The Gleas

I guess it is time to get more active in the forum and properly introduce my car and myself. I've been reading and researching on here for a long time. My name is Andy I am a Mechanical Engineer, live in the Elmira/Corning area of upstate NY, and an avid Miata enthusiast. I admit I have a problem and am addicted to car parts. So read on for my adventures in the world of boosted miatas we all love. I know I will get the hate for Supercharged but It was a solid deal and I am very happy with it.

Let's start at the beginning. I purchased the car in May 2011 from an older gentlemen who used it pretty much only for autox. It had a lot of the "goodies" when I bought it. At least that's what I thought (not knowing nearly what I know now...) It was a 95 with about 56,000 miles on it, ground control and koni, Flyinmiata sway bars, 4.10 Torsen, racing beat header, Harddog double diagonal rollbar, and a few other things. It was a solid clean example and well known in the local autox community. So I picked it up and autox'd it as is for that season, put some star specs on it and had at it. The next season installed some fatcat motorsports bumpstops because apparently there wasn't any; autox'd as is again.

Then 2013 happens... I start getting a little bored first thought is to sell it. But then I find a used complete MP62 kit. BRP 6 rib, TDR intercooler, Big throttle body, Deutschwerks fuel pump, injectors, powercards (fuel and timing), and it was reasonably priced. So I throw it on mid season couple weekends worth of work, intercooler actually takes longer than the SC install but this is my first boost build so I took my time. I tune it with the fuel cards some. Mind you I'm tuning blind so I try to keep it richer but not stumbling on its self plugs were a little dark and exhaust definitely smelled rich. I also stepped down to the larger pulley that came with the kit. Run it for the rest of the season no issues other than my clutch is slipping. So starts the progression into full on project car and no longer weekend toy.

2014 season not as eventful... Install clutch, A/F gauge, Boost gauge and raised the suspension a 1/4" (surprisingly made a drastic improvement). Since I have the clutch upgraded I do back to the smaller pulley and use the powercards and A/F gauge to tune everything; again keeping it a very safe tune under 12. Run the car for autox and still have trouble catching the Vettes in the local SSM category; though gave them a solid run for their money a few times.

This brings us up to the current build this year which is pretty extensive and I will cover in another post. I will also add photos at some point.

The Gleas

This is where things start to get interesting. I end up with a fair amount of extra money, after student loans are paid off and a work assignment in a foreign country for 4 months. So I start to think about what I should do with the car. First thought sell it and buy a C5 Z06. Now I could have done this but my Miata really deserved to be let's say properly built, since we all know its never finished.

So my supercharger required a rebuild (it probably needed it when I bought it didn't have a solid history of it) That happened at the end of the 2014 summer and I got one event on it after the rebuild. I also had a megasquirt laying around that needed to be installed. So I figured lets go nuts and give this car the proper set up it deserves.

I ordered:

949 racing BGK (700f/400r) gen 2 xidas
Mazda Comp motor mounts
Alignment bolts
Koyo 37mm radiator
Jackson Racing Header (had to go back to a stock to clear SC)
949 racing standard brake kit (stainless lines and XP8 pads all around)
Found a used hard top Mazda factory unit
Differential Mounts
Cat delete pipe
New Header blanket
Timing belt and water pump
15x9 6ULs bronze with 225/45 Rivals (these are for test fitting and will get A7 Hoosiers)
Injectors (RX7 460cc cleaned and flow tested)
Hood props (slightly classier than the piece of wood I was using)
Butterfly brace
Frog arms
15x8 Jongbloed Bronze wheels with RS3s for DD duty

So my buddy was kind enough to give me a helping hand to install most things while I was out of the country for work. In exchange he gets all of my old suspension components and to run my car at any autox he wants. We are almost complete with the major things. Timing belt and radiator install are the last big things. Then it is go through and double check everything, set ride height, roll fenders, suspension tuning, and finally engine management. The chassis bracing will be weekend projects during the season most likely.

The Gleas

When I got the car in 2011 plus it should permit anyone to see the whole album of pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...6&l=abf092d425

The Gleas

Out with the old and in with the new.

cyotani

iTrader: (8)

Nice parts list you got going there. I recently went from koni/gc to xidas and have no regrets. Worth every penny if you plan on keeping the car for a while. They ride so much better on the streets too.

for header I think emilio did a comparison between a few back to back and the racingbeat came out on top. So if your scraping for every HP that might be a better choice over the jackson racing.

edit: nvm i see you already have it on hand

The Gleas

Not scrapping for every horsepower just yet. But the racing beat did not fit under the supercharger without modification.

