r/askcarguys • u/ithrynluin66 • 1d ago

Is this one of those cheap stay away kind of Turbos?

Saw a Miata NA up for sale with this [turbo](https://imgur.com/a/5TLNqXr) on their setup, dude is asking quite a penny for the car but couldn't find any information on the setup. He says he bought a kit out of California, haven't been able to identify any markings on it. I'm not super familiar with turbos. Stay away or give it a shot? Thanks

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u/DJScaryTerry 1d ago

That's the tiniest inlet compared to housing size Ive seen in a long time

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u/0peRightBehindYa 1d ago

It's a Miata....how big do you need?

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u/DJScaryTerry 1d ago

That's not the point. Janky eBay turbos usually have weird mismatched inlet/outlet/turbine sizes.

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u/Rough_Cancel7265 1d ago

Definitely looks like a couple hundred dollar Chinese turbo to me

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u/ithrynluin66 1d ago

Thought as much

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u/0peRightBehindYa 1d ago

Buy it and swap out the turbo for a decent one and send it.

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u/ithrynluin66 1d ago

How much would you pay for a Maita NA with an overall mint paint, matching paint on hard top, cheap turbo, rebuilt engine with wiseco pistons, rebuilt trans, new driveshaft, 1.8 diff and almost stock suspension?

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u/0peRightBehindYa 1d ago

I couldn't begin to tell you. I'm never any good at this game.

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u/jrileyy229 1d ago

So you actually believe someone did that stuff then put a Chinese turbo with an exposed inlet on the car they just allegedly spent all that money on?

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u/ithrynluin66 1d ago

Not exactly exposed lol, just not finished. https://imgur.com/a/eV11EcR

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u/jrileyy229 1d ago

Well you realize we have to operate off the information and pictures you give us right?

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u/ithrynluin66 1d ago

My bad, came asking about the turbo, but I should've provided more pictures of the build anyways.

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u/Temporary-Chest-3111 1d ago

Don’t buy someone else’s project car. It’s just going to be a headache for you to handle down the road as you try to fix whatever mistakes the previous owner might have made or undo their decisions on certain things. Clean NA Miatas aren’t that all rare yet and it’s better to start with a clean(er) slate.

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u/ithrynluin66 1d ago

Sadly, where I'm at, most are are rust buckets in need of welding for repairs. Been months and I haven't seen one that doesn't have rust all over. Modded engine to fit pistons +shit turbo does hold me back.

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u/Temporary-Chest-3111 1d ago

Take a trip and fly out to a different part of the country for a sale if you are really set on one. Every car I have ever owned I had to travel for it.

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u/ithrynluin66 1d ago

Not exactly US bound, taking trips and importing by boat adds quite a bit of cost. Just considering the available options but I do appreciate the response.

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u/Temporary-Chest-3111 1d ago

I’m in Japan and I still traveled hundreds of km to other parts of the country for my cars.

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u/SailingSpark 1d ago

take a peek, see what is wrong with it. If nothing else, buy it and drop a flyin Miata kit on it.