Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats.

Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats. (https://www.miataturbo.net/)
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-   -   My 2nd post will be an introduction/love story (https://www.miataturbo.net/meet-greet-40/my-2nd-post-will-introduction-love-story-83825/)

tehzack 04-06-2015 06:39 AM

My 2nd post will be an introduction/love story
 
8 Attachment(s)
Hello my name is Zack. I live in Charlotte NC where I am a junior in Mechanical Engineering Technology at UNCC. I bought this 1990 miata a year ago last February with 138k on the odometer.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1428316771

The previous owner built the car for the most part. When I purchased the car it had already been 1.8 swapped, coolant re-routed, braided brake lines/clutch lines, roll bar, PS delete with depowered rack, etc.

I had never had any interest in miatas. My automotive history was a clusterfucked train wreck of turbocharged 240sx and dude love stance cars. However, at the urging of my room mate at the time I went to test drive this car and something magical happened: I realized that every single car I had built to haul ass in a straight line and explode shortly afer had been a waste. Seeking the high fives in parking lots for picking up road reflectors during lane changes was completely asinine.

This car has become a tool to make me a better driver, it grows as I grow. Currently it's running on a Rev built MS2, Spec Stage 1 clutch with ACT pro lite flywheel, stock 1.6 vlsd blessed with holy water, Flyin miata springs, swaybars, frame rails, butterfly brace... and AGX shocks that I bought before I learned to read. Separating the car from the pavement are the venerable 15x7 kosei K1's shod in 205/50/15 RE-11A rubber.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1428316771
This was taken whilst in progress of megasquirt installation as you may notice by the dikes on the core support and lack of hose clampage on the intake tube.


I'm leaving out some bits as we all have miata machines here so nothing is exactly exciting or novel on mine.

I have laughably autocrossed the car, (I don't think CSP-T is a real thing..)
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1428316771
I drag race the car, and to much of the dismay of the members here I drift the car.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1428316771
It's not great at anything, but its good at everything. At the moment I am doing a bunch of reading to try and get the car ready to do a track day this summer. I am an extremely active member of this forum, but I don't post because I learn best with my mouth shut (or fingers idle in this case). If I have anything pertinent to ask that I can't find, I'll lay it on you guys, or if you have any questions for me feel free to ask. In any case thanks to all the guys here who take the time to keep this place riff raff free and keep the knowledge and ideas flowing. It's been a fantastic resource so far.

aidandj 04-06-2015 08:51 AM


Originally Posted by tehzack (Post 1221572)
I realized that every single car I had built to haul ass in a straight line and explode shortly afer had been a waste. Seeking the high fives in parking lots for picking up road reflectors during lane changes was completely asinine.

but I don't post because I learn best with my mouth shut (or fingers idle in this case). If I have anything pertinent to ask that I can't find, I'll lay it on you guys, or if you have any questions for me feel free to ask. In any case thanks to all the guys here who take the time to keep this place riff raff free and keep the knowledge and ideas flowing. It's been a fantastic resource so far.

Bravo. I think you will do OK here.

18psi 04-06-2015 09:05 AM

Welcome. Keep the drifting talk to a minimum and you will do well here :)
Good intro otherwise.

tehzack 04-06-2015 09:11 AM

I'm pretty well acquainted with the unwritten rules here haha. You guys are quick to poop on people's hearts, and rightfully so. Keeps the place focused.

Braineack 04-06-2015 10:20 PM

It's funny that you remove the hood and pop the lights when you drift.

gotta fit in.

Schuyler 04-07-2015 04:41 AM

No one gets tired of going fast in a straight line. A budget build can get you in trouble in a straight line easy, lol.

Why is there no hood on your car in the last pic?

tehzack 04-07-2015 07:19 AM

The car actually ran 9.69@71.25 in the 1/8th mile with the factory ecu and 104whp/95wtq. It put down 120whp/113tq on the same dyno with the ms2 so I'm imagining a 9.3-9.4 isn't out the question. I just fear for the vlsd's life.

With the factory ecu the fans never came on and the gauge would creep towards maximum cowbell after a few laps. I later learned that I could make the fan come on manually by grounding the the sensor in the coolant re route block off plate on the front of the motor. It's all a moot point now, since the car is running on the ms2 now both fans come on around 200.

I actually have a hard time getting the car to operating temp typically. It's got a 195* thermostat but it still never gets above 160F in normal driving conditions unless it idles for 15-20 minutes. I've read that it kinda comes with the territory with these cars once you put larger radiators and do the coolant re-route.

shuiend 04-07-2015 10:15 AM


Originally Posted by tehzack (Post 1221940)
I actually have a hard time getting the car to operating temp typically. It's got a 195* thermostat but it still never gets above 160F in normal driving conditions unless it idles for 15-20 minutes. I've read that it kinda comes with the territory with these cars once you put larger radiators and do the coolant re-route.

How is your coolant reroute done? It sounds like you are not plumbing back into the mixing manifold.

aidandj 04-07-2015 10:33 AM

Paging patsmx5 :giggle:

tehzack 04-07-2015 11:41 AM

8 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by shuiend (Post 1221974)
How is your coolant reroute done? It sounds like you are not plumbing back into the mixing manifold.

Honestly i'm not sure, from my understanding its your average m-tuned re route. I'll run you through this pictorial guide so you don't have to fight through my ignorance.

A cursory google search leads me to believe this is the mixing manifold (mine pictured):
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1428421261

Here is the blockoff plate on the front of the head:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1428421261

Here we have the cat hair covered upper radiator hose running to the thermostat (I verified it to be 195* when I pulled the motor to reseal / put clutch in):
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1428421261

Then from there it runs to an aluminum block thing bolted to the back of the cylinder head:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1428421261

mariabrock 04-07-2015 02:48 PM

My brother used to have the same type of Miata. He done crazy things on it, lots of experimentation then it was totally wrecked. Btw Welcome! ;)


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