Topdown

I am interested in installing a turbo in my nb1 1.8 Miata. Bone stock so I would obviously have a lot of work to put in it. If someone has a computer turbo injectors etc etc. sitting around from an old project or something like that - I would be interested in purchasing

andym

Where are you located? I have a garret 2560r and I have the FM intercooler with the silicone hoses to connect it from the throttle body to the hotside of the turbo.

Topdown

I am out of Tallahassee fl. Feel free to shoot me a message

DNMakinson

iTrader: (3)

Go to Meet and Greet and post up some pictures and generally introduce yourself. Let us know your goals, your skills, etc.

Topdown

Done!

90LowNSlo

Your best bet is to watch the classifieds like a hawk and buy what you need as people part out or upgrade. That's what I did/am doing. I don't have hard figures but I think I'll end up somewhere around the $2500 mark.

Your best bang for your buck/easiest method is get a megasquirt, injectors, and a MK turbo kit. You can find all the info on the kits on here easy (the creator is a member here)

Topdown

Dude thank you! I really appreciate the info and I will start doing that now. Megasquirt and new top are going to be the first investments

90LowNSlo

Get a Robbins top from Moss Miata. I had a very slight issue with my order, called Moss and not only did they fix it they shipped my next order for free. About a year after the install I had a slight concern with my top. Emailed Robbins and a got a call from them the next day (they guy on the phone sounded like the owner) the $100-$150 you'll spend on a cheaper one isn't worth it.

Topdown

I was looking into Robbins tops. I really don’t want the head ache of installing the new top on a frame myself. I was looking at planet Miata, who sells new Robbins tops already mounted on frame. It’s kind of expensive but probably worth it. 750-850 I believe. But, I’m trying to weigh all my options and possibilities before committing to that. It would be sick to find a hard top on that price range, or a good soft top someone is selling because they bought a hard top.

90LowNSlo

It's not hard to do but it is very time consuming. I'm slow at everything I do and it took me 9 hours. You could probably do it in 6 (especially if you have help). I'd rather spend that $3-$400 on go faster bits myself...

Topdown

Yeah my understanding is it is pretty straight forward just time consuming and cramped, I have no doubt Mechanicaly I can do it. My time is just stretched so thin as is. All the Robbins certified installers and top shops or upholstery shops down here in Tallahassee Florida want 18-2500 for the top installed, materials and labor. Insane. The Miata was garage kept almost its entire life and now that it’s not the top every day is getting worse. The small holes are patched well but now the rain rail is leaking.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Rain rails get brittle.

The top isn't difficult on the Miata. I'm amazed it took someone more than 4 hours. Two hours is appropriate if you have an air or electric ratchet, at least one 12" extension, and a 10mm socket. I've done it twice and had no prior experience. Power tools make the difference.

andym

I've never done the roof install myself. I have a local miata shop that has charged me $250 in labour to do it and I have been happy just delegating that job out.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I have a local friend who is our go to top guy, he has done about 2 dozen now and has it down to a science. It takes me with help about 4-5 hours or so depending on how quickly I am working and if I remember what to actually do. I have done frame on and off for installs. I don't know if I really have a preference. The just is just tedious, but nothing about it is overly hard. I have used the cheapest ebay tops and some nice Robbins top. Fit and finish on Robbins is nicer, not sure if its worth the cost for most people. I have many happy friends with ebay tops.

andym

We bought a glass robbins cloth top for my miata about 14 years ago. The glass window fell through about 2-3 years into ownership of the roof. We replaced it with a robbins economy vinyl top or an ebay top. Don't recall but it has held up great over the last decade.

Topdown

This is interesting to hear, as I my oem top has a glass defroster window now. I figured the glass window would be better and the defroster comes in handy. But you think otherwise obviously?

Topdown

The eBay tops are so much cheaper. I will have to look into that further

Topdown

Is this just for a frame swap, or actually installing a new top on a frame ?

andym

I am not suggesting that glass is bad. My dad bought the the car about 14 years ago and bought the roof almost instantly then. My miata is an NA and the NB miata frames have a better-reinforced frame for the glass windows. I also found out that robbins warranty's their tops if this happens but we didn't know that so we just bought a new top again. Silly on our parts but we didn't know any better.

I intend to eventually find a good NB frame and buy a cloth glass window robbins top for my car.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

On some tops with glass rear windows the glue is known to come undone and the glass falls out due to the weight. Not sure if brand or top type specific. Glass window limits roll bar choices slightly.

On tops with plastic rear windows, you can get either a single piece, or a zippered rear window. The zipperless is cheaper, but the glass bends and eventually can break and discolor. You can use a pool noodle to help prevent this. With the zippered window you unzip it and lower that before lowering the top. I much prefer these types of tops. They are a bit more expensive then zipperless.