So, I started installation of my turbo/mani/dp today, and it looks like I have some issues.

Pic 1 is what the stuff looked like upon arrival.

Pic 2 shows the O2 bung that Ben so kindly welded on to my DP yesterday for a wideband. Not bad, eh?

Pic 3 is the mani and turbo on for a test fit. Notice the turbo outlet points almost directly at the power steering. The guy I bought the mani/dp from had it made by Tony, and said it was made for to fit with AC and PS installed. To get it to even fit on, I had to remove the power steering line from the reservoir to the pump. Also, the oil drain jabs directly into the back lower radiator hose. I might be able to re-route that a bit and remove power steering, so maybe still ok.

Pic 4 shows where the DP exits in comparison to the stock cat position. I was also told that it would bolt directly to the stock exhaust location. Yeah right.

Pic 5: You think I've been running a bit lean on my stock setup?

 

Pic 6: Here's what a semi-installed bottom mount turbo looks like on a Miata.

Never realized until I see the pictures just how crowded/nasty my bay is.

 

You really ought to see my engine bay...

And thats not exactly a direct fit on the DP...you aren't kidding about that one.

 

I'm not saying I'm right, but from my own exhaust while it was stock, that cat position (and cat fitting) doesn't look like it's the stock position anyway...

but good luck with the install.

 

Looks like you need to hog out the manifold's turbo flange bolts a little and to rotate the turbo a couple of degrees. That should get the end of the dp in a better position.

BTW, isn't that dp 3" reducing to 2.5"? I ask because I think I have a 2.5" test pipe in my box-o-spares with the tilt and offset flanges.

 

You have to be like the tenth person here that got a "custom" DP that should have bolted to the stock cat and it didn't....me included...just get teh rest of the build together, drive it to an exhaust shop and spend the $50-100 for them to hack off the flange and extend it to the cat.

 

Yeah, there's plenty to do before I start worrying too much about the DP meeting the cat. It is indeed reducing to 2.5", Ben. It'd be too good to be true for a test pipe to make up the difference, but who knows?

I think the turbo outlet would be much better without power steering. I'm not ditching AC, and I can't believe that the PS delete tensioner pulley for AC only cars is $80. Rip off, but maybe worth it.

I'm hoping a trip to Advance Auto will yield a decent radiator hose that'll get around the oil drain flange. Right now, the flange outlet is literally stabbing that back radiator hose.

I worked a bit on the intercooler setup. I'm dropping the radiator and tilting it back a bit. Squeezing the IC between the rad and the condensor will be ok I think. I should be able to squeeze it in there and go over the top.

All in all, I do like the bottom mounted turbo. It'll be a pain in the *** to service anything on the turbo, but oh well.

 

can you move the hoses out of the way like i did?

or just get a megasquirt and delete the AFM and dont run a filter

 

Heh, should have said something earlier, I had that pulley until just a few days ago.

 

I tried moving the hose, but the hardline on the flange is the biggest obstruction. In fact, I cracked it trying to reroute the lines. Somebody here fabbed one to go straight down, but methinks even that would block the turbo outlet.

I like the idea about MS though

 

Wish I had known a few days earlier That would have meant this project were further along

 

in all seriousness, deleting it, would be the easiest/smartest thing.

 

Yup. I guess I can just delete it, loop the lines, and run without the AC belt until I talk myself into getting an AC-only belt and tensioner.