Hi, I am of the noob.
 

Bought a high mileage (247k) 90 miata with a ln engine swap (lower miles) with a hard top for 2k$, paints in decent condition along with the body except for the problem spot I made :doh: seemed like a good deal to me (pics in a bit.) I'm just starting with mechanics but I'm good at researching and the miata is my new obsession. I'm broke and a part time student at the moment so parts are going to have to wait until I get a job hopefully in a few weeks at which point I will pour my earnings into the baby; but I plan on building a megasquirt myself, and buff up my welding skills which I just acquired to possibly start fabbing shit like a mani downpipe and exhaust. It would probably be a good idea to get some driving lessons/autocross time as well although it will mostly be a daily driver.

the build list in order of priority:

-suspension- current setup seems to be shot; does the 90 come with bilsteins that can be rebuilt?

-wheels used 15x7 or something of that nature

-brakes 1.8 upgrade with new pads

-choosing a final rwhp goal and whether or not to swap engine stuck at a range from 220-280 (big.. i know) help deciding here would be nice

-engine - if i go 1.8 i will probably get a cheap 94-95 block get a newer head with more flow and build it... at the higher end of my goals with new rods and pistons at the least

-megasquirt/stereo/possible carpc build -i have no stereo right now, thank god for ipods

-clutch ebay if i can get away with it

-ass, a nice fat torsen

-injectors used rx7 550s seem good to me

-turbo bits looking at about the 2560 to T28-T3 range

-exhaust probably 3 in if i get to it, i understand that its the biggest restrictor but its also a dd in california and i don't want it to be a cop magnet. sleeper aspects appeal to me.

-extra stuff... there will probably be a lot

*what hp goal that i can work up to is really fun for a daily driver and potential auto-crossing?* - i know its more of a personal decision, but i have little concept of how fast fast is; i don't have a very wide range of cars that i've actually driven, i KNOW i want more power but where to cut the line is in question. i like not doing things twice (starting witha 1.6 working with it, and then swapping to a 1.8) so if i can start off at sane levels until i can actually get to a level of borderline insanity, but a level i can control, that would be ideal.

thanks.

pictures with beauty mark under driver door-try getting used to a prius turning radius and switching to a miata:

welcome:)

Nice .... Welcome, to comment on some on what you posted for the turbo you have in mind and your power goal I would swap for a 1.8 and a 99 head, get low compression pistons and rods and youre not gonna worry about blowing yourself up. I personally had in mind to boost the 1.6 and keep a conservative set up while I build a 1.8. About the ebay clutch F1 stage 3 seems to hold up. Where to cut the line?? your pocket will decide that. Good luck with your project.

hey that helps, thanks.

Hey, good to hear you enjoy her :-) I think you got an OK price, especially since you can make almost half of it back just by putting out the Hardtop, a great addition.

I'd say for your power goals a 1.8 or even 2.0 FE-dohc swap would be a good idea. The FE3 is a nice motor for power, and it doesn't really need internals to make what you want. Since you want to get a new ecu, swapping a few parts around anyway, its could be an option, but its a bit more intensive, just a thought.

A good suspension setup I've seen isn't too spendy, with Bilstein sport shocks, Fat Cat Motorsports Bumpstops, FM springs, and then NB perches as well, its plenty capable, and still fairly comfortable as well.

As far as how "fast" fast is, I couldn't say specifically for the NA, as you're a bit different setup, and lighter, but at about ~210whp I can spank an 06 Mustang GT, and there aren't a lot of car you see on a day to day basis on the road that can hang with me, but, honestly, either way It doesn't matter much, its really a blast of a car to drive.

Hope it all works out for ya, and enjoy it any way ya make it.

holy shit that fe3 is tempting, if i were to get an import i doubt anyone except miata nuts would be able to tell that it didn't belong there. it looks incredibly cost effective and awesome. thanks for the tip, i hadn't even considered that!

Welcome