Hi, new guy here on my way to owning an 04 msm
 

Hello everyone! my name is James I'm 38 and live in southwest kansas.First time on any forum. I am going to buy my new (to me anyway) 04 msm in the next few days. Am trying to decide between two cars both gray, one bone stock,and one that appears to have the little enchilada kit installed. both are at dealerships in wichita.(about three hours from me) price is $2000 lower on the modified car and it looks to have a boost gauge and controller. any thoughts on which way to go? just want a fun car to drive and love the look of the mx5 , trying to attach under hood pic of the modified car

oops!
 

just read the pic post :facepalm:

this better?
 

This is like saying "First time trying sushi" and then eating a piece made entirely of wasabi.

Welcome :party:

thanks lol seems like a given that I would go with the modded car but have no idea who did it? makes me a little wary

Welcome to the forum, tidy NB engine bay you have there!

How deep do you want to go? I'd buy the modified car for cheaper, but I wouldn't be afraid of possibly blowing everything up and having to rebuild it. If you are, then that might not be the way you want to go.

Yeah thats what I think I'm gonna do seems you can buy a used motor for around $1200? Was gonna do the mods anyway probably up to 250 hp or as close as possible with ecu ect.

Thanks for joining, James 04msm!

It's official :) 2004 msm with lil enchilada!! Just drove it home from wichita, 220 miles most fun ever on four wheels! (other vehicle is a harley lol) boost is set at about 10psi, what is a safe/average range in your Experienced opinion?

'Grats.
You can't raise it higher than that anyway, it will hit the stock limiter.

Ah I see thanks :)

From what I've read the stock level is 7 to 8 psi, is this correct? Also know there is no way to raise the rev limiter without hydra, ect? I'm not neccessarily after higher revs or boost right away, I'm just not very familiar with turbos in general and am trying to learn as much as possible.

There's lots of great info on this site. Time to start reading.

First I would recommend Maximum Boost by Corky Bell, it's a great 'intro to turbochargers' book.

The Build Threads section is a great resource. Read about other peoples failures so you don't fail yourself.

Read all the stickies in all the sections.

Lots of people ask those basic questions, they've already been answered here.

Thanks for the info started reading MB yesterday! Driving home last night got my very first CEL yay!:) It is solid so I have read it may be nothing major will find out code at lunch as i do not own a reader (o'riellys).

Congrats on your '04 MSM! You will not regret it. I love my car!

Thanks :) Yeah I love this car bought it two days ago and the CEL doesnt even bother me that much! I want to fix the issue not return the car. Anything else and I would be bitching about it. lol

Welcome! Great little car, always nice as you upgrade things you can recoop some cost by selling off your stock things.

Read this and repeat it to yourself a million times over until it is part of your sub-conscious:

YOU DO NOT WANT A HYDRA!!!!



But to answer your question: yes, the stock MSM ecu is by far the worst most limiting part on that car right now, and you want to ditch it for a proper ecu. Like megasquirt, aem, etc. Not hydra though, because if you're stupid enough to pay $2,000 for an ecu that is terrible and inferior to many other way better systems for half the price, you don't belong on this forum.

No matter what kind of stupid utter BS Flying Miata tells you, you don't want a hydra.

18psi lol I have figured that out already reading the opinons on here. The megasquirt is probably what I'll get :). Trying to sort out damn cel now obd has no power radio works ect? Hate work wanna mess with car all day :)