I'm a miata noob so i can ask "dumb/ noob" questions. I can build with no issues but i dont even try to wire or tune.

I have a 91 that im putting a built 97 1.8 with a 2554 turbo into it. Its my daily and im still driving the car. Goal is to get everything ready, bolt up and drop it off to a shop for wiring and tune. So far i have the motor that im building now, artech mani, dp, sr20 2554 turbo (for now), 550 denso injectors, walbro 255, act clutch. Soon will be getting the intercooler.

Here is where i need help. I live in Killeen Tx which is about an hour from austin. The local tuner that ive been told about is in austin and only tunes AEM. I have read there is a "good enough" (using the stock 1.6 wiring) way to wire it and then a "GOOD" (?)way. So what is the GOOD way and is there anyone around me that i can trust to do it right!?

Wants - COP, knock, and keeping A/C

Do i need to swap out the wiring from a 1.8 94-97 car?

 

You haven't mentioned which ECU you are going to be using. This is significant.

The only really significant difference between the '91 and the '97 is that the former used banked (two channel) injection, whereas the latter used fully sequential (four channel) injection. This is mostly an emissions thing.

There are many other minor differences (tach drive, AFM vs. MAF, external coil driver on 1.6 style coils vs. internal driver on 1.8 coils, different oil pressure sensor, etc...) but none of these are really all that dramatic. In general, just swap over every single electronic component from the 1.6 engine to the 1.8, except for the alternator and, depending on which ECU you use, the throttle body.

No Miata had a knock sensor until '99, so whatever you do there will be aftermarket.

 

Do as Joe says, but leave 1.8 injectors in the motor, do not replace the fuel pump yet, and tie open the wastegate. Then get the motor running before doing the other changes. Remember that if you use the '91 ECU that you will need to keep the AFM in the loop.

 

AFM has got to go! As of now and because of what's local will be running AEM EMS which model I don't know. Oil pressure sensor got it, knock sensor also got it( dIdnt know If there was an easy way wIthout startIng from scratch. COP ? Trigger wheel ? 12+1, 36+1 ? Not sure about which is needed, how to mount... and wiring for it. 1.6 got it's Sig from the intake, 1.8 from ex... but have read to run a crank ps.

 

As far as what ecu to run, how to wire, .... I would rather just pay someone to wire it up and tune. Anyone near me? ( shop, tuner, business)??

 

Buy your AEM from here.

 

Nice plug

 

Which shop will tune?

 

It's in Austin. I forget the name of it. Shop here in Killeen that uses them to dyno is called excessive performance.