What it costs to build a Miata Engine 

Definitely not anything a sane person would do.

Born yesterday? You can't even think the word Miata without knowing it has a detuned engine for safety considering its power to weight. Notoriously slow. But they are everywhere and cheap. It isn't like people are really buying a Miata with the intent on making it a race car, more like they have one, or bought one and realize it isn't meeting potential. Thereby a huge aftermarket is born and thriving. K-swaps, 6 cyl Mazda swaps, stock engine builds, LS swaps even. This has kind of become the American way. Deep seated AC Shelby Cobra 427 desires. But way cheaper. We also don't plan well, so we do things a little at a time and want more and more. This dude is for the second attempt after someone already dumped way too much money into one slowly. It failed, and now want to do it right. Seems cheap. FInd out way too late it wasn't that cheap and wish they had just bought that other car. lol At least this dude is going to help you get realistic about the costs. Yeah so you build the engine for about 8k. You still have to spend way more but yeah this is where the insanity just hits hard because you are already in deep. lol

@@colubrinedeucecreative Thanks for all of the valuable information, my viewpoints have changed. Maybe someday I will try to build a fast Miata after all

@@TheCarPassionChannel LOL Wait, do you already have a Miata? If not, even if one gets given to you, for gods sake no. That wasn't my message at all there. lol People start small and get into them too far. They are beyond hope. If you want to spend 20 grand fast might as well put it on a S2000 or something made for the track. I mean I know you were joking but there is a huge market out there. This guy is going to get tons of subs.

@@colubrinedeucecreative You should sometimes check out who you are replying to, just sayin...

My dad passed away before we could do anything like this together, I pray the memories with your kid stick with him for the rest of his life! Im living vicariously through you, may the build be strong and bond stronger

Funny... I have a 90 miata in my yard that I wanted to do a 1.8 swap on and a high RPM ITB build for my 11 yr old son. He's not into cars near as much as my 2yr old son. I doubt I could coax him into doing the build with me. I was thinking aluminum flywheel and aluminum rods. I want to overbore to around 2.0L with 11:1 pistons. And yes, a Fluidampr harmonic balancer. I'm also not a fan of the ATI balancer. I have a core. I just need it machined to get started. The car has been sitting since around 2020. Best of luck.

@@christopherlowery855 There's an amazing thing that happens to boys when they turn 16. They get REALLY interested in two things. One of those things is cars. Some dad-to-dad advice: let the car sit for a few more years. Building a car together brings so many proud papa moments.

@@Glissskate So sorry Glisskate and thank you. Aspire to be the best dad you can be in your father's honor.

@@robs993 appreciate that. It might come down to this. I think my turbo in the NB is leaking oil into the exhaust. It might be time to upgrade to a Garrett anyway. $1600 towards a new turbo in a car I drive, or rods/pistons on a car I don't? Humm... Thanks for the tip, Cheers.

Ahh I don’t miss calc. Best of luck!

Yeah nobody likes to talk about the actual costs involved.

Working on it! Hoping to have it this weekend or early next week.

@@NappMotorsportsI am also interested in this.

Thanks Jeremy! It was a pleasure. Can’t wait to see that on track!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Very cool!

Supply and demand over here.

Thanks man!

Glad to help

If you're around Florida, the 1.6 donor from this car is available

Awesome! I’ll be here when you’re ready!

See you there!

Yay!

Me, drive a Miata more than twice a year?!

Thankfully I’ve only heard of it happening, I haven’t actually experienced it before I made the switch.

It was heart breaking after months of building, lucky it didn’t do too much damage and went back together well.

You bet!

Thought your name looked familiar! I’m here when you’re ready, and make sure you catch me at the gap, I’d love to meet.

@@NappMotorsports As would I! Sounds like a plan to me, I’ll see ya there!

It’s a lot of work. A refresh on 83mm pistons and stock main studs would be significantly cheaper.

Nice! Chikara does great work

@NappMotorsports absolutely next level! Also your work is quite amazing as well! Really loving your content!

That’s a steal. Hopefully it’s quality work!

You too!

Coming very shortly, worked on it all weekend to get the details down. Hoping to list it this coming weekend.

Project cars are never truly finished.

