars you will need to address.

cyotani

iTrader: (8)

Welcome.

If you just bought the 90 I would consider trying to resell it and get most of your money back and look at some 94-97's instead. By the time you upgrade the brakes and diff/axels with the 1.8 parts it's equal to the price difference between those two years. And as a bonus you get an engine with a better torque curve.

~$200 - 1.8 brake upgrade
~$600 - 1.8 torsen swap with axels and drive shaft

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I second this. But if you do stay with the 1.6, I have a 1.8 4.1 torsen swap that I would be willing to sell. I am semi local.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

Welcome to the site Alleycat Joe, thanks for joining up!

Greasemonkey2000

iTrader: (3)

Welcome sir! Have any pics of said car? Sorry to hear about the damage you have found but yes going with a NA8 chassis would be the sound choice for the reasons Lars provided.

4strings

iTrader: (1)

What's going on with the frame? Does she drive straight?

Alleycat Joe

A lot of you want pics, I'll get to those when I have my computer. I realize there are imperfections in the 1.6 that the 1.8 chassis addresses, however the reason that I chose the miata is because it is an underdog when compared to a lot of roadsters. And the 1.6 is an underdog of the underdogs (catch my drift?). I have already performed a brake swap (courtesy of Panic Motorsports for $100) and I like the 1.6 because I have to work harder to make it make the power that others get easily. I'll probably have to go with a diff swap at some point but I'm only running 5lbs of boost until I get my EBC figured out. In regards to the frame, it does drive straight and it's just one of those quirks that lets me feel like I can thrash this car more than I would normally. Also over the summer I will be replacing the snc seal because it is leaking.

Alleycat Joe

Here are some pics from when I bought it off this Mexican guy.


Some more pics of the renovations:



And an obligatory engine bay shot:

Schuyler

iTrader: (1)

Dominic if you get serious about buying his torsen I will be down there to see him in the next few weeks, and will be back in Easley that same weekend. Could arrange a pickup.

Alleycat Joe

Alright thanks. I'll keep that in mind and pm both of you if it becomes a priority for me.