Clapped Miata with eBay turbo kit
 

Hi all, this is my first time using a forum usually I just use Facebook groups. I got a Miata 2 days ago that is pretty worse for wear, wiring seems to be a nightmare but it’s on megasquirt, and runs. But it doesn’t drive. The car will idle just fine until you give it gas, then it leans out and tries to stall, it’s just a 1.6 with a eBay turbo kit, rx8 injectors. Not sure where to start I’ve adjusted the map multiple times and I just can’t seem to figure it’s out.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...17268d42a.jpeg

Welcome. :wavey: This car is the amalgamation of what everyone here says not to do to have any semblance of a decent running car. The first thing that jumps out at me is that hood dump exhaust can't have a properly functioning O2 sensor. Also whatever the rollbar/push handle thing is looks really dangerous, you should think about removing it. In regards to your tune issues, I have found that it's always better to just do a fresh re-install of all standalone components (IAT/WB/Vacuum source) plus any other wiring associated to really understand what's going on with the systems in the car. It's a headache now but it will be worth it in the long run to know it's done properly. When I bought my turbo car the WB was routed through a grommet in the floor pan and under the outside of one of the frame rails. That scared me enough to just redo everything and I came out much better. If you stick around here and do some reading you will come out with a solid running car and the know how to keep it healthy.

According to previous owner it’s not a roll bar, and I’d sure hope that’s not what it’s intended to be as it’s not firm at all. It’s a brace for a bikini top but I have no interest in continuing that. I’m just going to get a regular top for it and delete whatever that thing is.

Also make sure not to drive at night in traffic until you revert back to stock headlights.

Whys that? The LED pods work great

I'm not worried about the headlights.

He is right about it's never being able to be tuned with a dump exhaust. Spend $200 on a downpipe and some straight pipe at a minimum to get started. Then you can use autotune to get the fuel map sorted out. Until then you won't be able to do much. Autotune is fantastic.

Beware the huge majority of "RX8" 550cc injectors on the market are neither RX8 or 550cc. Common knowledge they are Chinese and vary wildly in actual flow, even within the same batch. Possible to not only make it difficult to tune but will likely have one/some cylinders rich and others lean causing a destroyed engine. I hate to tell you to spend some money on that thing but...

For what it's worth, very few real RX8 injectors made it to the secondary market. RX7 460's on the other hand, were plentiful.

AFAIK these were pulled from a genuine RX8 from a junkyard. The dumped thing I completely get. Lucky for me previous owner set up a v band flange on the turbo so I should be able to get a downpipe and straight pipe done fairly easily. I have no problem spending money on it, I have a big turbo Volkswagen, I’m just trying to prove to my girlfriend that we SHOULD spend money on it. When it first starts and runs okay, I was able to slide it around in the yard with her and I think that bought me some money to spend. Haha

Slide around the yard?

Are you a wannabe amateur drifter?

That's cool then. Save the money on the downpipe. Jack up the car and slide underneath it and have the girlfriend lower the jack.



j/k

Don't hurt yourself.
Drifting is the figure skating of motorsports and is made fun of by people who do open track days.

Not really a drifter myself, that’s what the previous owner wanted for it so I figured I’d give it a try. Motor threw a rod today. So now it’s a race car. Wish me luck, completely new to this platform

That's the best thing that could of happened.

Pick up a 1.8 with trans, put some rods and oil pump in it. Buy a decent manifold, and downpipe. Salvage what you can from the eBay kit. Do all maintenance stuff to the entire chassis.

Enjoy.

i really hope you paid hundreds and not thousands for this mess.

Erat is right. He's a mega engineer so he's known to need to be right.

Those are floods and huge douchetacular status for anyone around you. Not a great idea to blind people around you when you're driving the smallest car on the road.

Judging by the look of the front bumper, someone REALLY liked the car at some point.