Build Threads Building a motor? Post the progress here.

Purple Peaple Eater ST2/3/4 Build

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-20-2020, 06:46 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tblackey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Aliso Viejo
Posts: 81
Total Cats: 34
Default Purple People Eater ST3 Build

So this was Austin's Purple Miata. I purchased it about 2 months ago and I've set about making it mine.

Long List of what's what... (great starting with such a well built car). It hadn't been on the track in a few years, but when he was running it was a dominant ST4 car.
  • Chassis/Aero:
    • 1995 Tub Acid Dipped and Seam Welded
    • Exterior painted ”Plum Crazy”
    • 1991 OEM Dash
    • Supermiata Polycarbonate Windshield
    • Treasure Coast Fiberglass Hardtop
    • Fiberglass hood, no headlights
    • Custom Air Dam and 4” Splitter with undertray
    • Trimmed Rear Bumper
    • APR GT-250 with Singular Motorsports Endplates
    • Singular Motorsports Hood Vents
    • APR Carbon GT Style Side Mirrors
    Suspension/Brakes:
    • XIDA Gen2 TRIPLE Adjustable Remote Canister Shocks
    • Supermiata Sway Bar Front and Rear
    • Poly Urethane Bushings throughout
    • Offset FUCA Bushings
    • Bauer Extended Lower Ball joints
    • 1” Master Cylinder
    • Wilwood Dynapro Radial Mount 4 Piston - 11.75” Front
    • OEM Sport Rear brakes
    • OEM 1995 ABS
    • 949 Racing 6UL 15x10 with 245 Hoosier R7

    Engine/Drivetrain:
    • 2.0L VVT Motor swap from 2003 Miata
    • Supertech 85.5mm pistons, Wiseco ringpack
    • Carrillo A-beam rods
    • ACL Race bearings
    • ARP head/main studs
    • Hand-ported cylinder head
    • Supertech SUB lifters
    • Supertech valve springs/retainers
    • Tomei Cams
    • Boundary Stage 2 Oil Pump
    • Flat Top Intake Manifold
    • Skunk2 Throttle Body
    • Underdrive Pulley
    • Supermiata Harmonic Balancer
    • Supermiata Engine Mounts
    • Supermiata Crossflow Radiator - Rad & IC Fully Ducted to Air Dam
    • Spa Cooling Fan
    • Coolant Re-Route
    • Setrab Big Oil Cooler with Custom Ducting and Electric Fan
    • Custom Engine Wire Harness
    • AEM Infinity ECU
    • Flyin Miata Big E85 Fuel Kit with custom Swirl Pot
    • Injector Dynamics ID1000 Fuel Injectors
    • JDL Auto Tubular Turbo Manifold for Evo X turbo
    • Turbosmart Wastegate Actuator
    • Turbosmart Race BOV
    • Custom 3” Exhaust W/ V-Bands and options for: No Muffler, 1 Muffler, 2 Mufflers (Laguna)
    • Supermiata Race Twin Disc Clutch - New Plates Recently
    • Miata Roadsters Short Shifter
    • OS Giken LSD with 3.66 Rear Gear

    Interior/Misc:Sparco Pro ADV Seat
    6 Point Racequip Harness
    Race Technologies Dash Pro 2 - Canbus Connection, GPS, Data Logging, etc...
    ARC 8000 Switch Panel

To this I've done this so far.
  • Wiring harness was a bit of a mess and there weren't any diagrams. I've spent a lot of my Covid time completely documenting the harness and then remade a completely new harness from scratch. All the wires are color coded (analog power is all the same color, etc, and everything is loomed and labeled)
  • Added a Tombstone from LRB Auto and added USB port for Dash2, charging port for battery, LED's for alternator and ABS
  • Updated ABS to NB2 from 1995 unit
  • Replaced fuel tank (sat for 2 years with E85)
  • Added fuel level float and custom circuit to the Dash2
  • Repainted interior and undercarriage
  • Replaced floors and frame rails as these had gotten a bit mangled somehow
  • Removed fuel swirlpot for now (not needed I think)
  • Replaced expired seat and harness, added sliders (5'2" wife drives too)
  • Replaced Poly bushings with Delrin and ISC sphericals
  • Mounted windshield with rivnuts and rubber washers



















Last edited by tblackey; 04-18-2022 at 05:39 PM.
tblackey is offline  
Old 10-07-2020, 03:24 AM
  #2  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Arca_ex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 1,628
Total Cats: 427
Default

Oh man. How did I miss this.

