Because I have not been raped enough by my MS6 ...

[Neverlift]

A rally team I know HQ'd in Ohio uses that defroster on the windshield of their rally cars. They always seem quite pleased with the results. I could get more specific information if necessary about it as well.

[Code Monkey]

Ok, I see SP Racing Miatas run this defroster in the 25Hrs of Thunderhill and some Grand Am cars too so I am sold!

[Code Monkey]

Ok, finally figured out how to install the coolant reroute with the engine still in.

Sourced an earlier version coolant spacer that is 3mm thinner that the current one (from a group buy on the miataturbo forum) and reused the thermostat cover from the front water neck, just had to plug the sensor hole with a blanking plug (M16 x 1.5) and filed down the sensor housing so it sits flush with the plug. Now I can barely squeeze my dick between the filed down housing and the firewall.

Also test fitted the crossflow radiator (basically same thickness as OEM but 13.67812 times more efficient) and the grill with a mesh painted black, looks fucking sweet. I am going to route the upper hose like this:



Will order 5 feet of Gates 24920 wire-inserted coolant hose tomorrow and a 6" aluminum joiner to finish the project. Also need to extend the coolant temp sensor probably about 6" unless I unbundle it from the harness and route it differently. Speaking of harnesses, now we are back to the regular programming....

[Castillo817]

Seriously considering doing that coolant reroute pretty soon as well, but I just want to drive my miata!

[Code Monkey]

The M-Tuned reroute will work out of the box, I just wanted something a bit different.

[redneck4Christ]

What grill insert is that?

[Code Monkey]

Originally Posted by redneck4Christ What grill insert is that?

Stock, I just painted, cut, and zip tied the wire mesh.

[Castillo817]

Originally Posted by Code Monkey The M-Tuned reroute will work out of the box, I just wanted something a bit different.

Yea I'll be trying a "mini coolant" reroute in the meantime

[Code Monkey]

All right, I forgot the SuperMiata radiator's inlet is in the very corner of the radiator which makes it possible to use one long piece of hose. I used 3' 5" of the Gates hose, the instructions say that pieces longer than 3' should be supported but the hose is basically sitting on the shelf, I do not think there is any risk of collapsing.

The radiator outlet is sitting a bit higher though, and the lower radiator pipe goes to the very bend of the hose, in the 4th picture you can see exactly how far it goes, hopefully this will not cause any problems long term.

You can also see a heater delete near the brake proportioning valve -- you just re-use one of the heater hose and it fits perfectly.

The skinny hose near the frame connects the two evap lines. Stock, the upper hard line points upwards and goes to the charcoal canister, you bend the line down and re-use one of the evap lines (I cut off maybe an inch from the upper part).

Now I need to put everything back together, hope that the fucking engine starts, and if it does, and there are no leaks, continue hacking at the wires. Once I prune enough, time for a Megasquirt.

[Easter Bunny]

You really need to secure that upeer radiator hose. Or even stick a piece of pipe mounted to the fender in there. That fucker it going to fly all over the place.

[Code Monkey]

Will try to zip tie somewhere in the middle, maybe drill two holes in the shelf and run a zip tie through them.

[Castillo817]

Why didn't you overlap the coolant hose around the header instead beneath it?

[Code Monkey]

Not needed, never saw anybody at the track running that line around the header.

[Code Monkey]

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a hard top for my Sunburst Yellow. I just got it repainted to match the Miata. The paint looks great, but the morons put the outside glass seal upside down and the connecting joint is not even centered.



I called the body shop owner back right away but I can already see where it is going. In the worst case scenario, I will take care of it someplace else and the shop will lose my business forever over a $60 molding.

I also scored used side latches, ordered new side strikers, and scored used-but-look-like-new seat belt tower trims already pre-cut for the side strikers so I can keep the current trims intact for posterity.

Once the hardtop is on, I will figure out how to get the defroster working, most likely I just need a timer and a fuse block so another $100 and I am done with the Bumble Bee.

[Castillo817]

Bump?

