“Thunder” – a big turbo and 405rwhp
#1
“Thunder” – a big turbo and 405rwhp
I realized the other day that this car has never really had a proper build thread. This thread will be a little bit unconventional though, as the car is more or less finished and I am on the cusp of parting it out (long story short, I’ve decided I only need one turbo Miata and I’m a whole lot more emotionally attached to my green ‘95).
I bought this car in May of 2010 more or less the way it sits now. I’ve replaced a few things along the way – upgraded from MSD coils to the OEM GM LS2 truck coils, put in a new Walbro 255LPH HP fuel pump, and spent $1500 getting the car tuned at Balanced Performance.
Before anybody points out the obvious, the 6ULs weren’t intended to be the ultimate wheel solution for the car. I’ve also got a set of 16x8 ESMs with a +15 offset that filled out the flares a bit better. I was just about to order a set of custom made Spinwerks when I decided to part out the car.
Here is an overview of the build with pics:
Engine Block
Wiseco 9:1 pistons
Carillo H beam rods
ARP main studs
01+ modified main cap girdle/ MBSP
ISC Racing baffled oil pan
ISC Racing crank scraper
Nismo GTR engine mounts
Head
Integral Racing Cams - 272 degree, head clearanced for additional lift
Balanced/ bullnosed, and fully polished crank
BEGi Intake Manifold
ARP head studs
Flyin Miata stainless valves
Flyin Miata springs
ATI damper pulley
01+ oil pump, shimmed for 75psi max pressure at motor
Boundary Engineering billet oil pump gears
OEM Protege head gasket
Engine Management
Hydra Nemeis ECU v2.6
Turbo
Garrett 3071 twin scroll turbo
BEGi cast manifold
Tial 38mm wastegate
BEGi separated gases downpipe; V banded and heat wrapped
Intercooler and piping
Synapse BOV
BEGi turbo hard lines/ distribution block
Boost Control
AEM Truboost
Fuel
RC 750 injectors
Walbro 255LPH HP Fuel Pump
Ignition
GM LS2 Truck Coils
MSD Plug Wires
Exhaust
BEGi full 3"exhaust, no cats; heat wrapped to the exhaust tip
Lubrication
Accumsump 3 qt oil reservoir
Dual Earls 6"x8" oil coolers
Remote oil filter housing
Suspension
Tein Monoflex coilovers – revalved; 14kg front, 10kg rear
Racing Beat 1.25" front bar, 5/8" rear bar, end links, braces/mounts
Cobalt 3 point strut tower brace
Mazda competition bushings
Brakes
Goodwin racing big brake kit, DBA 2 piece rotors
Body
Garage vary front lip
Fender flares
Aluminum hood with vents
Hardtop with roof mounted vortex generators
PPF brace (Goodwin Racing)
FM Frame Rails and Butterfly brace
Safety
Hard Dog cage
G Force Harnesses
Cooling
Springfield Dyno radiator
Bell coolant reroute
6x8" power steering cooler
Interior
Ultra shield full containment seat
Momo steering wheel; locking quick release hub
Aero
APR GTC 200 wing
Vortex generators mounted on the roof
Gauges
Traqmate system with display
Autometer fuel pressure
Autometer oil pressure
Autometer oil temp
Autometer coolant temp
Autometer wideband O2
Transmission
Quaife gearbox – wide ratio 5 speed (new, uninstalled)
ACT Prolite flywheel
ACT Xtreme clutch, 6 puck sprung disc
Torsen with 3.9 ring gear and Mazda Comp diff bushings
Wheels/ Tires
949 Racing 6ULs – Gen 1
225/45/15 Hankook RS2s
ESM 16x8 wheels +15 offset
Toyo R888 245/45/16
Misc
Traqmate
2.3L AFFF fire suppression system
Cool shirt 12qt clubman system
Now, for some pictures:
I bought this car in May of 2010 more or less the way it sits now. I’ve replaced a few things along the way – upgraded from MSD coils to the OEM GM LS2 truck coils, put in a new Walbro 255LPH HP fuel pump, and spent $1500 getting the car tuned at Balanced Performance.
Before anybody points out the obvious, the 6ULs weren’t intended to be the ultimate wheel solution for the car. I’ve also got a set of 16x8 ESMs with a +15 offset that filled out the flares a bit better. I was just about to order a set of custom made Spinwerks when I decided to part out the car.
