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Aidan's loose oily bunghole actually runs a track lap

THE REAL FUN STARTS HERE: https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...6/#post1351579

Picked up my 1990 a while ago but just bought a turbo so I have finally committed to spending some more time on this forum. Its going to be a while before I get it in but I wanted to start this to have a place to keep track of my work and get some comments/hate/advice on my build. I'm still learning as I go so be sure to be as critical as you want, I won't mind. The meaner you are the more I learn.

Story Time:

This all started in march when I had finished most of the projects I wanted to do on my truck that were in my budget and time frame. I started getting bored and decided I wanted a new project. It needed to be cheap, relatively good mileage (compared to my trucks 6mpg in town), and fun to drive. I started searching around and looked at MR2's and some Nissans before I realized that a Miata was what I needed. I started searching on CL and came upon one that I liked. The paint was beat up but it seemed mechanically fine and had 160k on it. Talked the guy down to 1800 and had my dad pick it up for me the next day. After some BS with the title and searching for some previous lein holders I got it all sorted out and began working on it.

Here are some pictures from the day it came home:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407295945
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407295945
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407295945
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407295945

Before I even started researching I picked up a set of 100 dollar bucket seats off CL and promptly mounted them sky high on the stock sliders. Farther along you will see where I go back and remount them but they did add much needed support.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407296264
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407296264
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Next step was to remove this so called "lip" and replace it with a GV style front lip from Ebay

http://oi57.tinypic.com/2guy0ec.jpg

Before:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

After:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Exhaust
I got lucky and scored a broken Corksport Drift Exhaust on CL. It is a little loud and ricey for my liking but it was 30 dollars plus some TIG time at my friends and that's hard to beat.

Excuse the shit welding, first time TIG and I haven't gotten much better since.

First fix:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Second attempt (about 2 months later):
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Since the last one it has once again cracked, I need to grind it down some more and use a bit more filler I believe.

Rollbar
A rollbar was one of my first purchases, and I did almost no research on it. First mistake. I bought a Hard Dog Ace. Nothing fundamentally wrong with the Ace, but it was too low, too skinny and just not what I wanted. Either way I installed it and ran it for a couple months.

Pictures:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Well get back to me hating the look of the Ace later when I waste more money on fixing it.

Right around then I also plasti dipped the wheels gold. It turned out a little more bronze but I ended up liking that more and what has led to my current wheels (which you will see shortly)

PlastiDip:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Suspension
Take one:

First day I had it I looked on CL and found some flyin miata lowering springs for sale. I immediately jumped on them and went over to the guys house. He was a great guy and I still get advice from him all the time. I actually just bought my turbo from him. But he and I both failed to realize that he had NB FM springs, not NA. After attempting to install them and actually having to cut off a shock because of corrosion (I replaced it with bilstein HD's) the car sat higher than before. WTF?

It rode great but I hated how it looked. You can kind of tell in this picture.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Take 2:
I decided to go with ebay coilover sleeves, on top of bilstein HD's. When I first put them on it sat low and rode like crap. Cut springs civic style. But this was because of my NA top hats and having no shock travel. So I bit the bullet and bought some ISC racing top hats. Mother of god they made a difference. The car rides perfect right now. In the future I see some summit racing springs and new sway bars but I am happy with the ride and the height for now. I started way to low and have brought it up to a level I am happy with.

Here are some pictures:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

And some with my truck:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

And one of just my truck:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

Right around that time a torsen came up on CL. No axles or DS, but the price was right and the guy said he would deliver. I picked up some axles and DS at a local junkyard for less than 100 and did the swap in a weekend.

Torsen Swap:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

Wheels and Tires

Lets start off with I hate wheels and tires. Too expensive, too many options.
I decided I wanted to run used slicks on the track, and cheap tires on the street. Got these spec miata toyos for 100 a set, and from the same guy a set of Team Dynamic 15x7 for 400. Which was a steal for being brand new.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

For the street I really wanted bronze flat-outs but they were out of production. And konig told me they wouldn't be making a Dial-in 15x8 in bronze. So instead I bought the 15x8 in grey with free shipping from good-win and had it powder coated bronze. I have a guy near me that will do 4 wheels for 100 so it was a really good deal. I am picking them up on Friday and will have more then.

