Hi from South Carolina
 

I'm ready to add FI to my 97. Several members over at Miata.net suggested I spend some time over here before deciding what route to take.

150,000 miles. I bought it in April with 145,000 and it was a perfect garage queen. I didn't have to do anything to it, but I did change the timing belt and fluids just to be safe.

Modifications to date are minimal. TRMotorsports C1Ms with General Exclaim UHPs 205/50/15. Koni shocks, stock springs, FCM mounts and bumpstops.

I have restored several MGs and Fiats. 73' MGB GT (added Rover V8) and a 80' MBG Limited Edition, Fiat 78' X1/9, 78' Abarth Brava (wish I still had that one)

Didn't want to do a restoration this go round so I bought the best Miata I could find to drive and modify.

Welcome, you're off to a good start with your location filled in and your intro thread up. You'll find we're biased toward turbos, of course, but if you allow us to explain why (and disregard everything you've ever heard from FFS Tom) I think you'll make the right decision.

Thanks for the welcome
 

Thanks for the welcome. I will definitely be seeking advice. I have put a V8 in an MG, restored and driven a turboed Fiat and am ready to put something in the Miata. I was really leaning towards a FF Supercharger due to having driven a friends car with one, but I want to be sure and make the right choice.

Insane in the membrane...

Your tires suck. Welcome to MT.net. What are your power goals and intentions for the car once it's FI'ed?

I like the tires for street driving. I will be adding another set of wheels and tires for autorcross. I am looking for increased power in all rev ranges but especially street and autocross. That's one reason I was leaning towards SC. I have been out of the turbo game for a while but I know there have to have been some advances that makes a turbo an option for what I'm looking for. I just want to buy the right solution the first time.

Well even for autocross turbo's are good, just need to go smaller to avoid huge turbo lag. Budget? I ask mainly for engine management, Megasquirt would probably be perfect for you, then you just need turbo, manifold, injectors, intercooler, intercooler pipes, downpipe, exhaust, air filter, intake piping, heat shielding, larger radiator, lap top, and kitchen sink. No, seriously.

Haven't really got a budget. I intend to buy a kit that's ready to install and that has some upgrade options. I usually just buy what I decide I want.

BEGI or FM then, not really much more out there for ready to go kits, ignoring the shitty ones. Get a turbo/mani/downpipe combo, fab up some intercooler brackets and pipes from ebay (that you can trust, around $120 I think) then buy a MSPNP for $700 or have a member build one for ya (or you) for probably $500 total, and you're good to go for around 200hp. Oh and injectors! Don't forget that, about another $160 for injectors+cleaning. Read DIY turbo stickies, MegaSquirt stickies, and there's a prefabbed turbo kit sticky, but it basically just says don't buy ebay kits.

How serious are you about autox? Plenty of small-turbo'd Miatas do excellently in autox, but others prefer a super. A friend of mine did super the right way; coldside (FM Uber), Link, intercooled, etc. Don't drink the "I just need a (5th injector, powercard, low boost) kool aid.

So whichever way you go, budget for a real EMS and an intercooler. That's what I think I'm getting at.

A club member just installed a Begi kit on his 90 1.8 transplant. I haven't gotten to drive it. I definitely wouldn't buy an ebay kit. FM or Begi would probably be my choices if I go turbo.

"kit" is a very loose term. My opinion is, you get an ECU first, tune it and figure it out. Add injectors, then turbo/mani/dp, then IC (or include in previous step if you have the cash or aren't impatient), then built motor (you'll either sell the car or build a motor, that's just how it goes). If I were to do it all over again, that's what I'd do. And get an ECU that will do everything cuz one day you'll want it.

In that sequence, gains can be made at each step and you aren't wasting your money on anything. It also gives you time to figure out what turbo you want to run and slowly get used to the increases in power.

Welcome aboard man... Good to see someone local to me. As stated above you are off to a good start with what you are looking at running. And yes, a good ECU would be number one on my list. Also, who would you get to tune it (if you aren't comfortable with that kinda stuff, that is)? I do not know of anyone around here that is competent enough to run a dyno properly, much less tune a car...