About to buy project NA
09-30-2008, 12:09 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sandy, Utah
Posts: 174
Total Cats: 0
About to buy project NA
Hey all! My name is Steve. I live in Salt Lake City, am 25 yrs old and going to school for mechanical engineering. Was studying biology for a few years before changing to ME. I work full time as a software test engineer for a company that develops contact handling software. I have been married to my beautiful wife for 3 1/2 yrs, and we just had our first kid - a baby boy... That brings me to why I am here. The wife says since I have a baby now it's time to sell the motorcycle. We agreed that I would sell it if I could get a project car.
A guy who used to live by me had a couple turbo NAs with the B6 engine. Always loved them so decided that is where I am headed. I am currently looking at a 1996 with the 1.8 in decent condition. I didn't really want to go OBDII, but the price is right. We'll see if that happens.
My mechanical background isn't super extensive, but I am fairly good at figuring things out. I am also doing a 3sgte swap into my brother in laws celica - we pulled the 5sfe out last week. I have helped my buddy rebuild his SR20DET in his S14 240SX. He was running a T-60 (can't remember the trim) making 447 RWHP on 91 pump gas. Spooled late, but it actually had a pretty linear torque curve and it was one of the funnest cars I have ever driven.
I am here to sponge off some of the collective knowledge floating around. I am not going for high boost on this project. Right now I'm looking at just a T25 running maybe 8 PSI. This isn't my DD, so I'm ok to let it sit for a while (especially since winter is coming) and have fun with the turbo build.
I am looking to piece together a system. I know there are easier ways, but I am super cheap and pretty able. If I can do it myself I will.
Any pointers to look for before I make a purchase would be welcome and appreciated.
Look forward to participating in the forums.
-Steve
A guy who used to live by me had a couple turbo NAs with the B6 engine. Always loved them so decided that is where I am headed. I am currently looking at a 1996 with the 1.8 in decent condition. I didn't really want to go OBDII, but the price is right. We'll see if that happens.
My mechanical background isn't super extensive, but I am fairly good at figuring things out. I am also doing a 3sgte swap into my brother in laws celica - we pulled the 5sfe out last week. I have helped my buddy rebuild his SR20DET in his S14 240SX. He was running a T-60 (can't remember the trim) making 447 RWHP on 91 pump gas. Spooled late, but it actually had a pretty linear torque curve and it was one of the funnest cars I have ever driven.
I am here to sponge off some of the collective knowledge floating around. I am not going for high boost on this project. Right now I'm looking at just a T25 running maybe 8 PSI. This isn't my DD, so I'm ok to let it sit for a while (especially since winter is coming) and have fun with the turbo build.
I am looking to piece together a system. I know there are easier ways, but I am super cheap and pretty able. If I can do it myself I will.
Any pointers to look for before I make a purchase would be welcome and appreciated.
Look forward to participating in the forums.
-Steve
Reply
0
0
10-06-2008, 03:10 PM
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Fairfield, California
Posts: 436
Total Cats: -7
Welcome Steve. Post your location and put together a signature that will help others understand what you own, or in your case, what you are planning to do. Nobody will remember your first post but your signature and location will always follow your every post.
A miata is as close to a motorcycle as you're likely to get and so if you have to give up one the other's not a bad compromise. I'd recommend trying to find a pre-OBDII; mostly because I'm lazy and it solves a lot of pickly little problems. Good luck and welcome.
A miata is as close to a motorcycle as you're likely to get and so if you have to give up one the other's not a bad compromise. I'd recommend trying to find a pre-OBDII; mostly because I'm lazy and it solves a lot of pickly little problems. Good luck and welcome.
Reply
0
0
10-07-2008, 12:42 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sandy, Utah
Posts: 174
Total Cats: 0
Alright! Not only have I updated my sig, but I also purchased a car. I put the pertinent details in my sig.
The owner was a nice chap that said the first owner of the car had it turbo'd and used to race AutoX. He got it with no snail and did some minor mods to it and then bought an '07 MX-5 and this has been sitting for about a year and a half. The registration expired 2/07. It had a few spider webs in the engine bay when I started it up to test drive it.
Anyhow, I did end up getting an OBD1 car to save headaches down the road. It's already got bipes, and the guy was actually riding around with the timing retarded some N/A. It sucked butt in the high RPMs, so I took out the box until I can figure out how to advance it a bit for N/A driving until I boost. It runs stronger now without the bipes retarding the timing.
The CEL is on because of the EGR. I'm waiting until I have a few minutes to try to clean the valve or re-direct the vacuum hose as per Miata.net. It also has these stupid little carbon fiber mirrors that are falling apart. I'll have to come up with a solution for those to pass safety/IM. Other than those 2 issues, replacing an alternator belt and bolt, and replacing the main battery ground wire she's a good little car.