Here are some pictures of the Dial-in's before I had them powder coated:

http://i61.tinypic.com/1z1z1ua.jpg

http://i59.tinypic.com/2rrnfc4.jpg

And the tires:

205/50r15 Hankook V2 Concepts

http://i58.tinypic.com/iy28et.jpg

I also got a Cloth top from a 2006 and put it on to fix my ripped vinyl top. I love the cloth top and it was only 350 dollars with a frame which saved me so much effort over a robbins top.

http://i62.tinypic.com/o91e9u.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/5p0tnc.jpg

http://i62.tinypic.com/4ki60y.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/ndvb6o.jpg

After cleaning with 303 fabric top care (which worked amazingly after I followed this guys instructions and didn't have to mask anything.)

http://i61.tinypic.com/16krtbl.jpg

Also this is what old ass tires with too much camber look like after too many burnouts.

http://i57.tinypic.com/xf4y6f.jpg

Next I installed a NRG quick release that I got from a friend (install thread here)

http://i58.tinypic.com/2m6narp.jpg

After a few months I got tired of looking at my bad decision and being pissed at myself all the time I bit the bullet and bought a Hard Dog Hardcore M2. Its what I should have gotten in the first place and I love it. On another note, I have a Hard Dog Ace for sale in Portland if anyone needs one.

Pictures of the M2 installed:

http://i60.tinypic.com/2wrhoxy.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/t5n98g.jpg

http://i60.tinypic.com/52djew.jpg

Also got this deal on a 6 point harness:

http://i60.tinypic.com/16aa7hk.jpg

And how I carry my kayak on my miata:

http://i57.tinypic.com/2my599j.jpg

Then my gf backed into the bumper with her jeep, oh well the paint is shit anyways:

http://i60.tinypic.com/118lz7c.jpg

And that kind of brings me up to where I am with it right now. I am putting together a shopping list and plan to get the MegaSquirt in December and move on from there. Any advice is always appreciated.

I will update it as I find pictures and have time to write more out.

Wheels and Tires!!

Just got these pictures from my powder coater:

http://i62.tinypic.com/xqkxhk.jpg

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433687

Ill update tomorrow when I pick them up.

Well against my better judgement I pulled the trigger on a bunch of new parts. I had them all shipped to my house at school and I just got back so it was like christmas morning.

This should also help me keep track of actual spent.

Pile of parts:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411225287

RX-8 fuel injectors ($60):

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411225287

Toyota COPs and Pigtails ($110):

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411225287

Power steering Plugs:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411225287

BMW TPS ($35):

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411225287

ECU Connector from TE Electronics (Free sample):

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411225287

Innovate LC-2 + gauge from Amazon ($165):

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411225287

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411225287

Looks good, but not a fan of powdercoating cast aluminum wheels. Any idea what temp your powdercoater operates at?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgeoffriau (Post 1168835)

Looks good, but not a fan of powdercoating cast aluminum wheels. Any idea what temp your powdercoater operates at?

Hmm didn't think about that. He seemed to know his stuff though and did an amazing job.

On another note ms3x just came in. Pictures shortly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aidandj (Post 1168840)

Hmm didn't think about that. He seemed to know his stuff though and did an amazing job.

On another note ms3x just came in. Pictures shortly.

If he uses the low temp stuff (around 250 F) you're fine.

If he uses the regular stuff at the low end of the temp range (375ish), you're probably fine.

If he uses the regular stuff at the high end of the range (400+) or has a poorly calibrated oven and doesn't realize he's above 400, your wheels might be somewhat more brittle than before.

Good thing you have track wheels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgeoffriau (Post 1168841)

I'll stop by this week and see what he says.

MS3!!

I'll be building it off of Frank Westfield (and Braineak's) guide. Frank's guide has been up and down and we all know Brain has too much to do so I will be carefully documenting the build and taking lots of pictures. A full writeup will go in the megasquirt section.

Pictures:

Everything:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411234135

MS3:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411234135

MS3x:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411234135

Bundle of components:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411234135

Mainboard and Case:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411234135

Total: $520 with shipping

Seems like you're off to a pretty good start. Welcome to the forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbofan (Post 1168847)

Seems like you're off to a pretty good start. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks, I saw you're from Portland. I just went back to school but I was born and raised in Portland. Wouldn't mind checking out your build sometime when I'm back.

And I totally forgot! New clutch!

Thanks to greddygalant I got a new FM Stage 1 clutch.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1411234403

Didn't know how used it was so I called FM to get their new clutch specs. This one is actually thicker than what they say their new one is so I'm stoked.

Very nice. I take it you're at OSU?

Greddygalant (martin) and the other Portland miata peeps are awesomesauce. Get boost and join us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbofan (Post 1168850)

Very nice. I take it you're at OSU?

Greddygalant (martin) and the other Portland miata peeps are awesomesauce. Get boost and join us.

Yeah, senior in electrical engineering. I should be back in Portland next summer with a real job so it will be fun.

Nice, sounds like fun!