Here is an overview of the build with pics:
Engine Block
Wiseco 9:1 pistons
Carillo H beam rods
ARP main studs
01+ modified main cap girdle/ MBSP
ISC Racing baffled oil pan
ISC Racing crank scraper
Nismo GTR engine mounts
Head
Integral Racing Cams - 272 degree, head clearanced for additional lift
Balanced/ bullnosed, and fully polished crank
BEGi Intake Manifold
ARP head studs
Flyin Miata stainless valves
Flyin Miata springs
ATI damper pulley
01+ oil pump, shimmed for 75psi max pressure at motor
Boundary Engineering billet oil pump gears
OEM Protege head gasket
Engine Management
Hydra Nemeis ECU v2.6
Turbo
Garrett 3071 twin scroll turbo
BEGi cast manifold
Tial 38mm wastegate
BEGi separated gases downpipe; V banded and heat wrapped
Intercooler and piping
Synapse BOV
BEGi turbo hard lines/ distribution block
Boost Control
AEM Truboost
Fuel
RC 750 injectors
Walbro 255LPH HP Fuel Pump
Ignition
GM LS2 Truck Coils
MSD Plug Wires
Exhaust
BEGi full 3"exhaust, no cats; heat wrapped to the exhaust tip
Lubrication
Accumsump 3 qt oil reservoir
Dual Earls 6"x8" oil coolers
Remote oil filter housing
Suspension
Tein Monoflex coilovers – revalved; 14kg front, 10kg rear
Racing Beat 1.25" front bar, 5/8" rear bar, end links, braces/mounts
Cobalt 3 point strut tower brace
Mazda competition bushings
Brakes
Goodwin racing big brake kit, DBA 2 piece rotors
Body
Garage vary front lip
Fender flares
Aluminum hood with vents
Hardtop with roof mounted vortex generators
PPF brace (Goodwin Racing)
FM Frame Rails and Butterfly brace
Safety
Hard Dog cage
G Force Harnesses
Cooling
Springfield Dyno radiator
Bell coolant reroute
6x8" power steering cooler
Interior
Ultra shield full containment seat
Momo steering wheel; locking quick release hub
Aero
APR GTC 200 wing
Vortex generators mounted on the roof
Gauges
Traqmate system with display
Autometer fuel pressure
Autometer oil pressure
Autometer oil temp
Autometer coolant temp
Autometer wideband O2
Transmission
Quaife gearbox – wide ratio 5 speed (new, uninstalled)
ACT Prolite flywheel
ACT Xtreme clutch, 6 puck sprung disc
Torsen with 3.9 ring gear and Mazda Comp diff bushings
Wheels/ Tires
949 Racing 6ULs – Gen 1
225/45/15 Hankook RS2s
ESM 16x8 wheels +15 offset
Toyo R888 245/45/16
Misc
Traqmate
2.3L AFFF fire suppression system
Cool shirt 12qt clubman system
Now, for some pictures:
Last edited by nickt93; 07-29-2011 at 06:17 PM.
#4
GAUGES
LUBRICATION
Oil coolers mounted in each wheel well
INTERIOR
Elise seat
Hood vents
The whole family
And more pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/nickt93...taTurboThunder
LUBRICATION
Oil coolers mounted in each wheel well
INTERIOR
Elise seat
Hood vents
The whole family
And more pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/nickt93...taTurboThunder
Last edited by nickt93; 07-25-2011 at 12:32 PM.
#10
Thanks guys - it really is an insane car. After I picked it up from getting it tuned at Balanced Performance it was f-ing scary to drive...ridiculously fast.
I thought it would take the jaws of life to pry me away, but instead all it took was an LSX swapped IS300.
The car is stiff as hell, but it's hard to say how much is attributable to the PPF brace - with the cage, frame rails, etc. it's hard to isolate and I never drove the car before the PPF brace. I'll get back to you once I put the PPF brace on my 95.
It's a BEGi. They've stopped making this version I believe - the one they sell currently looks different.
It's a BEGi. They've stopped making this version I believe - the one they sell currently looks different.
#16
BTW, haven't seen you in a while. Hope all is well man. I'll be at the August C&O in a few weeks if you are around.
- The history of other high HP Miata sales (or lack thereof) in the past year. This car, Robino's, etc all sat for weeks/ months and ended up selling for a fraction of their build cost. Did Matt Andrews' car ever sell? Tough market for highly modified Miatas.
- I'm planning to take a bunch of parts from this car for my '95. At the moment, I'm planning to take the Wilwood brakes, Traqmate, BEGi intake manifold, APR wing, oil coolers, and Accusump. I'll also swap the Tein monos for the JIC Magics on my '95.
The part out shouldn't be too much trouble - I think I already have a buyer for the head, and I'll post up in the classifieds here once I pull everything else. I'm going to see if there is any interest in the chassis as a roller: body with hardtop, vented hood, full rollcage, GV front lip, full Mazda Comp bushing set, etc. Would make a great start for a turbo build or a V8 swap.