Tanro's Diddlyicous MSM Log
So I grabbed this MSM. I will be clear up front, I was just looking for another miata. I was addicted to boost for years with DSMs, so I know about the turbocharging side of FI. But I had sworn them off because DSMs are either boring, or money pits. No middle ground. So I shopped on craigslist for a while.
Was gonna grab a 10th AE with a salvage title needing an engine. But, Alabama is a pita to get a rebuilt title unless you were the owner when it was salvaged.
Then I found a running 10th ae with bolt-ons. But it was a pile crap.
So I found this MSM, did some researches on what made them different. Decided worse comes to worse, I can drive it till the 220k FI engine pops, and then stick a 1.8 VVT engine in it.

Go and check it out. Body is 9/10. Interior is 8/10. Engine is clean enough to eat off of. And it has good compression, drives good, pulls hard (then harder past 5k).
I decided to pull the trigger. Guys pops on 4.5k. Damn I should have lowballed him more.. He was asking 5k.
Polished up driver's headlight. Passenger is new.
Before :

Toothpaste step

Done

New Plugs. NGK Iridiums
[IMG]httphttps://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/10915045_828849917176538_7930907722056145400_o.jpg[/IMG]
De-Chroming it.


Did the antenna bezel and deck plates too... I'm not a fan of shiny metal on my sports cars. Muscle Cars, trucks, and old sedans sure...
Was gonna grab a 10th AE with a salvage title needing an engine. But, Alabama is a pita to get a rebuilt title unless you were the owner when it was salvaged.
Then I found a running 10th ae with bolt-ons. But it was a pile crap.
So I found this MSM, did some researches on what made them different. Decided worse comes to worse, I can drive it till the 220k FI engine pops, and then stick a 1.8 VVT engine in it.

Go and check it out. Body is 9/10. Interior is 8/10. Engine is clean enough to eat off of. And it has good compression, drives good, pulls hard (then harder past 5k).
I decided to pull the trigger. Guys pops on 4.5k. Damn I should have lowballed him more.. He was asking 5k.
Polished up driver's headlight. Passenger is new.
Before :

Toothpaste step

Done

New Plugs. NGK Iridiums
[IMG]httphttps://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/10915045_828849917176538_7930907722056145400_o.jpg[/IMG]
De-Chroming it.


Did the antenna bezel and deck plates too... I'm not a fan of shiny metal on my sports cars. Muscle Cars, trucks, and old sedans sure...
Just have to say, I love the car. I love the MPG, power, and handling. Also love the slightly more aggresive body, and the projectors... AMG the NA had **** headlights, these are great.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
Hory shet. You stole that thing.
Nice find.
Make sure you make a thread about the RX8 too please. Kthxbye
Nice find.
Make sure you make a thread about the RX8 too please. Kthxbye
Oh the RX8 is a piece of crap.
I stole that too, but Im probably gonna get rid of it put my 5.3 ls engine in my truck.
If I can get the trans in my truck fixed underwarranty I will swap the rx8.. But if I need a new one, the rx8 is going bye-bye, and I will have a better truck.
I stole that too, but Im probably gonna get rid of it put my 5.3 ls engine in my truck.
If I can get the trans in my truck fixed underwarranty I will swap the rx8.. But if I need a new one, the rx8 is going bye-bye, and I will have a better truck.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
Course you stole the RX8. It's not worth anything anyway
Still like them though, and I've always thought that an RX8 with an LS swap would make for the most perfect daily ever.
Still like them though, and I've always thought that an RX8 with an LS swap would make for the most perfect daily ever.
This is why/how I stole the rx8

Massive fuckton of hail damage... Got cold before I could finish body work. Still needs body work. But now also needs a clutch, and probably ign coils. Rotary is about shot.

Car had some gangsta wheels on it, so I stuck my set of evo viii track wheels on it.
Payed a transmission shop to put a new 700r4 in my truck, 4k miles on it, and it won't shift out of 2nd, and slips like hell.

