FS: 1994 M edition FM2 turbo Miata – Denver/Boulder, CO

Price - $3,250/OBO

I can’t drive a manual transmission anymore (back injury) so I need to sell my Miata before my wife carries through with her threat to make it a planter.

1994 M edition Miata, Montego Blue Mica exterior, with tan interior. Body is straight, paint looks good from across the parking lot and interior is intact but driver's seat needs to be re-sewn.

62,705 miles, clear title, in hand.

Has been off the road since 2016 (when in failed the Colorado emissions test for high CO readings).

Has the following modifications:

Flyin’ Miata FM2 turbo system (with the Link ECU, installed in the late 90s, has all the upgrades up to when FM stopped selling Link ECUs)

Flyin’ Miata Suspension kit Stage 2.5 (sway bars, bump stops, Tokico Illumina shocks, etc…) with butterfly brace upgrade

Flyin’ Miata Aluminum Race Radiator and dual fan kit

Hard Dog M2 Hard Core Single Diagonal roll bar with padding (they made it a bit larger than normal to accommodate my big head when wearing a helmet)

 Miscellaneous other upgrades like aftermarket convertible top with glass rear window, braided stainless brake and clutch lines, headlights, and other stuff I can’t remember.

Comes with a big box of hoses, random parts and manuals. Parts and maintenance receipts going back to the late 90s available for review.

Also, available separately or with the car is a Spec Miata prepped 1.8 liter head (never installed on the car) done by Applied Racing Technology out of Austin, TX (receipt available on request). I’m not interested in shipping the head so the first person to give me a reasonable bid that includes them picking up the head will get it.

Car and cylinder head are located in Superior, Colorado (along the Denver – Boulder Highway 36 corridor, approx. 10 miles SE of Boulder).

If interested, best way to contact me is via email – bouldercurtis@gmail.com or call seven two zero two five seven three zero seven one.

Wow, local to me!  Dropping you an email....  @Keith, what's the dealio with the FM Link/Turbo system on this car?

I may be interested. Let me talk to the garage space coordinator. This is a great deal, and I can easily justify the cost of adding a Megasquirt. Any mechanical needs that you know of?

The hardware is the old Bell-manufactured stuff. A lot of our current parts are compatible, so if you wanted to upgrade to the new IC piping and design that’s a bolt-on. Our new downpipes are compatible as well, so you have access to replacement parts if there’s a problem.  We get some flak from the cool kids for not reinventing everything constantly, but this is why!

The Link is an old system, but it actually works pretty well because it’s designed to be a turbo Miata ECU and not a generic. They don’t have all the capabilities of a more modern setup but they do have great boost control and can handle knock and a wideband. The biggest problem is that the hardware is physically aging, so solder joints can crack and replacement parts are harder to find. I think I’ve got a spare 1.6 unit kicking around that could be used for parts. And yes, I do actually have a Miata that still runs that system. If the car’s running well, there’s no pressing need to swap to a different ECU. Sounds like it does need a bit of tuning attention if it failed CO, though. 

For this price, jump on the car. 

Count me in for #3 in line!  

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Keith, thanks for your input! You worked on the car back in the day - I made a trip out to FM to have the suspension installed and the ECU tuned. 

What's the best offer up to by now?

FAQs:

How long have you owned the car? - Since 2001. I bought the car with the FM2 turbo already on it (installed by the previous owner).

Who did the work on the car? Previous owner installed the FM2 turbo kit. FM installed the suspension and upgraded the Link ECU to the latest specs in the mid-2000s. Coyote Motors, in Boulder, has done the routine maintenance.

Can I buy the car and drive it home to Tierra del Fuego? - NO! Before any road trip, because the car has been sitting for so long, I'd highly recommend having all the fluids changed, the bushings lubed, and a new set of tires put on.

How does it run? - It will make it around the block, which is all it has done for the past couple of years (it's not registered or insured). The uncertainty regarding its mechanical condition is factored into the pricing. If I was keeping the car I would do the following - replace the head (with the one shown above), check the wiring and hoses (replace as needed), change the spark plugs and all the fluids, replace the exhaust and catalytic converter (the aftermarket one of the car is dead, I believe) and put on new tires.

What's the highest bid/offer? - I'm not interested in putting up for auction. The first person to show up, make a reasonable offer and have cash in hand, gets it.

What caused it to fail emissions? - High CO levels (see below for test results). 

If Docwyte and thebigchill pass, i'm ready to pick it up, change some fluids and tires, and then bring it home to AZ.  Have a truck/trailer but it would be more fun to drive it home....

Sincerely it won’t pass CA emission, no go for me 

I'm hopefully going to look at it this Friday.

I've emailed the OP a couple times and he has been very up front with any questions I had. I'm probably also the reason for the Tierro del Fuego comment, haha. Somebody jump on this before I buy something I don't need.

I talked to the owner a bit ago, I’m going to look at it Friday morning!

In reply to docwyte :

Car is sold pending funds to the good docwyte!

Great meeting you this am, funds are going out shortly for the car! 

Woo!

Keith,

I'll be making an order soon.  I need a timing belt kit, a cat, hoses, plugs, wires, etc.  Do you sell momo steering wheels and hubs?  I think with one of those and a foamectomy on the seat I'll fit in it pretty well.

In reply to soupsandwich :

Checks in the mail!

docwyte said:

Keith,

I'll be making an order soon.  I need a timing belt kit, a cat, hoses, plugs, wires, etc.  Do you sell momo steering wheels and hubs?  I think with one of those and a foamectomy on the seat I'll fit in it pretty well.

We don't sell Momo - I usually go to LTB Autosports. We do have Cipher wheels, which are a nice contoured wheel that's compatible with the stock airbag.

Well dang. Enjoy Doc. I missed this otherwise it'd be about 50 miles south of you right now in a smog free county. 

In reply to bmw88rider :

I wish I lived in a smog free county.  Plan is to burn off the old fuel, (unless there’s a drain in the bottom of the tank?) new plugs/wires/cat and then take it thru smog.....

NAs do have a drain. Or you can pull off the fuel feed line to the rail and put a jumper between FP and GND in the diagnostic box, then it’ll pump it out for you. But if you have the potential for crap in the tank, I’d drain. 

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Excellent news!  I assume it'll be obvious when I get the car up in the air what/where the drain is?

I think so. It’s been a long time.