Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats. - “Thunder”

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- - “Thunder” – a big turbo and 405rwhp (https://www.miataturbo.net/build-threads-57/%93thunder%94-%96-big-turbo-405rwhp-59306/)

“Thunder” – a big turbo and 405rwhp

I realized the other day that this car has never really had a proper build thread. This thread will be a little bit unconventional though, as the car is more or less finished and I am on the cusp of parting it out (long story short, I’ve decided I only need one turbo Miata and I’m a whole lot more emotionally attached to my green ‘95).

I bought this car in May of 2010 more or less the way it sits now. I’ve replaced a few things along the way – upgraded from MSD coils to the OEM GM LS2 truck coils, put in a new Walbro 255LPH HP fuel pump, and spent $1500 getting the car tuned at Balanced Performance.

Before anybody points out the obvious, the 6ULs weren’t intended to be the ultimate wheel solution for the car. I’ve also got a set of 16x8 ESMs with a +15 offset that filled out the flares a bit better. I was just about to order a set of custom made Spinwerks when I decided to part out the car.

Here is an overview of the build with pics:

Engine Block
Wiseco 9:1 pistons
Carillo H beam rods
ARP main studs
01+ modified main cap girdle/ MBSP
ISC Racing baffled oil pan
ISC Racing crank scraper
Nismo GTR engine mounts

Head
Integral Racing Cams - 272 degree, head clearanced for additional lift
Balanced/ bullnosed, and fully polished crank
BEGi Intake Manifold
ARP head studs
Flyin Miata stainless valves
Flyin Miata springs
ATI damper pulley
01+ oil pump, shimmed for 75psi max pressure at motor
Boundary Engineering billet oil pump gears
OEM Protege head gasket

Engine Management
Hydra Nemeis ECU v2.6

Turbo
Garrett 3071 twin scroll turbo
BEGi cast manifold
Tial 38mm wastegate
BEGi separated gases downpipe; V banded and heat wrapped
Intercooler and piping
Synapse BOV
BEGi turbo hard lines/ distribution block

Boost Control
AEM Truboost

Fuel
RC 750 injectors
Walbro 255LPH HP Fuel Pump

Ignition
GM LS2 Truck Coils
MSD Plug Wires

Exhaust
BEGi full 3"exhaust, no cats; heat wrapped to the exhaust tip

Lubrication
Accumsump 3 qt oil reservoir
Dual Earls 6"x8" oil coolers
Remote oil filter housing

Suspension
Tein Monoflex coilovers – revalved; 14kg front, 10kg rear
Racing Beat 1.25" front bar, 5/8" rear bar, end links, braces/mounts
Cobalt 3 point strut tower brace
Mazda competition bushings

Brakes
Goodwin racing big brake kit, DBA 2 piece rotors

Body
Garage vary front lip
Fender flares
Aluminum hood with vents
Hardtop with roof mounted vortex generators
PPF brace (Goodwin Racing)
FM Frame Rails and Butterfly brace

Safety
Hard Dog cage
G Force Harnesses

Cooling
Springfield Dyno radiator
Bell coolant reroute
6x8" power steering cooler

Interior
Ultra shield full containment seat
Momo steering wheel; locking quick release hub

Aero
APR GTC 200 wing
Vortex generators mounted on the roof

Gauges
Traqmate system with display
Autometer fuel pressure
Autometer oil pressure
Autometer oil temp
Autometer coolant temp
Autometer wideband O2

Transmission
Quaife gearbox – wide ratio 5 speed (new, uninstalled)
ACT Prolite flywheel
ACT Xtreme clutch, 6 puck sprung disc
Torsen with 3.9 ring gear and Mazda Comp diff bushings

Wheels/ Tires
949 Racing 6ULs – Gen 1
225/45/15 Hankook RS2s

ESM 16x8 wheels +15 offset
Toyo R888 245/45/16

Misc
Traqmate
2.3L AFFF fire suppression system
Cool shirt 12qt clubman system

Now, for some pictures:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1...0/DSC02584.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r...52520chart.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J...0/DSC02625.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...0/DSC02626.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...0/DSC02630.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4...0/DSC02601.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...0/DSC02633.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...0/DSC02640.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C...0/DSC02652.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7...0/DSC02669.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...0/DSC02636.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l...63303591_b.jpg

Holy shit! You're trying to get rid of it? Very nice. It would take the jaws of life to pry me away from something like that.

