Project: Ultimate DIY High MPG Commuter
08-22-2014, 07:24 PM
#23
Welding downpipe and intercooler piping. Using a delta fin ebay intercooler with 2.5" ebay aluminum intercooler piping on both sides. Mounted up intercooler and intercooler pipng.
Also picked up an 04 WRX wagon as my DD that on the street. Mostly stock, but new engine swap, larger intercooler and 3" exhaust all the way out, also came with an new Accesport V2... Thinking about an up-pipe for it so the cat doesn't pop and blow the turbo apart, but I honestly haven't even checked it out if it has an OEM up pipe or not.
The pie-cuts for the aluminum elbow are actually for the hot pipe side. In a few pictures down you can't see it, but it runs alongside the driver's side inside fender. 100% wheel clearance. It worked out pretty good too because with the ebay universal piping kit, it ended up being the only piece I really needed to cut/weld besides the cold pipe bungs/IAT bung.
I know a few of you guys are saying lose weight, lose A/C and PS... but I am trying to model this as if it were an OEM setup, just pretending it's an OEM Turbo Miata with all the amenities that would make for a comfortable drive anywhere around town/highway... Not going for super speed... Yet.
I already have a track car that is plenty of fun.
Here is a little more reason as to why I said things spiraled out of control... we've got 3 Miata's now... Whoops. One of the white ones is my roommates and it is turbo.
2 turbo and the blue miata is going to stay N/A. It came with the manual rack and going to keep it that way. It will kind of be my benchmark to test the MPG of the stock N/A vs. Turbo.
This is basically as it sits now. It might now have a huge impact on the MPG, but I am going to use LS1 coil packs because I've already got spare ones lying around and the whole point of this build I've been telling myself to reuse/re-purpose all the car parts I have collected over the years... The down pipe I was able to fit 3" without cutting firewall or anything, so I am going to go a full 3" exhaust even though that is overkill. I have a 3" cat lying around too... and well, you get the idea of what I do with stuff lying around.
Anyone know if the OEM fuel pump will work with what I've got? I've got a Walbro 255, lying around of course, but do I really need to use it?... I kind of figure why not?
Just waiting on the MS3x and I should have everything to be able to fire it up with an open down pipe. Needed to do a clutch job in the blue N/A Miata so that has been taking up all of my time lately, but I am just about finished with it so I can get back to work on the turbo Miata.
The things I have left to do are:
I've never tuned a car from scratch before, I've only ever had to make small tweaks, and this was on an SR20. Hoping I can find find a good basemap somewhere to start with for my setup... Especially since I will be street tuning without a dyno for awhile. Then finalize with a dyno tune. Want to minimize dyno time if I can.
Also picked up an 04 WRX wagon as my DD that on the street. Mostly stock, but new engine swap, larger intercooler and 3" exhaust all the way out, also came with an new Accesport V2... Thinking about an up-pipe for it so the cat doesn't pop and blow the turbo apart, but I honestly haven't even checked it out if it has an OEM up pipe or not.
The pie-cuts for the aluminum elbow are actually for the hot pipe side. In a few pictures down you can't see it, but it runs alongside the driver's side inside fender. 100% wheel clearance. It worked out pretty good too because with the ebay universal piping kit, it ended up being the only piece I really needed to cut/weld besides the cold pipe bungs/IAT bung.
I know a few of you guys are saying lose weight, lose A/C and PS... but I am trying to model this as if it were an OEM setup, just pretending it's an OEM Turbo Miata with all the amenities that would make for a comfortable drive anywhere around town/highway... Not going for super speed... Yet.
I already have a track car that is plenty of fun.
Here is a little more reason as to why I said things spiraled out of control... we've got 3 Miata's now... Whoops. One of the white ones is my roommates and it is turbo.
2 turbo and the blue miata is going to stay N/A. It came with the manual rack and going to keep it that way. It will kind of be my benchmark to test the MPG of the stock N/A vs. Turbo.
This is basically as it sits now. It might now have a huge impact on the MPG, but I am going to use LS1 coil packs because I've already got spare ones lying around and the whole point of this build I've been telling myself to reuse/re-purpose all the car parts I have collected over the years... The down pipe I was able to fit 3" without cutting firewall or anything, so I am going to go a full 3" exhaust even though that is overkill. I have a 3" cat lying around too... and well, you get the idea of what I do with stuff lying around.
Anyone know if the OEM fuel pump will work with what I've got? I've got a Walbro 255, lying around of course, but do I really need to use it?... I kind of figure why not?
