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Post by abc123 on Nov 25, 2015 4:57:26 GMT
Thought it was time to start the build thread... Ordered my sport frame early October, looks like I'm #173. Will give me plenty of time to sort out the roller-skate. The donor - not as clean as it looks in the photo but had a new top, push button start (will revert back to just the key), flip out dvd player, 6 speakers, 3 amplifiers, 2 crossovers, and a subwoofer. All i was after was the clean (seemingly at the time) subframe and suspension. 1996 with 108k on the odometer. Someone has been in the engine at one point because there is new RTV around the oil pan (under all the blue paint) and a heat tab on the cylinder head which I assume didn't come from the factory. Drove it around for a day before I got eager and started tearing into it.   |
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Post by abc123 on Nov 25, 2015 5:14:31 GMT
Removed what seemed like miles of wire for the stereo...  Shortly after, I ended up with the empty shell and removed the wiring harness. I'll leave those pictures out since its the same as all the other threads. I'm working out of three separate single car garages so the task of lifting the body and storing it proved to be a bit problematic, especially because the garage floors have a nice lip that would prevent just rolling the body and crane into one of the other garages. Enter the sawzall, I decided that since I'd have to cut up the body anyway to scrap it and keep the title, I would just cut it off the rollerskate. The first hour of cutting and about 5 blades  |
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Post by abc123 on Nov 25, 2015 5:19:06 GMT
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Post by abc123 on Nov 25, 2015 5:21:01 GMT
And off came the fuel tank...  A little more  windshield had to go  |
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Post by abc123 on Nov 25, 2015 5:23:28 GMT
Last of the body lifted up and over the engine, and rolled the roller-skate out.   The first big step of the build from what I gather! Felt triumphant finally getting to this point. But it wasn't without some surprises... |
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Post by abc123 on Nov 25, 2015 5:28:43 GMT
First discovery was that this is not the original sub-frame as it's missing the brace/mounts. Second, must've run something over since the lower control arm was stuck thanks to this bit of damage  The rear end had poly bushings installed, and it looks like they couldn't quite get things to line up...so why not just make the holes a bit bigger?  And whomever installed the bushings obviously never had an alignment done because all of the bolts were installed with the eccentrics sitting on top of their seats.  |
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Post by abc123 on Nov 25, 2015 5:35:05 GMT
Which leaves me where I am today...
New proper year rear subframe and upper control arms. I have split the diff to clean it up and re-seal. Was planning to paint everything myself, but have decided to get it all powder coated to match the exocet frame. New axles from AdvanceAuto, axle seals, alignment bolts from 949, rebuilt rear uprights from TreasureCoast, and after MUCH deliberation a full set of ES Hyperflex bushings. I was dead set on the IL rubber bushings, but decided to give poly a whirl.
Thanks for looking...
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Post by steadfast on Nov 25, 2015 6:12:16 GMT
Removed what seemed like miles of wire for the stereo... Is this real life? |
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Post by greg on Nov 25, 2015 12:54:44 GMT
Ah yes the joys of ghetto tech. Bet you a taco, this thing was lowered too far which caused damage to the pan and that frame mount. Hence the new appearing oil pan.
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Post by dietcoke on Nov 25, 2015 13:30:20 GMT
At least someone did the annoying work of pushing out the factory bushes for you, lol.
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Post by abc123 on Dec 24, 2015 5:34:27 GMT
Some parts back from powder and a painted diff...powerstop reman calipers, centric discs, treasure coast uprights, new axles from advance auto  not much else to show picture wise...ordered an EFR 6258 turbo, custom fab'd turbo mani and downpipe... |
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Post by abc123 on Dec 26, 2015 4:43:57 GMT
ebay seller is refunding the turbo, they don't actually have one in stock...waiting now to order the manifold and downpipe until I have the frame to measure clearances for the fabricator. Unless someone feels like measuring from the block to the frame rail on the drivers side? Since I have to break in the built engine and won't have a tune, I plan to run the engine I have currently n/a to get a good baseline tune on the megasquirt. Then swap in the built block, break in the engine, then install the turbo stuff. Hope to have it all ready so its a quick process when that time comes. Picked up a short block locally that I found on eBay, its a 99. VERY dirty, will be building this for the turbo.  Removed the valve cover and was pleasantly surprised, also confirmed that the head has been worked on...ARP studs, one less thing to buy. Edit: after some research it looks like it is a rebuilt head from CHI (headsonly.com) near dallas.  |
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Post by dietcoke on Dec 26, 2015 6:21:37 GMT
Nice score on the head
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Post by abc123 on Jan 16, 2016 23:18:48 GMT
Ended up ordering the manifold and downpipe after some discussion with the fabricator. Been stocking up on various parts and doing a lot of cleaning. Should have a few more things back from powder this week, and hopefully have a roller again soon. Picked up a valve cover from a protege, i think it will look pretty cool  Removed the "oil warmer" sandwich plate and installed the happy meal today  Also got a 36-1 trigger wheel that fits the stock miata pulley, I think its from a 1.6 protege. This will give better timing resolution than using the CAS for the megasquirt.  |
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Post by gsrflyby on Jan 17, 2016 21:12:50 GMT
Power goals for your setup?
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