Ok, I have been reading this site for 4 months now. I am finaly ready I think to build my first kit on anything other than a DSM. I am doing this for my wifes car so she can have fun with me. I have yet to see any talk about metal head gaskets or oil pump up grades or things I have done on my DSM to hold the extra power, why is this? Don't rip me I am just new to the whole miata world but know my turbos as far as a DSM is concerned. I do have a few questions for all the turbo guys.
1. do you need to up grade your oil pump gears?
2. is a metal head gasket needed to hold the extra boost?
3. will a 25x12x3 intercoller be to big for this car?
4. I bought a greddy kit for the 92 1.6 miata what is the best way to make the engine safe.
5. what is a good ssbov to buy for this car?


any help I would love to hear from you all. This is my wifes daily driver keep that in mind and I have yet to replace the weak rearend as seeing I am stationed in Germany right now.

 

1-Not until you start to get into big power
2-OEM head gasket seems to work well for most
3-Sounds like a BIG I/C, probably way overkill
4-Don't run more boost than your tune will allow. As for the longevity of the greddy kit, make relief cuts on the flange of the manifold and switch out the stock mounting hardware to high grade studs and nuts.

The weak 1.6 diff is a crap shoot. Some people blow them to bits on stock power, others are still running it with 250whp. Driving style likely has a lot to do with how long it will last. Respect it and it probably won't be a massive issue.

 

Ok so what would be a good size to use? I would like to fill the front up if possible. The ic is 7 inches bigger than the one Mx5project.com says to use but it just looks so small compared to the ones I have for my DSM.

 

I beleive that i/c has made close to 250whp, and is likely good for quite a bit more. People have made over 200whp using a beat up old starion i/c.

 

It's big but if it fits, more power to you. The problem typically is the A/C dryer which sits in the way.

Corky's new book will say that an intercooler with 18-20" long core will prove just as effective as an intercooler with a 30-40" core.

One thing with that cooler is you'll completly block the radiator, which might come back to bite you, as we don't particually have the best cooling system OEM.

no need to worry about oil gears (unless making 300+ HP), no need to worry about the head gasket.

 

well the core is only 18 but 25 from side to side. I don't think I made that clear. Here are the specs of the intercoller if that helps out.

Length (Tank to Tank) 25" (630mm)
Length (Core) 18" (450mm)
Height 12"(300mm)
Thickness 3" (72mm)
Inlet 2.5"
Outlet 2.5"
Compress Air Flow Rate <350Cubic Feet/Min, Rated up to5 00 Max HP
Working Pressure: 30~40PSI
Pressure Drop 2~4psi@35psi; 0.2~0.5psi@15psi
Hot Air Temperature 32°F~302°F (0°C~150°C)
Material 100% Aluminum
Design Bar and Plate
Construction Machine Cut and Stamped, Hand Welded
Finish Polished
Net Weight 9 lbs

 

...should be fine. a/c?

 

yes, I will be going back to america one day and in Oklahoma I think the wife will want it left on the car. Why do you ask? I think I can fit it if my figures are right, but you guy know these cars better than I do right now.

 

then it needs to be offset, but it should look like this:

 

I'd use it. Looks like it will just fit to the side of the a/c drier. And you won't need to upgrade later if you go for more power IMO. As mentioned- the more you fill up in the mouth, the less air the condenser and rad will get.

 

I'm actually considering upgrading to that down the road....all i have to do is shorten one pipe by a few inches.

 

Well, If I understand right with a racing radiator it should make up for the lost air right? Oh, and is an oil cooler needed? I do not see anyway for this car to keep the temp down on this if it is not there, right?

 

BRAINEACK what pipe kit are you using? I think I am buying the one off Mx5project.com if it will fit the bigger IC.

 

you'd only have to slightly mod Stripe's kit to accpet that intercooler.

What I would do is just modify the hotside to fit, the end. leave the coldside pipes as is...it brings the IC within 1/4" of the dryer without modification, and should end up exactly like as in the picture.

I believe BRGracer did the same with that intercooler.


Since I've had experince with that piping kit...I know all you would have to do is add a length of 2.5" under the radiator pipe, where the 2" to 2.5" 90° bend happens. You should have plently of clearance so as you technically wouldn't have to actually moddify anything, only add some pipe and (1) extra coupler.

 

what kind of SS BOV should I use for this car if I go with this kit?

 

Actually that appears to be the same size IC I bought for an upgrade- but have yet to install. This one on eBay.

Curious to see how it compares to my smaller Spearco core in efficiency/cooling. It's core is 3x6x17. At 80f ambient, AIT is 86f rising to 118f on a boosted run from 2k - 7k with peak boost of 15psi just after 4k and falling to ~13psi thereafter. I was surprised I was seeing more rise.

 

Ok, how about an oil cooler? Do these cars need them once you turbo them?

 

greddy is comin in the mail as well. i need to find gaskets