S2K LoL: A MSM build thread

[trackstar42]

So this is my MazdaSpeed Miata build thread. I have a love hate relationship with this car. I love almost everything about this car except the ECU and that its not a S2000. But that is why I love this car and its handle is S2k LoL.This is not my first or second modded car. I had a mk3 Jetta that I destroyed, kinda my learning experience, and an em2 civic that was pretty fun. I made alot of friends from that community. Because of some of those guys thats how I found out about the MSM.

Originally the purpose of this car was to satisfy my need to build dual purpose car, track and street car. I wanted a S2000 not because of the Honda-fanboyness, but because it was my childhood dream car. Thats not to say I don't have other dream cars, a E36 M3, hell any M3, a 996 GT2, but what swayed my decision was Evasive Motorsports S2k, and the Amuse R1.

At the time of research, almost 3 years ago, the Evasive S2k was the fastest Street car in Redline Time Attack Street class. And it would put down lap times that were faster than some of the unlimited class cars. And the car had a full interior. To me that was just amazing. This was BEFORE the supercharger and the car had basic bolt-ons for a NA. And nothing was changed to the stock motor.
http://www.evasivemotorsports.com/Blogpics/slb09/03.jpg

Sadly have to admit that I'm disappointed the car is now boosted but it is still a awesome car.

The Amuse R1
http://aclassblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/amuse_r1_titan_01.jpg

So you can see I have a fetish for naturally aspirated cars with gt wings lol. But when it came down to modding a s2k to that level it just did not fit into my budget. So the debate began and I was recommended to get the MSM since it is cheaper to get the same power goals as the previously mentioned s2k's and be just as competitive on the track.

I also wanted a slight sleeper feel to the car. I didn't want your average person knowing that the car was turbo'd unless you heard it in the exhaust. But I have a feeling its not to much of a sleeper anymore. Yet I do get asked alot what is under the hood by almost every car I have left when I do my little fun runs. Something I don't recommend doing but it happens.

In February 2011 I purchased my MSM.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/190606_1828259942171_8233156_n.jpg
that's me next to the salesman the night I got my car.

So on my birthday weekend which was just a few days later a friend and I hit our local canyon road to see how the car handled.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/196086_1838379875163_2724575_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/199193_1838380075168_5389779_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/197690_1838380395176_4607730_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/188941_1838380235172_92738_n.jpg


Shortly after that I decided to start modding the car which was like 3 weeks later.

Mods were, Hard Dog Ace single diagonal with harness bar, AEM intake, Bilstein Pss9 coilovers, and a Begi intercooler.

And as soon as the mods where on the car some a hole hit my driver's side door and didn't leave a note. I think I didn't have the car for a full month yet when this happened.

But I did not let that stop me I just left the dent in the car since the dreaded Ti curse is out there. I figured people would stay away from a dented car which isn't true. I have since then had my rear bumper love tapped. Just some paint came off. So after that I started to garage my car.

[trackstar42]

Fast forward a few months my fiance took a few pics of the car for me.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/221883_1917510532751_4844243_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/215667_1917511012763_4337442_n.jpg

then we took a trip to her hometown of Tollhouse which is a mountain country town. I took a pic of the car in front of her house to prove to her mom that my "little car" could make it up their dirt road. Scariest thing ever. I almost killed the under tray and got stuck on a rock my S2k Lol prevailed!

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/249530_10150197167797134_2579889_n.jpg

few more pictures from the trip.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/254558_10150197167027134_7154981_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/254234_10150197167072134_6910215_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/250552_10150197167097134_3834325_n.jpg
^you can see the door dent in that pic

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/247865_10150197167147134_4793172_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/253423_10150197167162134_7343915_n.jpg

this next one is probably one of my favorite pictures
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/247878_10150197167287134_7878525_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/255069_10150197167417134_3958620_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/249595_10150197167512134_3558735_n.jpg


The next month my friend and I went for another canyon drive at my favorite place and we took some pics there.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/267539_2132649951731_6327951_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/261209_2132648231688_4004013_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/262169_2132647791677_4714893_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/260119_2132646831653_1487870_n.jpg

[trackstar42]

Then things went downhill. In September I got fired from my job and all the plans I had for the car got put on hold. But that does not mean I did not play with the occasional S2000, or 350z. I have to admit that with mods at that time the car was fun and pretty quick. But with the hesitation issue most MSM owners face from 4.5k to 5.5k I fell into the trap of doing the tps mod. And that was an eye opener. Smooth power band and the spool up was great. but being jobless and rising gas prices meant that I had to decide on driving hard or driving like an old lady so I could see my fiance more than once month, something had to give. And had to stop driving hard and stay out of boost.

But after being persistent I ended up getting another job. Two jobs to be exact but that didn't come without a price because my fiance and I moved in together to pull our resources. Shortly after I was having back pains and I figured that I was because of my seating position in the car so I sold my OEM seats to another MSM owner in Texas and picked up a pair of Sonic Motors VS3 seats. They greatly helped lower my seating position and helped with my back issue.

