Gplusplus

Hey everyone. I just picked up a 100% unmolested, 51k mile, 2000 Miata. It's a base model, so no LSD, but it's in impeccable shape and I just couldn't say no. This is my second NB1; I used to own a 99 with the PEP package a while back. I went from my former NB1 to an ND, but now I'm selling my ND soon and moving into my NB. The idea is for cheaper track days, basically. Consumables on the ND are way more expensive, plus I don't want to be pushing 10/10ths on such an expensive (to me) car. The idea behind this car is to mainly be an HPDE car that I can drive to the track, then maybe enter a few NASA TT events (and lose) for fun. I might drive it once in a while to a car meetup or something, but it won't be daily driven. I might even do an autocross once in a while, but I'm mainly interested in track time, nowadays.

I'm taking a sloooowww path to turbo. I don't expect to have forced induction for another maybe two years from now. The end goal is to stick to the stock internals and transmission, aiming for as much "area under curve" power and torque as possible within a conservative margin of the durability ceiling of the parts. So that'll put me around 220 whp ish, but I'd prefer a smoother and more responsive 200 whp over a peaky 220. So we'll see. This is a long ways off, but I think if I get a very small, fast spooling snail, my goal is pretty simple. Since this is a track application, I have a feeling that cooling will be the biggest problem to solve, not power and turbo lag.

My immediate goal is to just sort the car out in terms of maintenance. It really doesn't need much, but it does prompt a few questions that I might start another thread for, but only after searching the forum fails me. Hint: Miata.net, Reddit, and "Google All The Things" have already failed me, so I'm probably making another thread. Basically, as I do maintenance on the car, I'd like to do as many "while you're in there" items and, if possible, use parts/mods that contribute toward the future turbo setup. I'll keep this post on topic, though.

I'm basically here to absorb information and ask questions while I hit my major milestones with the car. Roughly speaking, here they are:
1. Make it reliable in stock-ish form. I want a good baseline without too many gremlins.
2. Coilovers, wheels, tires, sway bars in ONE shot (I have my reasons).
3. Gross tweaking of balance with the above setup by doing a couple autocross events.
4. Throw in a roll bar.
5. Fine tweaking with the above setup by doing a couple track days.
6. Doing a lot of track days to improve my skills and make sure the car is the bottleneck, not me.
7. Build a standalone ECU and learn to tune my stock, naturally aspirated engine.
8. Fine tweaking with the above setup by doing a couple track days.
9. Doing a lot of track days to improve my skills and make sure the car is the bottleneck, not me.
10. Clutch
11. Doing a lot of track days to improve my skills and make sure the car is the bottleneck, not me.
12. Turbo
13. Fighting the increased engine heat.
14. Fine tweaking with the above setup by doing a couple track days.
15. Doing a lot of track days to improve my skills and make sure the car is the bottleneck, not me.
16. Losing in NASA TT and/or SCCA Solo events, but having fun doing it.

I'm open to suggestions for alterations to my plans. I'll swap an LSD in some time after step 1, whenever I get a good deal.

It's a simple, iterative path. Nothing fancy, nothing too ambitious, but it's centered around fun and relatively cheap track time. I have also considered the K Miata swap, but it just looks like a massive pain in the *** for the power level I'm going for, not to mention at a higher expense. The LFX swap looks great, but the price of the kit ($8k) just seems excessive to me. So yea, I landed here. Tried and true: put a small snail in a small car that's about as fast as a snail.

A side goal is to not get banned from these forums. As I've lurked, I've observed that it's pretty easy to get banned. I will try my best not to.

This concludes my first post. I hope it is to the satisfaction of MiataTurbo's most discerning users.

Edit: Oh and since we like cats around here, I should mention that I have a sports cat. He's a munchkin breed, meaning he's already got a lowered suspension from the factory. Lower center of gravity means he corners well. All wheel drive, too, but a front-biased weight distribution. I'd say about 60/40. He takes regular fuel, but leaks a lot. 100% stock, no turbo.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Welcome to the forum, fellow Tampa area guy. There are a few of us in the area that do track days (when life isn't getting in the way). Sebring is a great home track, so we have that going for us.

The path you have laid out is exactly what any of us who have been around would have suggested. It shows you have indeed studied on this for a while. All of the impediments you will face have been seen by numerous others so you will have an easier path than any trailblazer would. Let me know if you need anything. We can meet up after coronadeath passes us by.

Haha, no worries about being banished from the forum. Please post pictures of the car and the cat, because that's almost customary around here.

Steve

Gplusplus

Ninja the Cat

This is Ninja. Staggered setup, handling in the front, power in the back. 100% stock from the factory; this is a rare configuration. Munchkin edition.

I honestly don’t feel well right now and don’t feel like walking outside to take photos of the car. Tomorrow! Haha!

DNMakinson

iTrader: (3)

Welcome. Since it looks like you may track the car N/A, you
may consider an oil cooler earlier rather than later.

DNM

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

That's an interesting cat, haha.

The oil cooler is a good idea.

Gplusplus

A few quick pics.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Looks like a clean one.