I loved seeing this car out on track. I had helped plan some of the flow of the build process in one way or another back in the day as well. Solid buy.

Hopefully you have some updates soon, looks like you've made some good changes so far.
Arca_ex is offline  
Old 10-07-2020, 12:48 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tblackey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Aliso Viejo
Posts: 81
Total Cats: 34
Default

I tore a shoulder so it's been a bit slow unfortunately. It sucks getting old! I'm working on a drop floor, a small cage change for taller drivers, and I added bulkhead connectors to the harness along with a few other things. I've also got a full Autokonexion gt kit and top for it that will eventually go on it. Mechanically it's solid, they did a great job on it. I also had UMS do an extra tune for ~300hp for fun days.


tblackey is offline  
Old 10-07-2020, 03:14 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
boileralum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 1,105
Total Cats: 229
Default

Do you have any bigger/ closer pics of where you mounted your remote cannisters for the shocks? Looks like the rear may be on the LCA? Super clean car!
boileralum is offline  
Old 10-08-2020, 09:47 AM
  #5  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Arca_ex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 1,628
Total Cats: 427
Default

Originally Posted by tblackey
I tore a shoulder so it's been a bit slow unfortunately. It sucks getting old! I'm working on a drop floor, a small cage change for taller drivers, and I added bulkhead connectors to the harness along with a few other things. I've also got a full Autokonexion gt kit and top for it that will eventually go on it. Mechanically it's solid, they did a great job on it. I also had UMS do an extra tune for ~300hp for fun days.
That's a drag.

How tall are you and what series do you plan to race in? The reason I ask is because I'm 6'5" and found a way to fit without the drop floor that gets penalized in some series. Should be a riot at 300whp as well
Arca_ex is offline  
Old 10-08-2020, 05:50 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
thebeerbaron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Jose
Posts: 658
Total Cats: 340
Default

It took me a couple of looks to realize - is your battery hanging out on top of the trans tunnel, under the dash?

As a NASA tech inspector, I'd be looking at that very carefully. I can't tell from the pictures, but I'd assume it's AGM, so a case is only "recommended", not required. I see one covered positive terminal, I think, but I'm not sure anything is attached to it - is your positive lead attached somewhere else? Gotta be covered.

If this is a lithium battery, that whole setup is Nope - gotta be outside the cockpit.

Just trying to save you some headaches when you go for your annual.

Uh... on further inspection... that flat copper-looking ribbon that goes to the relay board... that's not an un-insulated connection to the positive terminal? Please?
thebeerbaron is offline  
Old 10-08-2020, 10:32 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tblackey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Aliso Viejo
Posts: 81
Total Cats: 34
Default

Most everything has moved since those pictures btw, but It's a LifePo4 battery, so I suspect it needs to be outside the cockpit. Back to the trunk it goes.

All the terminals are fully covered, it's all those little things that you end up short on and have to order, I was short a few for those pictures. The copper looking un-insulated thing is actually a ribbon cable for the dash control. I have actually since covered that in shrink tube, but it's only low current / voltage 28awg actually, so more for aesthetics than anything else really.

The rear shock canisters I mounted in the trunk btw. There is just enough room to cut a hole for the canister to go through. The car will be for play mostly, but also Super GT, Nasa ST3, and maybe an SCCA ITE day here and there. Safety is a concern though so if you see something wonky I I'm more than happy to hear about it btw. Goal #1 is always to be able to go home!

Since those pictures an OMP HTE 400 Halo seat has come in, the Sparco will be for ride alongs.

Still need to plumb in the fire system, center net, etc...

The floors, especially drivers looked like a complete war zone, so I needed / wanted to redo the floor anyway. In NASA it will cost me some points, but everywhere else it's free.


tblackey is offline  
Old 10-09-2020, 02:16 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
thebeerbaron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Jose
Posts: 658
Total Cats: 340
Default

Originally Posted by tblackey
Most everything has moved since those pictures btw, but It's a LifePo4 battery, so I suspect it needs to be outside the cockpit. Back to the trunk it goes.
Yep, even though I think that's one of the more-stable chemistries, it's got lithium, so for NASA it's gonna have to be in the trunk (or engine compartment, if you're insane).

