Fail Wagons 94 Base build
 

Hey guys, I just got my first Miata! Pretty stoked on it, its a base model with PS and AC 115k miles and I am the 3rd owner. How I got the car,

Exterior
=====
Garage Vary Rep Lip
Paint Matched hardtop (w/ headliner+defrost and pigtail)
blacked out turn signals
NRG Extended Lugs
Great Condition Soft top w/ plastic window
Riceland one piece coilovers
Rolled Fenders w. SLIGHT pull
Debadged (need to fill holes from badges)
Interior
=====
NRG Drifting Steering Wheel (i think)
Head Unit with AUX+USB
Autometer Procomp Boost Gauge
Apexi Turbo Timer
Upgraded to kenwood 6.5"s in the doors
Engine
=====
Garrett T25 (from an eclipse GSX) rebuilt 400 miles ago with genuine garrett parts
Home made turbo exhaust manifold, intercooler piping (2.5")
2.5" Turbo back exhaust with stock NB02 as well as WB02 sensors
Tial 38mm Wastegate w/ 8 Psi spring (plumbed into exhaust pipe)
Tial Super Q BOV
MAC Valves Electronic Boost Controller (not installed)
Link ECU w/ keypad, seriallink, IAT sensor and MAP sensors
Flyin' Miata Level 1 Clutch kit (rated up to 318 ft/lbs)
Ebay Front Mount Intercooler (keeps intake temps around 20*C)
KAAZ 1.5 Way Clutch Type LSD (set for 66% lock, can also be changed to 33% or 100%)
OEM Front Strut Brace from JDM Eunos Roadster

I have already ordered a bunch of parts to get the ball rolling

15x8 et25 Konig Wideopen wheels with 205/50/15 Bridgestone RE11A tires
AEM Uego WB02
New Heater core
Materials for a knock sensor
Gauge pods
Ralco Short Shifter

Just did the timing belt/ water pump and all the gaskets up front. Raised the car a full inch. Going to replace these shitty "coilovers" in the future. Need to add some sway bars as well

Hopefully will have all of this installed by the start of next week. Then I need to get some data logging going, get a boost control solenoid and start turning the boost up. Goal is 250whp. Thinking about 1 bar or maybe a little less.

Will update as I get further along.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378928728
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378928728
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378928728
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

Puppy approved
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378928728
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

dat paint

Nice to see someone un-fucking a car for once. Not sure if the link will support your fueling to 250whp though. Time for a megasquirt.

The car only has 440cc injectors, what is the general consensus on max power level for them on a 1.8? Any specific reason why the Link can't support 250whp?

Sick man. Love the white wheels and black paint.

I don't know jack about a link, but I know there were more than a few people making 240whp or so on them back in the day.

Glad to hear you picked up some wideopens, I love mine personally!

curious to the story behind you username? pics of said "fail Wagon"??

nice car btw

Ah I was thinking of the piggyback ones with stock or near-stock injectors. I think I got the link confused with the doodoo box.

Thanks, car had some good and bad parts, I'm going to get it squared away.

Paint is in great shape for being original. I got pretty lucky on this one.

Hoping to be in the range of 240-250whp. I curious what my 440cc injectors will support. Any input?

Thanks guys

In for pics of fail wagon.


Any shots of the engine bay? Looks like you're setting up for nice build.

Here are a few more shots
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378935988
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr
Intercooler piping runs through the wheel well, rubs for the last .5 turn of the wheel, hoping that the lower offset wheels will help alleviate this, I don't really want to re route the pipe as it is short and direct, might flatten it out a bit to make it more oval and gain the last .5" of clearance I need

Wastegate setup
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378935988
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

Old Sprint JR I have had around forever, thrashed and covered in dog hair but I threw it in for the time being. Low mount with no rails. I am 6'3" and 200lbs, the stock seat wasn't really cutting it

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378935988
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

Also going to watercool the turbo this weekend when I drain to coolant to do the heater core, oil cooled only at the moment. Running a turbo timer.

welcome

please tell us you won't drift this thing

Thanks! No drifting plans for me. I've been around the drift scene for a while, a good friend of mine just got his FD license. I had an S13 before the the drift fad kind of blew over for me, its cool but not for a Miata. I plan on replacing the suspension with some Koni Yellows and Ground controls and adding some swaybars and having a formidable track car for the road courses around here.

I have a pretty clean example besides some of the shitty parts the PO put on it, last thing I want to do is go bang it up and wreck it. I already raised the car an inch since I got it up to about 12.5 and 12.75 F&R, not going for the super slammed hellaflush shit.

