The return of the curmudgeon
 

Hello all -

In the past, I was heavily involved in the Miata scene--I have the first white Miata on the west coast, I bought it from the original owner (who paid $10K over sticker) in early March of 1990, he had driven the car over 12,000 miles in just over 4 months, but apparently decided it wasn't for him! I spent years modifying and improving it, and up until this past summer, it had a bored and stroked 1.6 with a lot of "Mule" and "first iteration" gear on it. Some of you old codgers might remember me from the "big list" and the "power list" in the days of yore, when computers were slow, and made of wood, and the internet was mostly derived of e-mailing lists and newgroups.

While getting my Miata ready for the MRLS 25th anniversary event, my Toho crank snapped, this resulted in some glorious super rich running, and a cacophony of marvelous noise that you should never have the opportunity to hear yourselves.

Through a serious of misfortunes, mishandling, and misadventures, I missed out on the MRLS. However, one thing became apparent: I would no longer have to figure out a way to splat-charge my 11.5:1, 9000 rpm redline lump.

Yes, my cognoscenti, I have trod the initial steps on that dark, dark path: engine swap to 1.8l.

I've been lurking here for a couple months now, collecting information. So consider this my intro, and I'll be posting some questions or asking for clarifications as I continue to collect up bits and pieces.

--Miq

Is this the white car that spent the week before MRLS at AR?

If so, I'm Josh, one of Martin's friends, we met once or twice. Definitely seemed like a decent setup...for 1995ish.

If not, you have a freaskishly similar story to the guy I'm thinking of.

Guilty as charged, but I think it's closer to a "decent setup for 1999".

Honestly, I stopped developing the car about 2001 and just drove it occasionally...

--Miq

Ah very nice. What's your plan? Come for our awesome MegaSquirt knowledge? That would clean up your engine bay so much compared to the link.

Welcome to the forum!

Actually, yes. I'm collecting bits and pieces (of equipment and knowledge), but here is the general plan:

MSPNP (have) to replace my decrepit Link ECU

AEM 4110 Wide band (have)

Borg Warner EFR6258 with external waste gate, V-Band and .8 AR (ordering next week when back in town)

Tial 38 mm waste gate, 3" v-band (ibid)

ARtech axial top/side mount with 3" down pipe and exhaust (been emailing with Abe)

ID725 injectors? Doesn't seem cost effective may just go with ID1000's
I already have a Walbro 190 in the tank

'99 Intake and TB (have)

rebuild the 1997 1.8 short block--the rings are bad so, I'll collect H-rods and rings and bearings then get the block disassembled and hot-tank before deciding if I can reuse the OEM pistons or need to go larger

Stock head for now

reroute the cooling

Some sort of COPS system, Bryan makes a nice setup at Fab9, there are some others out there as well

Custom stainless or aluminum tubing for the intercooler routing

That should get the power to a usable 220-250 whp--just enough to not break gear teeth in the transmission or axles.

I'll start a build thread when I have a critical mass of things.

Oh lala, let me know if you want me to do the install :)

You need a '99 head for the '99 intake though...

Welcome to the site bigllama, thanks for joining up!

Thanks for the welcomes, mods. I hope I can contribute to the wealth of Miata-ness knowledge here (I know Miatae very well, just unlikely to be very helpful other than parrot-like on the turbo end of things).

--Miq