i finally put the miata on the track!
 

The only issue I experienced was turbo / manifold hardware loosing about 5-laps in every time. I need to improve oil-cooler ducting because I'm still seeing 2280* oil temps. Ambient temp was around 90* and I only turned the radiator fans on in 2 of 6 sessions.

I went on the track with new suspension, 1st time on r-comps in my car (driven r-comps in friend's cars), first time on carbotechs, of course 3x the power, and it was my first time on the track in about 2-years. The new suspension was ultra-easy to drive in comparison to my old stuff, and although it didn't feel like I was pushing it, I was picking up the front inside wheel on corner exit, which is lol but indicates that I need to do much more stiffening. Its really, really cool to be able to put down power now, but I must come out and say that I was a total mess out there. Johnwag rode with me and told me to regroup, pull my head out, and relax. On the last session of the day I had the pleasure of running from, then chasing a 230whp SM-T. The extra ~70whp in my car was helpfull because i couldn't quite keep up in the corners (200lb of fat in my car and 2" less tire) but could pull him in the straights.

Anyways:
I learned a lot and forgot how much fun it was to be on the track
shrouding is awesome on the radiator
oil coolers should be big and get lots of air
turbo bolts will loosen
you have no clue how awesome it is to throttle steer a triple-apex over a crest in 5th gear at 85mph if you've never done it
!I'm a shitty driver again!

It was cool to meet the south-texas crew too.

Congrats. I'm really happy that you are getting a chance to enjoy the fruits of your labor, worries, and expenditures. It sounds like it is a lot more fun to drive now. Are you running a stock-type oil cooler also or just the external?

I only have the tube and fin cooler, with the FM 1.6 spacer and mocal plate.

Anyone know the thread pitch and length I need to get "stage 8" BOLTS for the turbo-maniold, and turbo-downpipe? I'm going to just do them all so I never have to do it again. A socket wrench gets really hot, fast when its touching the exhaust bits. lol

There is a lot more car than driver right now. I went from a solid little car that I was probably pusing as far as it would go, to another world out there. I mean seriously, I've stepped into new territory and I didn't think it was going to take soooo much more skill than what I had. This should keep me busy for a few years.

grab some nord lock washers for your mani man and you will be fine.

no one here has more track time than savington, so I'm going his route. if I could get a long enough drill bit to drill the shit I have now, I'd just safety wire it in place.

FM has nord lock washers and their new locking hardware thats even beefier.

Flyin' Miata : Turbochargers : Parts and upgrades : Stage 8 locking turbo hardware(8mm)

they have 8mm and 10mm.

Congrats, btw.

my studs are backing out, not the bolts. I need to fix it one time, and never fuck with it again.

Hell has indeed frozen over! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

This is one of the best news I've heard since I came on this board!

Good job hustler! :bigtu:

This just makes me want to visit my son even more when he goes to Texas this July. I need to see this for myself! :giggle:

Concrats! You've experience all the usual turbomiata@track issues. Very interested in some pictures of your front end, radiator, oil cooler, shrouding, fans and holes.

You know Sav had someone weld a huge flange on his turbo and manifold to keep it bolted together?

next time take a video ;)

i tried, but failed miserably. The first video is 5 seconds long with audio of John and I berating each other about the camera, then I recorded 45-minutes of the car cooling off, then turned it off for the last session...lol.

cameraphayle.aids

@hustler:

Sounds like fun, +1 on video next time. Cant wait to get my car on the track.

Sav has a "fifth bolt" on his flange and still needed to re-tighten regularly, just FYI.

As soon as I determine which sizes to order I'm pulling the trigger on stage 8, but I'd like to know how OEM's get turbo hardware to hold torque.

@hustler: turbo to manifold is 10mm if it's all the latest BEGI equipment, like mine.
Is your turbo to manifold loosening of manifold to block?

i know its 10mm, but is it 1.25 or 1.5 thread pitch, and how long should they be exactly? I have zero room for error with the gt2860rs flange because its so close to the housing that the studs almost touch the round part.

the bolts holding the turbo to the manifold and downpipe are loosening. I looked at the stage8 website and it looks like I can only get 8mm bolts in sets of 4 or 10...anyone want to go in halvsies on downpipe/turbo bolts?

@hustler: FM has 10mm Stage8.

Flyin' Miata : Turbochargers : Parts and upgrades : Stage 8 locking turbo hardware (10mm)
It's 1.5, so I am pretty sure that is what BEGi uses too. I remember a thread about Audi nuts begin 1.25 so that wont work.

Hustler, you are a man now:)

you need help with the camera? Also I found the manual and the other shit so I'll be sending that too ya soon!