What have you done to your Miata today?

[chiefmg]

Regular viewers of this space may want to sit down. Did some autocrossing today. Lots of fun despite driving for about 13 1/2 hours yesterday and not getting a lot of sleep. Used my GoPro as promised, here is the link to my fastest run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrXrgbI_w30

Apologies for the extended length, my son who was riding with me failed in his assigned task of turning it on and off. I had two runs after our lunch break but it rained right before we started so neither was any improvement.

 

[bazooka joe]

Looked pretty clean!!!

 

[CTt3P5]

Great shots Maff!

And wow...not only a pic but a video posted by Mike?! Good thing I was sitting at my desk when I clicked the link. Just kidding Mike, looked pretty good to me.

Over the weekend I installed a Cobra 75 WX ST CB radio and a Wilson Little Wil CB antenna. I've been wanting to get one for awhile now to use on runs with the local club. Also ran an 8ft aux cord to the HU so I can hear the transmissions via the door speakers. Was hoping to try it out Saturday night on a club run but I was running late and got there after they pulled out. I didn't get to use the CB but I had a nice hour cruise back home.

 

[chiefmg]

Thanks gents. I try to warn everyone before I post unusual (for me) items. Don't want to cause any hospital trips!

Jeff, I didn't think anyone besides truckers still used CBs. Maybe the next time you will get some warning before one runs you down.

If the video blew your mind then hang on, because I have a lot (for me) of pictures from today.

Decided to get started swapping out headers, the day was nice without getting too humid so it's all done. I took a few pictures of the MS header showing the nice welds (excuse the out of focus, I took them in bright sunlight so apparently the camera didn't quite focus in well).

Inside runner:

Outside runner:

Flex joint weld:

Once I had the Cobalt off I took the same shots (well not of the flex joint since it doesn't have one).

Inside runner:

Outside runner:

You can see the welds are a little finer on the MS. It doesn't really show in the inside runner pictures, but the MS seems to be smoother there.

Here are some side by side shots for comparison:

As you can see the section on the MS where it goes down to two pipes is shorter than the Cobalt uses. That proves the Cobalt isn't a copy of the MS (in case anyone wondered).

I didn't document the removal/installation of everything because it's all been done before. One thing of note, if you have a supercharger the three front upper studs are replaced with extended studs as that is where the mounting bracket for the 'charger is attached. If you want to save yourself a lot of aggravation remove those three studs. The header slips right out when you do.

I also removed the subframe braces I have (factory and 949) to allow for ease of header manipulation. I removed the dipstick tube for the same reason.

While the O2 sensor for the wideband was out I calibrated it. Once I had that all done I went out to do some tuning. First startup gave me a nice pop out of the exhaust. Unfortunately once I got done with tuning I was getting a stutter under boost. I think I may have to be more aggressive with the throttle while tuning in order to get more boost showing so the fuel is correct.

And just in case there is any doubt, here is the money shot:

Good for at least 5 hp.

 

[aMaff]

It's such a nice piece. I had a JR on mine and...I wasn't impressed. Now I've got an MS.

 

[chiefmg]

It's such a nice piece. I had a JR on mine and...I wasn't impressed. Now I've got an MS.

It's gorgeous. Mine looks like someone wrapped it at some point, I cleaned up what I could but since it's basically hidden underneath my header blanket and the 'charger it's not a big deal. If I had a new one I would want some way to show it off.

 

[aMaff]

Mine was also wrapped. I cleaned it up a little bit but... meh. It's a race car. I don't care too much how it looks so long as it works well. I spent a few minutes with a wire wheel on it. It still has a little surface scale, but it does the job

 

[bazooka joe]

Pictures, how to's videos, oh my!!! Nice work chief!!! I think all the MS stuff is great quality...no cutting corners, and you pay for it! ��

 

[chiefmg]

Pictures, how to's videos, oh my!!! Nice work chief!!! I think all the MS stuff is great quality...no cutting corners, and you pay for it! ��

It's a sign of the Apocalypse.

This morning I loaded a previous save point from TunerStudio that I knew was clean. When I took a drive I was still getting the stutter under boost. A feeling of dread gripped my bowels, you may recall the last time I experienced this it was due to the head gasket leaking coolant into a cylinder. I just got done pulling all the plugs and everything looks clean. The plugs have a nice grayish hue to them, and there is no sign of liquid in any cylinder. I'm leaving everything open overnight in case some moisture got into the COPs (I washed the engine bay a few days ago, gently), I'll see how things are in the morning after assembly.

