Miata Repairs
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Written by Angie & Dave Wednesday, 16 September 2009 00:11
Hello fellow Miata enthusiasts.
It's been awhile since my last article and the recent addition of our first little baby, York, is partly the reason why.
He's now just over 4 months old and Angie and myself couldn't be happier.
Some of the members got to see him at the September meeting where he tried to put the disruptive members in place.
At the recent Sept. meeting a few members had questions regarding upgrades to their Miata's and the subsequent installations.
Since I'm now out of the automotive sales game and back to working on cars I was more than happy to answer these questions.
The most often performed upgrades seem to be Timing Belt replacements, Power enhancers, Suspension upgrades, soft top replacements, clutch upgrades and roll bar installations.
The most common Power enhancers are performance Intakes and Exhausts which can result in 10-15 additional horsepower at the rear wheels, which can be felt and heard. In such a small car as the Miata even 10 hp can be felt immediately.
For those who would like more of a return on their investment the best bang for the buck is a Supercharger.
These return 45-50% additional horsepower and a large infusion of torque to get the little Miata moving.
The biggest complaint of the stock Miata is that the suspension can handle so much yet the car really needs a bit more power to fully appreciate it.
A supercharger provides very reliable power and once installed properly can provide decades of smiles per miles.
Once you drive a Miata with the increased power delivery you will smile from ear to ear. It's a priceless feeling.
Regarding Soft top replacements I always recommend Robbins tops as they are the best to date.
Amazing quality with perfect fit and upgraded materials from stock every time.
These tops truly make the car look like new again and the difference from a worn top is dramatic, especially one with a foggy rear plastic window.
Hard Dog roll bars are by far the best in the industry for the Miata.
They fit perfectly and are made specifically for the model from a company that has been doing this since the inception of the Miata itself.
I've installed a lot of the competitors roll bars and I have to say Hard Dog is the one to buy.
Roll bars range depending on your own personal style and their intended usage, road or track.
Timing Belts should be replaced at 96,000 kms or every 5 years, whichever comes first.
This is cheap insurance to prevent against being left at the side of the road with a car that's not running whatsoever.
The Water Pump is located directly behind the Timing Belt so I recommend replacing the pump at the same time for reduced labour in the future.
Suspension upgrades also range depending on what the car will primarily be used for.
Upgrades can range from stock replacement parts to full track competition packages.
Stock shocks wear out by 90,000 kms and if yours have not been updated yet you won't believe the difference in the ride when they are changed out.
I've had lots of great feedback from clients who couldn't believe how nice their Miata rode after the upgrade.
If you intend to head for the corners with more vigor you may want to upgrade to some performance springs & shocks or even obtain a set of coilovers that allow full adjustability for ride height as well as control over the shock stiffness.
Clutch upgrades have been a staple of my work since I upgraded my own back in 1999.
Some people will attempt small upgrades themselves but very few will tackle a clutch job and so they often prefer to leave the heavy & dirty work to me, and luckily, I'm happy to do it :D I often recommend the ACT HD clutch as it provides much better feel, a much nicer "bite" to the clutch engagement point, and will hold over 300 hp for future upgrades, just in case.
Of course stock replacements can also be installed but my clients have reported the biggest satisfaction from the ACT unit. It's worth the additional $'s.
As with all of the upgrades available for your Miata I recommend contacting me first to find out what you would like your Miata to do better, and we can proceed from there.
In the past I have installed nearly every part available for the Miata on one of my past 13 Miata's so there's a very good chance that we can pick out what parts will match with your intended view of what your Miata should be.
Feel free to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 905-582-2674.
Also if you know of anyone with a Miata who would like to have some upgrades done feel free to pass on my info and I'll be happy to return the favour.
Thanks and happy motoring.
Dave Biagioni
Miata Specialist Since 1996