Time to de-noob-ify/introduce myself. car details, a few shots, and a quick question.
 

Hey, I picked this car up in early February and finally moved into a place with a garage so I can start working on it. It is a '93 with approximately 80k miles on it and an FMII kit and link. I have taken it to the track for a few sessions, but always ran into overheating issues a little ways into them. We originally suspected an issue with the cooling system, but after I pulled off the heat shield last weekend I noticed a massive exhaust leak at the exhaust manifold which I am very suspect of. Considering all of the coolant lines and heater core in its vicinity I think it might be my culprit. I am waiting to get a new gasket so I can get everything back together and try to get it out to the track again. At the least, fixing this leak should help me pick up good power (previously the car felt quick, but not as fast as it should have at ~14psi) and significantly reduce my spool up. The mod list is detailed below and since I have bought the car I have thrown on a set of wheels (the team dynamics ones that are on all the Spec cars) with shaved RA-1's and put in a Corbeau seat that I'm not terribly fond of.

Also, a friend is recomending I go with a liquid gasket rather than the OEM deal at the exhaust manifold... Does anyone have any experience with this?

This is my first Miata so take it easy on me! Previous cars were a T28 1.8t Audi A4, 20g wrx Sti, and a twin K04 Audi S4.

Thanks!

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5145/img0122zs6.jpg

Blown out gasket
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7653/img0119wt8.jpg

Where the exhaust was leaking
http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/8862/img0120tv7.jpg

Partially disassembled engine bay
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7250/img0121gz7.jpg

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/3444/img0123zi0.jpg

Mini Cooper scoop :)
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/3849/img0124qr7.jpg

Specs from when I bought it.
LINK ECU, Full FMII kit, about 15k miles on kit.
440CC injectors
FM Intercooler (crappy old school design, I'd like to upgrade this)
Turbo Heat Shield
K&N Intake filter
FMII Suspension Stage 2
KYB AGX adjustable shocks
FM Tower Brace
Brand new Valve cover gasket
Brand new NKG Blue Spark Plug Wires
Brand New NKG Spark plugs
Turbo Dual Stainless exhaust
1995 4.1 Torsen rear diff w/ new seals
Driveshaft, axles, rear hubs/ bearings were replaced with diff, also from 95
FM Catalytic converter
1.8 Brakes on front, slotted rotor on rear
Aluminum 'race' radiator (From FM but they don't sell it anymore)
Fan Mod ( they are both on, fans controlled by Link)
Alpine CD player
Sabelt 4pt harness
Hard Dog Hard Core Single Diagonal Roll Bar
Falken Azenis RT-615s on stock wheels
Turn Signal Intakes
FM Boost gauge on A-pillar
LINK PC Link cable serial - serial
Haynes manual
LINK/FMII Tuning manual
Fog Lights (in box)
Momo Shift knob

Use the OEM gasket. Your friend is on crack.

I like this kind of newb!

You registered on Feb and it sure looks like you've been reading.

Well done! :bigtu:

Looks like a good track car to me, welcome.

OEM gasket for sure! Also, my manifold had a nasty leak, and it turned out the flange was warped.... might be worth your while to have a local machine shop check and make sure it's true.

welcome to the forum, you are on a good path.....glad to see a fellow ex-subie owner:bigtu:

Well, thank you for the surprisingly warm welcome. I am sure my newbiness and subsequent lashings will emerge as time passes by. Anyhow, did a little more wrenching last night and I decided I am going to fully pull the manifold to inspect and probably handport/gasket match it while its out. Airbrush1's post is making me a little worried that my flange could be warped as I noticed it is leaking on both sides.

The fun continues! Found a crack in the downpipe at the flange. Hopefully a quick spot weld will fix this one. No offense FM, but this DP is an absolute turd.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/8959/img01281gw0.jpg

My first contribution. My DIY hood prop / get the strut tower bar out of your way so you can get to the turbo easier / opens the hood a lot more than the normal hood prop (more commonly referred to as the "DIYHPGTSTBOOYWSYCGTTEOTHALMTTNHP" :) )
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2527/img01291mx4.jpg

yeah that'll warm up the engine bay :eek: is that stainless? mild? 16ga?

Honestly, I couldn't tell you for sure, but it certainly isnt stainless... If I decide to keep it rather than going with FM's new 2 peice design it will be getting a nice heat wrap before it goes back in the engine bay. It looks like it was actually ceramic coated at one point, but that has all burnt away/flaked off by now.

SNIFF SNIFF *Saying this as tear rolls down cheak* SNIFF SNIFF

That is the greatest NOOB post ever. I can die a happy man. SNIFF

dont go sam, all the other noobs still need your help :D
perhaps you should teach your daughter the ways of the noob greeter

Haha, thanks Sam. We shall see how the rebuild and overheating issues go from here. I will update once I get everything reassembled and the car back out to another day at the track! I went to the local Mazda dealership yesterday to pick up the gaskets and the parts department is closed on Saturdays! Serioulsy, who the F does that? Wouldn't they expect most DIY'ers to be fixing their cars on the weekend? Oh well, hopefully I get the motor figured out soon so I can re-tune and starting gutting the car!

Quick update... new parts are in and a Friday and Saturday night were spent wrenching away! I'll probably drop the DP back in tomorrow and get to tuning the car up on BEAUTIFUL 107* Dallas summer day.... If it won't knock tomorrow I should be golden for a long long time :)

Too lazy to put the DP in tonight...
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/4814/img0135bp9.jpg

Ready for re-insertion and lower underhood temps. An employee of Ken's Mufflers along 75 and Haskell in DFW was kind enough to spot weld the leak for free :)
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5704/img0136wg3.jpg