New 716 area Miata Owner
10-18-2013, 02:55 PM
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New 716 area Miata Owner
Hello all my name is Bill. I have been lurking as a guest for a few weeks now just searching and soaking in all the knowledge I can on turbocharging my new toy. I live 45mins south of Buffalo. I attend ECC south as a full time Auto Tech student. I have a have a small shop where I do all types of repair work and a lot of fab work. I been a gear head for many years but was mainly into old mopar's and after that 1st gen neons. I have been out of the car modifying scene since I got married 4 years ago.
This later half 1991 Miata I scored off eBay as a project for school, well that's how I justified it to the wife!! Set me back a whopping 600 bucks. I drove down to Washington D.C to pick it up so I got another 250 in gas in my f150 to go get it and get back home. It suffered a front end hit when the kid who owned it piled into a grand am at 35mph. Good news he had it so low it missed the main structure of the frame and just pushed the front fender and hood and rad support in but no frame damage. Also the kid claims he installed a used LSD in it but out of a 1.6 not a 1.8 rear end. The interior is in good shape, has a new vinyl top with rear heated glass window. Runs and drives well but the previous owner slammed it using cheap eBay coil over sleeves on stock shocks.
I am in alignment and suspension this semester at school so I am in the process of going through the entire front end. The ball joints are all hammered, tie rods are junk and the stock shocks with el cheapo sleeves got to go. I did find a set of NB stock shocks and springs complete with top hats for $150 off a 02 Miata with 24k on them so I scarfed them up. I pulled everything off the front, pulled out the rad support and welded it back where it belongs. Removed stock radiator it was not bent or leaking but about 1/2 the fins where gone. I replaced it with a 2 row aluminum radiator and aluminum fan shroud and 2-12" electric fans. Next will be all ball joints replaced going with moog lowers and going to use the upgraded v8 roadster top ball joints as I read they are direct replacements and a lot cheaper the top control arms and stronger from what I read as well.
Then when that's all done will stick the NB shocks and springs in and align it and wait till spring for new rims and tires. I also picked up a new flyin Miata stage 2 clutch kit from a local guy who was hurting for money on craigslist, I paid 100 bucks and it included a new stainless braided clutch line. Over the winter I want to build or piece together a turbo kit for this car. My total budget is $5000.00 including the price of the car, mechanical work, turbo work, body and paint. Now I know a lot of people are thinking that's not possible. Well I believe it is, I do all my own wrenching, fab work, body and paint. I would like to make between 200-250hp, somewhere in the middle is what I want. Was thinking around 10-12lbs of boost.
Ran a compression test and my lowest was 184psi and my highest was 191.5 psi. The internals seem real strong still even though the odometer reads 199,000 miles. Not sure if it was ever rebuilt or replaced but I have seen a lot less miles on a lot newer cars produce lower numbers then this. My wife does not support my car habit and I feel like I am cheating cause I have to hide everything from her when it comes to my Miata. Any info will be greatly appreciated and comments are always welcome,I look forward to becoming a new family member here. I believe that's enough for now but any ways I hope to not **** any one off but sure its bound to happen. Again I am Bill and this is my Miata life story. Thanks for reading
This later half 1991 Miata I scored off eBay as a project for school, well that's how I justified it to the wife!! Set me back a whopping 600 bucks. I drove down to Washington D.C to pick it up so I got another 250 in gas in my f150 to go get it and get back home. It suffered a front end hit when the kid who owned it piled into a grand am at 35mph. Good news he had it so low it missed the main structure of the frame and just pushed the front fender and hood and rad support in but no frame damage. Also the kid claims he installed a used LSD in it but out of a 1.6 not a 1.8 rear end. The interior is in good shape, has a new vinyl top with rear heated glass window. Runs and drives well but the previous owner slammed it using cheap eBay coil over sleeves on stock shocks.
I am in alignment and suspension this semester at school so I am in the process of going through the entire front end. The ball joints are all hammered, tie rods are junk and the stock shocks with el cheapo sleeves got to go. I did find a set of NB stock shocks and springs complete with top hats for $150 off a 02 Miata with 24k on them so I scarfed them up. I pulled everything off the front, pulled out the rad support and welded it back where it belongs. Removed stock radiator it was not bent or leaking but about 1/2 the fins where gone. I replaced it with a 2 row aluminum radiator and aluminum fan shroud and 2-12" electric fans. Next will be all ball joints replaced going with moog lowers and going to use the upgraded v8 roadster top ball joints as I read they are direct replacements and a lot cheaper the top control arms and stronger from what I read as well.
Then when that's all done will stick the NB shocks and springs in and align it and wait till spring for new rims and tires. I also picked up a new flyin Miata stage 2 clutch kit from a local guy who was hurting for money on craigslist, I paid 100 bucks and it included a new stainless braided clutch line. Over the winter I want to build or piece together a turbo kit for this car. My total budget is $5000.00 including the price of the car, mechanical work, turbo work, body and paint. Now I know a lot of people are thinking that's not possible. Well I believe it is, I do all my own wrenching, fab work, body and paint. I would like to make between 200-250hp, somewhere in the middle is what I want. Was thinking around 10-12lbs of boost.
