Old Noobie
 

Some call me an old geezer, and I can't deny I've been fooling with cars a long time. Its this new fangled zillion Horse Power out of a pint size motor and how to do it that has me blown away. So I guess I really am an old dog trying to learn new tricks.

Interested in street cars and race cars.

I currently have four MX5's. Two street - A red stock 91 with 115k. An apart 91 BRG and two race cars - a complete F-Prod and a tub which will be an F-Prod. Been racing with the SCCA since 1980.

MY 91 BRG, Froggie, only has 294K on the clock. Was still running fairly well when I took it apart, but it was getting tired Now he is getting a 99 drivetrain transplant - motor/tranny/torsen diff. Since I am adding a small turbo to the mix, I figured I better get back on board to see the latest hot licks. Started this project in Dec of last year so it is behind schedule.

Started racing Miatas when SM came out back in 2001. FF before that. Tickled to see Hingstons posts on his FP build - since his car is what I would love to have my develop into. Have a long way to go on that one.

Will be asking for a lot of help and advice on these two projects and I hope I may have some things to share on more mundane elements of Miata upkeep and modification.

Cheers

But do you like cats?

As far as critters go, got two cats, four dogs and one parrot. All four dogs are rescues. One of them, Pogo, is responsible for bringing home one of the cats - was a kitten at the time. EL, or L, is its name, for Extremely Lucky.

That work?

Yup, that will do. Welcome aboard. I'm sure we'd all love to see pictures of your cars as well.

Oh and pics of your cats, remember pics or it didnt happen bro

Thanks for joining, Team DNR!

Pics of cats!

Welcome to the site.
Build the engine, put an expensive turbo on it, spin the tires always!!

Well, I got this drivetrain because it is relatively low mileage, ~85K so the plan was to leave engine alone internally. Thinking was stock internals should be good for about 250? Thinking is that should be good for a "peppy" Miata - not the fastest kid on the block, but no slouch. Should be able to get out of its own way. Previous motor was a 1.6 with a M45 blower - made about 145.

At this time motor is on engine stand, but have a BEGI intake, small garett turbo (can't find the model # on the thing), BEGI intercooler, our own coolant reroute, Fidanza flywheel & ACT clutch. Plan to use a MS2 PNP (unless someone thinks a MS3 might work better). Biggest reason for the MS2 is that I have one and it was in car with the NA & FI 1.6. Using Innovate WB but that may go away to an AEM unit.

One issue is how to mount an engine oil cooler, or rather, where to put the thing. The nose of the car is getting quite full with the Koyorad, AC condensor and the intercooler. Thinking of splitting into two small oil coolers on either side of the nose - using air from our version of the RB Type 2 nose. Ideas on this very welcome.

Does this plan make sense or are we missing something obvious?

Sounds like you've got a solid start. 250hp will leave you grinning from ear to ear i'm sure of it. Everything you have going sounds great. I use a MS2, works fine, can't wait until i can afford an MS3... That's all.

I've seen people mount oil coolers pretty much anywhere really. Some people V mount them lower in the nose. Some put it above the intercooler at the top of the nose and make a hole in the bumper (curly does this? can't remember). Most i think mount it on the side of the bumper and duct air into it. Thats the what i would do it, and just use a "scoop" style duct up and into it.
I take it, it's going to be a track car. I must of missed that part.

Actually, no, this is to be my street car - which is why I was limiting it to about the 250 mark. Hoping to keep it fairly streetable.

We do have plans for a "No Rules" Track Dog though. Mycurrent FProd Miata is a test bed in that it still has the windshield on it. I have a dipped/primed on a rotisserie tub that will be the new Prod car. At that time the old one will get a mild turbo set up and it will become a track dog - going to shoot for about 300 on that one but it will have built internals.

All that is still down the road a ways as the current level of build is getting the MS3 working in the Prod car. Overall, that Prod car is a slightly developed Spec Miata. Hingston has built what I would love to evolve into.

Too many projects.:hs:

I would post pictures, but even after reading the sticky, I couldn't get any loaded. My mechanical skills are WAY better than my PC skills. :rofl:

Welcome to the forum! My oil cooler is mounted horizontally between the bumper and the top of the steel crossmember nestled in the pocket of the plastic bumper support. If you lay on the ground and look up through the bumper mouth in front of the steel crossmember you can see it.

Sounds like an option. Did you take any pictures of the installation? What brand oil cooler is it?

Thanks

I can take some pics. The cooler looks like many others, but it is the OEM cooler for a 2.0 litre Lotus 907 engine in a '74 Jensen Healey roadster.

In my race car the oil cooler wasn't a problem, I put the biggest one I could get my hands on, which turned out to be one from an 87 RX7 Turbo II car. Looks about as big as an intercooler! Won't fit on the street car though.

I owe you some pictures.


Inside the engine bay looking forward.
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Under the nose looking up at the top of the bumper mouth.

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