The copper looking un-insulated thing is actually a ribbon cable for the dash control. I have actually since covered that in shrink tube, but it's only low current / voltage 28awg actually, so more for aesthetics than anything else really.
Ah. That makes a lot more sense. Whew.

It always sucks to tell someone that they can't run their car that weekend unless they fix something that they're obviously not going to be able to fix in the paddock. Or even just something that makes them lose part of a day. Much better if it passes on the first try
thebeerbaron is offline  
Old 11-12-2020, 01:42 PM
  #9  
Newb
 
Josh CW92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 24
Total Cats: -2
Default

Awesome build thread and I'm super impressed with your positivity through it all. Can't wait to see where you end up with this car. Good luck on the next outing!
Josh CW92 is offline  
Old 10-22-2021, 10:36 AM
  #10  
Junior Member
 
bimmerboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 231
Total Cats: 50
Default

Hello again from F80 Post! I too have made the jump to Miata. Wishing you the best on this build!
bimmerboy is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -2 Leave a negcat
Old 11-07-2021, 07:58 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tblackey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Aliso Viejo
Posts: 81
Total Cats: 34
Default Updates

So this moved along a lot slower than expected. Took it to three shops to get some welding done, and each kept if for months and didn't work on it, or if they did, didn't finish. Anyway, finally got some progress. In the process of rebuilding now. Still have a few weekends worth of work. Big changes to come with complete Autokonexion GT body kit currently at the paint shop.






tblackey is offline  
Old 11-08-2021, 01:07 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
thebeerbaron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Jose
Posts: 658
Total Cats: 340
Default

Jeeze man, in what hellish environment did you leave that poor multimeter that the case deteriorated so badly? Do you play with chlorine gas for fun or something?
thebeerbaron is offline  
Old 11-08-2021, 01:49 PM
  #13  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tblackey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Aliso Viejo
Posts: 81
Total Cats: 34
Default

I think it's all the fumes from my meth lab.
Kidding. I've had it for something like 25 years, and the rubber is pretty old.
tblackey is offline  
Old 11-14-2021, 09:35 PM
  #14  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tblackey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Aliso Viejo
Posts: 81
Total Cats: 34
Default

Some additional progress this weekend on the interior. Almost finished up, maybe one additional day on the wiring / interior left. Then the exterior project can be finished.


Dash Almost finished. A few connectors to still order.

Seats mounted. Still need to do the harnesses.

Dash mock install

Trying out grip tape

Racebred foot perch

Under the dash. Almost finished up. Big Relay for kill switch.

Still need some additional battery terminal covers, but getting close.
tblackey is offline  
Old 12-06-2021, 02:08 PM
  #15  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tblackey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Aliso Viejo
Posts: 81
Total Cats: 34
Default

Body kit is finally on. This wasn't straight forward as Autokonexion never did fit well and after being stored for several years fiberglass can change shapes. It's getting there though, still have a few small things to do though.

15x10's under Autokonexion GT kit

Still need to final radiator ducting, but ducted the oil cooler though the right turn signal.

Hood vents galore

tblackey is offline  
Old 12-07-2021, 09:38 AM
  #16  
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Midtenn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Murfreesboro,TN
Posts: 2,041
Total Cats: 265
Default

Looks great! I forget how good the full AK GT kit looked.
Midtenn is offline  
Old 12-09-2021, 02:32 PM
  #17  
Junior Member
 
navalhawkeye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 286
Total Cats: 28
Default

Sweet build.

What is that relay board?
navalhawkeye is offline  
Old 12-09-2021, 03:31 PM
  #18  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
tblackey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Aliso Viejo
Posts: 81
Total Cats: 34
Default

It's from Autorod Controls. At some point I'll install the AEM PDM32 instead, but it wasn't available when I did the wiring, and I'm not ready to redo it again.
tblackey is offline  
Old 12-14-2021, 10:50 PM
  #19  
Newb
 
BAgarage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 9
Total Cats: 0
Default

Clean build man! Tasteful upgrades
BAgarage is offline  
Old 12-15-2021, 10:38 AM
  #20  
Junior Member
 
srnfoto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 51
Total Cats: 17
Default

Man that gets my miata boner going.
srnfoto is offline  


Quick Reply: Purple Peaple Eater ST2/3/4 Build



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:10 AM.