Noob from PA
09-06-2011, 04:06 PM
#1
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Noob from PA
Just thought I'd introduce myself. I'm Patrick, going to college for mechanical engineering, and recently completed/am working the kinks out of a 9 month turbo build.
Why so long? Because I am an idiot, and took a several month hiatus from the project. I took a welding class at a community college my senior year of high school. The instructor was a great guy and said it'd be more fun to make the parts (manifold and down pipe) than buy them. He's also a machinist and gave me complete use of his shop/tools.
Mistake #1 Knowing I made the parts gives me huge satisfaction, but took forever because it was my daily driver.
#2 Trying to turbo a daily driver....I spent about a month and a half without my car at one point..
#3 If you don't know what you're doing getting parts can be extremely difficult...I visited a hose shop, several times a week during this project.
#4 Bandaids...everyone hates them, now, I know why. Luckly I picked mine up second hand relatively cheap. I was worried about inspection but, again the idiot in me, forgot my buddy works at a dealer garage and has gti that hasn't been legal for at least 5 years...
So as it sits I have an intercooled, power carded, 2001 turbo miata. Currently pumping out a whopping 4psi.
Next project is definitely going to be megasquirt + injectors. Then I have a whole list including, full exhaust, MBC, external waste gate, and hopefully a built engine and bigger turbo.
This site has been a huge help already. Especially the thread that gives an exact recipe for how to turbo a miata.
So I'll continue to lurk and try not to **** you guys off
-Patrick
Why so long? Because I am an idiot, and took a several month hiatus from the project. I took a welding class at a community college my senior year of high school. The instructor was a great guy and said it'd be more fun to make the parts (manifold and down pipe) than buy them. He's also a machinist and gave me complete use of his shop/tools.
Mistake #1 Knowing I made the parts gives me huge satisfaction, but took forever because it was my daily driver.
#2 Trying to turbo a daily driver....I spent about a month and a half without my car at one point..
#3 If you don't know what you're doing getting parts can be extremely difficult...I visited a hose shop, several times a week during this project.
#4 Bandaids...everyone hates them, now, I know why. Luckly I picked mine up second hand relatively cheap. I was worried about inspection but, again the idiot in me, forgot my buddy works at a dealer garage and has gti that hasn't been legal for at least 5 years...
So as it sits I have an intercooled, power carded, 2001 turbo miata. Currently pumping out a whopping 4psi.
Next project is definitely going to be megasquirt + injectors. Then I have a whole list including, full exhaust, MBC, external waste gate, and hopefully a built engine and bigger turbo.
This site has been a huge help already. Especially the thread that gives an exact recipe for how to turbo a miata.
So I'll continue to lurk and try not to **** you guys off
-Patrick
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09-06-2011, 05:45 PM
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Thanks for the welcomes. I'm actually from Mechanicsburg, but that is just across the river from Harrisburg. Yeah the only the thing stopping me from going MS right now is the advice of a mechanic I trust. He runs a blown ranchero, and is building a RX-7 with a swapped turbo coupe motor. He told me just to work tiny issues out before jumping into the megasquirt, and for once I'm listening
Thanks again
Thanks again
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02-14-2012, 11:16 PM
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Yup, the man himself. I appreciate the offer. I have a few months until I can start acquiring the turbo parts (I already blew this year's budget on new 6ULs and tires) so I have a feeling I will take you up on your offer. A $5000 FM kit is not in my future so it would be really interesting to see what you've got cooked up. Right now my miata is at my parents house while I look for a house to buy, but I hope to be able to start playing again very soon.
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02-14-2012, 11:28 PM
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Dude low budget is my middle name. My manifold cost all of $56 and will probably never break because it's super thick steel. Its not perfect but bang for buck..it's there. I've been messing with new designs in solid works. I just fitted a different turbo and new exhaust so we'll have to have a miata get together sometime. I was also pretty happy with my low buck N/A setup if you want some cheap ideas..you know to tide you over before the turbo
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02-14-2012, 11:52 PM
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Yes on the get together, I could use some first hand inspiration on parts. About all I know right now is sr20 and MS for engine management. Maybe ThirdGen would come down, when I first joined the forum he offered me a ride in his car and I still want to take him up on that whenever I can get my car out of captivity in the spring.
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02-15-2012, 06:18 PM
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Sweet sounds like a party. I'm in. Redcarmel one piece of advise I have is to grab up a bunch of the steel from HACC while you can. For flanges and what not. Thats how I got most of mine
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