The wife has set an allowance for me which I will have direct deposited from my paycheck into a separate bank account. I should have funds allocated to boost by spring/summer.
Thanks in advance for the help in the future.
-SC
The owner was a nice chap that said the first owner of the car had it turbo'd and used to race AutoX. He got it with no snail and did some minor mods to it and then bought an '07 MX-5 and this has been sitting for about a year and a half. The registration expired 2/07. It had a few spider webs in the engine bay when I started it up to test drive it.
Anyhow, I did end up getting an OBD1 car to save headaches down the road. It's already got bipes, and the guy was actually riding around with the timing retarded some N/A. It sucked butt in the high RPMs, so I took out the box until I can figure out how to advance it a bit for N/A driving until I boost. It runs stronger now without the bipes retarding the timing.
The CEL is on because of the EGR. I'm waiting until I have a few minutes to try to clean the valve or re-direct the vacuum hose as per Miata.net. It also has these stupid little carbon fiber mirrors that are falling apart. I'll have to come up with a solution for those to pass safety/IM. Other than those 2 issues, replacing an alternator belt and bolt, and replacing the main battery ground wire she's a good little car.
The wife has set an allowance for me which I will have direct deposited from my paycheck into a separate bank account. I should have funds allocated to boost by spring/summer.
Thanks in advance for the help in the future.
-SC
Reply
0
0
10-07-2008, 05:57 PM
#4
Elite Member
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sunny Spanish speaking Non US Caribbean
Posts: 3,224
Total Cats: 3
Alright! Not only have I updated my sig, but I also purchased a car. I put the pertinent details in my sig.
The owner was a nice chap that said the first owner of the car had it turbo'd and used to race AutoX. He got it with no snail and did some minor mods to it and then bought an '07 MX-5 and this has been sitting for about a year and a half. The registration expired 2/07. It had a few spider webs in the engine bay when I started it up to test drive it.
Anyhow, I did end up getting an OBD1 car to save headaches down the road. It's already got bipes, and the guy was actually riding around with the timing retarded some N/A. It sucked butt in the high RPMs, so I took out the box until I can figure out how to advance it a bit for N/A driving until I boost. It runs stronger now without the bipes retarding the timing.
The CEL is on because of the EGR. I'm waiting until I have a few minutes to try to clean the valve or re-direct the vacuum hose as per Miata.net. It also has these stupid little carbon fiber mirrors that are falling apart. I'll have to come up with a solution for those to pass safety/IM. Other than those 2 issues, replacing an alternator belt and bolt, and replacing the main battery ground wire she's a good little car.
The wife has set an allowance for me which I will have direct deposited from my paycheck into a separate bank account. I should have funds allocated to boost by spring/summer.
Thanks in advance for the help in the future.
-SC
The owner was a nice chap that said the first owner of the car had it turbo'd and used to race AutoX. He got it with no snail and did some minor mods to it and then bought an '07 MX-5 and this has been sitting for about a year and a half. The registration expired 2/07. It had a few spider webs in the engine bay when I started it up to test drive it.
Anyhow, I did end up getting an OBD1 car to save headaches down the road. It's already got bipes, and the guy was actually riding around with the timing retarded some N/A. It sucked butt in the high RPMs, so I took out the box until I can figure out how to advance it a bit for N/A driving until I boost. It runs stronger now without the bipes retarding the timing.
The CEL is on because of the EGR. I'm waiting until I have a few minutes to try to clean the valve or re-direct the vacuum hose as per Miata.net. It also has these stupid little carbon fiber mirrors that are falling apart. I'll have to come up with a solution for those to pass safety/IM. Other than those 2 issues, replacing an alternator belt and bolt, and replacing the main battery ground wire she's a good little car.
The wife has set an allowance for me which I will have direct deposited from my paycheck into a separate bank account. I should have funds allocated to boost by spring/summer.
Thanks in advance for the help in the future.
-SC
Here's my first suggestion: buy all the parts for an MS build it and install it. Learn to use it and once you've gotten a handle on it you'll be ready to get your car turboed. You won't regret it and you'll get plenty of support from very knowledgeable people in this forum.
I read you're not like me (I'm mechanically challenged
), so it won't be too much of a hassle for you to build the MS. Once you decide to go the turbo route, you'll be faced with a lot of options; you can either:
1) Buy a new turbo kit (Begi is the brand preferred in this forum and their quality is excellent)
2) Buy a used one and adapt it to your car
3) Start buying different parts and storing them until you have all the parts.
