TurboMiata
05-01-2002, 01:37 AM
Well the car is going through a full transformation right now..
Here is what is going on.....
I have pulled the dash to remove all heater/ a/c stuff. While I was in there I removed all of the airbag electronics and wiring (some 10 sec and faster Supra's have had problem with air bags going off during a launch.... So they are gone, and a new steering wheel is in. I also removed the wiring from the car and dissected all of it. I removed all engine related wiring from there. All that is left is stuff for the starter, alternator, and lights. I moved the passenger side fuse box to under the dash. I re did the wiring from the firewall to the headlights through the fender as to remove all wiring from under the hood that is not engine related. I am installing a new intercooler. This thing is HUGE!!! The core is 22X16X3. That is almost 3 of the FM cores for reference. It is about as big as can physically fit. I am actually having to change to a Honda Civic Radiator (half size) to fit it. I also had to hack some of the upper radiator support in order for it to sit high enough. I did make a trick alum plate to cover the radiator support so it looks nice.. All brackets and everything from under the hood that is not being used have been removed. The Front sway bar is removed temporarily right now for a few reasons. It is better for the launch, less weight, both of the factory mounts were cracked from the big swaybar, and for clearance for the FE3 with TEC wheel. After this big Drag Race I am getting ready for I am going to make custom mounts to put the stock bar a bit further forward for clearance for the tec wheel. I am going to get some longer heimjoints to reach the control arm. I am going to make a quick release for the heim joints so I can disconnect at the track quickly for the better holeshot..
I am getting the car ready for the cage. I am going through the dash as to give more leg room for getting in and out of the car. I am going to keep the back half as a a HDHCDD bar but weld it into the car with the proper plates to make it legal. I removed the handles off the door panel and I am going to re vinyl the panel to cover up the holes.
My gauges are done in the dash. Autometer water temp where factory temp gague was, Autometer Oil pressure where gas was and boost where factory oil pressure was.
All and all the car is coming along nicely. After the FE3 mounts are made I am painting the engine bay to clean it up.
The FE3 Motor showed up today... I am happy so far. It looks like the 1.8 pressure plate will work. The step on the flywheel looks to be about .1 to .15 " off, but nothing turning could not fix... The Flywheel is different though as the bolt pattern is wider and has a larger hole in the center. My FE3 Did not have anything to affix the Kia Front water pipe to the head. The freeze plug was there but, no bolt holes. I am going to just weld a 1.8 or 1.6 thermostat housing to the front of the head. The housing on the back of the head shares the same bolt pattern spacing as the miata so I can use the Miata. It is turned so it will take some modifying, but it will work just fine. I chopped the intake manifold off the FE3 Intake so I could use the Injector bosses and flange to make my custom sheetmetal intake manifold. I am also custom making a Tubular exhaust manifold. I am getting a flange cut right now for the head off of the Kia exhaust manifold gasket I bought last week.. I am making custom mounts that will accept the Miata rubber part of the mount.. I am going to try to push it back a little bit to get the weight further back in the car. I am using the B2200 Bellhousing and cutting it down, welding a plate of alum on it, and drilling it to accept the RX7 Turbo II trans. I am re using my Miata PP with custom disk with Miata outer disk and RX7 center hub for now until Clutchmasters finishes the Probe/2GRX7 multiplate setup (about 4-6 weeks). The power will go through a Shortened RX7 Driveshaft into a Turbo II rear end custom mounted in the back of the car. There will be no PPF but mount for the trans. The power will leave the Diff through either Driveshaftshop.com axles or stock Turbo II axles. These axles will not be resplined but rater go into modified RX7 Hubs wihich will be in the Miata wheel bearing (thanks to the research of my friend Corey)
More updates later :D
The car is scheduled to be at the Dyno at Lightning Motorsports in Baton Rouge LA on May 25th, and run at State Capitol Drag way in Baton Rouge on the 26. Hopefully if all goes well Ric will have the minimonster (400hp 10 sec miata) at both the dyno and the track. Maybe I will take his throne for a bit as the fastest 4 cyl piston Mazda powered Miata :D...
