Hi guys. My name is Chris and I am from Indianapolis. I am just getting started on my 99 NB so I figured I would introduce myself on some of the Miata forums. I have been a car guy from day 1 and some of my past projects include 87 Mustang GT, 94 Mustang GT (HCI, 331 Stroker, Vortech YS), several quick DSMs, 12 second BMW 335xi, C6 vette, Jeep Cherokee SRT8, and my last swap car was an 88 rx7 convertible LS1/T56 (exhaust, cam, nitrous) 551hp/606tq.

I picked up this 99 locally and have been having fun taking it apart. The brief plan for the swap is Boss Frog subframe, Boss Frog 8.8 rear (already bought) w/ 3.31 gears, alum 5.3, t56, ls7 clutch, small 67-70mm turbo with a normal front mounted setup, pump gas, bosch 044, 60#s, etc

Goals are to have a fun street car that is reliable at 600ish hp and drive it a lot. My vette was nice but far too refined for my taste. I need to get back to spinning 4th gear on the highway

Here are some pics of the car and progress so far.

 

Welcome.

What do you do for a living?

 

Looking forward to more pics of progress.

 

Oh hell yes you have got to let me come and see this.

 

I love me a junkyard 5.3 with a turbo.
you'll probably be spinning 5th gear with 600hp.

 

wally5.0, congrats on signing up at the best site on the web!

 

This is my exact plan down the line. Which 5.3 did you end up with or are you going to get? Looks awesome, need more pics!

 

Here is a pic of my old rx7.

 

One of its many 11.0000 passes. The damn thing never saw a 10 second time slip. Haha. 11.0 at 132 was the best along with a lot of broken axles. The 8.8 and DSS Axle setup in the miata shouldnt have that problem.

 

I am a production manager. I am 25.

 

Sure, just send me a pm or something. I am in the garage a lot. I would like to check out your roll bar.

 

Still up in the air but at this point I have an L33 lined up.

 

Haha, we shall see. The rx7 would spin 4th half of the time and hook it the other half. My friends turbo 5.3 rx7 will spin 5th on a street tire so I don't doubt it at all.

How does your car behave at 400whp? What tire do you run?

 

Another past car...

 

Heh, i remember that vert RX7... used to see it rolling around all the time. Welcome!

 

Where did you see it? I am just curious... I drove that car a ton of miles.

 

I live in Indy as well. Used to see it on the Souf Side years ago and i saw it run at IRP a few times.


If you're still around on the south side or the Noblesville area you may have seen my daily driver a time or two. It's this pile of ****:

 

Car is a hoot to drive! I don't run all 400whp at the street (more like 350) because it makes little difference how much car hauls *** vs how safe I feel the tune is.

I have 205/50/15 Dunlop Star Spec Z1. It's about the best street tire on a Miata that has treadwear > 140 and is driveable safely in near-freezing temperatures. The biggest street tire you can fit is a 225/45/15 Hankook RS3 and that's a 140 threadwear tire that sucks in cold.

You have to keep in mind that miata tires are about 23" in diameter while most other cars are >25". The 23" diameter limits the choices for 16 and 17" wheels.

 

I live in Noblesville now so i'm sure I will see it around. Looks like fun!

 

Nice FC, miss mine. Welcome to MT.