Using as much of the Miata as possible in the beginning is paying dividends now by eliminating a lot of the problem solving (re: engine bay photos). Nice job!

Finally got a chance to mill the flanges on the manifold.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1393564974

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1393564974

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1393564974

Turbo is finally installed for good tonight.

Been working steadily on it. Finished the Corrado big brake kit and Carbotech pad install that I swapped over from my V8 Miata. Lots of little details. I have (I think) all of the wiring hooked up. Threw a battery in and it cranked. Need coolant, lube for the tranny and diff and brake and clutch fluid and I'll try to start it. I patched in the MAF for the first start so it's like stock. When it runs I'll swap in the Megasquirt. No need for any more variables than I have now.

Picked up my new driveshaft from Inland Truck Parts. They couldn't use any of my old components so I had to buy all new parts. $475 down the drain. Oh, well, had to have it.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1393993938

Decided to see if I could get it to start. Couldn't get the fuel pump to come on to charge the system. Finally figured out there was a ground by the rear tail lights that wasn't hooked up yet as I haven't done anything back there. Hooked that up and fuel pump came on. It charged the system and then started puking fuel under the car. Found out it was coming from a fuel injector. Pulled the rail and the offending fuel injector and there was no insulator under that injector. This baffled me as I drove the car home 100 miles before parting it out and the condition of the injector was such that I can't imagine the last time it was out. I don't know how it ran as long as it did.

Didn't have an insulator. I was going to pick one up tomorrow until I decided that it's just temporary until the Megasquirt goes in and bigger injectors go in. Ended up stuffing in two o-rings in the bore that fit tight. Buttoned it up and...

(clicky)
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1393993938

So, even after starting it a time or two last night it won't idle. Runs fine, revs fine, will idle around 1000rpm if I keep my foot on the gas but dies as soon as I let that off. No old gas in the car. Tank was removed and emptied and lines were empty as well.

I may just say "good enough" for now and deal with it after MS and injectors but it used to run and idle fine two years ago. My only concern was to start with a Perfectly Running car before going to the MS. A couple of things that are different from the original car that may be affecting it are

Idle air port on the TB is just wide open now. Didn't think this would be it as it would be wide open to the intake but who knows.

Extended wires on MAF so I didn't have to cut a hole in the inner fender for something that was temporary. Used old three wire trailer wire which was kind of suspect.

Factory O2 was cut, lengthened and installed in WB O2 port 36" back.

Exhaust is passing through turbo with wastegate wired open

The "two o-ring under injector to replace missing insulator" shouldn't affect anything but it's different. It seemed to run fine for the trip home when I bought it with no insulator. Injector must have been just pushed into the rail.

Possibly missing or improper grounding somewhere. I only have one engine ground now to the subframe. Need another for sure for head to unibody.

things I'd check: AFR, vacuum at idle, air leaks, MAF continuity...

MAF wires. It's touchy.

Edit: I didn't see you had the other thread. That idle port is letting in too much unmetered air.

That's your issue. A ton of air that the ECU has no idea about as it's bypassed the MAF / AFM (delete as applicable).

This is awesome, glad to see it runs! Now to get it boosted and some nasty videos of this old girl running tip top.

Getting little stuff done. Changed trans and diff fluids, bled brakes and clutch last night. Ordered Rivals. Need to pull out the MS and WB that I bought two years ago. Been so long I can't remember if there is a MAP and IAT sensor that came with it. IF not get them ordered and try swapping it in.

All of the couplers and charge pipes are due in the end of the week so I can finish plumbing the turbo. After that carpet and dash can go in. Need to order a windshield and door seals and I can start finishing up putting the doors, etc on. It's close. Should be done hopefully by the end of the month.

Intercooler and cold air intake complete. Filter is between the SAAB inner and old Miata inner fender so the only air that it can possibly draw is outside air.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1394339440

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1394339440

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1394339440

Looks fantastic, any plans on running a larger radiator or will it cause clearance issues?

Awesomely clean as always! I used that coupler for my bov, super clean and good flow. I swear it made it louder too...

That is super clean! Props given! Nice place for the air filter, should make for nice cool air.

It is hard to believe how close this thing is to driving.

Any guess as to how much the car will weigh completed?

I have an automatic radiator in it which is twice as thick as stock, if that isn't enough I can go to any of the aftermarket Miata radiators. All mount points are stock Miata mount points so fitment wouldn't be an issue.

Original car was 2100 stock. I'm guessing 2300 with the Miata lump up front, turbo stuff, bigger trans and diff, roll bar and some small savings removing some interior parts, rear seat, lighter wheels and tires. It's getting Miata carpet (if I can ever get anyone to get back to me on one) door panels, headliner, Sparco Sprint V seats so not stripped interior.

I wish the breather was just going back to intake...

I'd also accept some variation on my air/oil separator design:

How to make a PCV air/oil separator.

You mean pre-turbo? I could easily tap in a bung in the CAI pipe. Damn, I just spent $9.99 on that sweet vatozone filter, too.

How you have it is fine, I'm running an identical setup. You'll have a very small mist of oil on parts around the filter, although I could really only tell when I had dye in my oil and was looking for leaks with a black light.

I'd just keep it for now. I've looked into upgrading to a catch can setup of some sort, but it's about as easy as getting good info for a reroute.

No way. Not boosted. Breathers go to a catch-can so you can keep your intake clean. I've always thought the OE power steering reservoir would make a great OE looking catch can.