In my modest opinion, your most important decision (after the MS) will be the size of the turbo you want to run because once you make that decision you're going to be stuck with it. By that I mean; you'll have a manifold for it and it's a hassle to change it once you have it. I, myself went with a used Begi S5 which comes with a T3 turbo and manifold and even though I don't see my turbo spooling at 2500 rpms as the guys with T25s see, I really can't complain with my choice.
Once again welcome to the board and let us know how we can assist you.
Reply
0
0
10-07-2008, 06:05 PM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sandy, Utah
Posts: 174
Total Cats: 0
Thanks for the warm welcome.
I'm looking into the MS options now... I really like the idea of building my own. I have read through Braineack's build thread twice now.
I'm pretty sure I will just buy parts one at a time. I am 90% sure I'm going to go to a T25 setup because it seems there are more manifold options for it, and I have a friend who knows a bunch of guys with SR20 swapped 240s who have some T25s sitting around.
Again, I'm really not going for super power, just having fun. MS would be really nice, but for my power goals and cheap mindset it might not fit. I already have the bipes after all.
Speaking of bipes - I'm still searching, but I'm having a problem getting info on using it N/A. If anyone comes across this with experience in these matters I am open for some assistance.
-SC
I'm looking into the MS options now... I really like the idea of building my own. I have read through Braineack's build thread twice now.
I'm pretty sure I will just buy parts one at a time. I am 90% sure I'm going to go to a T25 setup because it seems there are more manifold options for it, and I have a friend who knows a bunch of guys with SR20 swapped 240s who have some T25s sitting around.
Again, I'm really not going for super power, just having fun. MS would be really nice, but for my power goals and cheap mindset it might not fit. I already have the bipes after all.
Speaking of bipes - I'm still searching, but I'm having a problem getting info on using it N/A. If anyone comes across this with experience in these matters I am open for some assistance.
-SC
Reply
0
0
10-07-2008, 07:48 PM
#6
Elite Member
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sunny Spanish speaking Non US Caribbean
Posts: 3,224
Total Cats: 3
Thanks for the warm welcome.
I'm looking into the MS options now... I really like the idea of building my own. I have read through Braineack's build thread twice now.
I'm pretty sure I will just buy parts one at a time. I am 90% sure I'm going to go to a T25 setup because it seems there are more manifold options for it, and I have a friend who knows a bunch of guys with SR20 swapped 240s who have some T25s sitting around.
Again, I'm really not going for super power, just having fun. MS would be really nice, but for my power goals and cheap mindset it might not fit. I already have the bipes after all.
Speaking of bipes - I'm still searching, but I'm having a problem getting info on using it N/A. If anyone comes across this with experience in these matters I am open for some assistance.
-SC
I'm looking into the MS options now... I really like the idea of building my own. I have read through Braineack's build thread twice now.
I'm pretty sure I will just buy parts one at a time. I am 90% sure I'm going to go to a T25 setup because it seems there are more manifold options for it, and I have a friend who knows a bunch of guys with SR20 swapped 240s who have some T25s sitting around.
Again, I'm really not going for super power, just having fun. MS would be really nice, but for my power goals and cheap mindset it might not fit. I already have the bipes after all.
Speaking of bipes - I'm still searching, but I'm having a problem getting info on using it N/A. If anyone comes across this with experience in these matters I am open for some assistance.
-SC
BTW, if you want to make it very simple; build it to act as a piggyback (controlling only fuel and timing) and keep the car's ECU for the rest.
Reply
0
0
10-29-2008, 05:51 PM
#7
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sandy, Utah
Posts: 174
Total Cats: 0
Alright, I got suckered in... I just finished building the MS last night... haven't done any of the programming yet.
The car is out of commission for a bit do to a failed attempt to replace the front crank seal... Turns out it wasn't even what was leaking in the first place. I'm pulling the engine hopefully this weekend to take off the oil pump and oil pan which are both leaking. might be a good time to pull the head and see what kind of pistons the guy before me put in...
The car is out of commission for a bit do to a failed attempt to replace the front crank seal... Turns out it wasn't even what was leaking in the first place. I'm pulling the engine hopefully this weekend to take off the oil pump and oil pan which are both leaking. might be a good time to pull the head and see what kind of pistons the guy before me put in...
Reply
0
0
11-05-2008, 03:10 PM
#10
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central California
Posts: 2,543
Total Cats: 4
you are going to be glad you went with the megasquirt first before doing anything else once you get it rolling. Takes a bit to work out the tune, but its totally worth it.
Reply
0
0
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Frank_and_Beans
Supercharger Discussion
13
09-12-2016 08:17 PM
