performance suggestions (two part question)

[silverspeed03]

I. My father and I are thinking about boostin our 95' Miata. We have been looking on FM's website, but can not find a price on what it would cost to get our foot in the door on a turbo kit. Does anyone know this?

Also what are the pro's and con's on a 95' miata?

Is it a good year to boost?


II. Also, Fathers Day is this weekend and I want to start adding performance parts that won't become useless once boosted, i.e. exhaust. what should I be looking at I want the most "Bang for the Buck". Our Miata is 100% stock w/36,462 miles. Any help is appreatited.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[pluto316]

I have a '96 and almost exactly 100,000 more miles on my Miata. Wow.. Ha ha!

Now, here's the two train of thoughts.. The 1.6L is bascially a GTX motor and is already tapped and ready for boost, but the 1.8L is a well-built motor also. Nothing like what us Protege owners got the shaft with. Anyway, N/A will get you nice results, but no huge power. With money spent go with the FM kit and get it all done in one install.

I really think I am going to go N/A on my Miata. Racing Beat headers, exhaust, HKS cams and cam gears, and ITBs.. Won't be super fast, but it'll sound awesome.

 

[MazKid]

The BP 1.8L has turbo counterparts in Japan much like how the B6 1.6L has the 323 GT/GTX/Capri XR2 in the US.

'95 is a great year to turbo as '96-'97s are OBDII.

If you are going to turbo it you'll probably be looking at a 2.5" downpipe-back exhaust. You can get a 2.5" cat-back, and use a Jackson Racing highflow converter, or similar. I've got a JR highflow cat and it's great.

As far as a price on a turbo kit...well...it depends. So far I have ~$250 into my Protege's turbo project(same BP motor), consisting of a BPT manifold, IHI to T3 adaptor flange, T3 Saab turbocharger, Saab Bosch boost controller thingy, O2 housing, and the Saab downpipe. I've got intercooler piping from Volvos in the junkyard, prolly have to buy some new couplers, need an intercooler, will have to have a downpipe made/welded up, got MX-6 GT injectors, need another oil pan and oil lines for it, etc etc. Shouldn't cost me more than $500 completely done.

If you can't do it yourself like I am, it's going to cost you much more.

 

[MiaTurbo]

Since FlyinMiada split with Corky Bell, they are redesigning their entire turbo system. Before when they were selling the FM/Bell stuff, it would cost about $4500+ for their kits. including the T-28, manifold, all pipes, intercooler, ecu, hardware, blah blah blah... About 230hp. It comes with FM's support too. Way too much, if you ask me. No reason that there are good turbo set ups with ecu, etc for Honduhs that put out the same power that cost $1500 less. the Miada isn't that special to be paying such a premium on. That's why there are lots of people like me, kevin, and MazKid that are doing it ourselves.

If you are doing it yourself, electronics is going to be your biggest cost. most ECUs go in the $1000-1500 range. or you could do what I'm eventually going to do and get a MegaSquirt ECU which will be about $200. But the MS is not for the faint of heart. it's truely a DIY project requiring you to solder the components to the board itself.

95 is a good year because as was mentioned, it's pre-OBD-2. I would upgrade the oil-sender to show true PSI.

I would wait to swap the exhaust until you put in a turbo. An exhaust that's geared to turbos would be too loud if your car is still N/A. If you still want to upgrade, I'd start with the brakes, then suspension, then clutch as you wait to bolt on the hairdryer. When you put on the turbo, you'll find your speeds increasing, and a good suspension, and brakes will really be welcome.

 

[silverspeed03]

So does FM still do turbo kits for 1st gen?

 

[MiaTurbo]

So does FM still do turbo kits for 1st gen?

currently all of FM's forced induction set-ups are being redesigned.

 

[pluto316]

Yeah, I am not that impressed with FM's setups. I'd expect a MAM kit to cost that much, but MAM uses hand-made tubular manifolds and such. I just rode in a turbo 1.6L tonight, and I need my Miata to be like that..

Already planning my custom setup.

 

[silverspeed03]

currently all of FM's forced induction set-ups are being redesigned.

Are they going to be cheaper?

 

[SilverBulletES]

Are they going to be cheaper?

Heh, that would be nice.

Not to get off topic but this is a local pickup:

Gently used Greddy kit, Converted to studs, Starion I/C, JimB's pipes, Bipes timing controller, Autometer Boost Gauge and A-piller pod, Saab BOV, set to VTA, FM Heatshield. Runs strong at 7-8psi, Only ran for about 7500 miles. No play in turbo, no cracks in manifold. Would consider trade for individual throttle body kit. E-mail me to get pics.

Asking 1600. I'd offer less. Opinions?

 

[lagunamiata]

To those that say you can't get a lot of power out of a turbo Miata, take a look at my friend Bob's car...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/325902
360 rear wheel hp... Yeah, the engine is built. Bob's been through several transmissions and rear ends. He's now running a 6-speed from a 10AE.