Sorry for the newby question but here it goes:

I have a 91 project car that I've been playing with for the last couple of years. I call it Project Second Hand since most of the parts are from CL or the junk yard with the exception of the suspention.

I drive it a few days a week and have taken it to the track 5 times. It has a lot of upgrades that are building towards putting a turbo on it (1.8 clutch, brakes, drive shaft, axels, and torsen). I need to refresh the head because I have oil seeping out at the back of the block but after that I'm going to get more serious about a turbo kit.

The biggest thing I want to avoid is pulling parts off every 2 years to get smogged. What kits are the best bang for the buck? I am not going for a lot of power because I still want it to be reliable for track days and not eat a hole in my wallet.

 

Here is a comprehensive list of all vendors who make a CARB-compliant turbo system for the 1.6L Miata:

Bell Experimental Group - BEGi







Well, there's one other made by Greddy, but it sucks.

 

The issues you will run up against are.
1. unless you run your smog test with a new 3 way cat, you will fail for Nox.
2. You must smog the car with the boost turned down to 5-6psi your afrs will be wrong.
At least this has been my experience. Ithis time around I have decided to remove the turbo & smog it stock. ( it has given me a chance to change some stuff too.
When the economy gets better I am going to spring for the MS Pnp & make the smog stuff look like it works.(the regulator etc every thing on the EO#).
Good Luck.

 

?!

If the smog tech is getting into boost during the test, then he's doing it wrong.

 

I checked the BEGi site but it seems to be down, can't get to any details on it. Are the Bell units sold anywhere else?

 

I heard that BEGi has a new entry level "Shanghai" kit. Is this kit CARB legal and would it be reliable enough to take to the track?

 

Yeah, they had some kind of major website malfunction yesterday. And no, you can't buy 'em anywhere else.

Officially, the Shanghai is not exempt under the EO.

Reliable enough for track use? Depends on your definition of "track" I suppose.

 

By track I mean HPDE track days. Just fun running laps when I have the time and can afford it.

What does "officially" mean. Isn't it a matter of having a CARB sticker or not?
I wonder why BEGi hasn't gotten the Shanghai kit certified?

 

it's because that kit doesn't use Garrett turbo that's stated on CARB website.

 

The most common issue for folks doing actual trackdays seems to be stretching and loosening of the studs / bolts which hold the turbo to the manifold, and this is a problem that affects any flanged turbo, regardless of brand.

More than you wanted to know: Turbo Bolts - MX-5 Miata Forum


CARB certification is an expensive and time-consuming process, and the Shanghai is a cheap kit.


Yup. Actually, D-349 ('90-'93) specifies an IHI or Aerodyne, however it's understood that D-349-1 ('94-'99), which specifies a Garrett, backdates to D-349 as well.

 

Man, I wish BEGi would get their site back up. Anyone know the price of their first level CARB legal kit?

 

Are the flying miata kits not carb lehal?

Any way your best bet is to call them up and find out first hand.

Have a great day,
Jared

 

If they were, then the list I posted wouldn't have been comprehensive.

 

Ya, last time I checked, FM doesn't have any CARB legal turbo kits.

 

Ok, my bad.

Have a great day,
Jared

 

FM used to sell BEGI-based kits, and got CARB through BEGI's EO, but now that they have their own design that doesn't apply any more.

--Ian

 

The 1.6L BEGi-S kit starts at $1999.00. That is a 5-6 psi system, including the turbo. Can be mailed with a CARB sticker, just let me know you need it.
Stephanie

 

True. With the 15mph and 25mph tests, and the rpm ranges specified, you shouldn't get into boost during the test. Getting up to speed, however, is up to the tech.