For the rubber trim go to McMaster-Carr. That's where I got mine:
McMaster-Carr

I actually found it here on MiataTurbo in a thread from like 2009. If you try this, just make sure you use single thickness cardboard and cut the skewers in half. Too long a skewer means too much friction and you will end up going back and forth a million times slamming the hood. Also, put skewers in the corners. My interpolation of the data points was somewhat inaccurate in that area :giggle:

Bitchin' link, thank you sir. Props! McMaster probably has the heavy plastic I'm looking for as well. :bigtu:

Jeffbucc: Where are you buying your ABS sheet?

Searching for plastic sheet on McMaster-Carr is somewhat frustrating. The most "useable" things I can find are "High-Temperature Chemical-Resistant CPVC" and "Wear-Resistant Nylon." These are the only things I can find that are remotely affordable and available in the size I need. Again, I'm not worried about temperature resistance per-se, my header is wrapped and this thing its going to get insulated half to death once I fabricate something I like.

Also, I just realized there is no room for the IAT sensor in the box. That's unfortunate :(

I buy mine from a local advertising & print shop in town. They will order pretty much anything I want. Good folks. I had to call about 10 different business before I found one that would order it for me at their cost.

Why not put the AIT in your intercooler? Seems like you'd have more problems with heat soak with it in the engine bay.

:asshole:

Took me a second to realize how unconsciously clever I just was.

I'd recommend aluminum sheet for bending up that air box. It looks like you have some tight clearances to deal with, and it's easier to reproduce sharp bends with aluminum (ABS is thicker and will have more curvature in the bend). I built a nearly identical air box for an NA. See https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...7/#post1129353 and https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...6/#post1156388 for pix in the red car build thread.

I also mounted my AIT to a piece of aluminum angle and then riveted the aluminum angle to an interior wall of the air box so it sees the same temp as the air filter. It works just fine for speed density.

We need to be looking at each other's build threads since we're building similar normally aspirated cars.

I refuse! I am a special and unique snowflake! :vash:

I have seen your build thread, and your ability to fabricate with aluminium far exceeds my ability to fabricate with aluminum. I have zero tools to this end. If I can't do it with a hammer, drill and a hacksaw, its probably not going to happen at this point. I have a feeling heat gun and ABS is about as good as its going to get for now :(

It's all good. But practice with a small piece of ABS first. When I did my upper radiator piece, I was really surprised at how much heat it took and also by the radius of the bend. Jeff seems to have come up with a way to make tighter bends, so it's doable but might be frustrating.

Working with aluminium (LOL) is actually much easier than you think. Having a sheet metal brake is awesome, but if you have a vice, a couple of pieces of angle iron and a body hammer you can get really good results.

Looking forward to the end product!

Oh for sure, aluminum is absolutely where I want to be in the future. When I finally get the EFR in there will be an orgy of fabrication and I'm sure I'll have to buy some more tools. All this N/A business is temporary just to get things squared away for Miatas@MRLS. In fact, there was a little voice in my head that wanted to spray paint the cardboard and see if anyone noticed :giggle:

I've got 9 days to finish this mess. Plenty of shit left to do, I'm just trying not to cut (too many) corners at this point. Big hump is the CAN bus wideband controller, and I'm hoping to start that install tonight.

That reminds me... I need to call the idiots at Skunk2 back. They "promised" I would get an email back about my IACV adapter for the throttle body. I deal with tech and often, broken tech and retarded software for the vast majority of my job. This is one of the stupidest processes I've ever had to deal with trying to get a replacement part that was mispacked at the point of origin. Seriously, dealing with these people is like dealing with a mom n pop shop in the 90's that isn't using computerized records and the majority of their workforce is interns. Fucking ridiculous.

Well, if you're in a rush, Emilio runs the 95R without an airbox. Runs Crusher with a 180 degree bend to the cold side. So, if it turns into a PITA, not something you need to finish 100%.

