Dude.... You wouldn't believe the respect I now have for Corky and crew, FM, and all the other P&P turbo kit builders. Any jackass with a welder and a saw can build a turbo system, I've proven that. But what a feat of engineering to make it all assemble easily and have all the bolts easy to get to....

FMU is in and tuned for base pressure. Turbo / mani / DP are in so I can finish connecting the DP to the exhaust and finally build the turbo to IC charge pipe....

--Alex

 

So it's finally up and running. I'll try and get a bunch of pics tomorrow. Runs well so far, but my laptop crashed so I can't check my AFRs. So, I'm stuck staying out of boost 'till I can get my laptop up....
--Alex

 

nice project!!! so in the end how much did it cost? and I think you should make me a ghetto t3 manifold for cheap!!!!! lol

 

I think I made it under $250. I'll have to add up all the little stuff. The small sections of 2 1/2" hose were a killer....
--Alex

 

Finally the installed pics. Still have a *lot* of work to do. Just picked up the parts for my 02 clamp. Have to check the piping for leaks. And the biggie, BOV VTA + MAF = FAIL.

--Alex

 

Wow... that's truly a thing of beauty. Seriously, I wish I was a simpler man and could justify something like that. What a great learning experience.

In any case, I think it's inevitable that you're going to have coupler issues. That type of hose material and worm clamps means you're a quick spool away from blowing one... are the pipes bead-rolled in any fashion?

I know you're on the cheap, but any chance you're gonna blow the $50 for a couple of dyno pulls?

 

I'm really hoping you do, because you have me (and probably everyone else here) very curious as to what you will run. For as cheap as it is, it looks very functional.

 

OMG, its so ugly and pretty at the same time.
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Very awesome indeed.
Needs pics of radiator shroud.
Still waiting to see a license plate heat shield.

 

Just time for a few updates....

Clocked the turbo so that oil drain don't hit frame. The eBay guy never warned me about that.

Built a Joe Perez spec O2 clamp. Still on a breadboard, but it's doing it job.

Got the BOV recirculated. What a difference in drivability that made. Car just runs a lot smoother in throttle transitions.

Still going a little lean in boost. I've got a 7psi spring in the EWG, but it seems the fuel pump can't supply enough pressure past about 4psi. I had a 1v drop at the pump at idle, so I ran larger gauge wire from the battery and added a new relay. Should get my volt back, hoping that's good for a few lbs of fuel pressure. I'm also going to move my WG boost reference line. I currently have it tapped post IC by the TB. I'm hoping that if I tap it off the compressor housing, that I will see less manifold pressure due to the losses across the intercooler.

Anyone know if the RX-7 fuel pumps will fit, and if so, deliver more pressure?

To answer a few questions.... Yes, once I get the details hashed out, there is a NE dyno day coming up. So we'll see how it does then. Heat shielding is on the way, but not a major concern yet. And there won't be pics of the fan shroud 'till it's finished, sorry.

More progress to come.....

--Alex

 

Oh, forgot about the couplers.... Not issues at 7psi yet. They're not bead rolled. My concern is that the piping is steel and heavy. I'd like to make up some supporting brackets and cross coupler bracing so that the couplers don't have to fight the pressure and hold the piping in place. More on that as it pans out....
--Alex

 

I had someone yesterday ask "Who did the turbo kit for you?"

Made me want to say "Look knucklehead. Did you see the welds on that manifold? Do you think I *paid* someone for welds like that?!?"

My other favorite was.... "Where'd you get the turbo manifold?" - "Home Depot."

--Alex

 

Looks like that did the trick. Running 6 psi instead of 7, and AFRs are no longer dropping off in boost. Just need to adjust the 0 psi fuel pressure to help the vac / boost transition and bump my timing up little by little.
--Alex

 

Wow, it's cool to see what you can do w/ the right tools, some help from the forums/other Mazda lovers, and some determination. Keep the updates coming.

 

this build is awesome. any updates on your MS or dyno runs?

 

MS is in, fuel and spark now. Swapped the low-z 460's in ($10). Running Hustler's spark map. Still need to add the IAT sensor, currently using the one in the MAF.

DIY MBC added. I'm up to about 9psi and have blown my charge piping of a few times, but I'm looking into a new intercooler already. ($15)

Boost is up to 7psi by 2800rpm. Haven't checked at the higher levels, but it comes on quick enough for me.

No dyno yet and still tuning. Still have a lot to clean up on the install, but no real problems yet. So, so far, all is well. Still need to increase the boost. Actually, need to do some more reaserch as to what my pressure limit should be with this turbo. I'm hoping for about 225rwhp to play things a little safe on the stock motor / trans.

--Alex

 

Holy **** batman. That is sooo ugllyyy But for 250$ thats freakin cheap!!!

 

Yea, but I'll probably hit $270 with the 460's and new intercooler.
--Alex

 

Mother of god. This is epic in oh so many ways. From now on this is what I will think of when I think of cheap power. Please post more pics and data. WOW!

 

Hair spray will help keep the couplers on.