How to VVT Swap your Miata | Engine & Chassis

This video became a little more convoluted than I had expected, so I apologize in advance, but it's all here and there's some other great resources I'm going to reference below:
VVT Swap Mega Thread: www.miataturbo.net/engine-per...
Ballenger Motorsports: www.bmotorsports.com/shop/sta...
- Cam Position Sensor Plug: CONN-75794
- Crank Position Sensor Plug: CONN-75759
- NB TPS Plug: CONN-75796
- NB IACV Plug: CONN-75770
- VVT Plug: CONN-75734
Website: www.nappmotorsports.com
Instagram: ‪@NappMotorsports‬
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
00:20 - Overview
3:10 - 1.6 Sensors and Hardware Needed
14:46 - Clutch and Flywheel
16:09 - Engine Mounts
17:18 - Sequential Fuel Injection Wiring & VVT Solenoid Wiring
28:54 - Throttle Cable
30:12 - Ignitor Delete/Coil On Plug Prep
34:10 - Wideband Wiring Trick
35:45 - Chassis Harness for Injection/VVT
39:39 - Alternator Wiring and Starter
40:44 - Ground Wires
41:31 - Throttle Cable Again
42:20 - IAT Sensor Wiring Trick
45:35 - Cam and Crank Sensor Wiring
49:50 - TPS and IACV Wiring
52:20 - Fuel Rail Options/Routing
57:00 - Vacuum Line Routing
58:53 - Outro

[@LocoRocoNL]

"if you ever worked on one of these Junk2 manifolds" lolol.

[@NappMotorsports]

IYKYK

[@ldsiverling]

i am deep into this. hopefully about to drop the 6spd and trans in. great timing. got an MS3 and an AEM. this should be super helpful.

[@NappMotorsports]

Nice!

[@cinepat_]

Really appreciate this bro!

[@NappMotorsports]

Glad I can hopefully help some people!

[@mrfunkinator6367]

Beautiful work and information as always sir!

[@NappMotorsports]

Happy to help!

[@DragorElite]

Saving this video for when I do this swap myself

[@NappMotorsports]

Nice!

[@Jimmy_Mac]

Outstanding mate... great content, great resource and I'm impressed with the quality of both your work and your YT productions. P.S. What ever happened to the KSwap Turbo build? Last I saw it was running but not 100% sorted... then I saw a KMiata video and your build was referenced as a partnership 'thing'.

[@NappMotorsports]

I sold the K Swap back in September.

[@NA6Austin]

vid couldnt of come at a better time, just bought an ECU to start the process of one going into mine with some itbs

[@NappMotorsports]

Nice!

[@ianrasch]

This was the final push I need to get AWR mounts haha

[@NappMotorsports]

Let’s goooo

[@adri1leusha]

thank's for puting all this info out! I've had a 1.6 na for a few years now, and recently came upon a decent 1.8vvt NB donor. I definitly plan on swapping someday, and these videos are a goldmine of information! I knew that spark was bonded on earlier engine, but I didn't know it was also the case for injectors! doesn't that waste fuel?!

[@NappMotorsports]

No it just sends half the fuel required twice.

[@johnross8939]

I'm glad to see this posted. Very detailed, yet quite a bit to change over for VVT install in a NA6. I've sent you a couple of messages, but maybe the email address doesn't function on your end. Will you be a MATG this August?

[@NappMotorsports]

I’m terrible at replying to emails in a timely manner is the truth of it. Too much going on. But yes I will be at MATG this summer.

[@Jordnice]

the goat

[@NappMotorsports]

Making me blush.

[@fbo_335i6]

Very informative video thank you so much! Makes me want to rewire my entire engine bay xD. Also why are the skunk manifolds junk?

[@NappMotorsports]

Really it’s their throttle bodies and customer support that are atrocious.

[@rmiata4422]

43:41 the pause to listen😭

[@NappMotorsports]

Had to lol

[@tylersebren7468]

I swear to god this video was posted the same day I bought a new engine for my girlfriends Miata

[@NappMotorsports]

It’s a sign

[@Birb_of_Judge]

Something id be interested in is what you think of the hummelink modifications wireing kit. Its a complete plug 'n play kit for the NA6 and includes the adapters for sequential injection

[@NappMotorsports]

I haven’t used it, but it seems like a great option, and all of his other products are great as well.

[@peterp.4391]

Any chance of doing a follow up video on NA8 1.8 to 1.8 VVT swap whats required tips and tricks

[@NappMotorsports]

If I come across one, I’ll record it.

[@Birb_of_Judge]

I'm seriously thinking of doing this instead of the Bp4w swap

[@NappMotorsports]

Do it. More low end torque without top end sacrifice.

[@Birb_of_Judge]

@@NappMotorsports well, the Bp4w core is for sale rn 😂

[@fouadal-rijleh6249]

For the R8 coils, do you send one ground to the ECU, other to the head?

[@NappMotorsports]

Shared ground, both to the head. I just run it to one wire.

[@brandonlow27]

I got my VVT swap started a couple of months ago. Interested to see what I could've done differently.

[@NappMotorsports]

VVT swap the world!

[@brandonlow27]

One small thing I noticed is that the 1.6 and VVT idle valves use the same terminal in the connector. Just depin the 1.6 connector and pin the wires into the new connector body

[@dannyvk5867]

Not powdercoating the Junk2 manifold the same bronze color as the turbo manifold is a missed opportunity 😭

[@ldsiverling]

Shot in the dark, has anyone made the radium fuel rail work w/ an OEM NB intake of some sort? The skunk2 has so much clearance. My squaretop...not so much. I have an 99/00 rail + 90-93 FPR and all that jazz but man the radium setup is clean.

