Phen's 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 GT Thread

[WillD]

The spark plug wires were changed on my Miata at 30k miles and haven't been changed since (at 78k now).

M.net on Ignition and specifically spark plug wires: http://www.miata.net/garage/ignition.html#wires

 

[thejeans]

With those, you're fine until you have a problem. There's no set interval. Talking with Jeremy at FM, he said that they can last 30k, or they can last 100k. They're completely unpredictable. Seeing as how I'm at 80k, I can't be mad.

So Pablo... you should read this as "If it isn't acting up, don't spend the money if you don't need to."

^ Buahahahahahaha, i read that and busted out laughing in my office... good thing im the only one in the office today and tomorrow haha

 

[princess peach]

and yet you tell me you'll be selling your DP...

 

[THE Phen]

DP is performance. Spark plug wires are maintenance.

 

[bazooka joe]

dumb ass! i just had to say it....jk...glad it's fixed!

 

[kamon8404]

I'm glad to see your muscle car is alive and well again.

I should be getting my SI back today. Lets see how these new synchros hold up. I have another 12k on my warranty to break them

 

[THE Phen]

Thanks man! Yeah, that's weird about the synchros, but I think I mentioned a co-worker had the same thing happen to his.

 

[THE Phen]

Ok so... the FM baseline map for the 750 cc injectors is... pretty tame. It doesn't pop and burble anymore off throttle like it used to. Coming down in RPM at a redlight, once in a while the RPM drops too far and wants to stumble and die... and usually does stall. Gotta hop in the ECU and fiddle with the PID controller. No worries, because ironically... that's the type of stuff I design at work.

 

[subspeed6]

What about cleaning out the throttle body?

 

[THE Phen]

Well, I guess it's time I update this with the crazy s*** I convinced myself into doing...

A small delivery arrived for me from Flyin' Miata...

What's that inside?

Among other pieces. It's the FMII conversion kit for Mazdaspeed cars that already have the Big Enchilada package. Included in the conversion kit were the GT2560R turbo, the new downpipe and mid pipe, new intercooler piping, new intake, windshield washer bottle relocation kit, as well as all of the supporting hardware for the swap.

Let the dismantling begin!

Up in the air she goes...

Out with the intake, strut tower bar.

Out comes the remainder of the piping, the dipstick, and some misc fasteners for aux stuff.

Artsy BS photo of the primary O2 sensor (which is no longer in the car)

Everything but the downpipe disconnected and ready to come out.

Bell Engineering Separated Gasses Downpipe removed. Talk about a severe pain in the ass.

Size comparison. Old vs New

Mockups

Yes... I'm catted. Trust me, smelling that exhaust will make your head go nutty after a while.

Everything out

New turbo requires more clearance than the factory one, so a notch has to be made in the frame rail. This was handled with my angle grinder w/ cutoff wheel, and a BFH.

Installed!

Everything buttoned up. Intake, strut tower bar, hoses and tubing

Back out in the wild

Initial impressions:

Wow, much quieter. No more exhaust leaks, no more mystery rattles and noises. The first startup was relatively easy, and there wasn't a single leak found, which confused the s*** out of me. Haha. Not running a boost controller yet. I'm running straight to the wastegate @ 6 psi (give or take 1 psi). My primary goal was to get it together and put a few hundred miles on it as a shakedown run. So far, I've put almost 500 on this setup with no real issues. My PS / AC belt jumped a little bit and narrowed itself, but still on there, and the feed line to the turbo had a small leak that was taken care of with a small wrench. Currently, the car is just as quick at 6 psi as the other turbo was at 12 psi. Next steps are to get some datalogs taken so that I have a good idea what's happening at higher RPM. From there, I can fiddle with the tune a little and take the pressure up a few steps, slowly but surely. Once I have some money saved up, it will go in for a full re-tune. FM claims that this kit is good for 275 whp with no issue. I'm not sure what to expect, but I can't wait till the tune is complete.

Special thanks to Pablo and Evan for their assistance on this project.

 

[Reitrof]

Nice. Let's hope this one goes smoother.

 

[THE Phen]

Let me tell you... it runs so much better now. And I don't mean more power or anything like that yet. It literally just feels like a real car now, and not a thrown together science experiment. Once I get the A/C fixed, I guarantee this car will seem like it was a factory kit.

Yes, I'm getting this A/C fixed eventually, and I'm keeping power steering, and ABS. This isn't a race car to me. It's more or less my summertime DD, and I do enjoy my creature comforts.

 

[jri4]

Wow, this was a surprise
Glad to see it all went well and she is doing fine!

 

[o0n8]

That's a pretty cool kit

 

[princess peach]

I keep telling myself I don't want to go this far, I may change my mind if I drive it...

it was a b****, but I'm glad it's working better and you're enjoying the car

 

[hat1018]

Looks good Phen. Is it just me or do you have the fever for your MSM again? I hope so man, she is pretty fuggin' schweet!

 

[THE Phen]

Thanks Larry. I dunno. I still don't really drive it that much. Today was the first time I drove it since Saturday night. That may change after this show that I'm playing this weekend. That's all I've been thinking about recently.

Unlike you local guys, I can't really go out and buy misc parts every few weeks. There is literally nothing that I can buy for this car right now that would be an upgrade without spending at least $1500 a pop, other than sway bars. So... this is probably the last thing that will get done to the car for a long time. Hence, making this one boring ass build thread.

Pablo... I really don't think you want to drive it. If you do, your credit card will take quite a hit. Right now, it's no quicker than yours. We'll see when I go a little higher pressure.

 

[Perro del Sol]

Good job on the mini build Phen! We need to do a photo shoot with Lindsay and Spicy in the near future. Talk to you later!

 

[princess peach]

good thing I can't use them

 

[CTt3P5]

Great to hear man. I know she was giving you fits over the last several months so it's about time she shows you some love back!!!