Thanks. I used the word copycat a little tongue-in-cheek but it is mostly meant as a kind of hat tip to all those that blazed the path I'm following. I don't feel like I innovated a lot on this build but it was still enough of a challenge for me. I'm glad that it's helping you though, as that was the whole point. It may not be a terribly unique build, but sometimes it's just that one extra picture that someone posted that helps one understand what the FAQ was talking about (assuming they read the FAQ).

So this is in a drivable state. When are we going to meet up? We'd better do it before thirdgen starts to tear his car apart.

LOL, I think it's too late for that

Well, it WAS drivable until tonight. As we speak it's going up, way up, on jackstands. 6psi of boost sucks, so I'm fast forwarding my schedule and installing the FM1 clutch now.

Lesson to noobs, don't do what Donny Don't does (Simpsons reference) and think it's a good idea to just run the stock clutch while you learn how to tune. You will want to run ALLOFIT immediately. You do this at your own risk, of course.

Edit: Anyway, after the clutch I want to get together with Ken Hill for a dyno tune session and then we should all meet up.

Hahaha sounds like me. Popped a hose of my powercard and thought I destroyed my clutch... Only the 3rd time I had my tranny out... Let me know if you need any help.

Oh yeah? Whatcha doing this weekend? :makeout:

I'm elbows deep in a 370 project, but I'm sure I could spare a few hours to help a fellow miata owner

Thanks Patrick!!!

On another note, does anyone use their (reinforced) frame rails as jackstand points? I tried it out on the back end, and I could get about another inch or so in height if I used the frame rails for both ends. I've always used the seam welds...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1368155948

If I remember right, I put my jackstands under the bulky midsection of my control arms.

Any updates on your build, Adam? I still haven't even got to install my MS. Stuff just keeps coming up and getting in the way.

Hey Ray. I've put about 100 miles on the new clutch and so far so good. I've road tuned most of the non-boost rows and so far the car runs and drives real nice. I'm still running wastegate pressure for now while I work on getting some miles on the clutch for its break-in period. It's taking a lot of self control to not plant my right foot in it 100% of the time but I'm trying to behave.

Lets see what else - I have all the interior back together and the bracing back on the car. Just did an oil change. I do need to improve the ducting around the intercooler/radiator but that will come with time.

Awesome news...happy to hear you're almost there. Just go for a long drive and get that clutch broken in! Did you install the clutch yourself? All I really have left to do to get the MS going is have a bung welded for my wideband...if I can ever find the time to get down from the mountains and over into the muffler shop. I swear I must be on the 2-3 year build plan.

dyno tuning
 

This was the big weekend for me - finally the time had arrived to do some dyno tuning on my fresh build.

First I need to give props to Ken Hill for making the tuning session go so smoothly and for keeping up with my constant correspondence as I was prepping for this weekend. He also took the time to educate me on every step he took during the tuning process and I think I learned quite a bit. I especially appreciate his willingness to work around a red hot turbo and correct my improper wastegate actuator arm adjustment (I had zero pre-load on the actuator arm and it showed on the first couple pulls).

It took about 1.5 hour on the dyno and then another hour of fine tuning on the street and we were all done. I'm really happy with the numbers we achieved and the way the car drives. It starts great, idles great, runs great, and pulls so hard to redline it's just a riot.

I exported a graph showing the first base level pull and the last run of the day. When I brought the car to Ken it was just running 6psi (with an improperly adjusted actuator arm) and base maps. Run #8 was done at 12psi and is where the car is at now.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1370227412

And now the big question:
"Was it worth it?"

Well let's see.... :skid:
Given the fact that I can't stop laughing whenever I put my right foot hard in it...I'd say yes! :party:

That's great dude. 'Congrats.

200wtq at 3.5k makes for one heck of a fun street car.

wooohooo, mad torque yo. Congrats. Now get some videos of this thing ripping up the streetz.

How much boost, btw ? Do you have a log of the run?

Thanks guys. For a budget build from someone who knew nothing about turbos before joining this site I'm loving the results.

12psi. Ken did email me logs but I haven't gone through downloading DLL yet so I can't view them yet.

Congrats man, looks like a blast! Glad you're learning so much. Great job.

Just a little update. I've put about 1,200 miles on the car since the turbo install was completed. So far (crossing fingers) there has been no issues and it's performing just as good as it ever has. I've just made one change so far, and that's the addition of a partial FM turbo heat shield. It was one of their prototypes when developing the shield for the FMIIR kit and I got it for a substantial discount since it was missing the top. Thirdgen gave me a piece of diamond plate aluminum that I will make into the top when I have a chance.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1373056890