jpbro

Hey guys - finally posting my noob thread. Picked up my turbo NA in December - which is my first FI and first Miata. Didn't know a BOV from a WG when I bought it, but damned if this isn't about the most helpful forum I've been on. Have learned a lot from you guys. Hope to be able to pull my weight eventually.

Alright, let's get this car introduced. If any of you guys know this car and/or details around it, let me know. Might have been posted here for sale in the past?

Starter was out and PO didn't want to fool with it, so I would have to buy it without hearing it run. But build seemed pretty thorough, so we slashed the price and I took a chance. Stance is a little drift-lyfe and I get rub if I even glance to the right, but we'll get it picked up a half-inch or so and all will be well.

Build sheet, as purchased (can't confirm guts of the engine are as described, but hasn't blown up yet). Having bought the car and gotten more familiar with MT.net, I'm laughing because almost everything seems very MT.net (or at least Braineack) approved. Brain, do you know this car??

Engine:
- Stock 1999 head
- 1994 1.8 block
- Wiseco 9.01:1 84.5mm pistons
- Carrillo Super A Beam rods
- Cometic head gasket
- ARP main studs
- ARP head studs
- Miataroadster billet oil pump gears
- Clevite bearings
- balanced rotating assembly
- Garage Star billet water pump pulley
- Garage Star billet alternator pulley
- AWR 70 mounts
- Begi coolant reroute spacer, GM rad hose, Kia neck
- CX Racing radiator
- timing belt cover delete
- eBay muffler (Thing is terrible and will be gone soon)
- AWM catch can (added since bought)

Turbo:
- T3 log manifold
- eBay T3 50 trim (Brain special)
- Artech 3" downpipe
- Tial MVS EWG (open dump through ARtech dump pipe)
- 3" catless exhaust
- eBay intercooler

Drivetrain/Suspension/Wheels/Brakes:
- 2001 6-speed transmission
- MiataRoadster Short Shifter
- FM Level 2 Clutch
- 4.10 Torsen diff
- Koni Yellows, NB tophats and coilover sleeves w/ 450/300lb springs
- TR Motorsports C1 15x8 + 20 wheels w/ 205/50/15 Nitto NT05s (tires added since bought)
- Stock NA 1.8 brakes w/ StopTech pads
- FM frame rails

Fuel:
- Injector Dynamics 720cc
- Walbro 190lph fuel pump
- Stock fuel rail

Electronics:
- Toyota COPs
- MS1 v3.0 (built by Brain)
- Stock 1.6 wiring harness w/ CAS

Interior:
- Recaro Profi SPG seat (driver side only)
- Sparco 5pt harness (replaced the purple Crow it came with)
- Hard Dog double diagonal roll bar
- Full carpet and dash (but no GD cupholders)


Things found out/addressed since buying:
- Starter was indeed kaput, so replaced the starter and it fired up, but with horrible screeching ("good god, what have I bought?"). Turns out WP/alt belt was loose. Compression is an even 170 across all cylinders. Looks like I did OK
- Was scary as hell seeing clouds of smoke from under hood at stoplights. Turns out valve cover breather was left open, shooting oil onto the manifold. Catch can took care of that
- Dealing with a little bit of trouble getting it to start consistently, but I'm thinking it's a relatively simple sensor issue

I brought it out to Texas World Speedway for HPDE a week after I bought it, and it's a rocket. Have never had a turbo car, so it's pretty wild to get used to, having only tracked my n/a cars before. Car ran pretty well (aside from smoking thing mentioned above that was un-diagnosed/resolved at the time).

Thanks guys!