Hopefully 400+hp, 10 sec passes, and 130+mph.... :D
Danny
Here is what is going on.....
I have pulled the dash to remove all heater/ a/c stuff. While I was in there I removed all of the airbag electronics and wiring (some 10 sec and faster Supra's have had problem with air bags going off during a launch.... So they are gone, and a new steering wheel is in. I also removed the wiring from the car and dissected all of it. I removed all engine related wiring from there. All that is left is stuff for the starter, alternator, and lights. I moved the passenger side fuse box to under the dash. I re did the wiring from the firewall to the headlights through the fender as to remove all wiring from under the hood that is not engine related. I am installing a new intercooler. This thing is HUGE!!! The core is 22X16X3. That is almost 3 of the FM cores for reference. It is about as big as can physically fit. I am actually having to change to a Honda Civic Radiator (half size) to fit it. I also had to hack some of the upper radiator support in order for it to sit high enough. I did make a trick alum plate to cover the radiator support so it looks nice.. All brackets and everything from under the hood that is not being used have been removed. The Front sway bar is removed temporarily right now for a few reasons. It is better for the launch, less weight, both of the factory mounts were cracked from the big swaybar, and for clearance for the FE3 with TEC wheel. After this big Drag Race I am getting ready for I am going to make custom mounts to put the stock bar a bit further forward for clearance for the tec wheel. I am going to get some longer heimjoints to reach the control arm. I am going to make a quick release for the heim joints so I can disconnect at the track quickly for the better holeshot..
I am getting the car ready for the cage. I am going through the dash as to give more leg room for getting in and out of the car. I am going to keep the back half as a a HDHCDD bar but weld it into the car with the proper plates to make it legal. I removed the handles off the door panel and I am going to re vinyl the panel to cover up the holes.
My gauges are done in the dash. Autometer water temp where factory temp gague was, Autometer Oil pressure where gas was and boost where factory oil pressure was.
All and all the car is coming along nicely. After the FE3 mounts are made I am painting the engine bay to clean it up.
The FE3 Motor showed up today... I am happy so far. It looks like the 1.8 pressure plate will work. The step on the flywheel looks to be about .1 to .15 " off, but nothing turning could not fix... The Flywheel is different though as the bolt pattern is wider and has a larger hole in the center. My FE3 Did not have anything to affix the Kia Front water pipe to the head. The freeze plug was there but, no bolt holes. I am going to just weld a 1.8 or 1.6 thermostat housing to the front of the head. The housing on the back of the head shares the same bolt pattern spacing as the miata so I can use the Miata. It is turned so it will take some modifying, but it will work just fine. I chopped the intake manifold off the FE3 Intake so I could use the Injector bosses and flange to make my custom sheetmetal intake manifold. I am also custom making a Tubular exhaust manifold. I am getting a flange cut right now for the head off of the Kia exhaust manifold gasket I bought last week.. I am making custom mounts that will accept the Miata rubber part of the mount.. I am going to try to push it back a little bit to get the weight further back in the car. I am using the B2200 Bellhousing and cutting it down, welding a plate of alum on it, and drilling it to accept the RX7 Turbo II trans. I am re using my Miata PP with custom disk with Miata outer disk and RX7 center hub for now until Clutchmasters finishes the Probe/2GRX7 multiplate setup (about 4-6 weeks). The power will go through a Shortened RX7 Driveshaft into a Turbo II rear end custom mounted in the back of the car. There will be no PPF but mount for the trans. The power will leave the Diff through either Driveshaftshop.com axles or stock Turbo II axles. These axles will not be resplined but rater go into modified RX7 Hubs wihich will be in the Miata wheel bearing (thanks to the research of my friend Corey)
More updates later :D
The car is scheduled to be at the Dyno at Lightning Motorsports in Baton Rouge LA on May 25th, and run at State Capitol Drag way in Baton Rouge on the 26. Hopefully if all goes well Ric will have the minimonster (400hp 10 sec miata) at both the dyno and the track. Maybe I will take his throne for a bit as the fastest 4 cyl piston Mazda powered Miata :D...
Hopefully 400+hp, 10 sec passes, and 130+mph.... :D
Danny