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Verwah's 2013 Mazda MX-5 (NC) street/track build

Verwah · 2013 Mazda MX-5 (NC)

Mazda MX-5 (Miata)

Street/track NC build

Read the full write-up at Street/track NC build ↗

Photo: Street/track NC build

Verwah's 2013 Mazda MX-5 (NC): turbocharged street/track build

A long-running forum thread documents a 2013 NC Miata bought new and first set up for HPDE with suspension and wheel upgrades. Years later the owner commissioned Dynotronics to install a Borg Warner EFR turbo kit, then continued developing the fuel system, wiring, and cosmetic details himself over several more years, including a later engine refresh.

Specs

As stated in the original write-up.

Engine
Mazda L5-VE 2.5, Dynotronics-built, forged rods and pistons, 9.2:1 compression, Integral 1.5 FI grind camshaft, fabricated intake manifold, ARP hardware
Turbo system
Fab9 turbo kit with Borg Warner EFR 6758, custom 3" midpipe, GWR Roadster sport dual exhaust
ECU
EcuTek RaceRom
Boost control
Greddy Profec boost controller
Cooling
GWR triple-pass radiator, Treadstone intercooler, Moroso coolant expansion tank, GWR silicone hose kit
Fuel system
DeatschWerks 800cc injectors, DeatschWerks 300c fuel pump, later upgraded to a return-style fuel system aimed at running E85
Clutch
Clutchmasters FX350
Flywheel
13 lb steel flywheel
Differential
Tomei 3.63 final drive
Suspension
Ohlins DFV dampers, Racing Beat sway bars and end links
Wheels
Enkei PF01SS +48 offset
Tyres
Yokohama S-Drive 235/40/17
Body
Soft top deleted, Blackbird Fabworx GT3 removable hard top
Electrical
Track Dog Racing battery relocation kit, Aim Strada street digital dash
Interior
AutoExe steering wheel, Redline Goods shift and parking brake boot, Voodoo shift knob
Trim
Euro fog light bezels, stubby antenna
Head unit
Pioneer AVIC-5000NEX

Parts used

Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.

Engine 4

  • Dynotronics-built 2.5 long blockDynotronics

    Built with forged rods and pistons at 9.2:1 compression and FI grind camshaft, assembled and installed by Dynotronics

  • Integral 1.5 camshaft, FI grindIntegral

    Fitted as part of the built 2.5 engine

    In the shops
    Camshaft, 3/4" grind ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £423.50 GBP
    Camshaft, standard grind ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £1,161.50 GBP
    Camshaft, standard grind ↗Moss Europe (UK)· £457.00 GBP
  • ARP hardware

    Used to assemble the built engine

  • Fabricated intake manifold

    Custom manifold fitted for the turbo engine build

    In the shops
    V-6 Intake Manifold ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $14.72 USD
    Intake Manifold, Mk VII ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $0.00 USD
    Intake/Exhaust Manifold Gasket ↗bpnorthwest.com· $8.99 USD

Fuel & Ignition 4

Cooling 5

Gearbox & Drivetrain 3

Suspension & Steering 2

Wheels & Tyres 2

Body & Trim 2

Interior 3

Electrical 3

Other 1

  • TWN Industries hydro dip film, WTP-460 Tiger Stripe Digital SnowTWN Industries

    Used to hydro dip the plastic valve cover at a local school auto shop

Photos

100 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from Street/track NC build. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.

street/track NC build - Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats. 40this post at Street/track NC build ↗

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Early view of the NC Miata chassis setupPhoto: Street/track NC build
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Car shown with its suspension and wheel setupPhoto: Street/track NC build
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street/track NC build - Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats. 32this post at Street/track NC build ↗

Photo: Street/track NC build
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Two cars shown together before the turbo buildPhoto: Street/track NC build
Start of the engine swap workPhoto: Street/track NC build
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Tweet this threadPhoto: Street/track NC build

street/track NC build - Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats. 28this post at Street/track NC build ↗

Hydro-dipped valve cover in camo patternPhoto: Street/track NC build
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Engine being lowered back into the engine bayPhoto: Street/track NC build
Engine installation in progressPhoto: Street/track NC build
Engine further installed with charge tubesPhoto: Street/track NC build
Charge tubes fitted during reassemblyPhoto: Street/track NC build
Differential being installedPhoto: Street/track NC build
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How it was done

Starting condition and early mods

The owner bought the NC new in 2013 and quickly fitted suspension and tyres for HPDE track days, keeping the engine stock for years because he did not want the hassle of tuning it himself. He had previously owned a turbocharged MSM that he found disappointing to drive, which shaped his later approach.

Deciding on forced induction

After years of chassis work the owner decided to commit fully to a turbo build rather than repeat his earlier piecemeal approach. He briefly considered a naturally aspirated 2.5 before settling on a professionally installed Borg Warner EFR turbo system, judging the power level too risky to do without expert help.

Turbo install at Dynotronics

The car was driven to Texas and left with Dynotronics to install the 2.5 EFR 6758 turbo system. The project took far longer than expected, over nine months including a winter storage delay, but the owner reported a clean, honest build once finished and began driving it on a low-boost break-in tune.

Early running and data

Once back, the owner put miles on the car, read boost levels off the Aim dash, and noted intake air temperature effects on power and spool, planning to add data logging to document the car's performance.

Later engine refresh and fuel system work

Years after the original build, the owner refreshed the long block, added a Dynotronics thermostatic oil filter mount, and reinstalled the engine with cleaner wiring, sleeving, and routing than the previous installs. He also converted to a return-style fuel system in preparation for running local, verified E85, and had the plastic valve cover hydro-dipped in a digital camouflage pattern by a local school auto shop.

A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at Street/track NC build ↗

Worth knowing

  • Doing a turbo swap yourself lets you improve wiring and routing beyond what a shop install provides
  • Shipping the car to a specialist builder can mean long delays beyond the original schedule
  • Trimming and mounting aftermarket front-end parts like splitters and oil coolers can conflict with each other and needs planning

Street/track NC build

Read in full, all 3 pages, on 26 October 2026. The original write-up and photographs remain with their creators. This page is a catalogue in our own words, and a signpost to the source.

Read the full write-up at Street/track NC build ↗

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Verwah's 2013 Mazda MX-5 (NC) street/track build | Restomod Life