dwink's 1999 Turbo Build Thread
 

Ok- Here is my first ever build thread!

The subject? A White 1999 with the Leather package (Torsen, PS, AC) and a matching hardtop.

123K Miles, original owner had overheated the car, prior owner replaced the head gasket and checked the engine over, all is well.

New Tan Robbins top
Jackson Racing M45
Track Dog belt kit
Large Mishimoto radiator
FM frame rails and butterfly brace
FM V-Maxx Coilovers
FM Mazdaspeed front sway
Hard Dog double diagonal
Driver and passenger 5 and 4 point belts
2001 Exhaust manifold
Catback
Slotted Rotors
Hawk HP's
Stainless lines
Timing belt and water pump are fresh
New RE11's

I thought I might keep the JR at first, but it just didn't suit me. I built a 1992 1.6 with a BEGI kit back in '07- and I always have missed her. Anyway, the parts started collecing...

MS2E from Reverent
ID 725cc Injectors
Most of a used BEGI S4 from 18PSI. It has a 2860 RS
Enthuzacar 3" (including the metallic cat) from the downpipe
FM Happy Meal
Retrofitted some HID projectors into the stock lights (and blacked them out)
FM A Pillar replacement with 2 pods (boost and a MTX-L)

I am sure I am missing some stuff. Thus far, I have installed the lights.

I have the original pictures here, plus a new one of the headlights. Hang on for the ride!!

More Pics

And the last...

Well sorted car, this one.

Can't wait to see it boosted. Bring it down, we'll race :)

The black jeep is my "other" car, just in case I screw something up! It's weird to drive them back to back. I guess I have identity issues.

Looking good so far. Hope the build goes well. +1 for white.

I've got a 99 Wrangler as a back up to my two Miatas. Its like night and day to drive back to back. Both being 5spd with very different clutch engagement and the jeep seems to have two feet of shifter throw even though its pretty short compaired to stock.

Hey- stupid question (my specialty), but as I am posting updates, how do I make the attached images appear inside of the message versus at the bottom. For example, if I wanted to show a picture of my manifold here _______ versus a thumb at the bottom?

I am not the sharpest tool in the shed with this stuff. I also don't know the easiest way to resize, I am taking the picture, downloading it, then emailing it to myself so it is small enough to save to MT.net. Is that the easiest way?

you click on the thumb at the bottom, open it so its big, right click, copy image url or location, then hit the little "picture" button on the top of the post editor, and paste url into the newly made "img" tags

[IMG] your image here[/IMG]

hopefully that's not too confusing. its actually ridiculously easy

Hey Dan! Welcome! I felt compelled to make a "small world" post, since I've spent more time working on the blue car than my own. Scott was a fool for not buying it from you complete...

Holy cow!! What's the story with my old car?? I miss her.

I don't know what parts were from you and which ones Scott bought to put it back together, but it was never the same after. He ran it for a year (maybe two?) with constant problems that didn't seem like major issues, but didn't really get fixed. It didn't handle right, and was inconsistent. The steering effort was too high. it had idle issues. He had a slow to build boost followed by overboosting in high gears problem that was not resolved and he decided the turbo was blown. a good dozen other things like that.

Then he got on a Dave Ramsey kick and started selling parts off it to pay down debt or whatever. It has been on jackstands for years. He sold parts that he thought he would upgrade when he gets out of debt, and kept parts that would cost him more to replace later.

I borrowed the downpipe from him and had the same problem with slow to build boost and overboosting. Turns out the port shroud on the divorced dp was fouling the wastegate flapper, stopping it from seating closed all the way, but also stopping it from opening all the way, and sometimes sticking open. Fixed it with a hammer in a few seconds :D I agreed to trade sport koni's plus cash for his race koni's and the labor to swap them. Found one damper with a completely blown out top seal, and wonky damping.

Really, he had a lot of bad luck combined with not a lot of good troubleshooting. He updates his sig line every year pushing the "back on the road date" back a year. The good news is the body isn't rusting too fast, sitting in garage up on jackstands.

Picked up a pair of Elise seats (05) today- from a BRG car- so they match my interior. 600 shipped to my door.

Also picked up a pair of flipside customs mounts and a foam kit from Kemmler (55 dollars) to make them nicer than the newer probax seats (so the Elise guys say).

I also dropped forty bucks per seat on a set of sector111 grommets so I can use my harnesses at the track.

I will post pics when I get them. I do know the leather has a couple of grease stains- so any advice on cleaning leather is welcomed!

elise seats for 6 bills? WOW that is a steal

nice, those elise seats are sweet. Good find.

And yet at the same time a rip off. The manufacture rotomolding them for lotus could be selling them retail for $50 each and still make a decent profit (until the low price started making people think they are junk).

How is it a ripoff when someone *could* be selling them for cheap, but aren't? That doesn't make any sense.

A 44 ounce coke costs McDonald's less than 10 cents each. Does it make it a ripoff that they sell them for $1? No, because nobody is selling them for 20 cents.

I'm familiar with basic economics, and not debating that. I was just saying that the mystique of coming out of a Lotus accounts for the price, not the product (not that they are bad seats, they are really light, reasonably comfy for what they are, stiff enough with a back brace, look nice, and so on). They are much less expensive to make than an FRP or even bent/welded sheet aluminum seat, for example.

Sorry Dan, carry on :D

NP!

The foam I bought to reinforce the seats cost 80 bucks alone! The leather covers are a few hundred each too. I don't see how a British leather skinned seat could be manufactured for under a couple hundred each!

how much have you spend in total?

On the seats? 600 plus 80.