Jumbosrule

Since joining MT.net, I'm on my second Miata but never really posted it because I essentially totaled one Miata and swapped all the parts over to the new chassis - same color and year, except this one has power windows and ABS. I left the old body kit bumpers behind and got a new Miata with all OE body. The last time she was on track was MLSR last year but was back to fighting condition by then:





Well it happened again - my fault this time, and insurance totaled it out. But this time I decided it would be much better to repair rather than swap over everything again. This will give me some upgrade cash if I play it right so as this car was originally reborn from the wreck of my first Miata (hence the name) this newest revision of the car is reborn from this latest wreck. I'll be re-working everything under the hood but leaving almost everything in the cabin alone. There are a few electrical projects I will install inside the cabin, to take control of things as I have envisioned.



Luckily the front end collision didn't damage anything behind the headlights. The frame did need to be pulled out but I did all of the disassembly work in my garage so it only cost me the flatbed to and from the shop +$350 in labor.

Loading up to go to the frame shop


And coming home after the work was done


And while this is being done I'm having my motor rebuilt using a forged longblock I built two years ago. The head will have dual springs, oversized valves, new seals & guides - ready to hold more than I can throw at the weak flowing head.





And so re-assembly has started and I'm taking my time. Sealed under the fenders with engine enamel and re-routed some wiring in prep for a custom switch panel I've been dicking around with for six months.


Installed some AWR reinforced sway bar mounts.


Refinishing brackets, cleaning up wire looms and removing any wires and connectors I won't ever use in this car like the cruise control, the AC sensor, etc.




And some new parts going in - an upgrade from the Kraftwerks intercooler, I went with the TrackDog Racing intercooler & pipes. Shortened runs, larger minimum diameter, an order of magnitude fewer couplers & clamps.



And further upstream I'll be port matching my custom intake manifold to the Skunk2 TB.




I also plan to drill and tap the manifold directly for my temperature and MAP sensors.

Jumbosrule

I'll amend that last statement to say, "I also plan to have pressure sensor and temperature sensor bungs welded to the manifold". I dropped it off this weekend to get that done, plus it will be port matched to the Skunk2 TB as well as port matched to the engine side gasket. The threaded vacuum line fitting will also get welded. I'm thinking the back wall of the manifold is a great place for these sensors since it puts them in the pathway of the fourth intake runner; which runs hotter that the rest and will therefore be the conservative choice for taking pressure and temperature data.

Did some more work over the last couple of weekends. Mostly wiring projects; things I have wanted to do for a long time but just never had the motivation (and easy access in the engine bay).

One of these "mods" is the RevLimiter headlight wiring circuit. I have the Cobalt LowPro headlights and this wiring allows both low and high beams to come on when high beams are switched on. It uses the OE headlight connector as triggers for a new set of relays; which I mounted inside the fender.



I moved some of the wiring into the cowl and I guess I should say I never plan to drive this in the rain. Yeah - wiring in the cowl would be a bad idea if it does see rain. Everything is loomed and zip tied high in the cowl but only to mitigate risk of unintended water. Inside the cowl I added a new fuse box with 10 open circuits. Right now I am only using three of these circuits but now I'll always have an available power source without having to use an add-a-circuit. The two headlights and my starter circuit are now in the cowl, plus it is providing power to the front EDFC unit.



Buttoned up.


And I test fit up some of the Trackdog radiator paneling and pipes just for fun - these will have to come off when the motor goes in, but it got me amp'd up.


And another project on which I have been working for literally 8 months - a custom switch panel. The big red button is my start button and I freaking love it. I hunted for weeks for this button - it is a 52mm arcade button - meant to take as much punishment as one can dish to a button on a dash.



All of the other buttons have a purpose according to a plan...



And all the connections are soldered, except for the terminal strips which I may or may not leave in place.




Finally starting to feel like she's getting closer.

mmmjesse

Many of your pictures dont seem to be working.

Jumbosrule

Weird - they are all working for me, from two different devices.

Jumbosrule

Lots of hours on the car today for not a lot to show for it... but I feel pretty accomplished so its all good I guess.

Mostly wiring. I finally finished my battery cut-off switch. Another something I have been wanting to do for years. While the driveline and the PPF are out of the way, I installed my cut-off within reach while I am in the seat with harness buckled - right on the passenger side of the transmission tunnel. The seat and the cup holder box in the switch so even an errant passenger leg won't catch it by accident.



Since the shifter is gone too - you can see the back side of the switch.

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I picked up a couple of battery cables from Autozone with the right terminations and hooked them into the cut off switch and then routed them back to the trunk where I used a pair of KnuConcepts battery terminals. These are pretty sweet - multiple connections and types, rebuildable clamps and covers.



And I made a few changes to the wires in the trunk so that I will be able to control them with switches on the panel on the tombstone. The Fuel pump, Mazda lights and my subwoofer will all get ground triggers so the panel button will interrupt ground to turn off.



Im doing my best to keep things organized behind the tombstone. Zip ties galore.

Jumbosrule

Phee finally put some pants on. First time since the collision four months ago. Pants, of course being fenders... which were installed only after the re-located wiring was checked out and the V8 Roadsters fender braces installed.

These are solid parts - I was impressed with fitment given the pretty tight tolerances needed for 7 bolts to all get started before locking them down. There were a couple of slotted holes to aid in alignment but for the most part - things just fit.





And in other "totally unnecessary" news, I decided to give the V8Roadsters tubular PPF a try. I figure any stiffness gained here is going to be worth it in driveline feel. Things should be a bit less flexible.

Jumbosrule

Dropped off the shim under bucket lifters and the head gasket; motor needs only lash caps to finish up. Hopefully less than two weeks before I drop the motor back into Phee.

Did some cleaning, zip ties on wiring and think I'm ready to drop in the built motor.



Assembling everything back together won't take more than a weekend but then I gotta get her tuned and registered as a salvage car. Couple more hurdles to jump but I feel it getting closer.

psyber_0ptix

iTrader: (4)

V8 Roadster has a tubular PPF?!

Jumbosrule

Yup. I found it in a random thread and called up V8R to ask about it. Even though the product is not up on the site, they will still sell one to you if you ask but are made to order so they likely wont be in stock. I talked to Shandelle about the benefits and my understanding is that they are stiffer than the OE PPF, but performance doesnt really translate to anything other than an improved shifter feel. I figured since I had the driveline out of the car anyway, the PPF would be easily accessible, which it was. Plus it's not a common part, which I dig.

psyber_0ptix

iTrader: (4)

Looks like it might open up a tiny amount of real estate with less sharp edges compared to the big C shaped thing.

Jumbosrule

Picked up the StopTech BBK and after install my Volk TE37V wheels didn't fit; interference with the spokes.



So I went in search of a different forged high offset lightweight wheel and I happened across a set of Wedsport MA86 wheels - discontinued back in 2002. These were made for the AE86 but they come with dual bolt hole patterns, including a never used (on my set) 4x100 pattern. So I have pristine lug interfaces, which is great on an old wheel.

Two of the wheels are perfect - I'd rate them a 10/10. The other two show some love - one of them had a nasty 3" curb rash that I smoothed out a little with some files.

These are 15x8.5-10 with 225/45R15 Nitto NT01 tires. The wheel weighs 13lbs and got all new valve stems before being mounted.



These wheels are actually a little more narrow than my last set so there is no doubt fitment with the 40mm flares will be fine.

Sorry to see my first "dream wheel" leave the stable.



Without the motor in the car the wheel gaps are not real.

Jumbosrule

Bunch of delays and speedbumps... but finally got my motor completed. I built the bottom end myself about three years ago and since then it has been waiting patiently in my garage. I spent a lot of money that I didnt need to. Made some poor decisions along the way, did a few things twice... but the end result is hopefully what I wanted. This is a 1994 block, now assembled with forged rods and pistons, new bearings and a new OE crank. The top end is a 1995 head with +1mm intake valves, dual springs, new exhaust valves, guides, seals, converted to shim under bucket. I didn't look for a 99 head since I own three 94-97 motors and I'm already happy with my current power levels. ANY improvement in flow is a bonus, which there should be with the new Trackdog piping & IC setup, S2 TB and ported IM. Head will be the flow limiter.

She's home - red valve cover is temporary. Got a new crinkle coat I can't wait to install.


Easy lift out of the Tahoe.


Installing the modified intake manifold with S2 TB, FPR/rail & injectors, coolant reroute & all the small coolant hoses.


Dropping her in.


Seated!

Jumbosrule

After dropping the motor in I waited a couple weeks to get back into it. Hit MLSR in the middle of that break. It hurt so much to be there without the car but I'm still glad I went and I did get to go on track to scratch that itch. Starting point.



V8R Tubular PPF installed.


AWR Reinforced sway bar mounts installed. So solid.



New crinkle valve cover, Maruha CF front timing cover, GarageStar COP bracket, Moroso coolant overflow, Trackdog IC & charge pipes, Skunk2 TB, custom shaved & ported IM, Kraftwerks BOV & Supercharger bracket, C94 compressor, AEM EMS4, ID1000, 5xR APR, Built motor for 400whp, 8400rpm (won't ask for either of those numbers), deleted AC, deleted heater core, Modified M-Tuned coolant reroute,





I gotta say how good I feel about how this looks. No compromises on my build - both form and function for my purposes!


Got a new header blanket and all new fluids coming from TDR; diff, trans & break in engine oils. Still need spark plugs, a supercharger belt. Need to install the supercharger oil cooler loop, as well as all my vacuum lines, but I'm getting a lot closer to turning the key.

crispyBYM

That is one beautiful build! I can only hope my car looks half as decent as yours does one day.

Corifto

iTrader: (1)

Looks cute Brad!

Jumbosrule

Wish I were making faster progress. I feel like I have done a bunch but my photos don't show any progression.

Let's see...

I installed my modified coolant reroute and used a spark plug boot as a heat shield right next to the header. Heater core eliminated from the path.



Here you can see the remote T-stat and where I had a fitting welded on so the mixing manifold hose flows over the T-stat before returning to the head.



Fuel system completed, COPs and new plugs installed.

Front shot - getting very close to putting the front bumper on.

Jumbosrule

I have had ZERO motivation over the holidays to work on my car. This past weekend I think I put in about two hours. I started installing the supercharger oil cooler loop and have it all mounted except for the oil cooler itself. Gonna take some custom mount solutions I think.

I also picked up KazeSpec's dual chamber oil catch can. Since I'm running the Rotrex setup, I had to modify the can a little bit to work. First, the can is 1/2" shorter in length from front to rear. This allows it to clear the Rotrex Supercharger intake... as long as you cut off and replace the vent side inlet fitting. Coming straight off the can interferes with the supercharger intake but using a 90 degree fitting allows everything to clear nicely.



But Brad! Your supercharger intake is pointing straight up? Yes, I know. Everything else about this build is what I like to call, "modified aftermarket" so my new air intake will be coming through the hood. Right now I plan on using a hood cowl scoop over a panel air filter. Not sure exactly how that will work with the shape of my hood.

Test fitting the ViS vented Carbon Fiber hood with the new IC and intake setup. Also test fitting a couple of Carbon Miata headlight covers - one was vented before I decided I needed to come through the hood... so I think I'll sell it and stay with an OE style headlight cover.


The front bumper cover needs to go on before I can finish the Rotrex oil cooler loop, then I still have some wiring to get through before I try to turn the key.

Midtenn

iTrader: (15)

I always lusted over the MA86s back when I had AE86s. I never knew they were dual lug pattern. Maybe I'll have to search out a set someday. Great look project.