Hello from Florida!
 

How's it going everyone? I've been lurking for a few days now, and figured it's time to become part of the forum.

I've been wanting to turbo my Miata for quite some time now..but..to be honest, I'm no gear head. So this is why I joined, I've been reading so much these last few days, and learning a lot thanks to this forum.

So I've taken the time to read the n00b stickys, got a laugh from it, but also a lesson.

Anyway, I posted a picture of my current Miata below. My plan: buy a mariner blue project Miata, strip it, paint it, make it pretty :greddy:, build the engine (turbo wise), than toss it in...That's as far as my plan goes..

Hopefully I'll pick up some pointers, and knowledge from everyone here.
Thanks. :hs:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/...fa955a85_b.jpg

Welcome to here.

You drift?

No sir, I film it tho.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giW3agA0RmY
(If you have 13 minutes of time to spare!)

Nice man. I've been going out to CFRC a lot lately to get footage and chill with friends. We use a DSLR but has no tripod so content is not quite on your level. :giggle:

Nice car too. I'll probably see you around.

Welcome. Black miata is black.

Thanks! Yeah I have a camcorder, no DSLR.
I'll start going to CFRC more often.
It's a 2 hours drive, but worth it.
What events do you usually attend?

Thanks.
I checked out some of your youtube videos..
I'd love to crank out 250+ horsepower.. :eek5:
Nice car man.

You too can reach that power, just don't make any hasty decisions and listen to the people on here. So much knowledge that it's ridiculous. Any reason you don't want to turbo your current one? It is a sexy car, just needs moar powa!

Lol. I want to swap my current engine with the project I will buy.
It really doesn't matter, I could turbo it now yes, and transfer everything later, but I want to get the project car first. Then swap engines, sell my current car, and then finally/hopefully build a beast. Simplified, I want the pride of saying I built this car from the ground up. It's confusing and complicated, that's just the way I am.

I have a question for you now, how much total was your current setup?

I have about 4 to 5k for a turbo setup. I'm trying to decide what road is better for my budget, building my own kit, or buying a FM kit or something rather. This is where the research begins.. :sleep:

All events this year. I plan on Attempting a drift event sometime soon *when my car is up to it. Then following up with an Autox the next day to redeem myself.

Me and the crew are going this weekend after we get our kartin' on.

Well I made lots of stupid decisions, and have had the car since 2002. Been through 3 motors, and a bunch of other garbage. But here's what you'd need to build my car as it is (performance wise):

1.8 Motor - $700 (that's what I spent, should be able to get for lower)
Godspeed GT28 turbo - $350
Flyin miata DIY cast mani & dp - $750
AEM EMS - $1200 (I'd probably do megasquirt now but used EMS's show up too)
Intercooler - $200
custom 2.5" aluminum charge pipes - $400 (pipes and fab work)
Wideband o2 - $250
AEM MAP sensor - $100
GM Boost control solenoid - $60
Top-speed pro-1 exhaust - $300
test pipe - $60
ACT clutch - $300
Turbo fittings, bolts, oil feed, etc - $150
GM AIT sensor - $30
Torsen 1.8 rear end - $1000 (I got that years ago, should be way less)

So that's $5850. That's not including the roll bar, sweet rims, brake pads, etc. But I pay a premium on parts simply because I a) live in Canada, and b) live on an island in canada. That was the only 1.8 motor anywhere close to available, and same with the rear end. The rear end was bought out of necessity because I destroyed my 1.6 when NA (I had a centerforce dual friction clutch and was launching from 6500 rpm). Also if you go with megasquirt you are going to save a bunch of cash.

Also should note I had a -10AN bung welded onto my pan before I put the new motor in.

As far as regrets, I don't have any with the current setup. I have full launch control through me AEM EMS, and I do beat the hell out of my car. It feels so good to launch at 4000rpm with 5 psi of boost. Oh also I should mention that I bought a regulat 1.8 catalytic converter and will be replacing my test pipe with it. Hoping the restriction will drop my power down to the 250hp mark where is where I want to be. Of course I say that but it's been sitting on my floor for about 2 weeks now.

I can try to come out this weekend to the drift event.
If I can't make it, definitely next time.
Maybe I can take a ride in your ride! :naughty:
I've never been in a turbo Miata. :/

Holy cow, thanks for laying that out for me.
I still need to learn what half these parts are / do. :facepalm:
*This will be the first time I've turbo'd a car.
Anyway, as far as I see it, my budget will get me a descent setup.

I do plan on going with Megasquirt, I hear nothing but good about it.
I still have a long road of research ahead of me yet.
I'm taking this slow, I want it done good, and right.

Thanks again for the info!
Kind of off topic, but where did you get the RS lights?! :drool:

Welcome. You've got a lot of lurking to do to say the least, but should your budget remain at ~5k by the time you've figured what's what you'll probably end up with a nice setup with money to spare.

Lurking as much as I can!
Thanks for the welcome.

I made the RS lights myself but I just switched back to the stockers. The mounting system I made didn't allow for enough flex so every month or so I'd shatter a bulb.

More Florida guys arriving daily! Welcome to here. This is a great place for knowledgeable discourse and daily shenanigans. Much good info lives here. The build threads will demonstrate lessons learned and solutions found to problems you don't even have yet.

For spare parts and group therapy go ahead and sign up over at the Tampa Bay Miatas forum. They aren't into turbo knowledge so much but they are good guys for support and they are always having get-togethers.

I think I've seen your car at BWW meet, welcome to turboner.

First two turbo miata's I encountered were at ricks on the river, I ended up buying one of them lol.

Welcome to the site, nice looking car.