Agreed. I run my 99 motor with vvt and Megasquirt (at least before the ms dun blewed up) with just a filter on the end of a tube. No issues with heat soak or loss of power especially once the car was moving. I'd consider your air box extra credit. :party:

Yep, Its something I've considered. I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations has expired, but yeah, none of the 4 cars we ran at the 25 had any sort of ducting for the intake. Of course, its dangerous to copy purpose built becauseracecar configurations ;)

If I decide I have more dollars than sense, I can always order the RacingBeat elbow intake and heatshield.

As always, I appreciate the feedback. Thanks Hornet! :bigtu:

The ability to make tighter bends with ABS was just a pleasant byproduct of trying to get a straight bend when heated. I was scoring it ¹/16 deep and a beveled edge to encourage the bend to follow the path of least resistance. Turns out that is how you get a tight bend too!

Just be careful you have enough heat otherwise it will snap instead of bend. It also helps if you can find a block of wood or something with a 90° bend in it, then grab a rubber mallet and help shape the plastic into a edge more than a curve.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1409155816

I made this without any crazy special tools. Just some, uhh, "municipal" aluminum and a small HF brake.

that looks great. I need to stop bying heat shields and start MAKING heat shields lol

Well, shit. Maybe I need to visit the harbor freight and see if they have one of those brakes in stock.

Also, lol @ "municipal aluminum" :laugh:

I got absolutely nothing done last night, other than breaking the wife's Nexus7 Tablet. /sigh

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1409157611

Wait, one of these ones? How small is small? They have an 18" and a 30" version of this particular brake

I'm a few days late on this one, but I've had 4 miatas now and one of the first thing I've done on every one of them is throw that stupid brace away. I ran that same intake manifold gasket on my '99 and my '94 for probably 40k miles total and never had any vacuum leaks with it.

I don't use the braces either. They get in the way of reroutes and the big oil filters I like to use with my oil cooler parts.

he plans to track his car though, so he'll be in the 5-7k range a whole lot, where the engine tends to want to pleasure you like the premium vibrator that it is

*edit: was talking to pdexta.

I guess doesn't apply to hornet since you track your car too

I track constantly. Keep watching for something bad to happen around the throttle body due to the missing brace. Nothing so far. YMMV.

Yep.

I love you all, everyone gets props! :makeout:

I haven't run my brace for the last 30k miles. Most of that boosted, with about 2.5k track miles (all boosted).

Edit: but most definitely epoxy the throttle plate screws. With or without the brace.

Yeah, come to think of it I removed and never replaced the brace on my previous '00 either.

I guess I'm just being too OCD.

lol

+1 ditch the brace. Just make sure that your intercooler pipes have enough play and your engine mounts are solid enough. I always tell customers to run a hump hose on their pipes to keep stress off of the intake manifold and the intercooler.

Hmm on the subject of epoxy on your screws. Do you think copious gobs of red loctite will suffice instead of epoxy? When I reinstalled my butterflies I figured that would be plenty...

I reinstalled my brace, but I also don't have that fancy schmancy gasket. I figured more bracing could only help.:dunno:

Aluminum is starting to look better and better. My brother seems to have a chunk from the same source that looks to be ideal :giggle:

My HF has the 18" in stock, so we'll see what kind of mess I can make.

I think anything permanent and tolerant of 100C temps would work.

As for the throttle body... of the 4 cars that we fielded at the 25H race, 3 were using Skunk2 throttle bodies and one was using a stock throttle body + epoxy. I took a picture of said epoxied throttle plate, but I can't find it now. It was a great big impressive gob of epoxy.

I'll give you one guess which car lost a motor due to the ingestion of throttle body parts.

With a turbo car I doubt its as much of an issue. My totally scientific basis for this is that with more low end power, you aren't spending as much time @ WOT and winding out the motor to get all the power. With N/A, its a bit different. How many turbo racecar guys have complained about breaking throttle shafts compared to N/A racecar guys?

Need to call Skunk2... again. FML

Call em!

