NB1 Miata - Possibly looking for FI - Suggestions?

[HardHitter]

I am notorious to buy a car, drive it for a year and then sell it because I'm bored of it or want something new. Well, to be honest, the Miata has been the best $5000 I've ever spent on a car. Seriously, don't need to worry about it, cheap to drive/maintain and best of all, it is amazingly such a fun car to drive that I drive it more than my MS3.

Anyway, I've been really intrigued by putting some FI on the car to give it some more "umph" I have never tracked the car before, but what I'm looking for is obviously more power but overall concentration in torque.

At first I glanced at turbo kits, but it seems like there are no CARB legal ones for California. So then I had to look into supercharger kits. It seems a lot of people go with the M62 kit but I see people maxing out at only 200rwhp-220rwhp and it gets me thinking, is that really worth it?

Just wanted to see what everyone else here is doing. Looks like the majority of you are going turbos.

[helmetface]

Ls1, call it a day.

[3Gee Tee]

Originally Posted by helmetface Ls1, call it a day.

This.

[Chief_Wiggum]

Flyin' Miata 1 800 FLY MX5s

[mghtymouse380]

I have a turbo miata putting down around 200. It will beat stock speeds in a 40 roll. So at 220 you wont know what to do with it and it will be alot more fun trust me. I love my miata and it is a blast to drive.

[HardHitter]

The only thing about turbos is that it won't be smog legal correct? I don't think there are any CA SMOG legal kits

[Chief_Wiggum]

From FM's FAQ on turbo kits:
Q: Will you be pursuing CARB certification?
A: Yes. The Voodoo kits will be run through the EO process. We do not currently have a timeframe for this.

[shadow102]

from reading some of your previous posts you really really enjoy your miata for what it is, and now your just looking at giving it some more oomph. I have driven and worked on a bunch of different miatas (MSM's, Highly modified MSM's, stock na and nb, completely bolted NB, D-prepared NA, ect)...if you like the way your miata acts right now and have a ton of fun with it DO NOT turbo it. I know i may take some flak for this but i have had several people who have driven both and they agree a turbo miata is no longer a "miata" it tends to really change the aspect of how the car reacts and feels.

Look hard at the supercharging route as it will give you the extra power your looking for but it still keeps a relatively similar torque curve. It was the route i was looking in before i got tired of dailying my fully bolted NB miata. By far though that was the most fun car i have ever driven through some twisties. I have no idea what is the current state of your miata right now but i would get the suspension, brakes, wheels/tires, and all the bolt ons sorted before you go FI. A miata with a sorted suspension/brake setup is much much more rewarding than most cars i have driven.

[HardHitter]

The Miata has suspension done. Coilovers and exhaust and roll bar. Other than that no other mods.

The only worry with the supercharger is the worry that I spend the money and the setup is already at its ceiling power wise where I feel that the turbo setups have higher potential to grow.

[Code Monkey]

If you plan to track the car (road racing), you do not want a supercharger as it will generate too much heat, turbo is the way to go.

[shadow102]

Originally Posted by Code Monkey If you plan to track the car (road racing), you do not want a supercharger as it will generate too much heat, turbo is the way to go.

not in a miata, the cooling system needs upgrades as well if your going to go with a turbo setup and track the car. Mazda did a really shit job of designing that system and cyl 4 doesnt get the best cooling

[Code Monkey]

Go to the Miata Turbo Forum and ask them what they think about supercharging Miatas for HPDE, time trials, racing...

[shadow102]

that's like going to clubroadster and asking how awesome it is to have a hellaflush miata.

I still stand by the fact if you like what you have now in the miata go a different route. If you like fighting the car and having way too much power then put a turbo or v8 in it.

[Neverlift]

You act like a coolant reroute is the end of the world.

Also, a turbo miata is what the miata should have been from the beginning. Having owned both, a non FI Miata bored me to tears. Simply nothing to surprise you, flat out all the time. Yawn

Originally Posted by helmetface Ls1, call it a day.

LS3 > LS1

[helmetface]

Originally Posted by Neverlift You act like a coolant reroute is the end of the world. Also, a turbo miata is what the miata should have been from the beginning. Having owned both, a non FI Miata bored me to tears. Simply nothing to surprise you, flat out all the time. Yawn LS3 > LS1

lol groan?

I like the LS1's better for the money and availability

[Neverlift]

I am not a fan of Chevy motors in anything. My friend who is very capable fabricator for GMG, and an aspiring drifter has a LS ready to go in his MSM, but only because that is the only way for him to be competitive. IMO, if you have 20k to waste on a LS powered Miata to track and be competitive, by all means do it. But I will never respect the decision.

[SpencerC]

Listen to all this advice. Then ignore and do what you want. "don't put turbo/supercharger on cause it will ruin it" "supercharger>turbocharger" "LS1 FTW" etc. etc. Honestly just do your research, get some advice and modify as you see fit. I think you will be happy with a turbo if you want a turbo. Or happy with a supercharger if you decide you want that.

Scratch that, you will never be happy. more power, better suspension, faster, funnier, better!

[HardHitter]

Going to end up probably going to go with the flying Miata voodoo ii turbo kit once I hear back from the team.

[HardHitter]

Thanks for all of your insight guys. I've reached out to FM and spoke to them about the Voodoo II kit and I'm going to end up placing my order soon.

I've been thinking about smog and timing. I purchased the car in March of 2012 where the previous owner had to smog the car to sell to me.

The registration ended on August 22, 2012 in which I don't believe I had to smog the car when I renewed but I can't remember maybe I did? Just for my timing sake, would this year be the year I have to smog the car again? Or since it's a 2000 and smog is every 2 years, my next smog date would be August 2014. Sort of hoping it is this year so I can purchase the kit now and then install it after a smog to have a full 2 years of smog free hassle

[Neverlift]

It's every 2 years.

[HardHitter]

Originally Posted by Neverlift It's every 2 years.

Right I understand that but my initial thought is that it was 2 years from the year of the make. So in this example it's a 2000 NB so I'd think smog on all the even years.

I checked my finance records back in August 2012 (the time registration was due since I started owning the car) and I didn't see anything for smogging the car. That must mean that my smog year is this year which would be perfect. August comes, get the car smogged and then install the kit. I have 2 years of not worrying about smog and enjoying my turbo kit