N00b from Denver, planning a low-budget turbo build
 

Howdy, y'all!

I'm Bryant from Denver, nice to meet you. I like to brew my own beer, I work at a machine shop, and I occasionally race in the 24 Hours of LeMons racing series. Me and my friends race a '78 AMC Pacer with a supercharged 4.0 Jeep motor.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1448264771
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1449434687



I bought this 1995 Miata a couple years ago, and it was my only car for about one year. It's pretty ragged, with hail damage on every body panel that's not plastic, a hole in the soft top, and a big dent on the passenger side. The reason I bought it was because it has the torsen rear end, and a hard top, which come in handy during the winter.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1448264771

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1449434687



Last year I bought this '86 Toyota MR2, and it's been my daily driver ever since. The Miata has been relegated to winter beater status for now, at least until I fix most of its issues and/or until I put a turbo on it.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1448264771
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b87c90c03c.jpg



Speaking of turbos, I recently happened across this rather large intercooler for $8 at the local recycling center. It's nearly as dented and full of holes as my Miata, but I'll try to patch it up and see if I can get it to hold pressure. If it doesn't work, $8 ain't too much.

One of my LeMons teammates is an automotive hoarder, and he once mentioned that he had about ten turbos in his shed. Yesterday I went to check it out, and brought along another teammate who used to have a turbo DSM, and currently owns a stock NA Miata. He's on this forum, but I don't remember his handle.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1448264771
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...cc63f2bda6.jpg



Anyway, we found at least one turbo which should work for my 1.8L Miata. It's a Garrett M24 with a T3 flange, from an SVO Mustang with the 2.3L Pinto motor. The A/R is .60 on the cold side, and .48 on the turbine. Hopefully this will work for my goal of making about 200 hp and making boost low in the rev range. If this turbo doesn't work out, I'll keep looking. Maybe I'll go with a kit, but I'd rather keep things real cheap.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1448264771
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...e1663ac8be.jpg


We also found this turbo which looks identical, but says M11 instead of M24. The compressor looks pretty well trashed, so this one will only be used for spare parts, if at all. I paid $20 for the two of them. Not bad!

Right now, my plan is to get my Miata running properly with a Megasquirt before I start bolting turbo parts to it. It's currently getting terrible mileage and having some trouble idling, so I'll have to clean out the idle air valve and maybe replace some sensors.

Besides the Megasquirt, I have a few mods in mind:
-Water/methanol injection
-Bigger injectors and/or rising rate fuel regulator
-Coolant re-route
-Upgraded clutch
-Under-chassis brace
-Brake pads and braided lines
-New/aftermarket shocks
-Cut seat foam and re-cover seats

Hopefully I didn't make too long a post for my first one! If it's too much, I can always move this to the DIY turbo section.

Welcome, discontinuuity!