Since I saw your thread way back when you bought it I always wondered about the full breakdown on the mods to this car. Very nice indeed.

That's insanity. Do you think the ppf brace made a significant difference? And how much work was it to use those motor mounts

Very well done. What intake manifold is that?

Good Lord, I just drooled all over my keyboard! That's just freaking awesome! Thunder is an understatement.

Thanks guys - it really is an insane car. After I picked it up from getting it tuned at Balanced Performance it was f-ing scary to drive...ridiculously fast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mx5autoxer (Post 752560)

Holy shit! You're trying to get rid of it? Very nice. It would take the jaws of life to pry me away from something like that.

I thought it would take the jaws of life to pry me away, but instead all it took was an LSX swapped IS300.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrapist (Post 752562)

That's insanity. Do you think the ppf brace made a significant difference?

The car is stiff as hell, but it's hard to say how much is attributable to the PPF brace - with the cage, frame rails, etc. it's hard to isolate and I never drove the car before the PPF brace. I'll get back to you once I put the PPF brace on my 95.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdgen (Post 752563)

What intake manifold is that?

It's a BEGi. They've stopped making this version I believe - the one they sell currently looks different.

Judging from your baller town home, get some fucking Xidas on that thing.

Badass car BTW.

I remember seeing the for sale thread.

Baus

If you're totally parting out, I would really love your cams. Trust me I will put them to good use. Alternative would be a head trade--- I have the same valve train but the head is pnp'd.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hustler (Post 752602)

Judging from your baller town home, get some fucking Xidas on that thing.

Badass car BTW.

Nick's house is definitely not a townhome. :giggle:

Sucks to hear that you've made the decision to part it out, but I'm sure the 95' will get some love out of it.

I'd throw it up on eBay to see if you can get what you want for it before parting. Might be worth your effort and a lot less work than parting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doppelgänger (Post 752662)

Sucks to hear that you've made the decision to part it out, but I'm sure the 95' will get some love out of it.

Yeah man, it was a tough decision, but after a year of blood sweat and tears and never getting the car to run perfectly I'm kind of at my wit's end. You are right though - there will be plenty of upgrades for the '95 out of the whole deal.

BTW, haven't seen you in a while. Hope all is well man. I'll be at the August C&O in a few weeks if you are around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by m2cupcar (Post 752770)

I'd throw it up on eBay to see if you can get what you want for it before parting. Might be worth your effort and a lot less work than parting.

I'm all about less work, but there's two main reasons I decided against trying to sell the car whole:

- The history of other high HP Miata sales (or lack thereof) in the past year. This car, Robino's, etc all sat for weeks/ months and ended up selling for a fraction of their build cost. Did Matt Andrews' car ever sell? Tough market for highly modified Miatas.

- I'm planning to take a bunch of parts from this car for my '95. At the moment, I'm planning to take the Wilwood brakes, Traqmate, BEGi intake manifold, APR wing, oil coolers, and Accusump. I'll also swap the Tein monos for the JIC Magics on my '95.

The part out shouldn't be too much trouble - I think I already have a buyer for the head, and I'll post up in the classifieds here once I pull everything else. I'm going to see if there is any interest in the chassis as a roller: body with hardtop, vented hood, full rollcage, GV front lip, full Mazda Comp bushing set, etc. Would make a great start for a turbo build or a V8 swap.

You gave me some very good ideas, sir!

Thanks for the pics!

Does this bottom end use a MBSP? When you part it out, let me know about the bottom end! I will pay for shipping.

Matt

Quote:

Originally Posted by shlammed (Post 752813)

Does this bottom end use a MBSP? When you part it out, let me know about the bottom end! Matt

It does indeed have a MBSP - I accidentally listed that under the head in the first post, but have since moved it to the block section.

I should be pulling the motor in the next few weeks - I'll let you know once I do.

Whoa, where is the part out thread? And if you'd sell the car whole, PM me.

EDIT: Just re-read. Let me know about the chassis either way.

I was going to ask you about the reliability of your s4 manifold, but that definitely isnt an s4 manifold in the picture.

I didnt see it in this thread,

How much boost are you running to make your current power?

How much do you want for the complete car?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgmorr (Post 753789)

Whoa, where is the part out thread? And if you'd sell the car whole, PM me.

