SSM car to spoon Leafy with
#182
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Thanks. I measured it again today more closely - the pinch welds are a little buggered but the garage floor where the car is sitting is crumbling a bit. I had considered raising it a little bit and redoing the alignment anyway so we'll see what happens and try to get measurements when I'm on a better surface. I could have swore it was round 4"front and 4 1/4" rear.
#184
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Update with actual progress.
Recent accomplishments:
- Installed SadFab MRS hubs
- Installed the new to me ABS knuckles, and got all of the ABS sensors wired
- Have about half of the fuel system completed. Need to borrow a flare tool make a hard line for under the intake manifold. Then order stuff to make hoses to go from OEM lines to fuel rail/FPR
- Installed the new cylinder head. Timing belt is on.
To do:
- Order some stuff to add an oil cooler
- Finish wiring the ABS
- Finish wiring IGN1A coils
- Get manifold/downpipe from Lars
- Figure out oil feed/drain (if different) and coolant lines for turbo
- Smash **** back together.
Random pics:
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7801/47120307352_b05fd435ed_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7892/46258149605_0f8eb7b524_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7901/47120306352_ba97b0f0b9_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7820/46258148675_79d718aa6a_c.jpg)
Recent accomplishments:
- Installed SadFab MRS hubs
- Installed the new to me ABS knuckles, and got all of the ABS sensors wired
- Have about half of the fuel system completed. Need to borrow a flare tool make a hard line for under the intake manifold. Then order stuff to make hoses to go from OEM lines to fuel rail/FPR
- Installed the new cylinder head. Timing belt is on.
To do:
- Order some stuff to add an oil cooler
- Finish wiring the ABS
- Finish wiring IGN1A coils
- Get manifold/downpipe from Lars
- Figure out oil feed/drain (if different) and coolant lines for turbo
- Smash **** back together.
Random pics:
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7801/47120307352_b05fd435ed_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7892/46258149605_0f8eb7b524_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7901/47120306352_ba97b0f0b9_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7820/46258148675_79d718aa6a_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7840/47120305512_f1f3290802_c.jpg)
#188
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
On an unrelated note.
Did my first ever track event, and wheel to wheel race at the same time! Went down to VIR for ChampCar with Tamra, Andrew, and (local autocross friend) Derek. Derek was the only one with any real track experience, having done a few Lemons races before. Tamra and Andrew had one track day (in a different car), and I had nothing but sim racing.
We went in with no expectations of competing. We started out with 30 minute stints each just to get a feel for the track/car. Derek started, then I got in. Then Andrew. As he got out, he said something felt off, and he wiggled the front wheel. It had brand new wheel bearings all around at the start of the race, but for some reason the left front already had some decent play in it. Crap. We go behind the wall to replace it, and back on track in about 12 minutes. Tamra hops in, and have her pit after 15 minutes to check it. New one again already has play in it. DA FUQ?! Whatever. Ignored, sent her back out for the last 15 minutes of her first stint. Check again, and it's the same. Ignore. Derek back in for a hour 15, and it's the same after his stint. No idea what the deal is.
I got in for my first stint...holyyyy crap. Traffic is insane. Felt pretty comfortable with the car right away, but took a handful of laps to have any confidence in traffic. It was really tough being one of the slower cars on the straights, but easily one of the best cars under braking, and definitely one of the fastest in the corners. I could run laps much faster than quite a few "faster" cars, but took forever to get by because they'd just run laps around me down the straights. So I'd have to try to get by in the twisty bits then run away as fast as possible before the straight.
Outside the car, I was struggle bussing something fierce. Between the generators and the fuel jugs in the pits, I was not in good shape. Kept having to go back to the truck to get away from it to avoid puking. I've been around racetracks my whole life, but have never felt like that before. Wasn't sure I'd be able to run my full last stint, but as soon as I got back in the car I felt better - the air quality was WAY better in the car than out of it.
