Hello from Napa Valley!

My name is Aldo and I'm 28 years. I bought my 1994 3.5 years ago from some highschooler kid a few cities over. My intent of buying the NA8 was to have a daily driver while I installed a top mount big turbo on my 2016 BMW 340i (I used to go to Sonoma Drift/Wednesday Night Drags @ Sonoma Raceway back in 2018 through 2022.)

Back then the car had an obnoxious red plasti-dipped gauge cover/tombstone/center console, some six spoke rep wheels with massive poke (baconed fenders), test pipe, entry level Tein coil overs, a Yonaka axle back, holes drilled into the clear tail lights, spliced in sleep eye projector lights and 3/4 of the key broken into the ignition...To say the least, I bought a clapped out Miata. Was I proud? No, but I was very desperate to buy a Miata as all of the other ones kept selling in less than 2-3 days and I was itching to install the big turbo in my 340i.

As soon as this one came up for sale, I called up my friend and he drove me over to go buy it. I actually learned to drive manual on the test drive and was able to make it home an hour away after stalling twice 🤣🤣🤣

Currently the car no longer has that horrible red plasti dip, but does have a set of König helium wheels with some all season tires, a Roadstersport BBK shift ****, a catalytic converter, red regular tail lights, new keys and locks.

Near future plans: Turbo it and work on the suspension.

I have the following waiting to be installed:

Kraken manifold/downpipe/mid-pipe
New Garrett GT2554r (with a T51R mod)
MTX-L Wide band
Boost Gauge/Boost Cow
Oil/Water lines
Coolant reroute kit
1.6 Act XTSS clutch kit
1.6 fidanza flywheel
Megasquirt 2 PNP
Freshly serviced ID 1000s
New N54 LPFP

I'm on the hunt for a roll bar, fenders, better condition hood/rear bumper, a 6 speed trans and either a 3.63 or 3.90 diff.

I recently drove a 992 Porsche GT3 at Sonoma raceway and it ruined me... I know I can't make my NA8 feel as good as that car but through gaining more power, better stopping and dialed in suspension I can still have something that feels like it is on rails.

 

Hey! Welcome to the group. That car looks like a nice starting point. Besides a P car or other exotics, a well built and dialed in Miata is the next best thing. They punch way above their weight level.

Just be aware that a turbo track Miata is a lot more than just a Miata with a turbo kit slapped on it. Expect to spend more time and money on brakes, cooling stack (oil cooler for sure), and ducting ducting ducting to keep it cool. Probably hood vents as well if you are a quick driver. E85 is a good choice too. And that turbo is quite small and will make a lot of heat under track conditions. It can work but you will want to keep boost pressures low and a close eye on IATs. Engine management and a good tune is also very important, I'd recommend starting there before even installing turbo parts.

Keep us posted and start a build thread so we can nudge you in the right direction!

 

Welcome!

It sounds like you’re looking for a fun car that’ll handle well and feel fast on the street; that’s absolutely possible with a Miata! Put your money in suspension, brakes, tires, and (for your turbo) dyno tuning and cooling. Get yourself a set of Technas, some sway bars, BX11s, a Crossflow rad, and your choice of tire. Done deal.


If you’re looking for a fast track car that you can also drive comfortably on the street (like the 992), you’re honestly wasting your time. As Fire points out, a turbo track Miata is a real challenge; I’ve seen enough attempts to say that it’s impossible to have a turbo Miata that can turn laps all day and then drive home in comfort. After reading your post a couple times though, it doesn’t sound like that’s your ultimate goal.

If you’re looking to do Wednesday night drags, we can tag in one of the locals who does incredibly well with his Miata at Sonoma.

 

I guess comfort is relative, my turbo track car would commute 2.5 hours each way, romp on the track all day, and drive home in relative comfort. Of course relative comfort is 900f/450r spring rates, a track seat/harness, and with my cool shirt equipped with a trunk full of ice water to get me home in 90* heat. That honestly works better than A/C in a miata though.

But otherwise I agree with TBB.

 

I've been snooping through the numerous build threads here, and have been wanting to create my own. Heat management & ducting has been a core thing I've noticed in people's build as smaller turbos like mine run hot. I had a SpeedyEFI initially that I was going to use for as my engine management, but then I found a steal on a Megasquirt 2 PNP so I bought that, and sold the SpeedyEFI. My NA8 no longer has the splash pan that is needed for cooling. I don't remember where I saw online (possibly here), but someone cut up a Costco storage tote in the shape of the splash pan and had great cooling.

 

As much as I would like a full on track car, I do not have the funds for it. I will be passively buying parts as they come up to build a fun canyon carver street car. Eventually, I would like to participate in a track day or two.

I vaguely remember a guy in a boosted green NB a few years ago at Wednesday night drags. I think I have a video of one of his runs and the iconic turbo flutter. I do plan on going back March 2026 with both the BMW and the Miata (Once it is boosted). Feel free to tag him.

 

Luckily, Sonoma Raceway is around 45 minutes to an hour away from me. I don't really drive the car for long or far as my work commute is 15 minutes, and have the 340i I can take for longer trips. Comfort is not incredibly important, but is still relevant.

 

What, you have a video of my car? Holdin' out on me
Hopefully we get a few Wednesday nights this year.
Welcome!

 

This is the only video I have of a Miata, there’s an NA in the left lane and I think an NB in the right lane.

 

Awesome, thanks for the footage! That is definitely my car on the right. Neat to see 2 miatas go at it, too bad I went red