Hello from Pittsburgh! This^ is my 1990, pretty much stock. Bought her as my first car, and well the PO was less than intelligent. When I first got her, she looked like this...



No interior, no heater (Box, blower, core, nothing.), plastidipped black (absolutely terrible), torn up soft top, and a blown head gasket. Paid $1000, and poured a whole lot more into it (Not mommy and daddy funded, all me). Now she's getting ready for a heart transplant (1.8 from a '95 auto, being fully built) and coilovers. Lots of plans, but this is my intro. Hope to see you all around!

 

Welcome! I lived in the 'burgh for 29 years before moving down to NC last June.

 

Welcome to the site Shane_NA6, thanks for joining up!

 

Welcome to the forum. What are your plans for the car? Track days?

 

That's pretty much the bulk of it. I'm building a motor right now for boost, and I was looking for 250-275 on E85 (thank god for 2 stations within a couple miles). 1.8 out of a 95, MS3 ecu, Manley H-beams and Wiesco 8-8.5:1 pistons. 1300cc injectors with Walboro pump. Of course, all the supporting mods so it doesn't blow up / I don't kill myself (1.8 diff, 6speed tranny, clutch, wilwood bbk, etc.)

Honestly, I just want to be able to keep up with the rest of my friends, who's cars consist of an Evos, a 3kgt vr-4, 300zxTT, f-body Camaro, Slobalt SS (two of those!), and a couple other things (gets very old rolling to car meets and getting left behind).

But this is my baby so I plan on keeping her for a very long time. No beater yet so I can put this away, so no specific deadline set just yet. More than likely will wait until I graduate to do all the fun turbo things.

 

Don't try to add a turbo to your only vehicle. It makes sense to get a light truck or other occasional tow vehicle if you plan to do track days.

 

That's the plan. Buy some beater ford I can tow with, and so I can put the Miata away for the swap/build. I'll more than likely get the motor built, turbo on the motor, run the lines that I need to, and then buy a beater. I have to daily it until that point, so I'm not doing anything major to it, rather than wheels/tires and coilovers (Tein Street Basis), maybe fix some rust here and there.

What I would really love to do is have it torn down, and then I can have it painted, paint/shave the bay with no motor, fix some rust in the rockers, fix some stupid wiring that the PO did, and then put everything back how it should be. Appreciate the concern though, truly. Always love to get assistance in whatever way I can

 

Welcome, where do you live in town?
Have you started ordering parts for your build? Also, what machine shop will you be using?

-Dave

 

I'm a little farther north in Ambridge. Beaver County.

I've ordered Manley H-Beam rods and got the Manifold powdercoated (Looks so sexy) but that's just the start of it. Not much longer, and I should be ordering pistons. I'll buy bearings and rings after I figure out what my block looks like.

I'm not sure on machine shops. Do you happen to know of any reputable ones around here? I have a machine tool class at my vo-tech, and the instructor has a history with engine building, but I'm not too sure I want him touching anything on my build, because that means students will be touching things on my build. We can't have that.

 

I haven't personally done business with a machine shop pertaining to an engine build, but have had friends use PRL Motorsports and P&R. Also, maybe check out Moore Performance down the Rocks. A member, thejeans, was looking into them for his build. Also good call avoiding the machine work at vo-tech. I went to Parkway for machine tool. Lets just say those who actually want to learn something are outnumbered.
Good luck, start a build thread down the road?

 

That's the plan! Perhaps sometime this week I'll start one

 

I used B&R in Verona for the bore and hone on my BP block and they did a fantastic job. B & R Speed Supply