Been working on interior.

Old skanky door panels are skanky.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395373913

Cleaned up and sprayed with fabric and vinyl paint. They came out pretty nice.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395373913

Prepped for carpet. Finally found one. Should be here Monday. USed Reflectix from HD Racing. It cuts the heat, a bit of sound deadening, and it's cheap. One 25' roll just covers it.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395373913

Jeffbucc'ed rest of the interior parts. It's getting bad. I'm painting screws.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395373913

I still need to make side panels to go in the sides behind the seats. The current ones are too far gone, plus it would look stupid with the built-in armrests when there are no seats. Either doing masonite with vinyl over it or just textured ABS sheet painted to match the door panels.

Intake pipes were bone dry when I pulled them a few months ago. I've always had my breather tube going straight back to the intake. So long as your rings are in good shape, you're pcv is sealing, and you're not boosting above 20psi or so, there's no need for a catch can.

yes. or at least just remove the stock chrome/rubber tube and secure the little filter directly on the VC.

I tried but, while turbo no hit block, filter hit wastegate actuator.

:td:

I've seen your in-car videos - sound is dominated my music not revs. I question if you've actually entered positive pressure. ;)

I thought this was going to be a track beast- I can't imagine not running a catch can on boosted track car. I wouldn't run the pcv to the intake either on a track car. What's the benefit?

oh yeah, i forgot, most people actually drive their cars...

I run a stock intake side PCV setup, with a filter on the exhaust side. It's off a hose though, I melted a few of those tiny filters. The hose seems to hold up fine.

Got the parts buffed this Saturday and started assembly. Teaser pic-taken with a potato. Can't wait to get it on the ground.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395631838

One fail on this swap has reared it's head. Can't remove (or install) the rear tire with the fender in place. I was able to remove the one upper control arm bolt, roll the rotor back and get the tire in. This will probably become the SOP for tire swaps. One bolt, doesn't mess with alignment. Oh, well.

Race car, no? Any way to make it quick release? Can't tell how many layers are back there.

WOW, i missed the part where you painted it that beautiful color. What color is it again?

Sullivan Blue.

Mustang Grabber Blue.

Could. We will have to see how it goes. I was just going to drop the lower shock bolt to see how far the control arms would drop but this worked, barely.

looking really good, bro!

:party:

konig rewinds?

yessir

Not a lot to report. Got the carpet installed tonight. I powerwashed it yesterday. It's dusty from me walking around in there but it's decent. Surprising to have to trim a Miata carpet to something that is even smaller than that.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395805312

On another note, I think I threw away some parts when I was winter cleaning. I tossed three heater controls that I had laying around forever. Well, I think I tossed ALL three that I had. I thought I held back one spare for this project. Anyone have a heater control and a dead pedal available for cheap?

Door panels back in.

Before

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396410045

After

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396410045

Started on dash install. Waiting on heater control from Sean here so I can cut the hole in the dash I made.

And a cool (to me) pic that I snapped this weekend. Another toy in the reflection. Buff job on the paint turned out great.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396410045

Rear is together.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396583971

I don't know how much extra fab work this would be, but it would be epic with a center exit

In before "Dat ass" comments.

Looking good, John.

It would be cool but you can see that the right fender was bumped up factory for it. Surprisingly when I installed the Miata exhaust the SAAB muffler hanger came out right on top of the stock Miata poly mounts.

Mega Props to Niklas Falk in Sweden for scoring me these tail lights and backup lights off of tradera, which is Sweden's Ebay.

Hope to see them in a couple of weeks!

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396816745

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396816745

I need to clear the shop so that we can get the guy who painted the SAAB's K5 Blazer in this coming weekend to swap a couple axles so it needed to be driveable. Got the dash done.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396843828

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396843828

Got it on the ground. It looks so small after staring at it on jackstands for two years. Looks soooo much better at normal ride height.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396843828

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396843828

Went to triumphantly drive it out of the shop under it's own power for the first time in 30 years and...the slave cylinder is bad. Not surprising as the last four Miatas that I have built or worked on had a bad slave. This one bled fine but now there's no pedal. Wife and I bled it again, had pedal for a minute and bad again so I'll pick one up tomorrow.

Oooh that looks good.

SAAB made its first trip under its own power for the first time in 30-odd years today, albeit a short one to get it out of the shop and into the other bay. Still an accomplishment.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1396927808

That thing is absolutely hilarious.

There are not enough props in the world Stein. Truly beautiful.

You are one talented guy. It's almost obscene.

Just awesome.

This.. it just should not exist. A true abomination. Fuck yessss.

I cant wait for some WOT flyby videos, because i know I won't be able to contain my laughter. How does it drive?

We could make him a mod here for instant infamy, but he owns a miata, and a turbo.

It's very uniquely beautiful. Looks awesome. Props

That Red Saab is here in Finland, just ran its plates but says was last on the road in 2009 =(

Lookslike some Epic work done there chief, well done indeed sir

VIDEOS NAO!

Awesome work. Love it.

No progress last weekend. Helped a buddy build his rock crawler in my shop. Bunch of us are going out this weekend so nothing coming in the next few days.

Tail light lenses did arrive at work today from Sweden unharmed. Thanks again to Niklas Falk for buying, receiving, packing and shipping to me.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1397674808

In for pop-up Swedish drawn phallus