[Code Monkey]

The engine bay is back together but I have a massive coolant leak somewhere in the rear. Started filling up the radiator with distilled water and halfway through I could hear a waterfall on the other side of the engine. Hopefully not the coolant reroute spacer but the hose, still have to investigate, have not had time as I just put The Flying Pig back together for this weekend's road racing. The Pig is also leaking coolant somewhere in the back, at the shop right now, at least they can pressurize the system and see exactly where the leak is. I should finish the yellow hard top today, got TopLoc's and the remaining trim pieces....

[Castillo817]

Hope you can find that leak asap!

[Code Monkey]

Finally had the time to put the hard top on. The red Miata is still apart, I need to take care of the speed6 first....

Edit: Did some more maintenance on the yellow Miata today. Last month I had the a/c finally fixed and recharged, and since then every time the a/c was on, every 15-20 seconds there was a single squeal and it felt like an accessory belt would momentarily slip. So finally today I decided to have a closer look and boy am I glad I did. The alternator belt was all cracked and the power steering pump was missing one of the bolts -- the long one that goes under the pulley into the steering pump, through the bracket, and comes out on the other side. Luckily, I still had the bolt and spare belts from my red Miata, so all is good in the world again.

Also changed the transmission fluid and hooked up all the relays etc for the hard top. It was cool to see a new-to-me rear glass defroster light on the instrument cluster when I turned the fan on.

[cnyms6]

Have a lead on a track prepped Miata to complement the Speed6. What are your lap times in Speed6 vs Miata at your favorite track? Trying to get an idea of overall Miata performance. THanks

[Code Monkey]

Originally Posted by cnyms6 Have a lead on a track prepped Miata to complement the Speed6. What are your lap times in Speed6 vs Miata at your favorite track? Trying to get an idea of overall Miata performance. THanks

Right now it is about a 9-second difference, but the Miata is still close to stock power-wise and I am still on street tires. Once I get the Miata tuned and put on some R-comps, the difference should be about 4 seconds, I hope (2:00 vs 2:04). Although the pig should be capable of 1:57, I just need to man up. This is for a 1.6 Miata, if I had a properly tuned and set up 1.8 NB, the times should be similar.

[cnyms6]

Very helpful, thanks

[Code Monkey]

So many cool things, so little time.... Got Lotus Elise seats with Probax for the yellow Miata, the driver seat came with a bracket that attaches to OEM sliders but I think I will have both driver and passenger fixed brackets custom made.

[aggierandy]

Bump for update

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

[Code Monkey]

Originally Posted by aggierandy Bump for update

The red Miata is still disassembled in the garage, I spent too much time on the Rat Bastards Miata and the Racepig. The yellow Miata got a new radiator, thermostat, coolant hoses, and motor mounts, and I finally bolted both Elise seats in. The Racepig is currently in the shop getting fender flares installed.

[aggierandy]

Fender flares = +5 HP!!! FTW

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

[Code Monkey]

Well, the Sunburst Yellow is sold and the red Miata is being parted out. Meanwhile, this is my new money pit before I find another Miata (NB or NC) or an MR2 Spyder:



I already had the following done to the BMW:

changed engine oil, transmission fluid, diff fluid, spark plugs
new battery
replaced all bushings with PowerFlex, race duro when available
new rear wheel bearings
new RF headlight height sensor
alignment

Took the car out to the TWS to see what breaks and developed a coolant leak after two sessions, small crack in the radiator. The brakes went mushy almost immediately, the street tires chirped every corner. Had the following done:

new radiator
new rotors and Carbotech XP20/XP12 brake pads
Castrol SRF

Re-testing in two weeks with 200 treadwear tires to see what brakes next.

If I want to push the car harder, I will need better suspension and camber plates but that is not happening anytime soon.

When the car is not broken, driving it is a bliss. I have a stupid grin on my face every time I punch the gas, the sound of IRTB's is addictive.

[Code Monkey]

Took the M5 to the track again. The car did much much better on Direzza ZII tires, I think I was running 2:07 laps without absolutely pushing the car. The brakes are still inadequate and rather than spending $$$ on a BBK, I decided to go with this.