Customer Reviews
I've had this kit installed for over a year now on my 1990 NA6. This car is driven once a week to work, and to/from my local tracks about once a month. The kit itself is amazingly complete - huge compliments to FM for such a comprehensive kit. The installation was a pleasure, and I did not experience any issues while following the installation video series. For track use, I experienced extreme heat issues at Laguna Seca, Sonoma, and Thunder Hill. I have kept a/c in the car, and having the extra core competing for airflow added to my struggle. Be aware that in order to run a full session on track, I needed the FULL catalog of all cooling modification: crossflow radiator, FM coolant reroute with turbo connection lines, 20psi radiator cap, mostly water with water wetter and a splash of coolant, complete ducting and sealing with low profile crash bar, oil cooler, radiator cowl panel, and hood vents. Only after all of this would the car run for a full session on track without coolant exceeding 225F. With that said, I love this kit. It is so thoughtfully engineered and complete - all the hardware is very high quality, nicely laid out. There is so much to love about it. The additional power estimated at 165whp builds linearly and is modestly present. It makes sense to me, if interested in this kit, to think about standalone engine management and injectors in order to take full advantage of the hardware. In for a penny, in for a pound - for a bit more investment, take the 165whp to just under the limit of the engine internals, 200-220 wtq, for the complete turbo effect. Switch to Voodoo box when needed for smog or legality purposes. Best of both worlds! Thank you, FM for such a wonderful kit.
After waiting three years for this kit to become available, I finally found one in stock—at 1AM, no less—and I didn’t hesitate. And let me tell you: this is exactly how the Miata should have come from the factory.
While I haven’t dyno’d it yet, the difference is night and day. The turbo begins to spool around 2700 RPM and hits hard by 3400. From there, it’s just Flyin. Throttle response is razor-sharp, and the power delivery is smooth and strong throughout the rev range. It doesn’t fall off in the higher RPMs like some setups do—this one just keeps pulling.
Another thing that probably doesn’t even need to be said but the customer service, every single question / problem I had when installing was answered and solved swiftly by the people over there. Probably the best experience I’ve had when buying a product. They helped for hours on the install and is very much worth what you pay.
I’m currently running low boost, showing around 9 psi on the gauge. Even so, it’s a completely different animal—no more hoping someone won’t cut you off. It moves with confidence. I was laughing almost maniacally when driving it at first on the freeway when I felt the boost come on. It felt like something out of Ford V Ferrari.
One thing I absolutely recommend: get an AFR (air-fuel ratio) gauge. Even at low boost, it’s risky not to monitor how your engine’s running under load. It’s a MUST-HAVE for anyone going turbo. Also I recomend getting colder plugs I am running the BKR7E plugs you can get at Oreillys. Great plug really nice performance and less than 20$
What surprised me most is how stock it still feels. The car remains incredibly predictable and enjoyable to drive. The blow-off valve, turbo, and intake are all perfectly audible without becoming annoying—no drone on the highway, just enough to remind you you’re in something special.
Flyin Miata nailed this kit. OEM-level build quality, fantastic drivability, and a power bump that transforms the car. This has been absolutely worth the wait, and if you’re thinking about going turbo on a 1.6, don’t bother looking anywhere else. Flyin Miata is the only way to go.
I bought this kit at the end of 2018. I installed it February 2020, and stressed tested it like crazy since i got the coolant relocation kit from Flyin Miata. The reason why I waited so long is because I had the money at the time, and wasn't sure how the future was going to play out. so bought the parts, stored, and assembled when able to. Didn't want to rush anything.
I have a 1990 miata, and the engine was solid, but i found a 93 engine. rebuilt it, and slapped the turbo on it. install was rather painless since did the majority of it while the engine was outside. Instructions were thorough, and customer service has always been great.
Only issue with the install was that the kit i received did not compensate for my cruise control. It sort of sucked having to gut the cruise control, but i had a limited window of time to make it happen. I remember a staff member from flyin miata reached out to see if order was alright, but since i just took inventory and stored, i didn't notice my kit wasn't for cruise control. so that sucked cause cruise control was the first thing i ever fixed on my own on that car. but oh well.