Short IC piping is overrated. Flow is much more important. If your IC piping is rubbing, route it elsewhere.

Original paint! Wow, that is one clean car.

I always loved the sleeper look with the original wheels.

also i'd get billies over koni's any day of the week

Understood, I am going to wait and see how it is with the new wheels, if I only need to flatten in a bit then I'll do that. Air doesn't care wether it flows through round or an oval right? Being an AC and PS car there is not much room for IC piping in the usual spot. It would be a really tight fit.

Thank you! I am pretty picky about stuff like that, this car has all the hard to find items that I wanted. Just have to iron out some details with it.

I've always thought that Konis are about as good as it gets?? Are the Bilstiens hydraulic or gas? Adjustable?

lol the regular street bilsteins? they're on the lower end of the suspension spectrum.

in fact, Brain will be by shortly to tell you they are the worst shocks made for a miata lol.

You want the best?
One word:
Xida

Haha yeah I cannot justify that price on suspension. I'm trying to keep the cost down whenever possible. Just got my first career job and I am trying to buy a home at the moment as well. Konis and GC would be in my pricerange before next season though

How the hell is that original paint? Was the car kept in a sealed box?

See, this is what I was hoping for license plate boy. Every now and then, someone shows up and demonsrtrates how to un-fuck a car.

Dat paint.

Seriously, I've had a few black cars and none have been close to as shiny as that. Nice job.

Thanks, this was my first car. Long story how it got the name "Fail Wagon" 100% stock to a full wrx drivetrain and turbo conversion. I did all the work when I was 17.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378941544

this was my last DD Subaru I had a few years later
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378941544

I prefer clean and simple cars. The Miata will be no exception.

Nope, it has its fair share of swirling, scratches, little dings etc but for a 1994 it is in great shape. I'm pretty happy with it.

Thanks man. Really looking forward to getting this thing straightened up!

Really want a roll bar as well, but damnit I do not want to spend $700 on one. Car previously had a Hard dog M1 so the install will be easy atleast.

Loving the GC man!

Love what you did with that first wagon. Very clean and simple. I hope to build a clean wagon as a daily one day.

for your injector question this was pulled from Brain's DIY FAQ turbo thread:
It also includes some formula to calculate required cc.

https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo...big-post-4288/

I'd step up to 550s just to be safe so your duty cycle isn't too hight.

I thought this too but if I could go back in time I'd buy Xidas. The initial investment is high, but the resell value is ridiculous. Used Xida's only depreciate a few hundred and sell in a heart beat. As long as you aren't putting alot of miles on your miata and can keep your suspension in good shape I'd consider them. Just some food for thought.

Thanks for the link, that is a great resource. I know 550's would be much better but I'm to get as much power as I can safely the way the car sits for the time being, dont want to swap turbos, manifolds, injectors or the exhaust right now. Would rather spend that money on suspension and a roll bar. I have a buddy with an almost new borla straight through muffler similar to the magnaflows everyone runs here that he is going to give me along with a hi flow cat and resonator.

The car has the factory cat right now due to emissions and a flowmaster knock off baffle type muffler. I am going to swap the stock cat for a resonator and put the borla muffler on. Luckily I don't have to do emissions where I have the car registered. Going from the restrictive exhaust to no cat and a good muffler should make a difference in spool time and hopefully 10-15whp once it's tuned properly.

Yep.

Get koni's and sell them for at least 200 less later.
Get xidas and sell them for like 100-200 less later.

I got FM stg1 suspension simply because my #1 goal is lexus-like daily driver ride quality. I believe I achieved that. If I was doing any sort of competitive driving or wanted serious performance from my car I'd be talking to Emilio right now

Extremely lucky. There's so much I'd like to do to my car that I probably never will due to smog checks.

oh I hate you.....so jellyyyyyyyy

if I had no emissions/visual inspection here I would die of happiness

I live in the mountains, far removed from any major city. What are these things you speak of? Someone actually looks at your car, then tests it somehow to see if it is up to their code? There is only one code I follow, and that's the swanson code.

lolol

Yes, they basically sodomize your car for over an hour and pee in your cheerios every 2 years

Got a ton done yesterday
Replaced the heater core
water cooled the turbo
re did the gauges
made a knock sensor
installed my WB02
built a custom catless exhaust with a Borla muffler and Magnaflow resonator
welds aren't the best. I let my brother do a lot of it and he is still learning but it doesnt leak and you cant see if from the rear.

and I finally got my wheels and tires on!

