Mods, is this thread serving any useful purpose to the OP or the community?

It's making me happy I pieced together my own kit from used parts.

I love this thread.

http://operationshellshock.files.wor...ng?w=294&h=318

So much so it makes you want to lick some eggplant aye? Weird reaction...but whatever floats your boat good sir.:rofl:

Very nice too know :bigtu: , just kinda feelin this forum out ;)

I understand keeping the forum trimmed with informative posts cuts the bs and provides a rich informative source. :party:

I made the mistake of adding up all the receipts when I started driving my car after installing my kit. I won't say completed the install, because its never complete. I found the total to be just over $5K. That total includes me making a lot of the parts and overbuilding the kit to make it reliable on the track AND I still have to spend more to keep it that way. I'm currently racing it at 23PSI and will have to dyno it again to re-tune to make sure it's safe at that power level.

To add something constructive, the <$16k figure is very accurate. I'm quickly approaching that figure(factoring in the original owners modifications) and still need an oil cooler, hood vents, and quite possibly a larger radiator.

And then you need to spend money on yourself in regards to drivers instruction & HPDE to learn how to properly handle your now scary fast car.

I knew this place felt like home ;)

From would I can piece together from researching what direction I want to take with my car, it's looking like real world cost to boost at 200whp is going to be around 5k to do it correctly and reliably. Anything shy of that would be a win, but would make me think I missed something and will have something blow up soonish.

Gist is, the dude who ordered the first one got screwed over when none of it worked (surprise) and its never going to happen (bigger surprise).

Yes, the post you did is useful. Too bad there's too much bs in this thread lol

Yikes! This thread really went off topic from my original question.

I have been prepping for the turbo and picked up a newer engine from a 2002 miata, 6 speed to match and a 99 intake manifold. Original car was a 94.

Also, I didn't fully disclose how I will be using it. I am starting to build an Exocet so the turbo would be going in that car. It will be tracked, autocrossed and driven on the street every now and then.

I do want to thank Emilio for the detailed response! I wasn't very specific on what complete meant but he nailed it. Track reliability for the power levels desired with the consideration of the wear and tear involved.

The purpose of pre-fab is that I would rather be driving than tinkering.

Corky, thanks for chiming in and creating a list for what 350whp takes:)

FM is the only company IIRC that offers a 1. Complete 2. Comprehensive 3. True bolt-on Install. FM also has the best support, every time I've ordered without fail, I've gotten follow up calls asking if the part was what I needed, installed right, follow up questions. It feels like dealing with family that really cares.

This is also the first time I've seen someone try to defend a vendor by bashing EFR turbos. Weird place!

The underpaying issue for me is to justify putting 5 to 7k into a car that is worth on a good day 4k. I have an 95. Every time I am about to pull the trigger come back to the same spot. Besides the turbo then you have the clutch, the brakes, and the snow ball starts. How do you guys justified in your head?

You put it in an Exocet! If it was really about resale then we would all buy Accords or a Tacoma. Would a 300hp miata be as much fun as a boxter? Would it be less expensive?

Its what I want, if I measured everything compared to the value of the car it would stay stock. Its hard to put a pricetag on enjoyment.

Basically I look at the TOTAL dollars spent, the TOTAL performance you get from that investment, and then see how much a car of comparable performance would cost. I've got over 15k in parts into a 15k MSM, not counting labor. It was so worth it

This is how I see it. I want to build a track/weekend toy for say about $15k. I could either buy a performance sports car for $12k ish (say s2000 or wrx or something) and just do tires and brakes to get it there. Or I can buy a $1000 mazda miata and put $14k into mods :party:

For me, I enjoy the modification part of this hobby just as much as the driving.

Other benefits include lower insurance for your cheap miata vs a more expensive sports car. If you were to total your car, all the money would be in mods. Just buy another $1000 shell, swap over all parts, and your up and running again.

Just echoing what those above said. You can build a Miata that'll run away from nearly anything else on the track for less than $15k, and you can buy one for much, much less than that due to what you've posted above. It's an investment in fun, not an investment in a financial return.

The car is the starting point. The value is in what you build on top of the base vehicle. Many of us have cars that cost orders of magnitude more than the original cost of the chassis, but the value is in the end result.

If you are concerned about recouping your investment in aftermarket auto parts, this is not the hobby for you.