So now for the actual review of the turbo kit. running it 8 pounds of boost. man is it a blast. no more praying to a higher power when i enter the freeway. this thing hauls, and is totally controllable. the engine loves to rev up so you lay on it and you are on boost so fast that those cool kids won't be able to make hair dressers joke at you at the light. absolutely love the upgrade, well worth the price (i think i got it during black friday).
another issue i faced, i started to overheat. but not during normal driving, i like to stress test and go from so cal to phoenix in one shot and straight back. or up to lake tahoe, or vegas round trip just stopping for gas, just anything that eats a day. once the heat rose, i felt i was fighting the temperature gauge and wondering if i was going to make it. It got sketchy. i don't blame the kit, i compromised the lines running out of turbo so they began to leak and temp heat up whenever i ran to temp after my long hauls, i even tried swapping out lines to fix the line leaks. Why aren't i mad, cause i'm an idiot, that's on me. I got an upgraded radiator and fan (not flyin miata, they were sadly out of stock), bought a coolant relocation kit from FM, and the plastic undertray cause mine was missing. That was it, that was the key to the puzzle. Now i blast into palm springs laying the turbo on thick, and come straight back and my temperature barely moves. when it does rise up, it's hardly anything, and regulates fast.
that's my thorough review. the turbo is fantastic, sad i had to gut my cruise control. I had cooling issues, but i blame my driving preference instead of the parts, and was so pleasantly surprised after i bought the under-tray and coolant relocation kit. This kit is well made, stressed tested it left and right, always made it home.
- Installed on 1991 NA 1.6 with 75k odometer (Purchased the full FM turbo kit)
- Took roughly 50 total hours (I also have NO mechanical skill, messed stuff up, but learned alot)
- With this kit, I had to install a full FM exhaust makeover (the old system was 28 years of rust and neglect)
//INSTALL: This project includes everything you'd expect; wiring, cutting, cussing, drilling, trimming, test fitment, 2nd test fitment, torquing things down to spec, stepping back and smirking at your progress, then realizing "hey whats this part still doing on the workbench?"... 3rd test fitment. If you take your time and read the manual you'll certainly have an easier time than I did. FM is very helpful with answering any questions and working you through any issues you might have. The hardest part for me was the wire/vacuum line routing from A-pillar to under the dash, because contorting your body to stare under your steering wheel is unnatural- my suggestion is remove your driver seat if you need more space to work. Overall, install was simple for a novice like myself.
//STARTUP & DRIVE: Make sure you're double checking your timing with the timing light and checking for engine knock noises. Give the engine bay and floor a once-over for leaks while the car is running. I had an issue with a seized brake, but that's because I had my car on stands for 4 months. If you installed an AFR with your kit, make sure your numbers are good in all the different ranges as well as idle. You can do your homework on those numbers by looking around on forums etc. First 500 miles of driving is break-in period, and you should be checking your engine bay and fluids regularly to make sure all things are holding up. After that, its all fun. Rev out those gears to hear those sweet BOV releases, it's a head turner in my small town for sure
//OVERALL: Fun project, plenty of horsepower (more than double stock for me) and I can't thank FM enough for providing such an immaculate full kit that requires no extra runs to your local nut and bolt shop. Seriously, that alone takes so much headache out of the whole thing.
//YOUTUBE: FlyinMiata has a full installation of this turbo kit on their youtube channel- so if the manual has you scratching your head, check there. The full 10 video series is located in their "Stage 1 Turbo Install" playlist
I had a shop here in Maine install an FM2 Turbo combo consisting of a 2554R, Full FM Exhaust, Clutch Happy Meal with light flywheel and MS2 engine management. The end result was 205WHP (more than double the 95 it had on the same dyno prior to installation). 200hp in one of these cars is nothing short of amazing. The shop claimed the kit was one of the best-fitted and most complete they had ever had the privilege of working with. Very happy with fit and finish, and the quality of parts is second to none.