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379274202
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379274202
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379274202
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379274202
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379274202
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr



https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379274202
Untitled by fail wagon, on Flickr

Looks awesome! Although I'm biased.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379285630

PSHHHHH...... He only wishes his was as shiny as yours....

:drool:

I think mine may be worse than yours though, and mine was just an Oklahoma car its whole life until i got it. Some farmer had it as his Sunday Cruising car, but it was kept parked outside the whole time.

Well it's been a while since I have updated this, I got a rollbar, added a harness bar with DOM tubing, removed A/C and PS, installed a new 14b turbo with 7CM housing, routed the EWG to a screamer pipe. I adapted the stock eclipse hard water lines to the car. They aren't super pretty but it keeps the rubber away from the turbo!

I kept the 2.5 stainless downpipe and built a 3" aluminized steel exhaust with 2 v bands and a magnaflow straight through muffler. It's loud.
Also ordered a brand new set of Tein Flex coilovers and some 9kg/m front springs. They will going on next weekend or the weekend after.

Here is a couple pictures. I am going to take the charge pipe off and grind the welds smooth and powdercoat it wrinkle black when I am bored some time. (I have an eastwood PC machine at home) I had to do some adapting to make the FM silicone IC hose work. Besides that I'm really happy how it came out.

The exhaust turned out really well!


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396837727

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396837727

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396837727

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396837727

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396837727

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1397152228

http://www.sct.org/Assets/Images/Sho...1.jpg?size=800

Dat Caterpillar.

Another PNW guy too. Glad you're holding onto it...clean looking car.

That's about on par with my welding skills. At least I'd take the time to grind it smooth.

I forgot that I had stainless wire in my machine, after I started I just said fuck it and kept working, I didn't have much time left. I have a powdercoat machine at home and I am going to grind it and powdercoat wrinkle black this weekend. I know it looks dumb but I wanted to make the FM silicone charge pipe work rather than trying to build one so I had to make the goofy adapter.

My welding skills are better than that. I'm not very proud of that one haha.

Update, I just ordered the 949 swaybar kit, new rotors, Carbotech XP8 pads front and rear and the wilwood brake prob valve kit from emilio. Need to get all this installed along with diff mounts next week hopefully. Going to try and make some track days in July/August. Pictures to come soon

*Not a bad way to spend $1100* carbotech xp8 front and rear are being drop shipped. Still in route.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1400813440

It's been a while since I posted, I've been super busy. I just bought a house and have a ton of projects going on. I also started my apprenticeship classes and I still have National Guard duty on some weekends. On top of all that I broke up with my girlfriend of 5 years. So now I guess I have even more time to work on the car haha :jerkit:

I got the suspension in, brakes in and had a track day at the ridge. It was 95* ambient and the car got too heatsoaked. I had a blast but I needed a way to manage the heat. I kept hitting my temp limit and had to cut all my sessions way short. I got a Trackspeed radiator and 25 row oil cooler kit along with the biggest inter cooler I could fit in the car. But I missed the last track days of the season

I also ordered a DIYPNP and some Bosch ev14 780cc injectors. Going to finally get this thing on the dyno and see what she can do.

I installed some singular hood vents and a rear kg works rear spoiler for the time being.

Got a Sparco suede 330mm wheel so my 6'3" legs dont hit it while braking and turning anymore. Got a million things to do on the car but I'm making progress.

I also bought a multi process Everlast TIG welder. I'm going to be re doing the manifold/turbo/exhaust at some point. I also needed it for my new motorcycle project.

Its an 82 920cc Yamaha Virago. Paid $400 for it all stock. It should be a rad bike when I finish it up.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1416701612

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg


Some more recent pictures of the car

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1416701612

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1416701612

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1416701612

Playing TETRIS at Costco
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1416701612

DIYPNP is here, along with an EFI bluetooth serial adapter and 780cc EV14 Bosch injectors

Can't wait to get this together.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1417237664

quick update. I'm terrible at this. But I got the car tuned on the DIYPNP. First pull made 280/260 on a mustang dyno, ended up with a very conservative tune at 260/220. I recently bought a mazdaspeed crankshaft, eagle rods and got a free block. They are currently at the machine shop, getting measurements for bearings and a final bore size. Planning on 84mm 8.6/1 Supertech pistons. I bought some Boundary oil pump gears as well and got some Wilwoods! for $350
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1423282730


Picked up a 6 speed today for $650.
http://photos-f.ak.instagram.com/hph...80401671_n.jpg



Trying to get this thing dialed for some serious track time this season.