I have a big ass sheet of ABS plastic leftover from my intake shield. If you don't mind coming down to south San Jose you can have it.

I just did. They never replied to my support request so I called the sales department directly and had them look it up. Apparently they do not stock replacement parts. The sales guy said, and I quote:

S2: We will have to scrounge around in the warehouse and see if there is one lying around. I think there was also some other guy looking for one as well."

Me: Yeah, that was probably me.

S2: Oh, well I guess no one has gotten to it yet.

Me: I've called you at least 3 times about this since last week, plus emails. I've received no response.

S2: Ok, let me get your number and we'll give you a call back.

Me: When?

S2: As soon as we find the part.

Me: So, never?

S2: Just as soon as we get a chance to look in the warehouse.

Me: Humm.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm OK. I think my brother has something that sounds workable. :bigtu:

It'll be cheaper to do it with aluminum. Luckily I had plumbers tape and heat shield wrap otherwise it would have been pricy to heat proof the ABS. I just had so much of it I made everything with ABS.

It's mind-boggling that they could be that careless. Whether they are normally or not, it's just amazing that you can do business like that and survive.

I ripped out the MS3 this evening and started pulling the wiring apart.

Attachment 238986
Look upon my soldering and despair! Smallest wire I had was 18awg for the CANL & CANH connections in the DB37. Turns out its a little big. I hope my abysmal soldering holds up. You can really tell 8 & 9 are mine :facepalm:


Also discovered wild widebands and extra sensors breeding in my garage :giggle:
Attachment 238987

Its seriously like an episode of Hoarders in my garage.

:burncash: :burncash: :burncash:

I know, right? I had an AEM UEGO in that pile for a while as well. :loser:

Either the MTX-L will probably end up in my F250 dentside so I can finally bring the carburetor into some sense of tune. The LC-1 will get sold off eventually.

I've got an email in to Rev requesting clarification on a couple of things then its off to wiring hell again tonight.

In other news, one of the guys from Skunk2 actually called me back! They didn't have my part but they wanted to let me know that they hadn't forgotten about me. So that's cool I guess.

Rev answered all my silly questions like a boss so wiring shenanigans shall commence upon the eve. It's not that I don't know what I'm doing (ok, I don't know what I'm doing) but it's nice to get confirmation before I let the blue smoke out of my devices.

The guys from Skunk2 called me back again right about 4:30 today, turns out they found the parts I need! It sounds like they are sending the entire "accessory" bag so I should be good to go. At first they were going to charge me shipping, but then they waived it and sent it along for free. USPS from SoCal should put it in my hands on Tuesday next week, with the holiday and all.

Even through it took them a week to resolve things, I must say that I'm somewhat impressed that they followed up. I'll be sure to update on Tuesday, hopefully they send the right part ;)

Sometimes, even when the job gets done poorly, it ends up getting done! Sweet about your parts ... UNLESS .... they send you all the parts you currently have. Hopefully by mentioning this in advance I have anti-jinxed you!

Sometimes the squeaky wheel does get greased...

Attachment 238978
For everyone who told me I had to remove my dash to do this, :fawk:

Ungh, wiring.


Attachment 238979
So this is where I've been sitting for the last 2 days

Attachment 238980
Working on all this robot vomit

Attachment 238981
Trying to turn it into something a little more organized

Attachment 238982
BECAUSERACECAR is not an excuse. Life is too short for messy wiring.


Attachment 238983
This is now officially my second most favoritest box in my garage :)

I forgot my front XP8s up at a friends house up by SF yesterday, but I guess that's just as well considering I forgot to order front rotors... :facepalm:

Rotors ordered from Amazon should be here Wednesday, not sure if I'll be able to get the XP8s before Friday. Looks like I'll be swapping and bedding brakes on Saturday because there is no way in hell I'm taking these BP-10s out to Laguna.

