Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Yep, yesterday I got home from getting some last minute stuff around noon and got right on it. I spent about 2 hours getting the downpipe sanded and painted, I should have done that last week. I also forgot that the 4 corner studs had to be longer, something else I could have done already. All and all everything went smooth. It was a good day of headphones and turning wrenches.

A couple things I wanted to let everyone know. Someone had said something about fitment issues with the Autokonexion hood and the IC pipes. No fitment issues, everything clears fine. Keep in mind, my hood is the first style with gills. The new ones IIRC have a bigger and deeper front vent, which might be the fitment issue hood. See pics below *

I took pictures of basically everything I have done so far, but I'd like to start with a before and after, so you can see what I came from. My Greddy kit gave me 4 years of life, time for change!

Before:


After:


I still have ALOT more work to do, but I just found out I am finally going back to work after 4 months off, so now I need to finish this up fast.

I know I am going to do a different IC setup for sure. I was thinking about trying to do a tilted radiator / v-mount IC setup, but I don't have the time to fool with that. I'm going to just do a normal FMIC setup with a CXracing IC.

Today I hope to get a start on all the wires, I really hate wires. I also have to start taking the interior apart for some new stuff in there.

Well, here's some pics of the install. Yesterday was alot of fun, makes me wish I had my own shop.

Part of my outside work space:


DP start:


DP finish:


Tricked out anti-vibe washers:


Manifold and wastegate:


Vash-

chriscar

iTrader: (24)

Rock on Vash!

About the hood, IIRC, the bigger vent was supposed to be made for MORE clearance. I was in for the non-gill hood but when I saw the final design with the big vent, I decided on he gilled one.

C

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

The bracket on that holds the coolant tube by the exhaust manifold drove me out of my ******* mind! Before I put the manifold on I wanted to make is easier to slip on/off, so I drilled it out a little and all my troubles went away.

Not fitting:


Much easier to work with:


Manifold on:


I sweat exhaust wrap:


Turbo:


No clearance issues:


As it sits now:


Vash-

wes65

iTrader: (7)

Good work. Glad to hear you can go back to work. The car looks great, got an ETA on it?

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

There's still so much I need to do, but I feel like yesterday was a crazy good jump start. I have just been waiting for the right time to jump on it. When I found out I go back to my 80hr work weeks soon I just about ****. So now I kinda need to order everything else I need at once and hope to be done in time. My biggest fear/worry is my current emanage and injector setup. I want to swap to the MSPNP, but I seriously get retarded when it comes to **** like that.

I hope to have the 3" exhaust and test pipe from Jason this week. I need to find out from FM if their heatshield will work for me as well. The shitty thing is, once I get the car running I bring it straight to the bodyshop. I am not skilled enough to make my headlights fit 100%. Plus the car needs a touchup and some other little things done. I hope to be driving it the 1st week in June.

Hey, thanks Chris! I think the bigger vent dips down more. I could see that being a problem with the top IC pipe. But IIRC the gilled version of the hood should work fine, like mine does.

Vash-

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Thanks man! Yea my left wrist is A-OK, but unfortunately the right one is still in need of surgery. I just cant be without a full paycheck anymore and building just picked up around here. I worked with the ligament snapped for close to 6 months on the left one, so I'm gonna try to make it till next winter with my right one. All these years of boxing and punching through walls and ****, I guess I deserve it in a way. Throughout this I have definitely become alot more docile, seeing I'm unable to punch...lol.

ETA for me was end of May, beginning of June. As long as I get to enjoy it for most of the summer I will be content.

Vash-

jayc72

iTrader: (14)

That DP is an absolute bitch to work with ... good luck.

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

Looking good vash, keep it up. Dont forget to wrap your heater line.

mike_671

iTrader: (4)

Looks good. Did you sell your exhaust set up for the greddy kit already?

MX54PLA

iTrader: (2)

Have you given any consideration to coolant re-route? Pretty simple....

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Thanks guys!