@@NappMotorsports ain't that the truth my brotha 💯 😆 . Much love and respect brothas .🤙🏽🤘🏽✌🏽🏎💪🏽🐌🔥

That’s definitely something I can handle! Send me an email and we can get a conversation going. Nappmotorsports @ gmail.

@@NappMotorsports I just need to order the valves and springs.

Thanks!

I haven’t bothered with one yet.

Chassis upgrades are always a good idea, wheels/tires/brakes mainly. As far as ECU goes, you’ll need a standalone like a BeerMoneyMotorsports, Megasquirt, Haltech, or Link.

The engine in the thumbnail is actually getting used with a Rotrex C30-94 on track from the fine crew over at TDR

Yup! Doing one right now. Send me an email and we can chat. Nappmotorsports @ gmail

See you there!

Filming an ITB NB 1.8 build as we speak!

@@NappMotorsports I will be interested in seeing that one for sure!

The intake manifold is the only OK part. I don’t like skunk2 as a company. Their customer service is terrible and they genuinely just exist to make money, and have no stake in offering a good product. The throttle body sucks because it gets stuck, and the cable actuator/spring snaps off so frequently that it’s just not worth the risk, especially when you can get a better one on eBay for 2.5x less.

Would that make me the anti Jesus? Lol thanks man

@@NappMotorsports not at all 😆😆 Just happy to see good and correct info being taught(gospel). Looking forward to the ITB built head and block breakdown 🤙

I have no experience with it so I can’t really give any thoughts.

Bro what??? He’s secretive about things? It’s your fucking engine, and it’s not like NB Miata’s are some sort of dark magic. Have you gotten Dyno ###s or noticed any difference?? It sounds like you advertised that you couldn’t tell a built engine from a stock one internally and he took advantage.

Sorry! Thats always the risk with shops which is why I try to be very transparent. I have been on the other side of the relationship and know what I don’t want, so I do my best to not do that to my customers.

@@ratatatatata5290 yeah he was a little bit idiotic and when I delivered the engine it had full accessories. He threw most of those accessories away because they were in “bad condition” so now I have to source more parts. And he didn’t show many any proof of this or anything. However I do believe he used all the parts I had ordered but I’m just not 100% sure he built the engine correctly

@@NappMotorsports Yeah, I will say he did everything for fairly cheap ($2700 in total) but that could be reflective of how bad his customer service and build is

I’ve been working on the details all weekend! Hoping to have it listed by this coming weekend. I’ll post a video about it when I do.

Looks like they took it off. There’s a new c30-94 model that makes more power. They advertise on their website the ability to produce a little over 300hp at only 225tq.

The orange engine in the thumbnail is running that setup on track. Looks promising, idk about stock block though even with the low torque output.

I’ve considered taking one of my spare engines and throwing a set of rods in it with stock pistons and a dingleberry hone. I’m curious what you could get done being dirt cheap using common tools. I’m not sure why though, I have a built car already. Just be cool to document for everyone else

Doryoku / Charlie Moua sells them.

I’ve had one be a little sticky on cold start, but fine once the engine warms up. Otherwise they’ve all been great.

OEM only with the exception of cometic for the head gasket.

I mean an NA build for e85 could literally be a stock engine. Unless you’re talking high compression which you’d actually need the e85 for.

@@aygwm very high compression

Yeah real race engines are an entirely different animal

You’re going to be in the same ballpark range by a couple thousand probably. In my opinion, built BP is less of a headache.

Wheels, tires, 949 Tecna coilovers, AWR front sway bar and endlinks. That will be the best transformation outside of a built engine. Don’t bother with a quick release.

Make sure you use an FMU and fuel cards on that bad boy

That will work mint.

👍🏽

Painful mistake that you only make once.

The fact is you have to brace the downpipe. Also the new manifolds are CNC collectors so they’re stronger and hopefully less prone to cracking.

When I have a free minute to work on my own car 😭

They’re such a bad company. Just China parts with their label

Sensed it

Then I guess I’ll film more rambling content!

Having k swapped, you’re going to be in it for the same amount of money to go turbo, not including the k swap headaches.

Make it fast first, then make it look good. The whole car is getting repainted.