I like to see you're not afraid of trying things. Plus i like the fact that you went from building a custom ford pickup(which i really like) to a miata. :party:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erat (Post 1170484)

I like to see you're not afraid of trying things. Plus i like the fact that you went from building a custom ford pickup(which i really like) to a miata. :party:

Building this has really started to make me consider doing efi on that truck. Never heard of a megasquirt on the engine in it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aidandj (Post 1170485)

Building this has really started to make me consider doing efi on that truck. Never heard of a megasquirt on the engine in it.

Lol, build that MS and tune the miata to the point where it's better than the factory ECU and rethink that last statement.

Anybody know about the LEDs on MS3, Franks writeup doesn't say anything about them. Do I need anything else or just the leds. It looks like Q6, Q7, and Q8 share traces with them.

Anyone know where I can get an extra DB37 plug?

Quote:

Originally Posted by aidandj (Post 1170595)

Anyone know where I can get an extra DB37 plug?

I bought mine off ebay back in may, from the US (so came the same week).

Attachment 238851

Well its 130 in the morning and I should have gone to bed half an hour ago. I plugged it in and tried to get it up and running and nothing. I get it to show up and an FTDI device but it can't be detected by windows or osx. I'm stumped. Hopefully someone can spot what I did wrong? And hopefully I didn't destroy anything.

Props on the kayaks. I've always wanted to do the same thing with a long-ass canoe.

Got some sleep and went back to the lab today. When hooked up to a test bench supply I can connect and flash firmware just fine. But in my car I can't.

Ok I'm stumped. It worked on the bench but now it won't work installed in my car. Any ideas?

I get 12v at power and ground. And it shows up in my devices. But tuner studio can't connect to it

So everything was going great:

maybe a bit rich. But then this happened...

Attachment 238848

Smoke everywhere and the wire burnt up. Its too late and it pissed me off so I am going to bed. Any ideas why this happened? The engine continued running while this happened. I have they flyback diodes wired in there.

It seems to be the 12v power wire that burnt up.

Got it running again. Sounds like

Something is up. Last time I had it running it didn't sound like that.

Success!!!!!!! It is running and driving. Thanks everyone who helped. I'm sure I will have more questions but for now check it out:

Nice work getting it running. I like where this thread is headed.

For anyone that runs into problems that I had. Where it worked on the bench not in the car. I fixed mine because my TPS wasn't pulled. My 1990 non variable TPS was shorting out VREF and messing everything up. I had read to pull it but it didn't seem important until I checked the schematic and realized it was connected to VREF. Unplugged the TPS and it started right up.

Here are my tables. Anyone have input on them? They are pulled from one of Brain's MS3 maps.

Ignition:

http://i62.tinypic.com/nn9v0k.jpg

Fuel:

http://i61.tinypic.com/2qdbhns.jpg

AFR:

http://i59.tinypic.com/ekiwew.jpg

Once again my problem stems from my failures, not the failures of the components.

Somehow I missed this when I was putting it together. Fan output shorted straight to ground...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1412106593

Thanks to jrmotorsports55 I have a nice gently used Fidanza Flywheel to go with my clutch.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1412185797

Props to you for building your MS3.

All of the problems you've run into are why I just bit the bullet and bought from Rev. I don't have the time or patience to trouble shoot all those little issues.

Nice work

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efini~FC3S (Post 1172614)

I'm at school to be an electrical engineer, with access to a full lab and everything I needed. I couldn't bring myself to pay someone to build it for me. Looking back it was all just stupid mistakes I wouldn't make again.

Onto some updates.

Removed power steering and AC:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1412359370

As my friend put it, its just begging to have a turbo shoved in its hole now.

Kinda funny because I originally decided on the MS3+MS3x because it could handle AC so well. Then I found out no one would deal with R12 and I didn't care about AC as much as I thought I did so now its gone.

Update:

This happened to me :(

https://www.miataturbo.net/media-53/...0/

Just stupid driving. All my fault. I learned my lesson.

Added to the list is harness for passenger and hans for me.

Also am picking up a new 1.6 from greddygalant. It came out of Laz and should be a decent engine. Mine has horrible pulley wobble and not sure how much longer it will last.

Started gathering parts for an engine swap/winter projects.

These are the projects that I'm hoping to tackle. Some of them have well thought out plans, some of them I'm hoping for input on.

Been doing some planning and shopping. Got an internship that lasts through the school year and includes access to a machine shop when I come home on the weekends so I've been putting together a list of projects. Could use some input from the local guys.

Drivetrain:
1.6 from greddygalant
Mazda Motor Mounts (Have)
FM Clutch (Have)
Fidanza Flywheel (Have)
Shifter Rebuild (Have)
Delrin diff mounts? (Planning on making)
Toyota Cops (Have, need bracket/wiring)
RX-8 injectors (Have, need bracket/wiring)
Coolant reroute (Have jackson racing spacer, need to tap/turn)
Flip mixing manifold
Build turbo manifold/downpipe
Rebuild turbo
Tap pan while engine is out

Safety:
Passenger harness
Hans+helmet
Maybe new seats (Looking at aluminum seats most likely because of price)

Any suggestions on parts/other things to add to this list?

