My Money Pit - part 2 (next time do it right the first time)
#1
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Location: Toronto, ON
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So I'm a bit bored waiting for my parts to be started/finished and waiting for other parts to come in the mail and decided to document things.
The day I got it
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP0__D907I/AAAAAAAABXY/OMEYzn4l80s/1.jpg)
Long story short, this all started because Boundary was having the Adaptronic group buy last year and it all ballooned from there. I found a turbo kit for sale made by Stein. Bought it, installed it, tracked it, abused it, broke it, fixed it, broke it again, rinse and repeat.
There was a Halloween track day in 2010 that I went to and there ended up being only about 5 participants, 3 of them race teams. The track day was from 9-5 for $120. The track teams were so busy doing their data collecting, etc (etc stuff that I don't know about) that I got to spend so much time on the track. I was doing sessions for as long as I could tolerate the tranny tunnel heat or the exhaust fumes wafting into the cabin. The prolonged sessions took their toll on my car and I fried my brakes, broke 3 bolts holding the turbo on, broke an exhaust hanger and it was only 1pm. I couldn't handle the brake shudder anymore, so I decided to call it a good day. I came on this gay old site looking for the end all solution to breaking the bolts. I couldn't justify spending $150 on the inconel bolt setup, so I decided to blow the bottom out of my budget.
I didn't know what to expect
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP0_2_3TQI/AAAAAAAABXc/3_7vSqE235A/2.jpg)
I had smoke problems from the start
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1ACr5_FI/AAAAAAAABXg/RBnMTDgAslw/s640/3.jpg)
I went to Philadelphia to pick up wheels for the track
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1AfdH3JI/AAAAAAAABXk/anXkQ6YsdF4/4.jpg)
Things worked well...while they lasted. I never dynoed it, but no 'normal' street car was really able to keep up
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TNYHP_cyeNI/AAAAAAAAA-0/LrjjrLU6-eM/s720/IMG_0668.jpg)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TNYHDXL9ajI/AAAAAAAAA9c/SJyn4350SRo/s720/IMG_0533.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TNYHHp6tokI/AAAAAAAAA-A/L_jk3fe3HnU/s720/IMG_0597.jpg)
Track broke my stuff so it's time to do it right
2871 0.86ar turbine housing
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1AarHtCI/AAAAAAAABXo/m_RutyAoJv4/s512/5.jpg)
Complete exhaust being made by Abe@ARTech
1.25" runners. 3" dp/exhaust
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1DUT2R1I/AAAAAAAABXs/TQHDa8NFM-Y/s640/6.jpg)
I've also got a Maruha/Wilwood brake kit on the way. I siezed my front right caliper at the final track day and 'warped' my rotor, and this setup was cheaper for me than replacing it with OEM stuff. Should have pics soon
I'm also removing the AC system due to space constraints. I'm reading more to find out how to move my PS equipment to a better spot.
I was supposed to pull my engine and drop in a set of rods. I was not mentally prepared to do this yet, so I'll wait until next winter. The rods are sitting my my self for now.
The motivation started slowing down due to the cold weather coming, so I bought a welder to do a few basic things.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1DhTC8tI/AAAAAAAABXw/sWu0_dihQ00/s640/7.jpg)
At another track event this guy that brought his brand new 911 towed by his new Cayenne. It spat coolant all over the track and pit while he was standing around kicking the tires. For ***** and giggles I told him to take it to Canadian Tire to get fixed (your Pepboys equivalent) and I think he took the advice![facepalm](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/facepalm.gif)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TNYHJm-Ck0I/AAAAAAAAA-M/jjJRXRRtglE/s720/IMG_0609.jpg)
That's it for now. Still waiting for Abe to finish my stuff so I can get to the real meat of the build.
The day I got it
![Greddy2](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/greddy2.gif)
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP0__D907I/AAAAAAAABXY/OMEYzn4l80s/1.jpg)
Long story short, this all started because Boundary was having the Adaptronic group buy last year and it all ballooned from there. I found a turbo kit for sale made by Stein. Bought it, installed it, tracked it, abused it, broke it, fixed it, broke it again, rinse and repeat.
There was a Halloween track day in 2010 that I went to and there ended up being only about 5 participants, 3 of them race teams. The track day was from 9-5 for $120. The track teams were so busy doing their data collecting, etc (etc stuff that I don't know about) that I got to spend so much time on the track. I was doing sessions for as long as I could tolerate the tranny tunnel heat or the exhaust fumes wafting into the cabin. The prolonged sessions took their toll on my car and I fried my brakes, broke 3 bolts holding the turbo on, broke an exhaust hanger and it was only 1pm. I couldn't handle the brake shudder anymore, so I decided to call it a good day. I came on this gay old site looking for the end all solution to breaking the bolts. I couldn't justify spending $150 on the inconel bolt setup, so I decided to blow the bottom out of my budget.
