Semi-NOOB reporting in
 

Prior to selling my 95 Miata 2-ish years ago, I was on this site daily reading every post and contributing when I could. Once I sold it, I frequented this site less and less. A couple weeks ago I bought it back! Now I'm ready to finish what I started.

I'm not new to Miatas or this site. However, I'll call myself a semi-noob because when I read through the posts here, I realize how much I have forgotten and need to relearn about miatas, megasquirts, and turbos. Plus, things have changed a bit in the 2 years since I've been on here regularly. For example, I don't see UrbanSoot giving his new parts away for 90% off msrp anymore and Hustler has a reliable turbo track car now.

Now for the future of my Miata... I have always had plans of installing a reliable turbo system. I hung out here reading everything I could and learned a ton-- Thanks everyone! Through the classifieds, Ebay, and Craigslist I acquired pretty much everything needed and just never installed it. Then the Miata was gone! At the time I had no intentions of getting another Miata. Well I guess deep down I must have wanted another one, because I never sold any of the turbo parts. Everything's still in boxes waiting for me to get my shit together and handle business.

I already have a good base to start from:
Tein Basic coilover suspension with NB tophats
Racing beat hollow front swaybar (no rear swaybar)
ACT clutch
Megasquirt 1 V3.0 parallel install (only reading sensors, not controlling at the moment)
Boost gauge and A/F gauge installed


Here's my plan for the car in an order that should minimize risk. If anything seems dangerously out of order, please let me know.

1. Install my LC-1 wideband to a/f gauge and MS
2. Tune MS for fuel only control on stock setup
3. Install 460cc injectors and retune MS fuel only
4. Tune MS for fuel+spark control
5. Install COPs
6. Install turbo setup - mix of BEGi and FM parts incl. GT2554 turbo
7. Tune MS for 6-8 psi
8. Setup my 3.63 gears and RX7 clutch diff and install it in the car.
9. Get a turbo exhaust
10. Increase power
11. I'm sure there will be something else by the time I get here.

I look forward to spending more time on the site learning and contributing.

Sounds like a plan to me but what do I know? I just lurk here. Welcome back!

I ran MS on otherwise stock car for awhile...learned the ropes, etc, then installed the turbo stuff along with injector all at once and it was fine. Accounting for the larger injectors isn't a big deal at all, I wouldn't worry about putting those in prior to turbo stuff, but it's up to you.

Otherwise looks good, you have a 6 speed tranny?

No. I don't think the small turbo will make enough power to give the 5spd any problems.

3.63 gears and 5 speed should be interesting. You don't think that will be 'too long' for 200ish whp? I have probably around 250 (i hope at least) with the 5 speed and 3.909 rear end, not sure if I'd want the gearing to be much longer unless I had a good bit more powa

Well I have the parts, so I'd like to try it out and if it sucks, I could trade for a 3.9 setup and probably pocket a few $$ in the process.

I'll do some more reading around here and see what others have to say about the gearing vs. hp level and see if it's something I can live with. At this time I have no aspirations of this thing being a total beast. I just want a civilized car with a bump in power. I think some Australian Miatas came stock with the 3.63 gears, so I figured if they could live with it N/A, then it should be fine on a turbo car.

Just curious is all. The 3.63 was probably on the 6 speeds i would imagine (which seems like a great setup). If you're mainly going to drive the car on the street, longer gearing is fine too of course (sort of like in my case)

good luck!

You're correct. Those were on 6spds. I'll read up on stuff. Now it's time to head to work.