Dual carbs are on! I still have to get the carbs set up but it is almost ready. It will be a few weeks before it is on the road though because I have to get the drive shaft shortened for the new transmission.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1404284369

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1404284369

In for vids of dual carb goodness!

This will feel really nice with all of these upgrades.

For a car of this nature, why remove A/C? I would love to rock it, especially with air conditioning for those times when you get caught in the rain.

I really just plan on doing weekend and fun driving with this car. No real daily status. Plus it is Arizona and although it is hot, it never rains. I don't mind the heat.

Fair enough.

Just in my growing up I have come to love the few comforts that really don't make a difference.

Having A/C is nice for those few times you want it. sure it weighs 30-40lbs and the 2hp you free'd up is nice...

but, when your wife wont ride with you because she minds the heat and you really wanted to go for a cruise (with her)... you will understand.

Makes sense. One day A/C may make its way back on the car.

The car was started today with the dual carbs. It became abundantly clear that I have no idea wtf I am doing with carbs.

I had some issues with timing, which I eventually sorted out. Checked TDC, set the distributor up and it started up after some minor adjusting. It idled at like 3000rpm, but I'm pretty sure that is a combination of bad timing and poorly set up carbs. It did sound quite good, so I think the carbs are synchronized, but we will see.

I have only the header on, so it was loud as shit. I just got it started and running for about a minute and then shut it off. Tomorrow I'll get the exhaust on and wbo2 setup so I can spend some time trying to tune.

I'm hoping to have everything set up by the time I get my driveshaft back in two weeks. Still need to:
Drop differential and install new bushings, as well as replace the differential fluid.
Adjust carbs
Bleed Clutch
Install hard brake lines and bleed brakes
Lower seats
Install new gas pedal
Figure out if I really did ruin my new coil and distributor
Install fuel filter and pressure gauge

Still waiting on my damn driveshaft and differential seal. I haven't really been home to do much work though. I did how ever buy a new car. Probably not the car most here will get excited about, but at least the BMW won't rack up a ton of miles and I can now get the historical plates I've wanted (I had to have a second car that is fairly new in order to qualify). The new DD is turbo though, and gets insane gas mileage.

Progress has been slow. Still waiting on parts. The new car is a blast. 1.4 turbo and 6MT, sure the car is big but it moves. Have zero complaints. Love being able to take my time with the BMW and not worry about having something to drive. It's the "Eco" model so the wheels are lightened, has a bunch of extra aero stuff that actually works, and some fancy doors that close off the front at high speeds. I'm averaging 52mpg with the A/C blasting. Here is the daily btw:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1405640303

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1405640303

52? No shit? That's awesome.

If you have it synced properly, the motor will run very smoothly. You will know when you have it right. I would love to see a video of the engine bay when the car is running.

I am jealous of the gas mileage in your new daily. :drool:

52mpg over the course of about 120 miles so far. They did a ton of weight loss magic on the eco model. No spare tire, the lightened wheels, smaller gas tank (13 vs 15 on the regular models), something with the welds, and a bunch of other crap. It is rated at 46 highway but everyone has been getting much better.

I'll definitely get a video once I have the exhaust on... too loud to idle it with just the downpipe, my neighbors would kill me.

I can't imagine doing much of a tune on the carburetors with an open exhaust. It requires a lot of run time, and I think it is easier to pick up on the right sounds when you have a muffled yet healthy sounding exhaust.

You can expect to spend pretty much an entire day getting the tune in the ballpark. And when you realize you don't have the right tuning parts, you will spend another whole day.

Fueleconomy.gov is pretty cool.

Fuel Economy of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

Especially once owners start putting their actual reported mileage up. VW diesels for example, are rated at 35mpg combine. Users report an average combined mileage of 45.

Ah cool. Funny this page: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do has a miata on it lol


The Cruze diesel is the one that gets 46, my eco gets 42. On the diesel forums I've seen people get as high as 72mpg, of course those are the "hypermile" people who really put an effort into getting the best mpg. The turbo really makes it hard to drive efficiently for me, you can really feel when the boost hits.

The eco has a special 6 speed with triple over drive, so 4-5-6 are all over drive. 1-3 are pretty sporty though so around town this thing moves, but on the highway I can sit a 2000rpm at 80.

I can honestly say Chevy built this car with the right ideas. Just hope no more recalls :/

LOL. My 6L G8 doesn't have a spare either. But it doesn't get 52.

I'm averaging about 42 now but I am not gentle. I'd imagine I could get mid 50s on long highway runs. The triple overdrive puts me at about 2100rpm at 80. Worlds better than the miata with a 4.10 and six speed lol.

Just got an email saying the driveshaft should be in Thursday. Having some issues with the 5 speed swap shifter, so I may have some other issues. We'll see. It should at least be drivable by the end of the week.

For those following this the car is driveable once again. Still needs lots of tuning love.

Track vid!

Shit is insane with the lightened flywheel and dual carbs. I tap the gas and chirp the tires. It is all a bit scary since the car still needs to tuned, and the carbs synced. Selling my remaining miata parts to fund the final touches.