Argrarg

Ello from Montreal!

Bought my car last summer from a used car lot(no history on the car). Had a Greddy kit, hacked together charge piping/intercooler and some suspension goodies. Nearly 200000km, weak compression in all cylinders but especially #3, bald tires and a screaming diff.

So I`ve had fun up until now. The casualties? One 1.6 engine(replaced with another 1.6), the diff(now a 1.8 torsen) and most recently the greddy tdo4.

Its time to stop the greddy and bandaids bs since my track car wont be an option this summer and I need an alternative. Im not thinking anything crazy just a begi mani/dp with a t25 and ms.

I`ll leave you guys with pics. Time for a coffee and tons of reading.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

Good luck with your searching. You've got some work to do but sounds like you know where you want to be.

viperormiata

iTrader: (24)

.....dat skyline

inferno94

iTrader: (2)

Hey, not a bad start. Did the hard top come with the car?

I've basically got the set up you mention (BEGi S3) for a summer dd and it's been pretty reliable for the past 4 years at ~16-17psi (GT2560) on a stock 1.8, you should enjoy it.

Side note: I thought they were now out to get rid of all the rhd cars in Quebec?

Argrarg

Thanks turbofan.

My main concern at the moment is how reliable the ms would be in a year round daily driver. Needs to start every day without fail even those mornings when its below 30 celsius. I ask because the k-pro management in my honda isnt happy unless its warm summer day. That might have something to do with its tuner(me lol) so that problem might transfer over to this car too.

inferno94 -

16-17psi? Damn, must be a blast.

Naw, found the hardtop used a few weeks after picking up the car. Got lucky with the colour match, most of these cars seem to be red lol.

RHD drive cars are still road legal around here as long as they passed their initial inspection before the cutoff date which was some time in the past two years. Got a couple of buddies that own various imports that were already in the province before the law passed so they get to keep them but nothing new can come in until the cars are older than 25 years. Then its back to free for all jdm imports.

inferno94

iTrader: (2)

I have a MS1 which I tuned and will start and run the car in any weather, MS2 or MS3 are much better look into a MS Labs unit (forum sponsor section). I haven't tuned much in the warm up map so if it's cold (< 0 C) it's ok, but not like OEM until it's warmed up. (**Tuner Studio full version is your friend with MS**)

I'll need to upgrade mine to add VVT control but when I got mine MS1 was still current. Read up on the features of the different versions before buying.

In the spring / summer / fall I usually drive my car ~ 1000km / week and sometimes take it on longer trips to the cottage and it's fine (with appropriate supporting mods as I'm sure you're aware).

I don't have dyno graphs my car keeps pace with my dad's 6 cyl '02 Goldwing fairly well from a roll, not off the line though. Several on this forum have far more powerful cars.

BTW DON"T build the 1.6, if it goes again, a 1.8 bolts into it's place.

Argrarg

Thanks for the info/guidance!

Didnt know a thing about these cars before buying one. Just knew i would end up with a 90-93 na one day. So i figured out the short nose/long nose/1.6/1.8 engine and chassis differences as i went along.

I replaced the original 93 engine with another 1.6(short nose *FIAL* i know lol but did the known pulley fix for peace on mind) because i was short on time and needed the car to run 500km per week. I would have rather gone 1.8 but did not have the bits needed for a conversion nor was i ever interested in being stuck with a normally aspirated miata. The 1.6 is fine and I won't bother building it. I`m happy with 160-200whp and more interested in reliability.

Thinking that over time i will buy the 1.8 conversion from fm and a 1.8 mani so that if the 1.6 pops again i`ll be ready to replace it. Not sure if i can carry over an mspnp for the 90-93 to a 1.8 though, not far enough into research yet. If that isn't possible then the parts list is too expensive and id rather replace 1.6 motors like light bulbs lol

inferno94

iTrader: (2)

You can use the same MS for the other engine as long as you use the 1.6 sensors. The CAS is different between the two engines but I don't think that is an issue requiring new hardware (someone around here will know for sure). You will need a new turbo mani for a 1.8 vs your 1.6 so keep that in mind.

IIRC the 1.6 isn't mechanically weaker (all long nose cranks though) than the 1.8 it just spools turbos slower and makes less power for the same boost pressure.

The beginners luck section has loads of goodness.

Argrarg

Yea, thats what i figured management wise.

I`ll be prepared for a 1.8 if and when but expect a long lifespan from the current 1.6 with my modest/realistic goals and mechanical empathy. It`s gotta be fun but the track car gets priority time and money wise.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

You definitely know what's up. a 1.6 will happily meet your goals. No worries man. All the info you need is here, and you're clearly up to the task of searching and reading. Welcome again.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

Welcome to the site Argrarg, thanks for joining up!