Bell kit
 

Quick one for you guys. Am I missing something? Cross over tube does not line up. Man, hope I'm just an idiot....
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...149ccd485f.jpg

that's bell precision for ya lol

You forgot the intercooler.

and having tuned this same kit on a 93 a couple weeks ago, let me tell you: you need an intercooler.

not optional. despite what lies they will tell you

Have that all setup. Is this normal for them? Waited two months and nine days for this.....

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...bdabe91de0.jpg

My guess would be that in the last 5 years, 9 out of every 10 people that ordered from bell:
1) didn't get parts on time
2) parts didn't fit
3) parts were wrong altogether
4) combination of above 3

It's really sad.

Dude, have a margarita and chill. Stephanie is getting it sorted out.

:laugh:

"it will be in the mail tomorrow"

Well, good to know now. Yeah kit didn't ship complete. Appears that the kit I got would have never worked as designed. Ugh. On the bright side, my turbo finally showed up today...


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...795a3f3589.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...aa7fecf337.jpg

I have heard this same exact experience echoed from everyone I know of who ordered from Bell Engineering. This thread says it all. That shit ain't cool. Can't believe people still send business their way.

^^ And what's going on with that turbo flange? Just the photo or is that damage?

Boxed with no packaging. Flange bent, actuator mount bent and waste gate arm bent. I got the "It's shipping" run and when it showed...this is what I got. Basically, the kit is not functional. Heck the FMU bracket doesn't even fit the FMU.

I had no idea... Figured when I started this thread someone would say "Turn the damn tube around, idiot" Apparently, it's just a kit quality issue.

Bell kit
 

I'm baffled how they have been able to remain in business. You would think people would stop making excuses for them at some point and the business would dry up.

Someone explain and justify how BEGi is a better kit supplier than Tacotaco or CXRacing? I've heard their parts show up on time and actually fit. And they do it for less money.

The manifold and down pipe are perfect, that's about it. Basically you'll wait two months+ for a kit that does not function without major mods. Talking to my machinist today to see where I'm at on this deal.

Side note, your radiator is really brown and may be a ticking time bomb. :yippee:

BEGI's cast manifold is awesome. I've had mine about 10 years, it has to be close to 100k miles. It fits perfect, has handled HP pretty deep into the 300's, fits an awesome range (price and power) of turbos for our cars, and I've never had an issue with it. I don't think there's another manifold that hits the "fast, reliable, cheap" categories like it does. It's like the whole company survives off building shoddy parts to bolt to their one really good part.

FM manifold is about the same. And costs about the same. TSE manifold looks lightyears better and (hopefully) should hold up just as well.

They used to be a great company. Up until a few years ago. Now they are absolutely terrible. It's really sad.

is the end of the TB pipe pressed right up against the TB? There should be no gap.

I'm pretty sure I made this identical thread in 2007 and got the same feedback.

Yes sir, touching it. Also the turbo outlet pipe has no radius to it so my hood is several inches from shutting. TO pipe is all wrong.

you can throw both in the trash where they belong and make a front mount intercooler setup with alum pipes and a proper alum air/air intercooler and be cool like the rest of us

I bought a used FM cast log and put 10mm studs in it years ago. Still using it on the track at around 250whp. It would be more but I hate changing transmissions. Oh, snap! I owe pdexta a visit and some cash regarding a trans! I got busy with life and forgot.

I'm working on it. Long road ahead to achieve the level of cool you guys are on.

I'm going to give the water to air a go, who knows where that will lead.

This..

Intercooler Pipe Fabrication

It will lead to you spending money twice. Y8s ran one for a while then switched to a front mount.

I'm guessing that's a 1.6L TB pipe or something silly... typical.

Could very well be. The turbo outlet pipe would never allow my hood to close, regardless. Maybe I should have read the fine print, "94-97 with hood?"

@shuiend
Already have the W to A setup so money spent. May learn a couple lesson here. Hard knocks...

I usually try to avoid learning lessons that have been learned many times by others and are a known.

But hey, if you love wasting time and money on mediocrity, by all means have fun.

That would require logic. Something people who buy begi seem to be missing in the first place.

A Stickie may help provide valuable info to those that lack logic.

Thanks for the help gentlemen. Much appreciated.

it seems like a really easy fix, just cut the pipe shorter.

Yeah, just re-fabricate the garbage fabrication that you paid way too much money for, and you're all set.

Then have a margarita.

Is that the begi chinacharger by the way? I hope not.

Garrett 2554. I'll have a Psuedo Sue or three.

well there you go, that was one choice that you did make right :)

5 years? More like 15. I ordered my first turbo kit in 2002 (FM2 for 99, back when FM kits were still made by Bell) and it took 3 months to get all the parts, the manifold didn't fit, and the downpipe cracked and was exchanged three times.

--Ian

I was overpromising, like Stephanie :)

Don't worry, replacement post in the mail tomorrow.

Is this Stephanie person high, like for life? Holy shit.. 8-9 years of issues. There are only several possible different combinations of Miata engine/intake/routings.. I guess 9 years wasn't enough to sort it out.