EDIT: Just re-read. Let me know about the chassis either way.

For sure man - I will let you know!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryce (Post 753795)

I was going to ask you about the reliability of your s4 manifold, but that definitely isnt an s4 manifold in the picture.

Whoops! Nice catch, you are correct. Updated original post to cast BEGi manifold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shlammed (Post 753841)

I didnt see it in this thread,

How much boost are you running to make your current power?

The dyno run posted above was at 20psi - 405rwhp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by menace (Post 753913)

How much do you want for the complete car?

Not really realistic at this point to sell the whole car - I've already started to pull off some parts for my '95, and some other folks already have dibs on parts.

No worries, thanks anyways. Looking at another one so maybe I'll snag something off you down the line.

Did you notice any improvements after installing the air tabs or were they installed the same time as other things?

This seemed a better palce to ask, rather than jack your Gearset thread, but do you have a ball park figure in mind for the rolling chasis? I would love to have this car, I spent many hours under the hood of this car for Tripper back in the day. I think it would make the perfect project for me to step back into the car world again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroboy (Post 754831)

Did you notice any improvements after installing the air tabs or were they installed the same time as other things?

What is "air tab"?

Nick, how well does the AEM truboost work? Does it hold constant boost with temperature variations? Do you have to tune PID?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler01 (Post 796818)

I do have a figure in mind for the rolling chassis. Some of it depends on the definition of "roller" - I can adjust the price accordingly depending on how much or little of the car you want. I'll PM you so we can talk more offline.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faeflora (Post 796849)

Nick, how well does the AEM truboost work? Does it hold constant boost with temperature variations? Do you have to tune PID?

I've been really happy with the Truboost. I'd recommend it to anyone running a Hydra and looking for a good EBC solution (with the primary advantage over a manual boost controller being the ability to adjust boost and interpolate between "A" and "B" settings from inside the car). For setup, all you do is adjust the duty cycle of the solenoid until you get to your boost target.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miater (Post 796848)

What is "air tab"?

http://airtab.com/main.html

They are marketed primarily to truck drivers for fuel economy, but I have some mounted on my hardtop as vortex generators:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M...0/DSC02483.JPG

Please bring this out to RA 1st wekeend of Dec, Sixshooter will be there running his car - we'll be partying it up Sat night most likely. Plus we need to talk about a SEMC? Will be a good weekend to talk to some of the other miata folk about starting a MC within Nasa.

Wow, what a complete package. I still want your tranny

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneSplicer (Post 796970)

December?!? I'm here right now! :). Running today at Road Atlanta with MVP Track Time. I'll check into that event - sounds like fun. I'd run the green car though - this one needs a new turbo (part of the reason for the upcoming part out).

I recieved your PM, but I'm still a noob on MT so I cant PM yet. Do you have have an Email? I will say that what you sent in the PM is inline with what I had in mind, and the wife didn't give me the "look" when I talked it over with her :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler01 (Post 797104)

Do you have have an Email?

Sure thing - I have nickt93 at both gmail and yahoo. Either one works.

I tried to send you a PM, but I forgot my post count here isn't high enough - been lurking too long haha.

I'm really interested in what you'd sell the harnesses for. I'd prefer black (or blue) ones, but I'm curious to see what you want for them.

Also, how much for the hardtop and lip? And can those vortex thingies on the roof be removed fairly easily?

I think you said over on tampabaymiatas that you were keeping the traqmate. Wish I could afford some of the other stuff on that car man, its really built.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmhaddad (Post 815947)

I'm really interested in what you'd sell the harnesses for. I'd prefer black (or blue) ones, but I'm curious to see what you want for them.

Also, how much for the hardtop and lip? And can those vortex thingies on the roof be removed fairly easily?

Shoot me an email - it's my username here at gmail. The passenger harness has already been sold, but the driver's is available.

I have someone interested in the roller (including the hardtop and lip) but I'll let you know if that falls through. The vortex generators are mounted with double sided tape, so they should come off fairly easily.

I'm interested in the fire bottle set up. PM me "bro price", please.

Lol I had no idea springfield dyno had their own radiator, funny I find out about them on the internet, I'll have to ask about them next time I'm in there.

If anybody wants this car, now is your chance: https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...343#post853343

$3400 for a caged, hardtop roller with lots of extras.

$4800 includes a V8 Roadsters LSX swap kit.