We ended up like 59 laps down at one point. With our last stints each, we manged to claw back 4 laps and wound up 55 down at the end. So we feel pretty good about that. The car is not at all prepped well for ChampCar as it's a fully SM legal car - and a 1.6 at that.
Night time...absolutely insane. That track gets sooooo dark. Thankfully I did not have to do much of it.
Would absolutely love to do another race in the future.
Here's a chunk of one of my stints with some decent battles:
And fastest laps:
Did my first ever track event, and wheel to wheel race at the same time! Went down to VIR for ChampCar with Tamra, Andrew, and (local autocross friend) Derek. Derek was the only one with any real track experience, having done a few Lemons races before. Tamra and Andrew had one track day (in a different car), and I had nothing but sim racing.
We went in with no expectations of competing. We started out with 30 minute stints each just to get a feel for the track/car. Derek started, then I got in. Then Andrew. As he got out, he said something felt off, and he wiggled the front wheel. It had brand new wheel bearings all around at the start of the race, but for some reason the left front already had some decent play in it. Crap. We go behind the wall to replace it, and back on track in about 12 minutes. Tamra hops in, and have her pit after 15 minutes to check it. New one again already has play in it. DA FUQ?! Whatever. Ignored, sent her back out for the last 15 minutes of her first stint. Check again, and it's the same. Ignore. Derek back in for a hour 15, and it's the same after his stint. No idea what the deal is.
I got in for my first stint...holyyyy crap. Traffic is insane. Felt pretty comfortable with the car right away, but took a handful of laps to have any confidence in traffic. It was really tough being one of the slower cars on the straights, but easily one of the best cars under braking, and definitely one of the fastest in the corners. I could run laps much faster than quite a few "faster" cars, but took forever to get by because they'd just run laps around me down the straights. So I'd have to try to get by in the twisty bits then run away as fast as possible before the straight.
Outside the car, I was struggle bussing something fierce. Between the generators and the fuel jugs in the pits, I was not in good shape. Kept having to go back to the truck to get away from it to avoid puking. I've been around racetracks my whole life, but have never felt like that before. Wasn't sure I'd be able to run my full last stint, but as soon as I got back in the car I felt better - the air quality was WAY better in the car than out of it.
We ended up like 59 laps down at one point. With our last stints each, we manged to claw back 4 laps and wound up 55 down at the end. So we feel pretty good about that. The car is not at all prepped well for ChampCar as it's a fully SM legal car - and a 1.6 at that.
Night time...absolutely insane. That track gets sooooo dark. Thankfully I did not have to do much of it.
Would absolutely love to do another race in the future.
Here's a chunk of one of my stints with some decent battles:
And fastest laps:
#189
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Engine back in. Pretty much everything hooked back up. The AN fitting I had exiting the fuel rail got dinged on the flare putting the engine in or something, and leaks :( Ordered a new one.
Still to do:
- finish wiring the abs then bleed
- alignment
- fluids
- finish fabbing the down pipe that Lars sent me
Should start it next weekend.
Still to do:
- finish wiring the abs then bleed
- alignment
- fluids
- finish fabbing the down pipe that Lars sent me
Should start it next weekend.
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7831/46740234474_c944bfed77_b.jpg)
#192
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Well, it's as done as it'll be, I guess.
Thought the boost controller was not working correctly, but thinking it was a mechanical issue and the wastegate was bound up. Boost would just keep climbing and was just linear with RPM. Ran through test mode with the boost controller, and it appears to be functioning like it should - can blow through it commanding 0 duty cycle, can't at 100dc. Moved onto the wastegate, and it was definitely not aligned properly. So, reclocked it a little bit to line the arm up directly with the wategate hole.
