Fixed the timing, but it's still lumpy and dies after startup. I'm wondering if warmup enrichment is making it too rich.

edit: ok found a vacuum leak, and fixed it. It idles steadily and at 10afr. This I can try to work with because at least it doesnt cut out anymore. I still need to bleed the clutch and verify base timing. my timing light stopped working.

 

Please don't go a month without updates, it makes us want to send out a search party. Hopefully no news is good news?

 

Well... I still can't figure out why the basebase timing is off so much for an NB motor. Instead of being between 5 -7° its in the upper teens.

I'm waiting on a set of stock coils and might try that.

I'm a bit afraid to run the car with hoopty timing while trying to break the motor in, but it does start and run.

Maybe I have to call out the big guns and lure Braineack to my place with cats

 

I just finished moving into the place I've been renovating so I'll have time to touch this project again. I need to register the car then really figure out this timing thing. The car I'm using now just sprung a leak in the radiator and I'd really like to transition into using the Miata.

Anyone in the NOVA area want to lend a hand in a quick troubleshoot?

 

So electric taping a plug wire to the FAB9 cop, I was able to get a better signal for base timing. It looks like it was spot on around the 6.5 degree range so I'll take it.

Idle surges a bit, and there is a tiny coolant leak from the back somewhere I must find. I registered the vehicle and now have 30 days to get it inspected and emissions tested.

Anyone wanna help set the car up? (paging Brain)
I'm still in the process of finishing house renovations and have such little time to commit to getting the car sorted within the month (safety/emissions). Will $

 

Purchased some new suspension. Anything Vlad is trying to get rid of is probably more than good enough for my car.

Progress, slowly but surely.

 

What suspension is coming out?

Any idea where the coolant leak is coming from?

 

I'm going to redo the reroute a bit. The thermostat housing isn't sealing well, I think the t-stat gasket being used is the thinner one, and there's a plush fat one that can be used in it's stead. I also ordered a large 90° 1.25" silicone elbow so that might clean up plumbing a bit. That's it though. UV flashlights are awesome for leak hunting.

Hopefully that'll be done tomorrow, but I really am clueless on how to set the car up well. I tried calling two dyno places, left messages, emailed...no response.

I need to get things sorted before the end of the month (by law). Maybe I'll just go and fail safety and emissions to buy 30 days time.

 

The thermostat housing from the M-tuned reroute kit was leaking a bit. It may not have been tightened down enough, but upon inspection the thermostat gasket also looked to be in rough shape. Replaced the thermostat and gasket to the stant numbers thrown around on the forum. I used the fatter gasket with a square cross section that was referenced in the M-tuned replacement parts thread, but it seems like the thermostat is still able to shift slightly within the housing, even when fully tightened (I ran to home depot to use their PVC wrenches). Not sure if I should be using any thread sealant on the housing?

Anyway, ran the car, and refilled the coolant. I have the Dyno booked this Saturday at York Automotive in Mount Airy MD. Hoping for no surprises.

 

I'm starting to think there are 2 different versions of the housing, or 2 different thermostats and associated gaskets that were specc'd for the housing.

IIRC I had to lube up the gasket pretty aggressively so get the housing tight enough that it wouldn't leak. I think I used some Shin Itsu stuff I purchased for the window tracks because I had it handy. Bare aluminum on the rubber gasket would bind and I couldn't get it tight. I added lube and got more compression and no leaks. Its something to try anyway.

 

That's a great idea. If it ends up leaking again, I'll change the gasket once more and try giving it a snug. I wonder if the seal swells any bit once heat and pressure is applied. I'm going to start the car up again tonight (now that the whole engine bay is dry) and see if that leak came back. I need to have it ready for AAA to send up tomorrow morning.

 

 

301whp @5800
308tq@4800
16psi

 

<p>That's so beautiful.</p>

 

Sorry, jsut got back. It's fun to drive, but it doesn't "feel" fast because delivery is so predictable. They said at 18psi it would spin second and third on a roll, so they just dialed it back because it's just silly right now. I need to put that new suspension in and maybe look into new brakes. Idle up during the fans is crazy, it's idling at 2500 right now, otherwise everything is ok. I do need to figure out if I'm keeping A/C, and maybe change to a 180° thermostat. It's got a 195° in there now and the fans kick on quite a bit in this hot weather. Also thinking about hood vents, especially if keeping A/C.

Still hoping Brain will find some time to comb through it. I trust him quite a lot more, I just had to get something done enough to drive it reliably to get safety and attempt emissions.

 

that is some good power man, congrats. now gotta iron out all the details, but you've got yourself a fast car
I bet with some more work on the ebc and timing tables, you can pick up more lowend too

 

Nice work Psyber, that is very nice looking for 16 psi!

 

Car is acting a bit funny, it just idles high and when restarting while engine is warmed it'll stall two or three times waiting for the o2 sensor to heat up.

Driving around sometimes under a little bit of load, it stutters then spikes lean. But it's random. I don't think it's setup too well and I'm still in fix-the-house mode. May take it for a retune somewhere else.

 

IAT heat soak? Mine does a little of that with a good IAT location. It would be worse with a bad one.

 

The IAT is right after the intercooler outlet tucked behind the bumper away from the radiator. But I may as well replace it just in case. I'll try to monitor it more closely especially after sitting and trying to restart