Just waiting on the MS3x and I should have everything to be able to fire it up with an open down pipe. Needed to do a clutch job in the blue N/A Miata so that has been taking up all of my time lately, but I am just about finished with it so I can get back to work on the turbo Miata.
The things I have left to do are:
- Get MS3x
- Wiring for sequential fuel/ign
- Wiring engine harness for LS1 coil packs
- Wiring engine harness for variable TPS
- Wiring for coolant sensor at back of head?
- Jack car up and finish welding exhaust
- Fill oil and pour all over fresh head
- Fill transmission fluid
- Walbro 255
- Find some LS1 spark plug wires that will work well to buy
- Get wideband
- Get boost gauge
- Find A/C shop willing to deal with R12... or convert 134a
- Really freshen up/Read up on tuning MS... I've only messed with Haltech UI
- Read up on tuning in general
I've never tuned a car from scratch before, I've only ever had to make small tweaks, and this was on an SR20. Hoping I can find find a good basemap somewhere to start with for my setup... Especially since I will be street tuning without a dyno for awhile. Then finalize with a dyno tune. Want to minimize dyno time if I can.
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08-22-2014, 07:38 PM
#25
Sorry to disappoint, perhaps if this doesn't work out I am going to Tesla swap. Shouldn't be too bad.
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08-22-2014, 08:01 PM
#26
Here's a few. The photo above is the most up-to-date exterior picture. Below is the most up-to-date interior. I have a build thread over on norotors. Here's the link if you are interested. Autox + road course FD LS1 swap
Back when it had sort of interior.
Back when it had sort of interior.
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08-22-2014, 10:39 PM
#30
I bought it as a fairly stripped roller for cheap... already had LS engine from 240... Virtually *free* drive train. Didn't make financial or logical sense to shell out the money to put in a new rotatoe. I wouldn't mind a Turbo II FC rotary though... Someday maybe.
Made it from fiberglass and flocked it. Process is in my build thread.
The problem with this is the FD is too much of a track car, and I'm just past trying to daily a track car. I did that for too long to want to keep doing it. Not to mention it'd kill me if someone let a shopping cart crash into it... or if anything happened to it. Just not worth the risk.
I wanted a turbo daily because I missed turbo noises, so I went down the Miata path. Got hooked and bought another one... Then the sweet deal for WRX popped up. So I got a turbo daily now, which makes this white turbo Miata kind of nil for my needs.
But I got to finish it because I like a good project and will try and sell afterwards. If not successful in selling, it seems to be a great track car candidate, much cheaper for brakes etc... than the FD.
Besides, cruising with the top down in good weather WITH turbo noises is hard to beat.
FD for fast times, Miata for great times.
Made it from fiberglass and flocked it. Process is in my build thread.
I wanted a turbo daily because I missed turbo noises, so I went down the Miata path. Got hooked and bought another one... Then the sweet deal for WRX popped up. So I got a turbo daily now, which makes this white turbo Miata kind of nil for my needs.
But I got to finish it because I like a good project and will try and sell afterwards. If not successful in selling, it seems to be a great track car candidate, much cheaper for brakes etc... than the FD.
Besides, cruising with the top down in good weather WITH turbo noises is hard to beat.
FD for fast times, Miata for great times.
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08-23-2014, 03:15 AM
#32
Decided to take a break from the blue Miata and do a little something for the white one.
First, some slightly older pics of hot side piping and the IAT/bung welded onto the cold pipe.
I used LS1 coil packs with my Haltech E8 on an SR20 about 6 years ago... and made a bracket similar to this to mount them. I figured I would stick to the same rough design since I never had any problems with it in the SR. If only I still remembered what spark plug wires I had gotten...
So I fabbed up the LS1 coilpack bracket out of some scrap I had. Spent $8 at TSC to get nylon spacers and a little bit of all thread with some matching nylon lock nuts.
On the parts of the all-thread that you can see on the outside of the coilpacks but inside the bracket, I will put 4 pieces of rubber hose that will compress to keep everything tight for final assemble, so don't mind the gap.
Rough install.
Here it is painted. I will do the final assembly tomorrow and post pictures of it, then I can figure out/measure for spark plug wires.
First, some slightly older pics of hot side piping and the IAT/bung welded onto the cold pipe.
I used LS1 coil packs with my Haltech E8 on an SR20 about 6 years ago... and made a bracket similar to this to mount them. I figured I would stick to the same rough design since I never had any problems with it in the SR. If only I still remembered what spark plug wires I had gotten...
So I fabbed up the LS1 coilpack bracket out of some scrap I had. Spent $8 at TSC to get nylon spacers and a little bit of all thread with some matching nylon lock nuts.
