Boost or not to boost?
 

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6b8a009170.jpg

I've owned this 94 Laguna Blue for 6 years now and contemplate boost. Well some of the time. I do have to smog the car in CA, luckily visual and sniffer only no dyno. And my smog guy isn't one to look too hard. My real conflict is that I may not really need boost (so why am I here, right???). When I am on local twisty roads I don't have much room on a straight to open up. Probably more useful in town when I just want to go faster than a stock Miata. I am looking at the new FM CARB legal setup, but it is only 170 whp and I currently have 110 with a header and cam swap. So not that much better after spending $5k (including clutch upgrade). If I could get 200-250whp on a setup that could be "massaged' through smog every 2 years I'd be more motivated. Car has the FM 2.5 suspension kit and Hard Dog rollbar already installed. And great even compression numbers on the 192k engine.

A note about myself. I've owned 8 NA Miatas to date and do my own work. I'm an engineer who has wrenched all my life. So I don't need to pay someone to do upgrades which is a big help, especially since my favorite mechanic retired and shop rates have gone to the moon. But I have zero experience with TC or SC which is why I am here.

I have no idea about carb or smog or whatever... but I would think, with the egr, cat, and a reasonable muffler you could tune the car to pass the test and then just retune when finished. There are many members here running turbo miatas passing the test. I'm sure one will chime in soon.

Good looking car, welcome to MT.net.

California visual can be hellish. Like.... make sure everything is stock by comparing to diagrams and making sure aftermarket parts have carb numbers hellish... So folks either stick to FM/Begi carb compliant stuff or swap everything back for every inspection.

It's simple FM or BEll for crab legal turbo kits. Simple but not cheap. Or find a used fm kit as they are now all Carb legal with a kit you buy from them to make the old kit fall within requirements.

If it's only every other year then keep the exhaust parts and change them out each time. If you have the $$$ for FM kit though just go for it. Everything FM makes is quality and they offer great support for all of their products. Its only money... money was MADE to be spent.

It does not seem very hard to have the CARB FM2 kit make more power. As long as you are willing to swap the ECU and injectors every two years for the check. You'll pass visual with the CARB sticker but you'll need OBD2 still. However in the end, you may even find 170 whp to be all you need.

Big difference between 170 whp and stock power. See if you can get a ride in a mild FI miata.

170hp is nothing to sneeze at on a miata.

As far as carb stuff. Do the FM CARB kits use the stock injectors? All you really need to swap to make as much power as the car can handle is ECU and big enough injectors. Swap those out every two years for smog (or don't. Si ce you have an OBD1 car, I don't think they will plug in?).

The componants in the CARB FM kit should make 230+hp without any issue with enough fuel and a good tune on an ECU.