n00b in Afghanistan
 

Good Morning/Evening/Afternoon/Night,

My name is Casey, and I would first like to start off by saying that I love this site! I have been creeping this forum, without posting, for I don't even know how long (I know I can look it up). All this time just reading and gathering as much information as possible. I have previously owned 3 miatas, currently on the 4th. All have been NA's, great body style IMO.

I am currently overseas, serving a tour with the US Army as a 12B(Combat Engineer), in wonderful Afghanistan. When I leave here I will be heading back to Schweinfurt, Germany to finish up the rest of my contract and move back to Chicago, Illinois. When I get home I have great hopes in getting my '91 Miata back in running order.

I have had this car as a project since 2002, changed it in many more ways than I can recall. She currently has a stock junkyard motor after blowing the original because my ignorance back in 2006. She sits hoping to finally breath fire yet again!!! Mind you I haven't even started the car since 2008 when I left to join the Army. So when I get home I am sure I am going to a mess of things to take care of before she will be running "normal" again, and ready to spend some money on.

Currently installed in the car -
Fidenza lightweight flywheel
ACT extreme pressure plate
Comp. Clutch Ironman series (6 puck sprunghub)
LSD from a donor car,
Tokico blown shocks (can't remember which model, non adjustable, I believe blues?)
Other modifications here and there, I cannot think of off the top of my head as I should probably be sleeping, but it's too darn cold here in the winter!!!

Now before anyone gets on my --- about having such a dumb clutch in my car with a stock motor, I was a lot younger and had no idea what I was doing. Leading to a terribly blown motor which I wish I had pictures of. I Will try to find some of the destruction when I get home and post a follow up.

Prime Example-
Ghetto homemade turbo manifold made from stocker
IHI turbo from a stock '02 WRX, rearward facing with intake toward firewall
3'' exhaust exiting front passenger side bumper, just infront of tire
HKS 264 IN and EX cams, Fidenza cam gears, nowhere near dialed in
Ebay front mount intercooler mounted against stock radiator with steel charge pipes
Ebay FMU with wrong diaphragm/ratio installed
No engine management to speak of (piggy-back, standalone, boost box, etc)

Needless to say after about two days of running my car at 16lbs of boost, I blew the motor. Sending all four pistons out the side of the block (pretty impressive actually), completely destroying everything under the hood. It was a perfect example of what NOT to do. I say this without any embarrassment as I have learned quite a bit since then.

So with the help of the extra special group of Miata enthusiasts here at MT, the incredible amount of information on this site, and the knowledge I have gained since that wonderful experience, I am hoping to build myself a miata that I can actually be proud to say I built, that will actually last.

Welcome to the MT! Thanks for serving!

Hi n3me51sMiata, enjoy your stay :)

Welcome to MT. We have a lot of military on here. Enjoy your stay.

Welcome! I'm currently in Afghanistan myself, i'm an engine troop for the f-15e's. Stay safe an stay away from the afghan curry at the chow hall

Welcome to the forum. Indeed thanks for serving.

First off...Welcome. We're glad to have you, and glad to transfer our knowledge!
Second...we all need to see photos of this "rearward facing with intake toward firewall" turbo setup you have going on.
Third...I'm calliing BS on the "Sending all four pistons out the side of the block "...please back this up with photos. Not to be a dick, but I could see a rod or 2...but all 4 pistons? Come on...

Welcome.

I'm guessing hes talking about all 4 rods with parts of the pistons attached to them ripping holes in the sides of the block, but yes that would definitely be an interesting pic to see.

Welcome aboard. Thanks for all the hard work.

Welcome to the site n3me51sMiata, thanks for joining up!

Thanks All,
Feels good to actually post on here... felt a little odd after a year without. I will be here for quite a while more before I can get home and post the pictures but I definitely will!!!
As for all 4 coming out of the block, that was a little over-exaggeration. Two rods with near whole pistons, and one more rod out the side of the block. Many holes... It spun for a while after the initial hole. I will post the pics I have as soon as I get home. You can hold me to that!

Welcome to MT.net, I got back from Afghanistan last summer and may be going again early next year.

I do, uh, stuff.