Ran a compression test and my lowest was 184psi and my highest was 191.5 psi. The internals seem real strong still even though the odometer reads 199,000 miles. Not sure if it was ever rebuilt or replaced but I have seen a lot less miles on a lot newer cars produce lower numbers then this. My wife does not support my car habit and I feel like I am cheating cause I have to hide everything from her when it comes to my Miata. Any info will be greatly appreciated and comments are always welcome,I look forward to becoming a new family member here. I believe that's enough for now but any ways I hope to not **** any one off but sure its bound to happen. Again I am Bill and this is my Miata life story. Thanks for reading
Last edited by Miatacrazy716; 10-18-2013 at 11:07 PM.
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10-18-2013, 06:31 PM
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You picked the wrong bitch to make a wife. You are in for many years of misery until you divorce her. Or heaven forbid you knock her up, because that locks you in.
But welcome to the forum! We have a large repository of information hiding right behind that search button. And there are years of triumphs and struggles in the build threads, and important answers in the stickys.
Good luck!
But welcome to the forum! We have a large repository of information hiding right behind that search button. And there are years of triumphs and struggles in the build threads, and important answers in the stickys.
Good luck!
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10-18-2013, 11:12 PM
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Sorry about the wall of text, I broke it up and paragraphed it. I Hope that helps. As far as the wife goes I can't get rid of her, I would rather give up my cars then give her up. I have been with her now for over 11 years. She might not like my car hobby but that's because I spend so much money on numerous other hobby's. Maybe I should quit doing all my other interests then she probably wouldn't have a issue with my Miata!! Thanks for the feed back though.
Last edited by Miatacrazy716; 10-19-2013 at 09:12 AM.
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10-19-2013, 01:20 AM
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LOL @ sixshooter. Thanks for fixing the thread, MUCH easier to read now. Sounds like you've got a fun little project and you have come to the right place for miata wisdom!
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10-19-2013, 02:17 AM
#7
If you have a welder and your budget is $5k, I'd start with a 1.8 swap. $5k should be easy, a guy on Miata.net just did the same for $6k, but he used an NB and did no fab work. His '99 cost him $2k vs your $600, so you've already got a big head start.
Oh and I wouldn't be surprised by those compression numbers. I'm pretty sure there are people who installed a turbo at 100k miles that ran a compression test at 200k and got similar results.
Oh and I wouldn't be surprised by those compression numbers. I'm pretty sure there are people who installed a turbo at 100k miles that ran a compression test at 200k and got similar results.
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10-19-2013, 10:10 AM
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Thanks for the warm invites. I am sorry about before I was just excited I guess and got on a roll and did realize I made a giant block of words!! Any ways. I do have a welder and a whole shop full of tools, even have a 2 post lift,tire machine and balancer. I have only been here a few weeks but I see everyone bags on the 1.6L. Now I am from the old school days of there is no replacement for displacement. I figure since this engine seems in good all around shape, boost this and when she goes, she goes. I really wanted to do a 5.0 swap originally when I bought it. I just don't want to go through all the fab work when I can get better numbers and cheaper numbers with the stock 1.6 boosted. Granted I am giving up all the torque, but how much torque does a 2000lb car need!! I know stupid question right.
I also do like and have cats. I have 2 now, Pepper and George. Our first cat, Daisy she died last march. She had a disease where her pancreas was leaking and ate her internal organs. It was sad and hard but we had to put her down, one of the toughest things I ever had to do. This is Daisy and she is missed everyday!!
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I also do like and have cats. I have 2 now, Pepper and George. Our first cat, Daisy she died last march. She had a disease where her pancreas was leaking and ate her internal organs. It was sad and hard but we had to put her down, one of the toughest things I ever had to do. This is Daisy and she is missed everyday!!
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10-19-2013, 10:35 AM
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Now that my kittys are out of the way. Here is a few Miata shots so you don't think I am just like a old cat lady, LOL.
Here is a shot of some late night body work with my nephew, Josh. He works at our local ford garage as a body tech. Its a big help to have him around. He is into civics but when I brought home the Miata, he sat in it and now is planning on buying one by spring and selling his civic!!!
In case your wondering what the lights are in front of my Miata, its my Polaris Rzr. I was using the 4,000lb winch to pull out the radiator support.
Close up of the action
Here is a shot of some late night body work with my nephew, Josh. He works at our local ford garage as a body tech. Its a big help to have him around. He is into civics but when I brought home the Miata, he sat in it and now is planning on buying one by spring and selling his civic!!!
In case your wondering what the lights are in front of my Miata, its my Polaris Rzr. I was using the 4,000lb winch to pull out the radiator support.
Close up of the action
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10-19-2013, 10:51 AM
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When I bought the car the kid never told me it had a cracked windshield or else I would have cut him down to $500. Anyways here is the new windshield and my new radiator set up.
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10-30-2013, 09:29 PM
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I am just curious to know if I should start my build thread in here or if I should just start another thread? Also I did a search but could not find anything to specify where to start a build thread?
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10-31-2013, 08:31 AM
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Where the F is 716?
Unless you're in the 313 i don't think you can use that...
Welcome to the site anyway, more pictures of cats. We don't care about the car, but a build thread would be cool.
Unless you're in the 313 i don't think you can use that...
Welcome to the site anyway, more pictures of cats. We don't care about the car, but a build thread would be cool.
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