Injectors don't need brackets/wiring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by curly (Post 1174432)

Injectors don't need brackets/wiring.

Need wiring for sequential, no brackets though that's a typo.

Small Update, parts coming in:

Thanks to 949Racing for the motor mounts

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413220166

Jackson Racing Spacer from Moss Miata (going to machine, drill and tap into a coolant spacer)

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413220166

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413220166

Also thanks to Moss Miata for the shifter rebuild kit

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413220166

And lastly, thanks to greddygalant for the sweet new (to me) 1.6

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413220166

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413220166

Also pictured is the stick of acetal I picked up to make some differential mounts out of.

Jeffbucc also came through with a crank pulley (curly borrowed the one off this engine)

Plans for the engine are to replace the rear main seal, then pull the oil pan to clean it and also drill and tap it.

I also just placed an order at easterbeaver.com for some 8 and 10 pin connectors. I will use these to add sequential injection and spark to the new engine.

http://i62.tinypic.com/b3v6ts.jpg

Spent some time with my calipers today.

Marked up where I was going to drill/tap the spacer.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413253171

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413253171

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413253171

Made sure to put the temp sensor on the flat part of the spacer because it seals with an aluminum washer, not the threads.

Also took more measurements for the diff mounts

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413253171

Spent some more time working today.

Got rid of the front waterneck, replacing it with a Trackspeed engineering blockoff plate.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413323628

Also got my injectors back from RC.

Miataturbo discount:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413323628

Got them to within 1cc/min of each other:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413323628

Came packaged very nicely:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413323628

Also got some work done on my COPs harness. I have a trigger wire for each cop so that I can run sequential ignition.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413323628

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413323628

Looks good. I think I already see some cleaning of Laz's old 1.6. It's going to be weird seeing it in another car.

Don't forget to ignore your suspension and tires. Last I remember you needed softer rear springs and a decent street/track capable tire.

Quote:

Originally Posted by curly (Post 1175508)

I think a set of qa1 springs are on the list. I might just run my current all seasons next season.

Curly can I borrow your drill bit and tap one of these weekends. Is it a 3/8 npt? Because I need that for the spacer and the oil pan.

So weird seeing that motor not in Laz's engine bay or in my garage :( almost brings a tear to my eyes. 123whp of 1.6 fury.

Quote:

Originally Posted by greddygalant (Post 1175523)

So weird seeing that motor not in Laz's engine bay or in my garage :( almost brings a tear to my eyes. 123whp of 1.6 fury.

I'll make sure to take good care of it :). You will still see it around. Sometimes you have to let the kids move on lol.

Got the trackspeed engineering blockoff plate installed today:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413581285

And I also picked this thing up....for 50$!

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413581285

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413581285

Not totally sure on the info but it seems to be a 80 gallon 5hp compressor, worked last week when it was taken out of service. It weighs about 500lbs and is currently still in the back of my truck, no idea how I am going to get it out.

Finished up my COP harness today. Still missing the plugs from easter beaver to wire it up to the car but otherwise it is together. The plan is to replace the ignitor plug with a 10 pin sumitomo plug and wire it sequential back to the ECU.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413602589

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413602589

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413602589

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413602589

Update: Got the rear main seal installed today along with my fidanza flywheel and FM clutch.

Thanks to BTMiata for letting me borrow his rear main seal tool, and greddygalant for the clutch.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413689782

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413689782

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413689782

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1413689782

Also got the compressor running today. Had to go to home depot and get a plug to match my dryer plug. I think I'm going to change the oil and belts on the compressor before I use it though. Its pretty beat up.

Looking for opinions on different painting options. I'm getting new fenders and the hood, trunk, and bumper paint has seen better days. Trying to figure out my best option for a new paint job over the winter. I'm considering 3 options.

1. Brightside Roll-on paint job.

http://honda-tech.com/paint-body-84/my-$50-more-like-$452-63-paint-job-writeup-thread-tons-pictures-1857355/

Pros: Cheap...really cheap
Cons: Some people say it looks dull and never will shine up. Others say that by using the Yacht paint instead of Rustoleum it works.

2. Use a real paint gun and set up a booth in my garage.

Pros: Probably a better paint job
Cons: More expensive, more work.

3. Get some sort of Maaco paint job

Pros: Less work
Cons: More money.

For all options I would be doing all the sanding and prep work.

Anybody have opinions on these? What would you go with?