Oh lord.


OP, I think you should try to spread more heat around about your experience. It really is completely unacceptable, and businesses that treat their customers this shitty need to die. Spending money to fix a shittily put together kit which you paid a lot of money for...

Any chance you have one of the tubes on the wrong way round? Probably not, but worth asking.

Otherwise, just another data point...

Can we really expect anything more from them at this point? I agree with what someone said about spreading this experience like wildfire. Don't worry, if they threaten you with a cease and desist from a lawyer, it will never come because they don't have one. I got harassed by Corky and Steph and then threatened with BS legal action 2+ years ago, which I still have not received.

Unfortunately, that does not take care of the turbo outlet tube clearing the hood, FMU leaking fuel at the seams at 45psi, FMU bracket does not fit FMU or turbo being bent to chit.



After tallying it all up, only pieces I could use out of the box are: hoses, fittings, fuel pressure gauge,boost pressure gauge, intake inlet tube, filter, couple brackets, manifold and the drill / tap.

So deep into this, ordering a MS plug and play, injectors and other little bits. Going to take my machinist a bit to fix all this anyway.

Have you brought this up to Bell and asked for a refund?

HA!

Yeah... Try that. Three messed up pieces later, I had to force a charge back on my card.

Come on man, it's all clearly the installer's fault. Maybe the parts got damaged in transit. Somehow that ALWAYS happens to BEGi. Either they have Ace Ventura delivering their packages, or they only sell to imbeciles who can't install anything.

Now that I've expelled my share of sarcasm, I can tell you the following: Dont count on good customer service. At least don't count on it from BEGi. See, I couldn't even put those two in the same sentence.

I hate BEGi the more I hear about them. My shop's owner bought an alpha omega kit. Took them ONE YEAR to ship it to him. Yup, that's right. All the while giving him the run around. "It's going out later this month" "it's going out this week" "it's going out tomorrow (x15)"

I wonder how Corky feels about his business being run like this, surely he wouldn't be pleased. As a small business, their customers are their bread and butter, so if they continue down this path, I'm not sure the market will allow them to stay as other competitors (Trackspeed Engineering) are coming onto the scene.

Geez, like you guys have never made a mistake at work?

The same mistakes?

Over and over?

For a decade?

There is a reason why the DIY Turbo Discussion sub-forum is here.

Ruins the joke if I explain it.

Anyone running a gasket between turbo and down pipe? They tell me its machined fit but I have a substantial leak on top. Believe it's throwing my AFR readings off.

Also, the FMU leaks fuel at the seams around 45-50psi. Appears they are the only source for rebuild kit. Thanks in advance.

Is your downpipe in 2 pieces? You 'can' run a metal gasket but usually not used. I'd bolt the upper to the housing as snug as possible then slip in the bottom. Or if you're able too, just do the upper piece alone to see if it seals without the rest of the exhaust attached.

Upper was torqued first. It seals perfectly bottom and both sides. Can slide a piece of paper between on top center. Appears to be warped. I'll look up a gasket. Thanks

I am amazed how calm you are with so many major issues; i personally would be furious, especially about the damaged turbo, garbage FMU, and warped DP flange.

with so many issues, i would honestly open a chargeback for the following reasons:
"Not as described items"
"defective items"
"damaged items"

These are the code words credit card disputes use. so tell them these reasons when calling.
Credit card disputes always side on the customers side, 99% chance you will get a full refund.

At the prices they charge the product needs to be issues free and correctly fitting. no excuses.

i say charge it back, send this shit back, and order the FM no electronics kit for probably about the same price, and it should ship much faster, come with an intercooler and actually fit.

+1 on return/chargeback and ordering from FM instead. They'll have in stock, ship quickly, and it will fit perfectly.

--Ian

I'm almost to that point although I've fixed most of the issues and trying to tune the car. To the point I just laugh when I find another inferior part.




Current situation. 255lphHP fuel pump, new filter, light green top injectors(all new seals), and BEGI FMU (managed to get it to stop leaking). Best I can get the AFR down to is 14's at 6-7 psi. That is running 90-100psi fuel pressure. Runs a solid 14.2-14.9 at idle with 02 sensor plugged in, 10.1 with it unplugged. Iv'e read, read some more and can't find an idea of what is keeping my WOT AFR so high.

dont you need some o2 clamp that fools the ecu into closed loop as soon as there is boost?

My understanding, this aids in the transfer into boost but does not effect AFR in boost. Either way, I interuppted the 02 signal and it made no difference.

did you also floor the gas pedal? my understanding is you need to floor it for the ecu to go into closed loop, otherwise it tries to keep afr at 14.7

Yes I've tried that and everything in between.

Starting over, checking absolutely everything on kit. Waste gate arm was on by three threads and set at 2.46mm preload. Seamed quite tight but I have minimal experience.

I'm pretty sure the waste gate is hanging on the down pipe though.....

send it back

send it back

send it back

send it back

Back where it caaaaame frooooooommmmmm