Lighter = Faster (N/A build thread #2)

[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by infernosg

Money?

Originally Posted by infernosg

I don't have one (yet)! Stupid U-haul won't let me use their trailers unless my tow rating is 5000 lb (it's 4500 lb). But if you're serious I can find a way.

Everytime I needed a trailer from U-Haul I always had a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee v8 w/tow package and then I would show up with a 1998 XJ, 5k tow but they wouldn't let it slide, and I was always towing a Miata

Originally Posted by infernosg

Is there some way to utilize the MAP just for fuel correction for like altitude and ambient conditions? Like not load-based tuning but just simple corrections? The TPS is a Haltech (GM?) three wire unit.

I would have to go through the software again but there should be some baro correction if using Alpha-N

The sensor should be ok, my concern would be the linkages and the instal. The projay and rotary works TB are notorious for having too much slop and they just turn out to be a fucking nightmare to tune. Almost as bad as a microwrech and their whole strategy using the TPS to bounce between maps for crank, idle, and cruise.

Originally Posted by infernosg

S5 non-turbo rotors, RX-8 e-shaft and gears, S4 TII irons, S5 TII housings, and OEM Mazda seals (upgraded to FD corner seal springs) except NRS ceramic apex seals. It's got a large street port from Defined Autoworks geared more toward top-end power. Racing Beat pulley up front and their aluminum flywheel out back and everything's been balanced by Mazdatrix.

Damn, should be able to get past 200rwhp with that. I'm assuming the redline is somewhere in the 9500-10000k range?

[infernosg]

Time to get this moving again! I got a good amount of hours work in this weekend and the chassis wiring is 99% complete. I just need to do the reverse wires. I had a slight hiccup with the CPU and the OEM alarm but it turns out I just needed to permanently ground a lead I had previously removed. I can now retain the stock door chime/ignition reminder without having the horn go crazy every time I open the door.

I've got the harness and seating positions sorted so now I need to figure out a carpet solution and the interior can go back together.

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

The sensor should be ok, my concern would be the linkages and the instal. The projay and rotary works TB are notorious for having too much slop and they just turn out to be a fucking nightmare to tune. Almost as bad as a microwrech and their whole strategy using the TPS to bounce between maps for crank, idle, and cruise.

I haven't had it apart in a while but I seem to recall it being pretty snug. I'll have to pull the TB again before I'm done so I'll check it out.

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

Damn, should be able to get past 200rwhp with that. I'm assuming the redline is somewhere in the 9500-10000k range?

Yeah, the plan is to keep it at or below 10,000 RPM. If it's still making power above that I'll get longer air horns or something to shift the power curve. Although the engine is balanced I don't trust the transmission at those speeds. I may find myself looking for a replacement in the near future.

[project86]

Originally Posted by infernosg

Yeah, the plan is to keep it at or below 10,000 RPM. If it's still making power above that I'll get longer air horns or something to shift the power curve. Although the engine is balanced I don't trust the transmission at those speeds. I may find myself looking for a replacement in the near future.

I've been curious about the transmission issue with the higher rpm applications. What do you have in mind for a replacement? Could the factory NA trans be rebuild to deal with it?

[infernosg]

Originally Posted by project86

I've been curious about the transmission issue with the higher rpm applications. What do you have in mind for a replacement? Could the factory NA trans be rebuild to deal with it?

They can be rebuilt assuming the housing(s) isn't cracked, which I've seen happen. I think S5 N/A RX-7 had the highest horsepower engine in front of this particular transmission. OEM-wise the Miata added a double-synchro'd second gear and helical reverse gears in the 90's but I think was it in terms of revising. Maybe there are some upgrade parts available in the Miata aftermarket world.

[infernosg]

The only thing preventing me from finishing the interior is the carpet. My original '89 had the black interior, which I preferred so I kept everything that wasn't somehow connected with the automatic seat belts. This '86 came with the gray interior. It was easy enough to paint all the plastic trim but I'm left with the gray carpet. I tried my hand at dying last night. Unfortunately all I succeeded in doing was dying the edging.



Even then, up close the edging looks to be more a very dark purple instead of black.



I used liquid Rit dye with the hottest water available to me. I know dying plastic (nylon? rayon?) requires high heat and apparently this wasn't enough. I had no way of keeping the heat up over the hour the carpet was submerged so that probably didn't help either.

So now what? I don't want to leave the carpet as is. I thought the black upper/gray lower look might work with the dark edging but I'm not sold. Leaving the carpet out isn't something I want to do. I have a bunch of black vinyl and fabric spray paint I could try. It worked well enough on the vinyl door pieces. I'm not to concerned about texture. I just don't want the color to rub off.