[@NappMotorsports]

I haven’t tried it, but you could probably fit the rail no problem. It’s the regulator that you’d struggle with. You could do a remote regulator.

[@maxragel8136]

do you have a good base tune source for vvt turbo swap like this?

[@NappMotorsports]

I work with a tuner when I do these swaps and I recommend you do the same.

[@dannydarkos7539]

Didn’t get through the whole video so sorry if it was mentioned but would I need a new ecu for a 1.8? I have a megasquirt for a 1.6 msp2

[@NappMotorsports]

ECU needs to match the chassis, not the engine. I’ll cover that in the next episode.

[@tgy119]

Where did you get the bolts for the valve cover?

[@NappMotorsports]

Downstar hardware

[@MidnightMiata]

How has the 10lbs flywheel done with AC? I noticed that with my 14lbs ACT flywheel, my AC at idle isn't the best, but once I get back up to speed it's fine. I have had to convert to r134 since the old r12 leaked out unfortunately. EDIT: You don't have to use a 1.8 throttle cable if you have an FM 1.8 swap throttle cable bracket. I know it works, because that's what I have on my VVT NA6!

[@NappMotorsports]

I’ve never seen an issue with the AC on a light flywheel.

[@MidnightMiata]

@@NappMotorsports must just be in my tune then. I might go to a lighter flywheel at some point then. Thanks for the info!

[@hydrotricine]

No need to change injector wiring harness on na8c right? It is already capable of sequential from stock, or am i wrong?

[@NappMotorsports]

You are correct. And weirdly the 93 with California emissions is also sequential.

[@shawnjernigan7017]

any way to swap to the 01-05 A/Ccompressor while doing this swap? i'd rather have the more efficient compressor while im at it lol

[@NappMotorsports]

Should be a direct bolt on. You’ll just have to drain and recharge the AC

[@gnarlybland2555]

How about tachometer wiring for vvt swap on a 94?

[@NappMotorsports]

Your ecu (Megasquirt and Beer Money) should send a tach out signal already with no wiring changes.

[@dominicskinner300]

I purchased a 1.8 VVT a couple months back and i want to reseal the engine before i throw it in but i don’t have an engine stand. that floor stand you had looked awesome, Where did you get that from?

[@corifto1]

Pretty sure he made it

[@NappMotorsports]

I made that one myself, but you can get them from Advanced Auto Sports.

[@alphagurder5828]

Is the skunk 2 throttle body bad? Or is it just the case that it doesn't provide extra quality/performance over a generic throttle body

[@NappMotorsports]

Skunk2 throttle bodies are awful. They snap at the spring. There is a benefit to a larger throttle body, but you should just get the eBay 64mm one instead of skunk2. Less than half the cost and it’s better, just remove the blade screws one at a time and put some red loctite on them and reinstall.

[@zandersharpe7613]

White gauge wire did you use for everything?

[@NappMotorsports]

I believe 16 gauge.

[@baltod4978]

How much of a difference does VVT make when compared to the standard 1.8? Everyone is making the jump, but others are still making huge numbers. Is there a video of the actual difference between the two?

[@NappMotorsports]

I have a video comparing them a few videos back. VVT won’t make more peak power, but it supplies more low end torque without sacrificing top end.

[@001mrbbb001]

What gauge/size wire do you use for the new wiring?

[@sevjohansson]

Came here looking for the same info!

[@NappMotorsports]

I believe it’s 16 gauge.

[@dirtycove7ho769]

Rebuild my 96 1.8l engine or vvt swap ??🤔

[@NappMotorsports]

VVT Swap always. Better head flow on the later heads and more torque.

[@kriscarr389]

So I purchased a 92 miata from an insurance auction and came to realize that its been engine swapped with a 1.8 vvt. The oddidty to me is that the vvt system appears to be dissabled. Why would this be done? How can i get it working properly? Edit to add info: the wiring harness appears to be from NB2 and has the pigtails for the vvt acuator and cam senor but both are left unplugged and are zip tied out of the way. It also seems to be the NB2 ECU that has been mounted behind the passenger seat. I wish i could get ahold of the previous owner to ask questions but the insurance company will not release their name. Also, I know the car ran when it was written off and i have moved it around my yard and seems to run okay but the rad is smashed so I cant get a good test drive. My intent is to run this power train in my 93LE.

[@NappMotorsports]

Weird, I’d try plugging them in. Thats a super uncommon thing.

[@kriscarr389]

@@NappMotorsports right? I do plan on making it work and the first step is just to plug it all in and she what she does but it baffles me that it was disconnected at all. I was just curious if there was any benefit that not seeing. At any rate, your video was very informative and I'm sure that information will come in handy very soon

[@juanestrada_]

Make and sell the injector harnesses please

[@NappMotorsports]

Maybeeeee

[@watson6401]

Get out of my head

[@NappMotorsports]

Never

[@xnanoo]

Where Dylan😢

[@NappMotorsports]

We went our separate ways in regards to the channel ~2 years ago. He’s still around with his ITB Miata.

[@xnanoo]

@@NappMotorsports Damn. Will still be watching! Excellent content and info 👍

[@adri1leusha]

How does he know I'm gonna put a VVT in my 1.6 miata?!

[@NappMotorsports]

Everyone does eventually