My Franken-MSM
 

Hey crew-

I'm Pinky. I'm about to stick an '04 Mazdaspeed Turbo drivetrain into my '99 Miata.

I've had the '99 for a long time and have upgraded it over the years. As it sits right now it's got a hybrid "Spec Front/Double D Rear" Hard Dog cage, Sparco Sprints and 5 point belts, Simpson Design hood and trunk, SE nose and chin spoiler, rolled and pulled fenders, Tokico Illuminas with Tein springs, Poly and Delrin bushings, big sways and solid links and Fatcat bump stops. The motor is internally stock with a header, custom CAI, adjustable exhaust cam gear and a clearanced cam cover. It's a nice handling car, but a bit lacking in performance.

The car has been sitting for a few years (I have an Elise, among other toys) but I got inspired to pull it out and prep it for a track day with my friends. That led to a fairly major rebuild of the car, which I've accumulated the parts for and am about to begin.

First off, I've bought a complete "cut-out" from a wrecked 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata (Build number 47, built on 1/29/04). It just arrived today! Bonus: It's got a Forge BOV, a MBC, a BEGI Throttle Body Inlet Tube and some parts of what appears to be an aftermarket intake. The wrecking yard inexplicably sawed through a nice stainless downpipe, so I'll have to replace that. It's complete with the 6 speed, intercooler and the ECU, although I won't be needing the ECU, because...

I've also just bought a 99-00 Megasquirt PNP, which I bought before the MSM drivetrain came through. I'm hoping that it'll work with the MSM motor, as the 99-00 motor is largely the same as the 04-05 MSM. (Aside from Coil On Plug ignition, which is the only really obvious difference I can find from a wiring perspective.)

I've ordered some eBay stainless stuff for the car, including a tubular manifold, turbo inlet and outlet and a downpipe, and dropped off all the remaining stock piping at the powdercoater. As soon as I get all that stuff I'll slap the motor in the car.

Anyway, that's my project. I'll open individual threads for the actual mods, but just wanted to introduce myself and the car to y'all.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359761361

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359761361

The car as it sits:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359761361

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359761361

In reviewing my post, it seems that I didn't do much in the way of introducing *myself*, so..

As said before, my name's Pinky. (It's a long story..) I'm originally from Jersey, but have been in Jacksonville FL for 20 years now so I guess I'm "from Florida". I bailed on Corporate America about ten years ago and now have a small restoration/metal fabrication shop called ThugBilt, and a "boutique" car dealership called Bahnzai, both here in Jax. (I traded a coat and tie for sleeve tattoos!) I'm pretty much a "one-man-show" at both places, although I have a floating crew of helpers/painters/gearheads that work with me as needed. I do some specialty display fabrication for a restaurant chain in addition to the car stuff, but it's mostly completing and flipping "basket case" hot rods. It's the greatest job in the world.

As far as interests go, I'm a gearhead, and most of my leisure time involves cars or bikes in some fashion. I've got two sons, 13 and 3, and they keep me pretty busy.

Anyway, a few pictures of The Pinky Dream Shop-

The main lift bay, at the front of the shop. There's a scissor lift in the assembly area, but this is the primary lift.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359768131

Looking from the lift bay back into the welding and machine shop area.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359768131

The shop is an "L" shape, here looking from the machine shop out into the assembly area. My office is in the far right corner.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359768131

Gratuitous Tool Porn:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359768131

There's also a wood shop, a gym, a paint booth and a couple car storage buildings, all on 3 secluded acres. Great place to go to work every day.

Welcome! Looks pretty exciting! The aftermarket intake bits look like remnants of the AEM intake made for msm's.

Always nice to have a well equipped shop to work in. Welcome to the site.

Nice! I also have a Franken-MSM:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1358401727

Wow, cool car Tim - That looks like a factory install; did the car start out as a MSM or did you swap into an earlier shell like me? Looks like the same BOV, same inlet elbow, same intake (except yours is complete). I'm guessing that we should be building similar power, so I'm curious how fast the car is? (I've never driven a turbo miata, only supercharged ones.)

Ever rode in an s2000? Mine with bolt ons is a little faster then one with an intake/exhaust. Down some HP but 2-300lbs lighter and torque.

Thanks! Yeah it's an older NB (99) with an MSM engine. I retained the valve cover/coils and intake manifold but the rest is MSM. Using an MSM turbo with a 15T compressor wheel, mine makes 175whp at wastegate boost (~7psi). The engine is forged so I will eventually up the boost but I want to finalise oil cooler install etc. It's quite brisk compared to my old JRSC NB.

Welcome to the site.

Keep on livin the dream!

What kind of power plant is in the truck?

Thanks for joining, Pinky!

Thanks. It's nice to be among fellow gearheads.

My '59 is getting a 5.3 Vortec with a 4L60E. Its just a stock junkyard motor, nothing fancy. The truck has a Volare IFS with disc brakes and a 9", although I have a Frankland quick-change sitting here tempting me... (I have to make a new driveshaft for it anyway, might as well.

Cool stance, huh?

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359824197


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1359824197

Wow, thats pretty much exactly what I'm doing; MSM into a '99. I have questions:

- I should have noticed the valve cover and coils; did you stay with the 99 stuff because of wiring differences with the Coil On Plug stuff?

- Are you running the MSM ECU?

- The MSM intake manifold doesn't have the VICS stuff like the 99 did. Are you using the VICS, and of so, how does it behave with boost in the equation?

- What "surprises" came up during the install? Doing a "stare and compare" it looks like a bolt in.

Thanks Tim- I'm really glad to have found someone else who has done this exact swap. (REALLY neatly too, I might add!)

I'm using all the 99 wiring and ECU, but it has been remapped by ChipTorque to suit the engine and turbo setup as well as the Denso 450cc injectors.

The 99 ECU is stil controlling VICS.

Surprises - needing 2001+ headlights to allow for the MSM intercooler piping.

Good luck and definitely keep us posted!

Welcome, I love the battery tray of that truck, looks mean.

Also, thank you for not ruining the bike by putting ape hangers on it.

I love that shop it has everything you need right there. Good luck with your MSM swap and I also have to say that step side with an LS is my dream truck. The 5.3L swap even stock is an amazing setup with lots of room to grow into if you want to.

i would like to do that but not sure how California smog would like it