So then I added this
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398302453

and this
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398302453

To make this.....
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398302453

I hope to use this as Det Cans for the next dyno session. While she was in the shop for repairs I went ahead and installed one of my flat tops and the Skunks2 TB. I also did a mod for a real oil pressure gauge. I also fixed a problem with the nuts holding the turbo to the manifold. I guess I need to just go ahead and let the pictures tell their story.....

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398302453

I first tried the Stage8 hardware but it didn't fit with the EFR. So I tried these crushed nuts. They kept backing off so I used a cold chisel and a hammer to make them more crushered. These bastards are TIGHT like a ten year old and I don't believe they will come off.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398304223

Here you can see the leak caused by the loose nuts warped my flange
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398304223

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398304223

And after a few minutes on my belt sander
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398304223

A center punch and a slow/steady hand with a drill yielded me this
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398304223

After I installed the super duper crushed nuts I went ahead and topped them with jamb nuts
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398304223

Not sure if Leafy is full of crap or not, I figure it can't hurt to take measures to ensure my expensive ass head doesn't eat any screws. But I wasn't sold on removing the bolts so I "staked" them. I used a deep socket to support the TB butterfly shaft on the back side, I used a punch to deform the threads on both the shaft and the bolt. This should prevent vibration from causing the bolts to come loose.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398304223
Close up
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398304223

Moving to the inside I wanted a real oil pressure gauge. I have a Maxigauge on it's way but I like the idea of a factory gauge working as well. The following will half ass document what I did to make an early NA oil pressure gauge work in the NB cluster.

First I used the NB clear gauge backing. The nubs shown here had to be removed with a Dremel because the shaft on the gauge that the needle pointer thingy slides onto wasn't long enough.....that's right, my shaft was too short. I also had to use a drill and "mill" the screw holes so they were oval because the distance between centers was different from NA to NB. Have a look see.....

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120

This shows the difference in spacing from one gauge to the other
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120


The two gauges are really different and I had to make chit work. Look at the two gauges side by side
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120


I used the stand offs from the NA gauge to make nuts. I cut the stand offs with a Dremel.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120

I made up some short leads to connect the electrical connections from the NA guage tot he NB cluster.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120

I look smart right about now right?

WRONG! The connectors were too big and the gauge didn't fit into the cluster deep enough to install the face benzel. I used these.....
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120

So I had to remove one of the connectors from the leads and fish the wires through the wholes. Then I soldered them to the board in the appropriate places.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398305120

Did you ever get this car together?

Yes, and he re-dyno'd it too ;)
I'll let him post the graph tho

I had the knock control set to aggressive retard and have no idea what it was doing because I like gay porn. I am taking heterosexual vitamins now and hope to dyno again soon. I also think my manifold was hurting my top end power potential so I will be building a new manifold this weekend....
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1405709253

So I plan to pull the engine this weekend (assuming I complete the two engine swaps currently in the garage) to install new FM2 clutch. I want to vent the block to aid in oil return. If I pull hard through the gears I notice my oil pressure starts to twitch as I enter fifth. I believe all my oil is stuck in the head trying to get back to the pan but internal engine pressure is trying to go the opposite direction through the two small oil return drains. I have searched but couldn't find anything, I know I have read about this. I think Leafy may have done it? My block is a 94.
Thoughts?
Can I get by with simply adding a -AN fitting to the oil pan above the oil level?

I need to retest the weekend. I think when I said the block hole was a bad idea I was being premature because I still filled the catch can nearly instantly with only the port from the head. Tomorrow I'm going to connect my line that was in the oil return port at the back of the block to see if that sucks a shitload of oil out or not. If it doesnt then drilling right near the BP cast into the block above the starter is a go. If it doesnt you should drill the boss behind the alternator that Bundy used.

I don't understand this Leafy.....
My thoughts were to drill the block in an area that was simply shell casing. Are people drilling in other areas? I don't have any oil exiting my valve cover. I could probably get by with a -AN fitting in the top of the oil pan.

post a log of that dyno pull

Didn't log.... I fail

There's two spots where you can drill the block. The spot behind the alternator is where certain factory race cars had a crank case vent. Its a boss in the casting that is all ready to be drilled and tapped. But you heed to switch to an alternator bolt that goes in the 1.6 direction (head of the bolt facing front) for it to work, or you have to remove the line in order to pull the alternator. The other spot is where two of us have drilled it so far and thats into the big cast drain route where the oil drains back from the head.

I started passing a shitload of oil through the valve cover vent after I did the bore out mod on the baffle, thats where you drill the hole between the two baffles up to like 1/4" from some tiny size.

why does it matter where you drill the hole?

That factory boss is just open to the crank case. just drill and weld a fitting to the block wherever you want that doesn't have some kind of passage in the way.

Well I mean it matters because we dont live in a frictionless perfect vacuum. And picking the spot where you pull from can effect how much oil you pull out and how well it works for venting the pressure.

Aren't you experiencing a ton of problems with a drilled block Leafy?

Why would you recommend to someone else what utterly failed for you?

I thought I was having problem at the specific spot I drilled the block. But I'm not sure anymore. Since I was still gushing oil when I plugged it up. Tomorrow I'm going to plug it back into the AOS and see what happens on sunday. And at worst. We know Bundy's spot behind the alternator works.

This is obviously old news (I'm catching up on your build) but on higher output builds I'll radius those edges. The rounded edges are less likely to create hot spots because it removes the sharp edge. Think of the sharp corners as thinner areas of the metal, they are more susceptible to heat.

I did break the sharp edge, but just barely. The nick came out completely when the head was broached. Thanks for the advice!

Can confirm, hole in the side of the block by the BP cast mark is a nopenopenopenopenopenpoenpoenope on a car that can turn. Copy bundy.