Hello from Hawaii
 

Hey guys,

I've always been a car guy but new to the miata scene. I just picked up a black 92 all stock with 79k miles on it. A family friend (old guy, 1st owner) gave it to me for a couple hundred bucks :) The car has been babied and I'm excited to see where this goes. The car will not be a daily driver, maybe taken out once a week for spirited road driving, maybe one day I'll decide to track, but not in the near future. Goals for the build are a reliable 250whp. I think it would be cool to keep the 1.6 since it only has 79k miles (good compression) I know.. I know.. a lot of you guys hate this 1.6 thing and I'm new to miata's so enlighten me, however I hope achieving that goal is still possible. I have decent mechanic skills so I'm up to the challenge and I've read a bit on the forums, so I figured torsen diff, rods, pistons etc. will be needed to meet the goal and I'm up to it. As well as susp, brakes etc.. anyway I'm not looking for a shortcut and prefer to do things the best way the first time lol. Just looking for some good help from a good community. Whats the feasability of meeting a 250whp (maybe a little more?? :p) goal with this 1.6 thing? Thanks for hearing me out!

How's the rust?

Take a look at my build thread. (astrals haltech build)

I am, as you say, "doing things the best way the first time" to the best of my knowledge and ability.

Honestly, in my knowledge, if you are going to go rods and pistons then you really ought to spend that money on a 1.8 engine, otherwise you will just be missing out on spool.

At 79k miles, if the compression and leak down are solid then why not boost the 1.6. You will definitely need the torsen at 250whp. Keep in mind I would consider 250whp pushing the 1.6. Not that it can't do it, but I imagine you will be shortening the engines life.

Grab some 1.8 brakes and proper pads. Blank rotors are just fine, the stock brakes are good enough at those levels (though if you want to throw money at brakes, that is never a bad idea).

If I was you, I would budget towards buying a great engine management system, good injectors, and you will need a clutch. You'll also need good tires, and at least a decent suspension (obviously this is dependent on how well you want your car to handle. To me this is paramount, so lots of dollars spent there.)


As you can see, while it can be done on the cheap, properly building up your car with lots of supporting modifications and a well sorted turbo kit isn't cheap, but will be well worth it!

By the way, have you driven a 250whp Miata? You may be happy sticking to 200-220whp on your 1.6 and may enjoy that just as much. These cars get damn quick with boost.

let me go take a look.. hahah jk
I looked when I got the car and surprisingly I didn't see any major, though the car was in a garage its whole life. any specific places to be checking?

Oh, no. I just lived in the puna area on the big island, and shit rusts reaaaaally fast in kalapana.

I'm not sure where to look for rust, but that's good you can't see any, I guess.

You mean without forged rods or any bottom end work?
I'm prepared for the budget, don't know if wife is LOL, so not too worried there. I want it to be worth it! I have not driven a 250whp Miata, but I want to slay poon. :)

So did I. I grew up on big island and lived in paradise park for about 5 years. Small world.

Haha, you lived right down the street from me! I lived on Auina St off Kahakai.

I figured you were close, since you had 808 in your forum name. :)

I mean you could likely do 250whp with a stock 1.6, though I would probably limit myself just under to be a bit more safe. That being said, if you wanted more usable power I wouldn't waste money pulling the 1.6 to build it then put it back in, I would rather just build the 1.8 and build that.

aloha. I grew up in Mililani most of my life. You said you might track it... I think they only have some auto crosses on Oahu right?

as you've probably have read, if you are going to upgrade you are better off building and swapping a 1.8 in rather than throwing money away with the 1.6.

I used to live in Mililani, too! Hokuala Street, and went to Mililani Uka school.

My brother is over there now somewhere on Oahu and he just bought a Miata. Pic attached.

Welcome to the forum.

Wayyyy to humid for me to live there. Also, no tracks.

It's not humid on the Waianae coast. Or in many places on the Big Island. The leeward sides of several of the islands are pretty dry. Lots of brown grass and cactus.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6a3f5ec38a.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...14868f9dbf.jpg

It rained all day 87 out of 95 days until i stopped counting lol. I lived in the rainy side.

In Kalapana shit rusts like right away. Our land was close enough to the coast where breeze blew salty moisture onto our coconut trees, which fruited like mad.

Hey Hawaii guys... 10yr anniversary coming up... go in September or wait until later in the year (weather/tourist season etc...)?

Well I went to Kona a few weeks ago and I felt like I was going to die. I guess it depends on your definition of humid.

You're probably right, but we're moving back to California in 3 years. :)

NIICE! Thanks. I'll be on the lookout.

The weather doesn't change much at all year round. Bonus to coming off-season: places are less crowded and you don't have to wait in long lines or pay more for hotels etc. Prices really jack up in summer and winter.