Noob from Columbia, TN w/ '04 Mazdaspeed
 

What's up everyone! I just picked up our fourth Mazda (had an '08 Speed3 and wife had two CX'9's), this one is an '04 Mazdaspeed Miata. I've never had two of any brand of car, except for Mazdas, which says lots. I've also owned/built a 1,000 hp turbo'ed Mustang, so I am pretty knowledgeable when it comes to boost. ;)

If anyone recognizes this car, please let me know how I can get in touch with the previous owner. I got it in Lafayette, Louisiana and it was traded into Giles Nissan. I've asked them to give my info to the previous owner but we'll see if I hear back. It has a few mods but I'd love to know if it has a fuel pump, injectors, anything tuning-related, done to it. From what I have seen so far it has:
Flyin' Miata intake
Flyin' Miata FMIC
Short Throw Shifter
Boost & A/F gauge
Electronic Boost Control
Seems like the plug wires are changed to something completely different

Overall I'm really happy with the car. It has solid compression, seems straight, If I can clean up the tune (megasquirt?) it will be awesome. I've driven one Miata years ago, without boost, and it was fun, but this one is amazing with a turbo on it! :eek3dance

Thanks!
Dan

Welcome!

Looks stock to me ecu-wise. There's not many options over just going full standalone with these cars. Generally speaking, standalone ecu cars have the MAF removed and an added IAT sensor etc. Looking at your engine shot, that's not the case. You really don't unlock the potential of these cars till you go full standalone imo. A car with a megasquirt/hydra installed and bolt-ons is a completely different animal compared to a stock ecu car with bolt-ons.

It used to be the case where MSM turbo setups we're lackluster over just buying as normal n/a miata and turboing it yourself. But now that MSM's have come down so much in price to where you can find them for $6k these days. You get a lot of bang for your buck. But realize, once you go bigger turbo you're just replacing everything on the car that makes is a mazdaspeed anyways.

Yeah you are right! I was thinking about that the other night, but yesterday I saw ads for relays that help with tuning/throttle response and such. I think I found most of the mods, and will save up for a good ECU to tune it with.

Forget those "snake-oil" ads, waste of money - save for the ECU.

The plugs look a bit like the Fab9 COPs - picture is too small to tell for sure.

You have an aftermarket radiator too.

Welcome to the site TurboDan, thanks for joining up!

Welcome to the forum.

A megasquirt will eliminate the power dip in the mid range you may have noticed.

Stock rods will be the limiting factor for power once you upgrade the ecu. Depending upon the tune you may see up to 240-250whp before it explodes. 220 will live a long time with a safe tune.

Hi. What are your end goals? If the PO did some basic bolt ons without an aftermarket ECU, I doubt fuel pump and injectors would have changed.

Just replace as you go along, and if you find you already have certain bits, flip them for sale to recoup any loss.

Enjoy the car, it's so clean I almost hate it. (jealousy)

Thanks everyone!

Lokiel - I think you are right, I noticed I had to buy new spark plugs that required me to remove the tops and have the small screw in order to fit, here's a shot of my wires and the connector. And I forgot to mention the aftermarket radiator.

psyber_0ptix - I think since this car is so light, 250 wheel would be fun as hell, so if I had to hold back a little to save the motor from grenading so be it. I figure a downpipe and exhaust (if the stock Mazdaspeed exhaust is restrictive) and a megasquirt with solid tune and it'll be a great car to take to work and rip around on the weekends. Maybe an auto-x day here or there.

Solid plan. Looking forward to updates.

With the basic bolt-ons, boost at 10-12psi, and 305/315c injectors, you should achieve ~200rwhp which is a LOT of fun in these little cars. Unfortunately it will run a bit rough until warmed up. At 200hp with an aftermarket ECU you can iron-out these rough spots; this SHOULD be enough but unfortunately "MOAR POWA" is all-consuming which is when you need to start thinking about building your engine.

I know exactly what you mean about "MOAR POWA" !! LOL. So I do need to be careful, and not get greedy with this car.

This was my '95 Mustang GT convertible. After Ford pulled my warranty for polishing (the outside) of my upper intake when I was into car shows, I said screw it and turbo'ed the thing. Then, over the next 7 or so years I ended up turning it into this, with two 76mm turbos. I wish I never sold this thing.

Yep those are definitely Fab9 COPS, welcome to the forum!

Funny enough I just realized the same thing, my girlfriend and I both have Mazdas now which says a lot.

Skyactive 6-spd Mazda3 hatch for her and then the Miatas for me.

Nice looking car and seems like you got it with some nice mods too. Always comforting to find some quality parts on a newly acquired car, rather than just signs of shoddy work and abuse.

Thanks! It looks even better now that I spent some time detailing it. And yeah the mods are all tasteful, the only thing I disliked was some of the wiring for the gauges which I'm redoing.