keithcampbell10

i just got a 92 miata 1.6. shes not that nice but will do. im just looking to have some fun and then turn it into a racecar. any free mods or things i should do 1st plz let me know thanks

sixshooter

Free mods? Bump the base ignition timing from 10 degrees to 15 degrees. That's about it. Opening up the exhaust won't do anything on a stock 1.6, but getting a MegaSquirt ECU will let you ditch the MAF, and that will net you some horses. It will also let you tune fuel and spark for power and not emissions.

The 1.6 cars had weak rear differentials but the swap to 1.8 diff and axles is easy if you are handy with a wrench.

keithcampbell10

nice thanks for that. yeah the car was 300$ bc it needed a timing belt and radiator. but it had all new tires and reg was just paid so i got it. i work at a shop so i am doing all the work myself and just getting into these cars and want to make sure i dont waste money lol. but i got the timing belt kit the raid and a water pump. then il do a full tune up. any thing else i should look for right away

sixshooter

Change the cam and crank seals when replacing the belt. Check the TB tensioner and idler pulley for wear. Carefully inspect the crank pulley keyway for damage. Adequate torque on the large crank pulley bolt is essential when reassembling. I use a little RTV silicone on the threads as insurance, but one of the lighter hold Loctite formulas is often used.

Consult a book on TB and cam pulley alignment as the markings can be counter-intuitive.

The water outlet that is capped off from the factory with a rubber cap between the intake manifold and firewall on the back of the head is a known issue for leakage over time. Inspect it for signs of dripping.

Good luck! These are tough little engines but not particularly powerful.