Where you been Slug? Hibernating?! Two years, geeze mate, lift your game ...

Good thing you posted that link, dunno why I haven't see this before, but there you go! Great read, you get around a bit!

You ever thought of getting a red one, I hear they go faster?

2022 was a lot about finding a house to buy, which we did, and we were quite lucky to find one with a very very large downstairs internal space/garage that affords an excellent workspace for the car (and maybe more project car later :D) as time and resource allows.

I did do some work on the car and it was a great feeling to be able to work and do a little easy peasy fabrication in my own space with my own stuff rather than rely on the friends shed... I do miss the hoist though.
It is a 2.4m height in this garage so I will be able to have a half height hoist in there later on.

I mainly wanted to address the spiking oil temps I noted at the track in 2021.
Those spikes were definitely uncharacteristic of the car when I hadn't changed anything that could impact that after the new tuning, and the way the spikes came down very quickly also didn't point to something drastic.
So I decided to add cool... (not cool factor) with preventative things I had wanted to do anyway - an oil cooler and have the exhasut manifold coated and wrapped.

A pal with a turbo MX5 who had upgraded his oil cooler bequeathed me his old one, and I got to work researching making AN10 fittings.
Made brackets, built the lines, grabbed the sandwich plate most recommended here, and a spacer, put it all together, and amazingly no leaks!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...cb1eac8d66.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...a79aeccf62.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...9e5516b3aa.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...948b290f53.jpg

It was actually well after I'd gotten into building the oil coooler setup that I ripped out the manfold to take for coating.
With the manifold out I discovered something very telling...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...d88963b6ef.jpg
This shrouded wire runs down to the secondary oil temp sensor in the sump... and it was a bit melty from being routed down along the tipstick which placed it very close to the exhaust. The original wire also used to go down near this spot but was further away. I'd say this is really what caused the spiking temp reporting but probably wasn't actually the oil temp spiking. Onwards and upwards.

Manifold coated and wrapped.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...32f7ef53e0.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...1f194c9adc.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6842763de1.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...385e904689.jpg

Also changed to an inexpensive short shifter with an extension to put it a bit closer to my hand on the wheel. I thought it would take more getting used to than it did but feels a lot the same as the stock.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...9ca1839b86.jpg

Got one track day in with the oil cooler in there and the with the wire sorted and the temps were back to normal. And still no leaks but I check it constantly out of fear :D.
No video from that day unfortunately.
I'm also pleased to report I now have a hans device and helmet to suit as well.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...3f1cf7e241.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...60012d35ec.jpg

Latest nice-ish photo.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...fb9077ad9c.jpg

I'm hopeful for at least four trackdays this year and have booked time off early to give me the best opportunity.

It does still have the cowl intake that is unchanged. A cowl intake does sound very nice and not actually that far removed from angry ITBs when you put your foot down :D

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b913685a10.jpg