The downpipe looks like it would be a **** when trying to attach the upper piece. My plan, is to take the lower section of the DP back out, connect the two, and then exhaust wrap them together and put it back in as once piece.

I was looking at options for my heater hoses. I really hate the tacky silver stuff that most people use. I think if I get the heatshield from FM, having the DP wrapped, and the vents in the hood will keep my underhood temps significantly lower. I will probably order some stuff from summit though just to have it, just in case.

Everything from the Greddy kit is sold and gone, except for the actual turbo itself. I'm still not sure if I want to try and sell it, or keep it as a toy to take apart and learn more about them. If I could get good $ for it, I would sell it. But for $100 its worth more to me as a learning tool / paper weight. I plan on selling some of the FM3 stuff though. Like the intake shield and intercooler for sure, maybe the IC pipes and intake pipe. I haven't decided 100% on what I'm keeping yet.

Right now I'm trying to learn what is exactly involved in switching to the MS setup. I would love to lose the AFM and have a better tuning system than my emanage. I am timid with electronics to begin with, then every problem I read about brings me that much further down the ladder. I hope to have made up my mind by the end of the weekend. Then I'll be able to use the COP's from savington still!

Vash-

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

Sad to see another Greddy dude jump ship.. not really, just jealous.

Go for the MS, if I can do it (with Ben and M2cupcar's help) anyone can. If I had it to do again though it's all too easy to just get the MS and be done tinkering with piggys and bandaids.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

That is the biggest piece of AWESOME INFO a man could recieve... **** what a pain that thing was. I went a different route and shitcanned the pipe and found one in a junkyard from a mid-80's Escort. My Begi DP and that pipe did not get along, the Escort one fit much better with some slight mods.

zarish

iTrader: (2)

Looking nice, good job man keep it goin.

cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

Looks great, pretty much the best upgrade you could have gone with on a budget compared to the greddy. Just hope you don't have to tighten the wastegate bolts, its a real PITA to get to them while everything is bolted up.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Thanks guys, I really have this forum to thank for learning so much. Over the years just reading and reading, taking in all the info. The second go around helps alot too. The first time was a joke compared to now. I just listened to my ipod all afternoon and from start to finish, really just enjoyed the whole process. The first time around was like a learn as you go thing, and I was nothing but nervous the whole time.

I was pretty happy with how much I have done, and I might start painting the pool tonight, so today was my last chance to skate it. So I had to get a quick session in before it’s too late. My friend took some shots for me, she didn’t want to skate it. It was fun to hit the deep end with speed, and I got a SICK acid drop in from outside of the pool. But its really not shaped right like a bowl to keep momentum. I was wanting so bad to drop in off the diving board!!

The day the car is finished, I'm taking it to a loading dock at Duracell by my house. I’m gonna get some sick shots of me boardsliding the rollbar on the Miata. I think it would make an awesome photo shoot.

Vash-

Mach929

iTrader: (3)

car looks good but it looks like you're gonna break your neck and have to finish the car wearing a halo haha

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

This, i must see!

Nice build, looks good! Did you install the fmic that came with the kit yet, or are you selling it right away? Curious how it would look.

I also am in dire need of MS, and definitely will be going that route too. It shouldn't be too bad because every possible question you could have is answered in the ms section using the search function, and if not this board is full of ms gurus.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I'm gonna really need my ***** when I decide to slide the rollbar. I figure its like 3ft long, not too high off the ground, but visually it's gonna be scary.

Its getting hard to decide what to do at the last moments of installing everything. The IC is going, I just bought a 25x12x3 IC from CXracing for $100. I might try and see what pipes can be hacked up to make it work, or sell them along with the FM IC and try to get some money back from it. Same with the intake setup.

Vash-

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

You're going to love that IC once you get in installed. I have no regrets. I guess Brain nabbed one of this size first and did a classic around the bottom of the radiator pipe setup so that does work. But it looks like you have space under your headlights since you have the flush mounts, so I'd recommend considering going under the headlight areas and around the top of the radiator straight into the IC on both sides. It worked great for me, and has really short piping.
-Ryan