On the parts of the all-thread that you can see on the outside of the coilpacks but inside the bracket, I will put 4 pieces of rubber hose that will compress to keep everything tight for final assemble, so don't mind the gap.
Rough install.
Here it is painted. I will do the final assembly tomorrow and post pictures of it, then I can figure out/measure for spark plug wires.
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08-23-2014, 03:08 PM
#34
Hmmm I guess I wasn't aware there was a traditional location...
I have been doing some google searches and I can't really find any pics of them over the intake. I see FM has a big spark kit, but it almost looks like it mounts in the OEM location.
Searching on the forums too but am failing pretty hard at finding some pics.
I can always change the bracket fairly easy if this doesn't work out for some reason.
*Edit*
Finnally found a pic of over the intake, and those are truck coils which I do not have spares of.
Just found this thread https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-pe...70/#post723432
Near the bottom of the page... He said he wishes he would have put them on the front of the valve cover. So I think I will just run with it for now.
I have been doing some google searches and I can't really find any pics of them over the intake. I see FM has a big spark kit, but it almost looks like it mounts in the OEM location.
Searching on the forums too but am failing pretty hard at finding some pics.
I can always change the bracket fairly easy if this doesn't work out for some reason.
*Edit*
Finnally found a pic of over the intake, and those are truck coils which I do not have spares of.
Just found this thread https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-pe...70/#post723432
Near the bottom of the page... He said he wishes he would have put them on the front of the valve cover. So I think I will just run with it for now.
Last edited by carbon; 08-23-2014 at 03:15 PM. Reason: New information
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08-24-2014, 01:24 AM
#36
I got big plans for it still, but don't feel like getting into it with all these other cars in the way at the moment... Because once something comes off, I want to finish the job completely before reassembling. So until I clear my platter, I am just going to let it be and keep enjoying all the racing events, and get my tinkering "fix" from the Miata's.
And here is the completed coil pack mount. Looks like I should be getting the MS3x sometime this week along with new heater hoses. Need to slap in my variable TPS. Things are moving along at a pretty good pace.
Expect big progress soon! (hopefully)
Last edited by carbon; 09-03-2014 at 07:28 PM.
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09-03-2014, 03:39 AM
#37
Making variable TPS bracket... Still haven't made spark plug wires yet. Tightened up IC piping and got it all ready. Very good clearance everywhere so I am pretty happy with it... although looking at the first pic, it might look like it doesn't have good clearance, but it would hit the wheel well before it touches the IC piping.
Not exactly sure where to place an air filter for the turbo. The LS1 coilpacks are kind of in the way for up front, and the P/S is in the way too... Need to come up with a solution. Slow steps forward.
Not exactly sure where to place an air filter for the turbo. The LS1 coilpacks are kind of in the way for up front, and the P/S is in the way too... Need to come up with a solution. Slow steps forward.
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09-03-2014, 09:44 AM
#38
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Making variable TPS bracket... Still haven't made spark plug wires yet. Tightened up IC piping and got it all ready. Very good clearance everywhere so I am pretty happy with it... although looking at the first pic, it might look like it doesn't have good clearance, but it would hit the wheel well before it touches the IC piping.
Not exactly sure where to place an air filter for the turbo. The LS1 coilpacks are kind of in the way for up front, and the P/S is in the way too... Need to come up with a solution. Slow steps forward.
Not exactly sure where to place an air filter for the turbo. The LS1 coilpacks are kind of in the way for up front, and the P/S is in the way too... Need to come up with a solution. Slow steps forward.
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09-05-2014, 06:20 AM
#39
I tried with an aftermarket air filter off a WRX, but it is too large to fit anywhere. I am going to have to get a smaller filter... It MIGHT work behind headlight. If not there, then under the coilpacks/behind rad fans?
Doing some wiring for sequential setup on MS3X, trying to fact check a few things before I complete harness.
Stripped LS coilpack harness and hacked up Miata fuel injector harness.
Making 8 pin connector for injector harness to replace the OEM 6 pin connector. #5 is the white/red wire that all the injectors connect to. That is NOT the ground right? And do I have the INJ A,B,C,D setup correctly for sequential on MS3X?
Going off of a few things I have read around here, but would rather not have any mistakes.
Doing some wiring for sequential setup on MS3X, trying to fact check a few things before I complete harness.
Stripped LS coilpack harness and hacked up Miata fuel injector harness.
Making 8 pin connector for injector harness to replace the OEM 6 pin connector. #5 is the white/red wire that all the injectors connect to. That is NOT the ground right? And do I have the INJ A,B,C,D setup correctly for sequential on MS3X?
Going off of a few things I have read around here, but would rather not have any mistakes.
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