I don't buy that oil temp readout if it didn't change at all during the dyno run.

Seems plausible to me. What did your dyno sheet say under oil temps?

Yes, this project is still alive and well.......just slow.

I couldn't stand the primer grey powder coat on my brand new V8R control arms. I had them blasted and coated to match my car.




https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...1&d=1481686775

Control arms and uprights look like candy. Keep these updates coming!

Looking great so far. Somehow missed this build, glad to see it come back to the top.

I was expecting these on Tuesday, but the FedEx truck pulled up today, Christmas Eve, with a surprise.


https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...1&d=1482645410

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...1&d=1482645416

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...1&d=1482645416



CCW D110 2-piece 15x10 +15

I also got some pics of my subframes and roll bar from my buddy who powdercoats.

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...1&d=1482646020

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...1&d=1482646020

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...1&d=1482646020

CCW forged 2-piece wheels..? 15x10..? Just awesome. Powder coated bits & pieces..? More awesome. I simply love this build! :)

Another small update:

I sold the Viper T56 yesterday because I scored a Tick stage 5+ TR6060 super magnum that is configured for an F-body(plug and play). The trans was fitted with an auxiliary oiling system to keep the input from cooking under acceleration G's. This is a beast of a 6 speed and guaranteed to hold over 900 ft/lb.

I am super excited about this.

https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...1&d=1485184506

Well, I keep learning new things--- such as a Stage 5 tranny. Had no idea. I think you like things "bulletproof"!!! Keep it coming...

Shame you won't even be able to see it. Maybe a plexiglas porthole in the trans tunnel? I kid.

Nice updates!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...53c2c791c4.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...fa577320e0.jpg
I have been tinkering with the rear suspension lately. The V8R control arms were very stiff after assembly. I called V8R to get some advice about this and was told to use an anti-seize/poly grease(the stuff that comes with the bushings) combination, and that they should free up after a little use. Has anybody else had this experience? What did you do? Another great experience speaking with V8R by the way.

The rear hubs uprights were assembled with new bearings and the hubs from the DSS kit.

That is going to be too nice to drive when it gets done.
Buy a rotating display so you can leave the car pretty for the whole world to admire.

Project Overkill has too much overkill.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...2b3d853ac5.jpgTest fitting the 8.8
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...d338d918f1.jpgI also installed the DSS axles also to see how everything comes together.

One of the goals for my project is to ensure that I can service the vehicle easily. This means quick and easy removal of components in case of repair or replacement. I am hoping to incorporate this concept wherever possible. This is important to me because I service German cars for a living, and I absolutely know the pains of a buried engine in an engine bay, a transmission bell housing with no access to the bolts, and axle service that requires exhaust/diff/suspension removal. Ugh.

I was pleased to find tonight that the axles drop out without removing any other components. So far, so good.

I received a shipment of hot side turbo parts in 304SS. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...da9aa1a3fb.jpg

I also picked up a Treadstone 1300hp intercooler that I am rather excited about. I thought that I had a pic. I will post one later.

I have been tinkering around for too long. The frame rails were installed and I have a junk LS engine in the car at the moment as I make some tweaks to the sheet metal. Then I am going to start fabbing up the hot side of the turbo system. Oh, yeah....I need to buy an alternator before I do that. Thinking about getting a Mechman 240A since I will be using electric coolant pumps and such.

And the award for longest period of time between updates goes to......


Glad to see you're still working on this. Would be a shame for all the gorgeous parts to not actually get used.

Lol.....guilty.

My wife and I have too many projects. She has a bus/RV conversion underway that consumes a lot of my time. Also, there are motorcycles, minibikes, boats, vacations, etc, etc.......Not to mention, every time I place an order for my miata it requires dropping $XXXX.

I assure you that this project will be completed as planned:)

This is a good plan. I had the same thoughts in mind when I built mine, and it has paid off whenever I work on the car. I have experienced some of the same pain working on German cars ... my wife used to drive a 330xi. I hated working on that POS.

My wife currently drives a 330xi. Finicky things, but I was a bimmer tech for 14 years. I have some tricks up my sleeves.
:)

I was at it again tonight......tinkering with unnecessary and odd jobs. I wasn't happy with the trans cross member that I had for various reasons. I decided to simplify with some 1" chromoly that I had laying around. No exhaust=no half pipes in my cross member.




https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...01c746db33.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...9808fab962.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...e918870ba5.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...db31402e7b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...72d0279668.jpg

Core Size, 25" X 9" X 3.5"
3" inlet/outlet
Outlet is angled 15 degrees back towards engine
1950 CFM flow rate
1300 HP efficient
2psi pressure drop at 1950cfm

I think this intercooler was made for my project. It fits between the miata frame rails perfectly. I am looking forward to mocking this up. The pic does not properly represent how beastly it is.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...f7647baff9.jpg

Treadstone makes a great product

Err, no exhaust? I thought this was a street build? I know you're gonna use a turbo but won't you need some sort of exhaust system? Going with a straight pipe out the hood after the turbo outlet? Zoomies?