 

[chiefmg]

I'm happy to report I have cleared the stutter. As mentioned I didn't really see any sign of water around the COPs, I wiped them down this morning and inspected for any signs of flashover but they all looked good. Checked the plug gap and they were a little too wide so I regapped them to 0.035. I had a good drive and there was never even a hint of stuttering. Now I can do some more tuning (the gas smell under boost is back). Forgot to mention it, but it appears the 'charger pulleys are finally aligned well enough for the belt to stay put. I'm going to try putting a full 6 rib belt on to see if that is the case.

 

[chiefmg]

Happy to report I finally got the proper 6 rib belt working on the 'charger. Time to see if I've been losing any boost pressure with the narrower belt...

 

[CTt3P5]

LOL about the CB Mike. That is a pretty good idea though. The local club uses them for runs so everyone can stay in touch. Last week there was an ice cream drive that included 27 cars! When not in use the antenna and the mic are hanging out in the trunk and the connector box is hidden under the PS seat.

Nice little write up there on the header! You have really come out of your shell, we are so, so proud of you. And love the money shot! (rlaugh) Good to hear you solved that stutter issue.

I just found out some interesting tidbits on my MS exhaust. I didn't know until just recently but Brian at GWR mentioned that it was made by DC Sports back in the day and distributed with the MS brand as was the header for the NC. A lot of people didn't/don't like them due to the drone and he felt without the MS brand behind it, they wouldn't have sold the units they did. Just a few days ago a guy on m.net was making an order with a rep. from DC Sports who informed him they found a few NC exhausts stored away, BNIB but without the MS engravings on the tips or canister. Says that AEM made them back in 06 prior to DC taking over. With you and Maff posting pics of your nice MS headers, it got me thinking....did AEM make those as well for the MS brand or was another vendor used for the NA/NB generations?

 

[chiefmg]

LOL about the CB Mike. That is a pretty good idea though. The local club uses them for runs so everyone can stay in touch. Last week there was an ice cream drive that included 27 cars! When not in use the antenna and the mic are hanging out in the trunk and the connector box is hidden under the PS seat.

Nice little write up there on the header! You have really come out of your shell, we are so, so proud of you. And love the money shot! (rlaugh) Good to hear you solved that stutter issue.

I just found out some interesting tidbits on my MS exhaust. I didn't know until just recently but Brian at GWR mentioned that it was made by DC Sports back in the day and distributed with the MS brand as was the header for the NC. A lot of people didn't/don't like them due to the drone and he felt without the MS brand behind it, they wouldn't have sold the units they did. Just a few days ago a guy on m.net was making an order with a rep. from DC Sports who informed him they found a few NC exhausts stored away, BNIB but without the MS engravings on the tips or canister. Says that AEM made them back in 06 prior to DC taking over. With you and Maff posting pics of your nice MS headers, it got me thinking....did AEM make those as well for the MS brand or was another vendor used for the NA/NB generations?

I'll take every back-handed compliment I can get.

Conventional wisdom says the MS header I have was made by either Maximworks or Maruha (depends upon who is doing the talking).

 

[aMaff]

we are so, so proud of you. And love the money shot! (rlaugh)

At this point I just figured that would have been a picture of his wallet (rlaugh)

Or maybe more accurately, Robyn's wallet

 

[chiefmg]

Well she does get all the money.

No tuning today. I had to replace the hoses on a stepson's Focus (what a PITA). Still not done as the heater hoses (one of which had failed) had to be ordered from the Ford dealer. When I went to take a drive I had forgotten to plug my laptop in so it didn't have enough of a charge. Didn't stop me from a drive though. I did find out I was losing 1 psi running the cut-down drive belt for the 'charger.

I did crawl underneath and ground down the bottom of the inlet flange on my Roadstersport cat pipe. The flange is huge for some reason, the front of that pipe is supported by the header and with the flex joint on the MS it allowed it to sag enough to contact the butterfly brace. I took about 1/8" off (if you don't know, stainless is a b**** to grind), I could take some more off but that was enough for 1/16" clearance and the drive showed it was fine. My hands were filthy so no picture right now.

 

[bazooka joe]

Mike, robin gets all my cash too!! Glad to hear she's runnin well!

 

[bazooka joe]

Brought one of them to the glen

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[CTt3P5]

Indeed....love the Ceramic!!!!

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[bazooka joe]

Indeed....love the Ceramic!!!!

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[aMaff]

Oh my...that's preeeeetyyyyy