Hey everyone!

I've been reading incessantly about turbos and boost for years now, ever since my first car, but I would not let myself turbo something FWD, which is all I have driven since high school. As of two days ago, I am the proud owner of a 1992 Mazda Miata 1.6L, and I could't be more excited! I have learned a lot from lurking in the forums here and on other websites and reading Corky Bell's Maximum Boost. My goal for the car is to build an autocross monster that is still street legal. My current build goals is 200-230 whp, and I'm hoping to obtain this using a Garrett GT2554r turbo, MegaSquirtPNP standalone, water/meth injection and an intercooler (still undecided on brand and dimensions). Trying to keep the engine as stock as possible for now, I would like to get more proficient in tuning and driving before I think about an engine build. If anyone has any suggestions on which exhaust manifold and intercooler/piping brand/size I should go with, that would be great. I still have a lot of reading and learning to do.

If you have any criticism or helpful remarks, it would be very appreciated! I'm here to learn.

-Brandon L.

 

Step 1

Swap to a 1.8L motor, or get one prepped for a motor build in your garage & swap in when you're done.

Step 2

Purchase a megasquirt & a wideband o2 gauge, I prefer innovate

Step 3

Learn to tune your non-choochoo vehicle, when boost time comes around (Tune as needed to support your boost levels)

Edit*, and ditch the water/meth jungle juice plan, not needed with that turbo or hp goal

 

^This. Water/ meth is totally unnecessary for that goal. Do the 1.8 swap if only to give you more room to grow when you get sick of 200hp.

 

Hey guys, thanks for your input! I really appreciate it.

I'm going to school and living in an apartment right now, I don't have anywhere to do a motor build. I've given swapping to a 1.8 some thought, and I decided I'll play with my 1.6 till it pops or I get a place with a garage, then I'll entertain the idea of building a 1.8. Not to mention the 1.6 is good enough to meet my power goals anyway. If I build my set up with the 1.6, the only think I would have to change when swapping to the 1.8 would be the turbo manifold and tune, right?

Thanks again!

-Brandon L.

 

BrandonL, congrats on signing up at the best site on the web!

 

I highly suggest scavenging these forums and most of your questions will have already been answered.

And no, 1.8 swap will take a little more than that. I would consider it your 'big' well needed upgrade. Unless you really wanna put investment into that old 1.6L motor

 

Are you a at TAMU? I think you are fine boosting the 1.6L you have for now. Keep power at or below 200 and just have fun with it. If you get bored with it at that point, then move up to a built 1.8L. Honestly though, on a college student budget, I would just stay with the 1.6L and enjoy it there. If you do decide to do the 1.8L route, let me know and I may have an older engine you can use for the build at that time.

There are a fair amount of people in your area that can give you some advice on the miata. I'm up there racing fairly often at TWS and I know the TAMU car club hosts autocross events monthly. Get involved with them and you will probably meet a guy named Rami that owns Cafe Capri(awesome food and super cool guy). He has had a turbo 1.6L for years and still loves it.

If you are really wanting to hone your driving skills, then I would personally focus money on suspension, but it isn't as fun as the turbo stuff in everyday driving.

 

Depends on which 1.8. Read this: http://www.flyinmiata.com/support/in...sc/1.8swap.pdf
Here is a link to the conversion kit FM sells: Flyin' Miata : Engine conversions : 1.8 conversion : 1.8 conversion kit

 

Word on the street is you got a blue Miata now. Hope to see you out at autox!

 

werd

 

Hey, thanks for the reply! I've been autocrossing with TAMUSCC for several years now and I know Rami, he's a great guy. Are you from the College Station area? And thank you for that offer! I'll be sure to contact you if I ever decide to go that route. I plan on modifying suspension first, I'm just trying to solidify my turbo plans for when the time comes. But turboing will be the last thing I do.

 

Haha, word on the street is right! It's a pretty clean 92 that was maintained by a guy who really knows his stuff!

 

Thanks for nice words Robert and Brandon…I saw the car last night and hope to help him down the right path for him. Driving driving driving

Rami

 

Thanks Rami! I'm going to get in as much seat time as possible. Can't wait for the summer autocross sessions!

-Brandon L.

 

I went to school there from 02-07. Best advice for suspension is not to stair step the approach to really good suspension. Get a decent setup cheap and continue to save for the right setup. Avoid going through 4 or 5 different setups that are progressively more expensive. A used bilstein/ground control setup works well with autocrossing and can be had for fairly cheap if you are patient. I may even have some spare sway bars that I could donate to a good cause if you don't have any already.


It has been too long since I have seen you man. I am planning a trip up to there some time in the near future and I will have to stop by and say hi. If nothing else, I will be up there for the WRL race in mid December at TWS. Take care.

 

Gig 'em I have been doing a lot of reading about suspension setups and the FM V-Maxx coilovers have gotten great reviews and compare to a lot more expensive set ups. I think that's the route I'm going to go. Do you have any experience with them? And I'll take any spare parts you're willing to donate! As a college student on a budget, it would be really helpful and I would much appreciate it. I'm actually from the Pearland area, Sagemont to be exact, I could swing by when I go to visit my parents if that works for you!

Thanks again!

-Brandon L.

 

Send me a message when you are coming in town next and we will figure something out. My shop is in Pearland, but I live in Clear Lake. I will get you setup with some sway bars and we can talk about suspension.

 

Welcome, let me know if you ever need help wrenching.

I am putting custom suspension on my 1991 in a few weeks, you are welcome to drive the car to see how it feels.

 

That's why I was suggesting maybe going with a T25 from an SR20 that can be had for ~$50-$200 to get going initially, then change to the $800+ turbo you wanted because I am 99% sure they are both going to be a normal Garrett T2 turbo flange. So might as well get everything setup cheap than sitting on a $1000 paperweight while you are waiting for funds to order other parts to get moving.

Seems like all of a sudden everyone is in the Texas area. Sweet!

 

Hey bud! Thanks for the offer! Are you from the College Station area? I'll be putting the V-Maxx coils on sometime within the next couple of months, but I would definitely like to drive yours. What are you planning on installing? And the same invitation goes to you, if you ever need any help working on your ride just let me know!

-Brandon L.

Oh, that definitely makes sense. I didn't know the flanges on the manifold would be the same. I suppose I could get the intercooler, MS, turbo manifold and small turbo to get started and upgrade the injectors and turbo as I have the funds. That would also give me time to save for the lightweight flywheel and stronger clutch. Thanks for that idea, I think I'm going to do that!

I'll be sure to text you before I start buying stuff, you know a lot more about all of this than I do, lol. Maybe you could help me plan out my own intercooler pipe routing so I don't have to buy the expensive molded FM hoses?

-Brandon L.