Beautiful build by the way.

Thanks!

I am certain that a 3.5" DP is not going to make it to the rear bumper. There just isn't room, and I was aware of this since the beginning. The exhaust will likely be forward of the cabin with a resonator. Exact location is to be determined:)

Mechman 270A. Going to build a bracket and get this mocked up so that I can start on the hot side turbo piping.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...67ee0a7bb6.jpg

Alternator bracket. Simple and effective.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...c88b103845.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...94684812ad.jpg

Simple is the word for sure. So electric water pump then?

Yes, electric pump. Rear radiator.

Small update. Well actually this is a big update for me since this is uncharted territory and every bit of progress takes a decade. There has been a lot of time spent cutting, grinding, welding, etc for every little bracket or flange.

Intercooler is mounted up. Also noted is the tubular removable core support that I fabbed up a while back.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...d36165777c.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...328b3c6ba5.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...009fbe0d1b.jpg

Nice ... a very out of the box build. I have enough traction issues with my LS3 NA ... you are going to have LOTS of fun. 👍

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...c473581362.jpg

I built a bracket to mount the turbo to the frame rail today. The amount of planning that went into the turbo placement and angle was ridiculous. It took all day. At this point it appears that the intercooler piping is going to be about 8" pre and 8-10" post. The hot side piping is going to be fabbed up next.

Also, I am not sure if I mentioned previously that I am using cast truck manifolds flipped forward.

Well, Overkill was t-boned by my wife's bus-RV conversion for about a year. The bus turned out awesome. It's a shorty with a 6.0 LS/4l80e. We worked hard on it, then lived on it for two weeks during a maiden 4300 mile road trip to Banff and back to MN. We camped off grid as much as we could and the views were worth every second.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...de3074dbc4.jpg
That's me perched on our patio with a beer and a freshly blown out right knee. That event occurred the day before we left and was fixed the day after we got home.


Anyhoo......the project is underway again, as time allows. Fabbed the hot side plumbing the other day, junk motor still installed for mockup. Note the lightweight balancer;)


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...1dcc6f9040.jpg

Still using the truck manifolds with the flanges trimmed off and v-band flanges welded on. They will be blasted and coated before use. The hotside pipes from the previous pic are there, just hidden.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...e365972301.jpg

Glad youre back!

Got the hot side welded up. Also added two cast elbows to the intercooler inlet. This made connecting the compressor to the intercooler easy using just one 6" length of tubing. The last pic shows the manifolds with new integrated v-bands.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...e198500772.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...f1dd8d3cc4.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...5814287774.jpg

This project has taught me a lot. Currently I am learning to tig weld with the help of my buddy Sean. Picked up a nice Lincoln AC/DC machine second hand. The learning curve is steep, but I am already addicted.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...984b428cb9.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...f9a39b2578.jpg

Edit

Lookin good!

Last night I made a new transmission tunnel. I beat my original one to hell and was not pleased with the outcome, so I cut it out all together. This will replace it.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...eeeb90c22e.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...4c4a1b9856.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...e4f4442b9b.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...cfdf78aefc.jpg

Good looking solution.

That area was pretty much the worst part of doing my LS swap.
Cutting and beating and welding and repeat for several evenings.
If I ever do another, your method is probably what I will follow.

I think most of my frustration with the transmission tunnel was due to the seam sealer sandwiched between the factory sheet metal that was inaccessible with a wire brush. This resulted in some horribly contaminated welds. I was never completely satisfied with the results.

The new tunnel is now completely welded in place. It is solid(16 gauge)! Next, I am going to fab up some new gussets, seal the seams, and prime.

Fabbing some new gussets for the tunnel.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...9f486ba874.jpg

This part of the build sucked. Seam sealer, contaminated welds, fires, gross.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.v8m...4c90d5d856.jpg

I agree this part is no fun, an old millwright buddy showed me to melt out the seam sealer with a carbonizing flame with my acetylene torch. not sure why the carbonizing flame but after heating, wire brushing, the welds were much nicer vs a propane torch.... go figure. I will ask more info from him when he returns from his 3 month mining tour up North, defiantly isolated from the COVID blues.

Love the project BTW, that Turbo should be good fun

Dean0

Looks better than the job I did.