Massive fuckton of hail damage... Got cold before I could finish body work. Still needs body work. But now also needs a clutch, and probably ign coils. Rotary is about shot.

Car had some gangsta wheels on it, so I stuck my set of evo viii track wheels on it.
Payed a transmission shop to put a new 700r4 in my truck, 4k miles on it, and it won't shift out of 2nd, and slips like hell.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
ah, that's hideous. lol
If I were to do a V8 swap I'd have to pick up an RX8 that is super clean aside from a bad motor... ideally. Otherwise steal it and beat on it.
If I were to do a V8 swap I'd have to pick up an RX8 that is super clean aside from a bad motor... ideally. Otherwise steal it and beat on it.
Interior is clean, I can do body work. I pulled as much as I could and did a light body fill.
I payed 2250 for the rx8. I offered that, but he wouldn't take it. Called me a month later, and said to come get it for 2250. Sold the gangsta wheels, and I figure if I can get 2400 for it with evo rims I will be breaking even pretty much.
I payed 2250 for the rx8. I offered that, but he wouldn't take it. Called me a month later, and said to come get it for 2250. Sold the gangsta wheels, and I figure if I can get 2400 for it with evo rims I will be breaking even pretty much.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
Ah wow. That's the cheapness.
Enjoy the MSM, great car.
Enjoy the MSM, great car.
Currently I plan to swap the gears for 3.636 rear, and then Cloth top, then a tuning device.
Either MS PnP, Hydra, or DSM link. Not sure I want to figure out how to run Link on the MSM engine.
So used to a 9k readline in the rx8, I will be getting on it in the MSM, and bounce off the redline in 1st.
Either MS PnP, Hydra, or DSM link. Not sure I want to figure out how to run Link on the MSM engine.
So used to a 9k readline in the rx8, I will be getting on it in the MSM, and bounce off the redline in 1st.
I assume you are refering to the 2 stage boost effect? Like the power seens to come on nicely as it crosses boost threshold, then it seems to jump again @ 5K?
I was aware of the asinine engine managment of the MSM. Just not sure about what engine management I want to use.
Hydra seems nice with the Autotune feature.
MS seems nice because other than autotune it does the same things, for way cheaper.
DSM link seems nice because I know how to tune it, and it would be the cheapest, good standalone. (Link is basically a full standalone that runs inside a Mitsubishi PCM and lets you tune like a full standalone, with launch control, antilag, and some other real nice features I wouldn't use on a mx5)
But DSM link would be the most work. I would have to get the injector to play nice, would have to get a CAS that works with link, would need to get coils or COPs that work with mitsubishi stuff. Then I would need to build a patch harness. Big can of worms. Might be easier to learn MS.
I was aware of the asinine engine managment of the MSM. Just not sure about what engine management I want to use.
Hydra seems nice with the Autotune feature.
MS seems nice because other than autotune it does the same things, for way cheaper.
DSM link seems nice because I know how to tune it, and it would be the cheapest, good standalone. (Link is basically a full standalone that runs inside a Mitsubishi PCM and lets you tune like a full standalone, with launch control, antilag, and some other real nice features I wouldn't use on a mx5)
But DSM link would be the most work. I would have to get the injector to play nice, would have to get a CAS that works with link, would need to get coils or COPs that work with mitsubishi stuff. Then I would need to build a patch harness. Big can of worms. Might be easier to learn MS.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,146
Total Cats: 1,087
From: Lake Forest, CA
MS does autotune.
If you're budget minded I'd suggest just keeping an eye out in the classifieds. Within the last 3 months there have been at least 3 or 4 MS2extras, PNP for the MSM, come up in the classifieds and all were less than $700 shipped.
That'd do very, very nicely.
If you're budget minded I'd suggest just keeping an eye out in the classifieds. Within the last 3 months there have been at least 3 or 4 MS2extras, PNP for the MSM, come up in the classifieds and all were less than $700 shipped.
That'd do very, very nicely.
Glad to see DIYautotune has come a lonnnnnnnnng way in the past decade.