This was before reclocking. No threads sticking out, so it had a TON of preload on it, on top of just not wanting to move.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7880/40597354063_61dc973867_b.jpg)
Testing. Seems to move freely at something less than 20psi as I'm not sure I trust the regulator on the compressor below that. But it has full range as well now.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7891/40597353923_591f1d2617_b.jpg)
Then water started gushing out of the front of the engine. Wound it's way from the thread sealed npt fitting down to the crank sensor area. It must have pooled and then gushed all at once because the amount at the bottom was not proportional to how slowly it was dripping from that fitting. Removed and used tape instead of thread sealer and seems to be good now. Likely I tapped that hole just a hair too far.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7903/46839489684_7445f328a3_b.jpg)
Headlight covers. Forgot to take a picture with both of them.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7871/46839489584_9e7af45241_b.jpg)
New to me wheels for a second set:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7827/40597353983_daf17256dd_b.jpg)
It at least drove onto the trailer:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7866/46839489624_4163d4fa2b_b.jpg)
Alignment Friday, and replacing an axle seal. The passenger one was leaking last year and I replaced it. I can't remember if I replaced both of then or not, but now the driver side one is leaking.
Test and tune Saturday, going to be a lot of tune fiddling.
Thought the boost controller was not working correctly, but thinking it was a mechanical issue and the wastegate was bound up. Boost would just keep climbing and was just linear with RPM. Ran through test mode with the boost controller, and it appears to be functioning like it should - can blow through it commanding 0 duty cycle, can't at 100dc. Moved onto the wastegate, and it was definitely not aligned properly. So, reclocked it a little bit to line the arm up directly with the wategate hole.
This was before reclocking. No threads sticking out, so it had a TON of preload on it, on top of just not wanting to move.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7880/40597354063_61dc973867_b.jpg)
Testing. Seems to move freely at something less than 20psi as I'm not sure I trust the regulator on the compressor below that. But it has full range as well now.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7891/40597353923_591f1d2617_b.jpg)
Then water started gushing out of the front of the engine. Wound it's way from the thread sealed npt fitting down to the crank sensor area. It must have pooled and then gushed all at once because the amount at the bottom was not proportional to how slowly it was dripping from that fitting. Removed and used tape instead of thread sealer and seems to be good now. Likely I tapped that hole just a hair too far.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7903/46839489684_7445f328a3_b.jpg)
Headlight covers. Forgot to take a picture with both of them.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7871/46839489584_9e7af45241_b.jpg)
New to me wheels for a second set:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7827/40597353983_daf17256dd_b.jpg)
It at least drove onto the trailer:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7866/46839489624_4163d4fa2b_b.jpg)
Alignment Friday, and replacing an axle seal. The passenger one was leaking last year and I replaced it. I can't remember if I replaced both of then or not, but now the driver side one is leaking.
Test and tune Saturday, going to be a lot of tune fiddling.
#193
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Well that was an "interesting" weekend.
Test and tune on Saturday was mostly spent fiddling with the boost controller, trying to get the boost to where I wanted it to be (~18psi). Brakes were absolute garbage, though. Pedal was inconsistent, and felt like we had about 60% of the braking force. Chalked it up to there being air in the lines and we were going to bleed them in the morning.
Bled brakes this morning. Got a few air bubbles out. Tried getting the ABS pump to cycle, but it doesn't want to, following the procedure in the FSM. Pedal felt slightly better as a result, but still really inconsistent. Then I had a stroke of genius and realized the booster vacuum line was collapsing under vacuum (I'm an idiot and used a non-oem line - more in a second). So, tried to track down some thicker wall vacuum line. Ben dug some out of Snail and we were able to force it on. At which point Ben wonders where the check valve is. What check valve? Had no idea where was something in the factory line (which doesn't fit due to my combination of parts). So, was putting 18psi into the brake booster the whole time. That's probably not good for it. Going to replace the line with proper sized stuff, and put a check valve in.
Car handling - absolutely amazing. I put a stock rear bar on, and didn't hate it. Was planning on doing back to back with it off/on at the TnT, but ended up loving the handling so much that I didn't bother.