Now that my wiring is all finalized :bang: I decided at the last minute to order a sensor sandwich plate for oil temp, oil pressure, and low pressure warning. Its a simple low pressure switch that comes on when pressure drops below 15psi and passes 12v to a blinker/buzzer I grabbed off Amazon. If its decent, I'll take pics and list parts and things.

Again, everything gets here Wednesday. Good thing I have Thursday off :hahano:

Humm... on second thought 15psi may be a little low?

I'm gettn so excited seeing everyone prepping for MRLS.....I'm trying to figure out how I can meet all the MT OG members there and say whats up.

I has your number. That's about it. I wanna meet urrybody I "know" here.

A "meetup" sounds dangerous/fun. Not sure if its something that would want to do onsite, or at another location? Start an "unofficial" thread and see what happens?

Wideband CAN module + LC-2 + MS3 Basic = WINNING

The LC-2 works awesome, but its strange. Its a 4 wire hookup (+, -, Analog1 & Analog2) and all the wires, including the power and ground are like 22awg or something. This makes my dedicated 14awg block ground for the wideband massive overkill but it lets me sleep better at night. The WB02 in TS is sooooo much more stable now. Its input is so insanely fast that its just... smooth. Me likey.

All that time working with the harness for the gauges totally paid off. Everything that has a sensor hooked up is actually working! Or at least, they are displaying stuff. I'm seriously impressed with how clean the harness came out. Its all modular and will only require cutting one wire if I ever need to remove it. I have serious mad respect for people who can build clean wiring harnesses, and it gives me a better idea of what to expect when I tear into my TR6.

No, I didn't take any pictures of the harness. It was dark and I just wanted things hooked up and installed. It looks like the loomed harness above, but like 6' long.

I need to sit down tonight and go through the "programming" routine for the VEI wideband gauge. Its hooked up to Analog1 (yellow) on the LC-2 and it does display stuff, but its nonsensical. I also need to take a look at my Boost/Vac gauge because its always -19 ~ -20. Of course, all I've done is sit in the driveway and giggle but you get the idea. I'm still waiting on the sandwich plate so I can get my oil pressure and temperature gauges installed. I also need to swing by the hardware store and get some NyLoc nuts for the terminal posts on the senders. I don't see those flat nuts sticking around for long, even with a lock washer.

On the heatshield front, it turns out the chunk of aluminum I got from my brother is pretty well undersized, so time to do some more searching. I've got a line on a local fab shop that may have some usable scrap. Hopefully they have something big enough for me. I'll see if I can get enough material to make 2~3 of these things, because they NEVER come out right the first time. :facepalm:

Sounds like a giant gay orgy with cats is going to happen...

Yeah Imma going to be real busy at work, with bread and stuff, can't make it...damn...:dancegay:

Also, props for a stable WB02 signal! That eliminated all my problems while tuning. So satisfying to not see your gauge needle dance around a whole point of AFR.

When you say point do you mean .0 -.1 or 0 - 1?

For me is was like 0.75~1.0

So this just happened:

Attachment 238971

Goddammit Skunk2, you had one job! :bang:

Ah ok that makes sense. I was thinking how the hell you get it to stay at 14.6-14.7 lol

Those are the same parts, aren't they...

Brilliant.

I even sent them this exact picture:
Attachment 238968

"Here are the parts I got, they are wrong. Please send parts that don't look like this"

They only make 2 throttle bodies that fit the Miata. Literally a 50/50 chance. How difficult could this possibility be?

I made a thread for a deadly meetup.

https://www.miataturbo.net/local-mee...1/#post1163242

I'm going to take their mothers out to a nice seafood dinner and NEVER call them again!

What rat bastards...

I actually chuckled at you actually having HOPE in Junk2 racing having more than 2 brain cells and sending you the right stuff

its cute

Seriously, I don't know why I bother. I may as well sell this thing as a 94-97 and buy an actual 99-05 one from like, Trackspeed or 949 and picking it up at MRLS.

With my luck there will be 1,500 Miatas on site all weekend and I'll be the one guy who pukes a motor from ingesting throttle body fragments. :hahano: