Project Poor highschool student build
11-22-2011, 05:27 PM
#1
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Project Poor highschool student build
Let me start off by introducing myself to everyone, the names Kyle (one6withkicks) and let me fill you in on a little background information about how I came into the NA Miata world.
Bought my 1990 Miata I would say a little over 3 months ago, with a DIY turbo kit, This isnt my first boosted car, but this is my very first Mazda. So it has been a huge learning/researching experience for me. I instantly fell in love with the car as soon as I seen it, and swooped down and picked it up for a whopping 3800. (little over-priced) Drove the car a steady 12 psi, with over-fueling problems (had no luck resolving) and eventually 3 months down the road the car hydro-locked (Im assuming) bent a rod, and blew out a chunk of my piston.
And now here I am. On a severe budget build with no car.
Heres a picture of the car the day I got it. I will continue more with pictures of the teardown and such, as I have to work in 30 minutes, but I will try to update as much as possible. It may be hard seeing that it is going to be a slow and tedious process.
Bought my 1990 Miata I would say a little over 3 months ago, with a DIY turbo kit, This isnt my first boosted car, but this is my very first Mazda. So it has been a huge learning/researching experience for me. I instantly fell in love with the car as soon as I seen it, and swooped down and picked it up for a whopping 3800. (little over-priced) Drove the car a steady 12 psi, with over-fueling problems (had no luck resolving) and eventually 3 months down the road the car hydro-locked (Im assuming) bent a rod, and blew out a chunk of my piston.
And now here I am. On a severe budget build with no car.
Heres a picture of the car the day I got it. I will continue more with pictures of the teardown and such, as I have to work in 30 minutes, but I will try to update as much as possible. It may be hard seeing that it is going to be a slow and tedious process.
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11-22-2011, 05:49 PM
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Welcome.
What was the setup on this car when it blew? what injectors? engine management? Looks like a big turbo for a stock 1.6, especially if it wasnt running right.
Good luck with your rebuild. I know how much rebuilding a car in highschool can suck. I rebuilt after 2 accidents and one blown motor in my highschool/nissan days.
What was the setup on this car when it blew? what injectors? engine management? Looks like a big turbo for a stock 1.6, especially if it wasnt running right.
Good luck with your rebuild. I know how much rebuilding a car in highschool can suck. I rebuilt after 2 accidents and one blown motor in my highschool/nissan days.
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11-22-2011, 07:25 PM
#3
I can almost promise you didn't overfuel a 1.6 still running the stock MAF unless there was some electical problem holding an injector open... in which case you'd know.
When you pull the block apart, take pictures of the pistons and post them as there will probably be indications of severe long-term knock.
It looks like all your parts are there but the engine bay looks like a pretty standard cheap DIY build. To get the car running, your cheapest solution would be to buy a used longblock and swap it in whole. Turn the boost way down or disconnect the wastegate actuator completely until you get a real ECU in there. Meagasquirt is cheap and you can even run about 5-6psi on the stock injectors. Work your way up from there.
When you pull the block apart, take pictures of the pistons and post them as there will probably be indications of severe long-term knock.
It looks like all your parts are there but the engine bay looks like a pretty standard cheap DIY build. To get the car running, your cheapest solution would be to buy a used longblock and swap it in whole. Turn the boost way down or disconnect the wastegate actuator completely until you get a real ECU in there. Meagasquirt is cheap and you can even run about 5-6psi on the stock injectors. Work your way up from there.
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11-22-2011, 10:29 PM
#5
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ahahahaha, I had that same setup off the turbo, what a joke. I mean, budget builds are budget, but it sucks. I had a custom 90* piece made so I could put the filter right off the MAF, directly behind the hot radiator. I mean, no bend would fit, it was slash cut, rotated, and welded.
here it is in all it's bandaid glory:
Good luck with your project.
here it is in all it's bandaid glory:
Good luck with your project.
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11-22-2011, 10:48 PM
#6
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Welcome to the club, Kyle!
I will echo the sentiments of others here in speculating that hydrolock is pretty hard to swallow. You'd need a firehose attached to the intake ports to put enough fuel into the engine to flood it while operating under load. Some details on the engine management fitted to the car would be helpful, but know that 12PSI on any turbocharger is definitely getting you into the region where a lack of adequate and well tuned fuel and ignition is a recipe for disaster.
On the plus side, Miata engines are cheap and plentiful. I'm not sure I'd even bother with a teardown and rebuild if you can find a junkyard donor. Hopefully this experience hasn't soured you on the car.
I will echo the sentiments of others here in speculating that hydrolock is pretty hard to swallow. You'd need a firehose attached to the intake ports to put enough fuel into the engine to flood it while operating under load. Some details on the engine management fitted to the car would be helpful, but know that 12PSI on any turbocharger is definitely getting you into the region where a lack of adequate and well tuned fuel and ignition is a recipe for disaster.
On the plus side, Miata engines are cheap and plentiful. I'm not sure I'd even bother with a teardown and rebuild if you can find a junkyard donor. Hopefully this experience hasn't soured you on the car.
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11-23-2011, 02:15 PM
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Welcome.
What was the setup on this car when it blew? what injectors? engine management? Looks like a big turbo for a stock 1.6, especially if it wasnt running right.
Good luck with your rebuild. I know how much rebuilding a car in highschool can suck. I rebuilt after 2 accidents and one blown motor in my highschool/nissan days.
What was the setup on this car when it blew? what injectors? engine management? Looks like a big turbo for a stock 1.6, especially if it wasnt running right.
Good luck with your rebuild. I know how much rebuilding a car in highschool can suck. I rebuilt after 2 accidents and one blown motor in my highschool/nissan days.
The setup was just the standard 40 trim, with a Tial 38mm external wastegate with dump tube, intercooler and all that jazz. Denso 212cc injectors, with an extra 2 injectors before the throttle body. The fuel management is a mappable injector programmer. Called and MF2.
I didnt get many pictures of the teardown, for the reason that I was by myself and I get in the zone when tinkering with cars haha, but I will be sure to start documenting everything as I go.
Heres just some pictures I took on the fly, sorry for the bad quality, I only have my iphone for media.
You can see all the buildup on the first piston.
And here is what caused the car to zoom zoom no more.
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11-23-2011, 03:28 PM
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Took the block and crank to the machine shop today. The guy said block just needed a good honing, and decking, but that the crank would have to be sent out and resurfaced. Which doesnt surprise me. This was what I was waiting for so now I can figure out what size ACL bearings to order.
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11-23-2011, 04:47 PM
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Snapped some pictures of pistons 2 and 4, as you can see the buildup is pretty bad. Thats pretty much how all of the pistons looked. Looks like a fuel issue to me, but then again I may be wrong.
Attachment 28695
And this is how I keep organized. I know its bad, but the roomates get angry when they have a messy garage, so the trunk is the only option.
And this is how my poor baby sits now, all cold and alone with no thrust to drive. Poor thing.
Also forgot to put in this piece, this is the fuel manager.
Attachment 28695
And this is how I keep organized. I know its bad, but the roomates get angry when they have a messy garage, so the trunk is the only option.
And this is how my poor baby sits now, all cold and alone with no thrust to drive. Poor thing.
Also forgot to put in this piece, this is the fuel manager.
Last edited by one6withkicks; 11-23-2011 at 04:58 PM. Reason: Left something out
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11-23-2011, 06:23 PM
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Is the water line feeding the turbo coming from the firewall? Do not think I have ever seen that done before.
Good luck on your rebuild[/QUOTE]
Yes, it is. The guy before me didnt really look like he planned it out much or did any research before he slapped it on. So its a pretty hack saw job.
The builds pretty much at a stand still at this point, waiting on the machine shop and money to buy parts. So its going to be a slow process.
Good luck on your rebuild[/QUOTE]
Yes, it is. The guy before me didnt really look like he planned it out much or did any research before he slapped it on. So its a pretty hack saw job.
The builds pretty much at a stand still at this point, waiting on the machine shop and money to buy parts. So its going to be a slow process.
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11-23-2011, 09:12 PM
#17
I wouldnt pay to have that motor rebuilt, you should just search and find a running stock motor to put in. It would probably be cheaper than machine work.
I was in the same boat as you three years ago, but I didn't blow my **** up. First step I did was installing a megasquirt and learned how to use it. I am highly advising you to buy and install a megasquirt before you put any more boost into the car. I guarantee you will blow up another motor if you continue to run with the current bandaid setup.
I was in the same boat as you three years ago, but I didn't blow my **** up. First step I did was installing a megasquirt and learned how to use it. I am highly advising you to buy and install a megasquirt before you put any more boost into the car. I guarantee you will blow up another motor if you continue to run with the current bandaid setup.
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11-24-2011, 11:43 AM
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I wouldnt pay to have that motor rebuilt, you should just search and find a running stock motor to put in. It would probably be cheaper than machine work.
I was in the same boat as you three years ago, but I didn't blow my **** up. First step I did was installing a megasquirt and learned how to use it. I am highly advising you to buy and install a megasquirt before you put any more boost into the car. I guarantee you will blow up another motor if you continue to run with the current bandaid setup.
I was in the same boat as you three years ago, but I didn't blow my **** up. First step I did was installing a megasquirt and learned how to use it. I am highly advising you to buy and install a megasquirt before you put any more boost into the car. I guarantee you will blow up another motor if you continue to run with the current bandaid setup.
Im getting the motor rebuilt for reliability. I plan on running forged rods, stock pistons, with ACL bearings, ARP headstuds, Gates timing belt, AFPR with larger injectors and a custom made high flow fuel rail and coolant reroute after more research.
I was looking into re-flashed PCM's from Flying Miata, does anyone know anything about how those work?
I dont want to skimp on anything important, but I am on a budget, so getting the car running is my first major priority.
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11-24-2011, 01:01 PM
#19
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That's only available for the 2006+ MX-5, not our Miatas.
Look into MS, they're only $350ish for a standalone ECU if you know how to solder. $400 used, $500 for Brianeack or the like to build you one.
Look into MS, they're only $350ish for a standalone ECU if you know how to solder. $400 used, $500 for Brianeack or the like to build you one.
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