Thanks for the info about the Xidas as soon as this snow and salt are gone I get to find out how well they really do ride. I did not like the GC set up very much (plus come to find out the previous owner had the longer stiffer springs in the rear vs the front)

The Gleas

Time for an update!!

The car is almost complete and ready for dyno tuning. I got the fenders rolled and new 6uls fitted. I had a slight mishap on my test run (still on the powercards) apparently the crank pulley doesn't fit through the supercharger pulley oops. Key walked out and pulley slipped on the shaft. Lesson learned the hard way. Reassembled got everything running and beat on it some more all was good.

So start the megasquirt install and start up. Should note I bought this DIYPNP from someone who already had this running on his car for about 1000 miles then abandoned his turbo build plan. This went a lot smoother than expected as I swapped out injectors, plugged in ECU, wired up Air Fuel to MS, scaled injectors and it fired up right off the bat first turn of the key. Then set base timing and it already idles way better than the powercards ever did. So plus one to standalone engine management!!!!! This weekend will be wire clean up and some test driving on the base tune. Nothing crazy as I will be taking it to Oracle Tuning in a couple weeks.

The Gleas

So this weekend was high stress but a lot of fun. I was finally able to take the car down to APTuning for an alignment and corner balance. Ken Hill at Oracle Tuning set me up on the dyno on Saturday and got the megasquirt dialed in a lot better than it was. We will continue to improve from this base map. Attached is the dyno plot 235 whp and 195 ftlbs. (very happy with these numbers) I really appreciate Ken taking the time to show me everything he was doing and letting me learn. The car is running and driving better than it ever has with the supercharger. Sunday was a great day at autox NOTHING BROKE or felt weird after all the changes I made this year. Now to put on the Hoosiers and take full advantage of all changes made this off season!!!

The Gleas

Well finally got the first Autox event with everything (slicks included). First off WOW that's a huge change from last year (As it should be, but everything was well worth it). Also I was the second fastest car only beat by a well prepped SM EVO on new slicks as well. Their will be an FTD in my future. I definitely have a lot to learn and look forward to learning on the car. Several more autox events to go this summer and at least one trip to the drag strip. (hopefully that doesn't move the 6 speed swap up...) Next up to install is the Butterfly brace and the frog arms. Then this years build is done and I have already started thinking about next year. Start cleaning up some things that are bothering me. And if I break anything build it better.

EDIT: Running Autox with the Southern New York Region

The Gleas

Dyno video I should have posted this video a few weeks ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_whB...ature=youtu.be

The Gleas

Some Serious detailing went down this weekend. My Girlfriend has her own detailing business and we decided to help sponsor a small local car show. She was awesome enough to do my Miata before we went. The poor thing has been neglected because racecar for a while now. She wet sanded, buffed, and polished the car. I will almost feel bad the next time I run into a cone... Also I was the fastest car at the last local autox event. Video link below.

The Gleas

Tow rig and trialer!!!! Conservative tune can go out the window!!!! Spare motor, spare transmission, and towing capability.



Tow rig

Girz0r

iTrader: (1)

Off topic, but this ^

How was this started? Does she do all the work herself??

The Gleas

I am ok with off Topic. We actually setup an LLC Partnership together. We used a lawyer and accountant just to make things easier and that things were correct. Hindsight, we probably could have handled it ourselves. We still use the accountant for checking and making sure our financials are in order however. I am actually very pleased with the ease of setting this up.

She had a lot of the equipment so there was very low investment start up for us. Currently she does most of the detailing at our house or mobile. I will be converting my old tire trailer to a detailing trailer for her and getting a hitch for her focus. In the future if things get busy enough we will investigate a building. The building adds to my personal goal of getting a dealer license so plus there.

Also should note the Girlfriend has been upgraded to Fiancé. (she is a car person I can use the upgraded term...)

Girz0r

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like you have a keeper And congratulations on the upgrade!

From just observation of the up close photos of water droplets, it looks like she knows how to really polish Car looks great!

The Gleas

Alright so it has been a while since I have updated or commented... But the autocross season was in full swing and I was really busy running the local events. The car has been running great some minor issues here and there but nothing major. Below is the last event I ran.

The real question is what do I do next... I have the butterfly brace and frog arms I intend to install. I plan to do a coolant reroute and some general maintenance. Small oil leak from front main seal I believe. Foamectomy needs to be done. Next year I plan to attend an EVO school and begin doing track days. I do not have the funds this year to build the spare motor I have nor do I think I have the money to do a ring and pinion swap for the six speed swap. I may start playing with my tuning just to get some more experience. I guess the right thing to do is drive it at this level since it seems to have reached a pretty reliable but really fun point... Thoughts and opinions are welcome. I could just sell the car and start over on something new...