Power is borderline silly. Boost is a bit lazy. Not sure what the issue is. But it's quick. It's pretty much "the right amount", in my opinion. But, lots of optimizing to do there. I need to get it professionally tuned. Bob Day has too much desire to break my transmissions.
Fastest scratch time was my first run of the day. Couldn't get my head out of my *** at all. By far my worst driving at any event I can remember. Spliced together a few video sections that show FTD was possible, but still no way it would have been top pax (Billy).
The hot garbage, and still only thing worth posting:
Need to get the two-step working so I can leave in 2nd with boost
Test and tune on Saturday was mostly spent fiddling with the boost controller, trying to get the boost to where I wanted it to be (~18psi). Brakes were absolute garbage, though. Pedal was inconsistent, and felt like we had about 60% of the braking force. Chalked it up to there being air in the lines and we were going to bleed them in the morning.
Bled brakes this morning. Got a few air bubbles out. Tried getting the ABS pump to cycle, but it doesn't want to, following the procedure in the FSM. Pedal felt slightly better as a result, but still really inconsistent. Then I had a stroke of genius and realized the booster vacuum line was collapsing under vacuum (I'm an idiot and used a non-oem line - more in a second). So, tried to track down some thicker wall vacuum line. Ben dug some out of Snail and we were able to force it on. At which point Ben wonders where the check valve is. What check valve? Had no idea where was something in the factory line (which doesn't fit due to my combination of parts). So, was putting 18psi into the brake booster the whole time. That's probably not good for it. Going to replace the line with proper sized stuff, and put a check valve in.
Car handling - absolutely amazing. I put a stock rear bar on, and didn't hate it. Was planning on doing back to back with it off/on at the TnT, but ended up loving the handling so much that I didn't bother.
Power is borderline silly. Boost is a bit lazy. Not sure what the issue is. But it's quick. It's pretty much "the right amount", in my opinion. But, lots of optimizing to do there. I need to get it professionally tuned. Bob Day has too much desire to break my transmissions.
Fastest scratch time was my first run of the day. Couldn't get my head out of my *** at all. By far my worst driving at any event I can remember. Spliced together a few video sections that show FTD was possible, but still no way it would have been top pax (Billy).
The hot garbage, and still only thing worth posting:
Need to get the two-step working so I can leave in 2nd with boost
#194
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Replaced the remainder of the shifter "stuff" using the 5X rebuild kit. Had to take the turret out of the car to get the dowel pin out. No way I could get enough leverage on that thing with it in the car. Had to torch is for a minute and then hammer it out. Man that thing is a pain in the *** to get out/in.
Gauges work again after replacing the fuse.
Need to figure out why the brake master is leaking tomorrow. Also was gifted a Walbro 255 and will put that in tomorrow as well.
Gauges work again after replacing the fuse.
Need to figure out why the brake master is leaking tomorrow. Also was gifted a Walbro 255 and will put that in tomorrow as well.
#195
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Man, I can not figure out launch control. So, tapped into the brown/white wire ('96 chassis, this is the clutch switch further from the firewall) at the ecu and connected it to the options port on the MS. Put clutch in -> launch light comes on. Throttle above 15%, the launch settings kick in. Good so far. Go for a drive, and it's got some sort of rev limiter kicking in at 5xxx rpm, which is not at all close to what the launch rpm is set at (3200). I've run into this issue before, and I just don't get it. Disabling launch control makes the problem go away. Everything on the transmission is unplugged.
#199
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Yeah, I don't get it. It did this last time i tried getting it to work, too. But I didn't even get the launch light to come on last time. This time it does.
Bob thinks the firmware is dicked or something.
Attached a log of it happening. You can see the launch timing retard kick in randomly.
Bob thinks the firmware is dicked or something.
Attached a log of it happening. You can see the launch timing retard kick in randomly.