I didn't know what to expect
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP0_2_3TQI/AAAAAAAABXc/3_7vSqE235A/2.jpg)
I had smoke problems from the start
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1ACr5_FI/AAAAAAAABXg/RBnMTDgAslw/s640/3.jpg)
I went to Philadelphia to pick up wheels for the track
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1AfdH3JI/AAAAAAAABXk/anXkQ6YsdF4/4.jpg)
Things worked well...while they lasted. I never dynoed it, but no 'normal' street car was really able to keep up
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TNYHP_cyeNI/AAAAAAAAA-0/LrjjrLU6-eM/s720/IMG_0668.jpg)
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TNYHDXL9ajI/AAAAAAAAA9c/SJyn4350SRo/s720/IMG_0533.jpg)
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TNYHHp6tokI/AAAAAAAAA-A/L_jk3fe3HnU/s720/IMG_0597.jpg)
Track broke my stuff so it's time to do it right
2871 0.86ar turbine housing
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1AarHtCI/AAAAAAAABXo/m_RutyAoJv4/s512/5.jpg)
Complete exhaust being made by Abe@ARTech
1.25" runners. 3" dp/exhaust
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1DUT2R1I/AAAAAAAABXs/TQHDa8NFM-Y/s640/6.jpg)
I've also got a Maruha/Wilwood brake kit on the way. I siezed my front right caliper at the final track day and 'warped' my rotor, and this setup was cheaper for me than replacing it with OEM stuff. Should have pics soon
I'm also removing the AC system due to space constraints. I'm reading more to find out how to move my PS equipment to a better spot.
I was supposed to pull my engine and drop in a set of rods. I was not mentally prepared to do this yet, so I'll wait until next winter. The rods are sitting my my self for now.
The motivation started slowing down due to the cold weather coming, so I bought a welder to do a few basic things.
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TVP1DhTC8tI/AAAAAAAABXw/sWu0_dihQ00/s640/7.jpg)
At another track event this guy that brought his brand new 911 towed by his new Cayenne. It spat coolant all over the track and pit while he was standing around kicking the tires. For ***** and giggles I told him to take it to Canadian Tire to get fixed (your Pepboys equivalent) and I think he took the advice
![facepalm](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/facepalm.gif)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_CuifU1flaIo/TNYHJm-Ck0I/AAAAAAAAA-M/jjJRXRRtglE/s720/IMG_0609.jpg)
That's it for now. Still waiting for Abe to finish my stuff so I can get to the real meat of the build.
Last edited by dgmorr; 02-10-2011 at 10:17 AM.
#6
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You're in Cali, the guy that made it is practically your neighbour, I overpaid to get this thing here ![Thefinger](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/thefinger.gif)
Next time I'll just get the TSE or 949 brake kit. I had to grind the caliper mounting tabs to get this to fit properly, but not before noticing that I cross-threaded one of my bolts
. M10 x 1.25 was hard to find locally the last time I needed one. My brake lines seem to have been lost in USPS limbo as well.
![Thefinger](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/thefinger.gif)
Next time I'll just get the TSE or 949 brake kit. I had to grind the caliper mounting tabs to get this to fit properly, but not before noticing that I cross-threaded one of my bolts
![facepalm](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/facepalm.gif)
#8
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Thanks, it's a real mess right now.
I just removed all the AC system and there is so much more space. I'm not sure what to do with power steering. Keep or no keep? What do you guys think?
I've owned two cars without power steering before, but have never tracked them.
I just removed all the AC system and there is so much more space. I'm not sure what to do with power steering. Keep or no keep? What do you guys think?
I've owned two cars without power steering before, but have never tracked them.
#10
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I'm also debating removing the heater core. I don't drive it in the winter at all...but I think it might be better to just keep it.
#13
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Alright, so I got rid of AC and PS. AC was very easy to remove and I actually found a buyer for it locally.
I thought removing PS would be simple, I should have known better. Ontario rust is preventing me from doing the FM depower so I have resorted to just looping the lines. Also, how do I ensure that the steering rack is centred before I put it back on, which points are best to measure from?
Did I mention I hate working with fluids?
![](http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7521/99305694.jpg)
Anyone know what I can plug the two holes with seen with red plugs in the FM pic?
I thought removing PS would be simple, I should have known better. Ontario rust is preventing me from doing the FM depower so I have resorted to just looping the lines. Also, how do I ensure that the steering rack is centred before I put it back on, which points are best to measure from?
Did I mention I hate working with fluids?
![](http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7521/99305694.jpg)
Anyone know what I can plug the two holes with seen with red plugs in the FM pic?
![](http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower/OTC_steering_rack.jpg)
#19
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A groove, really? Hopefully I can save the threads on one of the bolts
![facepalm](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/facepalm.gif)
![vash](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/vash.gif)
Metric fine thread hardware is impossible to find in my area. The best I can do is have stuff shipped from Fastenal to Buffallo. I decided to use a stack of washers to plug the M14 Banjo fitting on the rack.