In the mean time ...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1336007649

... the lower control arm bolts were total -----s. Hopefully the front clip will be completely repainted by mid May. All depends on how much life decides to get in the way.

-Zach

Thanks - the .25" aluminum cuts like butta' on the regular-ol-bandsaw so it was a bit of a no-brainer. I HATE screwing around with steel if I don't have to, particularly if it stainless. I didn't even consider it an option ;) .

I cut the inner section out with a 90 dollar Ryobi scroll saw :giggle: ... proof anyone with patience can do this.

-Zach

I think you may have Hornetball beat for cleanest Greddy-based install :rofl:

That bracket and WGA look great, like it was meant to be there! Any chance you would share the source on those? The threaded section would be super easy to extend and adapt to other units. Any reason it wouldn't work with a Garrett & custom bracket?

Keep up the good work!

I bought it from Street Unit about 2 years ago.

Their price is back up: http://http://www.streetunit.com/Forge_Adjustable_Wastegate_Acutator_MSP_p/fmacmsp.htm

Here's the forge website: http://www.forgemotorsport.com/conte...3&catalog=0001

160 list price ... ouch.
-zach

Well, I wasn't going to let another summer pass without a running/driving miata.

So, instead of being manly and finishing my turbo bucket I just bought another :giggle:

'96, all original, 70k, originally a florida car, always garaged, etc.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1338864393

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1338864393

Not gonna lie, after driving this thing I wish I just threw a '99 block with a shaved head and a MS into my '90 and spent the rest of my $$$$ on ASTs. Le sigh ... live and learn.

-Zach

Well, after a summer of distractions the cooler weather is rolling back in so it's time to make progress.

I threw the engine on a stand, stripped of all the accessories, degreased it (man, a leaking CAS and cam seal can sure make a mess), and started replacing all the critical seals.

My 1.6 stares in envy (now that I own a 1.8, I really wish I started this project with one).

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1347294758

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1347294758

Can anyone recommend a good aftermarket rebuilt alternator? The bearings in mine are on their way out.

Also, since I've had 2 OEM regulators fail on me, I'm thinking of upgrading to an aeromotive. This leads to another question, has anyone ran one of these with a M-Tuned rail? I really don't want to drill and tap my rail at this point and the o-ring should be OEM robust.

-Zach

I've been doing some gauge cluster work to cure winter boredom - more detailed pics once I finish designing the gauge faces in Ai (Adobe Illustrator for you non-creatives).

Shitty phone pic alert:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1364835127
without the shift light trim ring:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1364835127

I moved the oil pressure gauge to the water temp spot and ran lead wires from power and signal (the ground lines up with the flex circuit).

LEDs are left overs from a medical marijuana vaporizer project at work :idea: (10v Dialight 249 for those interested). The two amber lights will be wired at some point down the road for oil/water temp warning lamps.

I also embedded my raptor shift light into the area once populated by all the OEM warning lamps.

Gauge rings are black ano aluminum from RS Refine (group buy on CR).

I'm also designing matching gauge faces for my AEM gauges in the center console.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1364835127



Hopefully the snow will be melted this week and I can paint the engine bay and started bolting things back together. It's only taken me 3 years to get this far. :facepalm:

Where in the hell do you work? :rofl:

I really like those rings, I may have to see if I can find them on CR. Did you print those faces? Are they going to be UV stable? Nice work!

"Where in the hell do you work?"

I'm an industrial designer for a medical development consultancy. The variety of projects we get is rather ... interesting.

"I really like those rings, I may have to see if I can find them on CR"

I've got a set in my DD '96 (polished aluminum though). I might let them go for the right price.

"Are they going to be UV stable?"

They're just test prints right now. I was going to take the Revlimiter approach which is listed on his website. I might have custom dry transfer decals made instead and apply them to thin styrene ... not sure yet. I need to do some testing.

-Zach

The weather has been tolerable as of late (not 20 degrees, not 80% humidity, i.e., it's May/June). As a result, progress has been good and it looks like the car will finally come together this year.

The engine was degreased, painted, WP and timing belt replaced with new oil seals.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1371433282

Started the coolant reroute. Waiting for my custom hardline to be welded up. I don't know why you guys say these reroutes are so hard ... plenty of working room :giggle:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1371433282


While I wait for the hot parts to get ceramic coated, I decided to finally address the engine bay (with some much needed assistance from my father whos painted far more cars than I).

Base/clear classic red. The wheel wells, chassis, and trans tunnel received SEM rust shield via a foam roller - came out tits.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1371433282

...and shit going back in. I have way too many hours restoring the headlamp assemblies. Also added DEI head shielding to the trans tunnel to hopefully fend off future calf burns.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...08667942_n.jpg

I've created a new alternator bracket using 8mm aurora rod ends and buttoned up the engine. More proper pics to come.

-Zach

Well, after many years of dragging ass the car is hopefully a month or so away from running (notice I left out 'driving'). I've also become an adult and started hosting my images on imgur.com AND bought a CanonS100 AND leveled my images in PS. Crispy crisp.

Anyway

I took my hot parts to get cerakoted last week and in the mean time I bit the bullet and bought some ebay COPs. Since my camcover was already powdercoated I took the low impact approach to COPs mounting - stainless m5 male/female standoffs from M-Carr with some .180" ABS plastic spacers between the COP housing and the COP seal (bonded with RTV).

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1373927327

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1373927327

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1373927327

And some bling while it's still shiny (debating going the powdercoat route).

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1373927327


Also, MODS - feel free to change the thread title as it sucks.

-Zach

You've been around long enough to know better than to say things like this... :eek4dance

Good progress, better than my stockmobile. Did you tap directly into the cover for the standoffs, and are these .180" plastic spacers homebrew, or are they some sort of premade ring? Because it came out incredibly clean.

I tapped the camcover for the standoffs, then jb-welded the threads and RTV'd the backside of the standoff (since it was through drilled) ... I don't see oil working its way through, especially since 2 off the standoffs are behind the sheetmetal plate so it won't see any oil sloshing.

McMaster-Carr

The spacers/rings are home brew. Just some sheet stock ABS, Rigid holesaws/drill, and some file work over a beer.

NPT/AN fittings and COP pigtails came in this morning ... time to slap this b*tch back on the head.

Now that my OEM water neck is gonzo, my plans are to fab up a custom breather set up which mounts to the front of the engine using the two unused bolt threads on the cam cover ... blur your eyes an imagine (added bonus: I only need to buy 2 feet of -8an PTFE hose).

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1374164761

Hot parts should be back from the coater tomorrow and then the engine gets dropped back in. Woot-woot.

-Zach

Wired. I just need to test continuity one more time while on the bench.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1374774170

It's been a good day - finished the COPs harness, got my summit shipment, AND the powdercoater called saying the parts were ceramic coated and ready to pick up. Engine in by the end of the month? Maybe!

The million hour/dollar Greddy build continues :party:

-Zach

clean, brah!

Damn... i would rather buy a COP setup from you, than anywhere else ive seen. SOOOOOOO clean! awesome job!

Thanks brah ... so Brainy, can you change my title to something more imaginative? I give you full creative freedom.

As far as making the harnesses for others ... no thanks. It's fiddly work (and not in a fun way). If I were to do it again I would pony up for a crimper so I could avoid pigtail connectors ... live and learn. Hopefully my splices hold up.

-Zach

NP, i got you, bro.

That'll suffice.

-Zach