They have lasted awhile. They haven't turn purple yet like some of the other replica seats have. Not to mention they are super cheap in price. The only downside is that they hit a small part of the interior in NBs. For NAs they are fine. I also tore a hole in them getting in and out of the car. Sucks being tall. So I repaired it with a camo patch from Micheal's
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/535395_10151074585557134_581812549_n.jpg

random pic of the car vs costco shopping cart
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/421371_10150502666522134_1068742247_n.jpg

After a few months of nothingness I got blessed with a job opportunity as an engineer. Now we are back on track right to getting the car to be a track car and streetable. So I got tired of having the boat anchors and picked up a set of drag dr54 in black with a machined lip. I wanted xxr 527s but since those were out of stock got the drags. For me it was awesome because I was eating tires like crazy with the 17's and tires were not cheap. the 15x8.25 meant that I would get better traction, have a MUCH lighter wheel and had more tire choices.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/559322_10151074571652134_680654188_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/61937_10151074589402134_688324886_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/559192_10151074589312134_2064504492_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/483546_10151074589227134_1763423609_n.jpg
if you look behind the license plate I made a boo boo, and scraped the edge of a tinny wall. That pissed me off.

[trackstar42]

So for awhile I was content with the looks of the car but not the power so I bought the ebay downpipe to make me happy. And I have to say that opened up a can of worms. Because shortly after that I purchased a manual boost controller and while trying to dial in the boost I ballooned the throttle body inlet tube. So I purchased the Begi TBI tube in black that way I could keep the somewhat sleeper look going. :fp: I already had the black intercooler and a exhaust that looked stock.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/382375_10150873010547134_932316102_n.jpg
the downpipe is the only mod that I haven't installed myself.

Since spring/summer was extremely hot this year I left the boost at 9 psi but I did do the boost cut mod with the intention of upping the boost to 11 psi.

So remember that great engineering job that had well i got fired again. FML. Why well if you are being told by some "kid" that you are holding a tolerance, and that your company is making all these mistakes in your production planing. And because you are making all these mistakes you are losing your profit on million dollar projects by thousands of dollars you don't like it so what do you do? Get rid of him. So back to being jobless for awhile.

But being jobless had its perks. It gave me time to look for xxr 521s. On cr I saw this picture and I fell in love. I loved FreshNb's car when had the 521 but he started to kill it with the gold wheels. But i still love his car. Dont get it twisted.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z136/ZX2wv/Miata115.jpg
so i had to get a set but until then I still had the drags
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/59005_10151074585042134_578277775_n.jpg

[trackstar42]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558858_10151074584937134_1132934674_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/374511_10151074589527134_1731507103_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/382074_10151074589792134_1682799185_n.jpg

[tsingson]

Am I the only one that can't see the pictures?

[trackstar42]

that might just be you cuz i can see them fine on my computer and phone. they are all from facebook so if you can look at them from work or what not that could be why

[trackstar42]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/486297_10151074590102134_1166441522_n.jpg

So I decided to go to Willow Springs to watch Miata Challenge and S2k Challenge since I couldn't drive since I was jobless still. I went with another member on here.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/15992_10151074589102134_419652385_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/526171_10151074588617134_252444544_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/481772_10151074586797134_549628364_n.jpg
the Moti mobile

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/553751_10151074586372134_218520960_n.jpg

fast forward to July. I saw that another MSM owner had the same set of dr54s for sell and I watched his thread closely to see the interest. Yet no luck it took awhile for them to sell. But as soon as they were sold I put mine up for sale or hopefully trade. I got blessed again with the wheels I've always wanted, 521s

This is from the day I traded for the wheels
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/14222_10151074584707134_1988366830_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/378428_10151074584602134_552143154_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/16038_10151074584452134_1930815777_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/553906_10151074580652134_1658449526_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/32337_10151074580527134_262408308_n.jpg

[trackstar42]

I forgot to mention that I had installed a boost gauge from Oreily in my ball vent way back when I was playing with the boost. Its a dark pic but considering all the pics so far except like five of them have been from my camera phone it will suffice.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/558886_10151075140312134_983359256_n.jpg
So I got a job which was good but at the time it was minimum wage, fail, which means bills where hard to pay. But luckly I was blessed again and I got promoted to the assistant store manager in 3 months. So that brings us pretty close to up current times.

I had a set of ebay fog lights that went out and since I hate the light output of the OEM projectors I purchased HID fogs. I want to do a retrofit later on in the year.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/542838_10151075149662134_303580766_n.jpg

Then this happened not the CEL
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/548494_10151054912767134_95148309_n.jpg

Because of the wheel gap with the 521s and the high offset I decided to lower the car more. And with the cold weather I turned up the boost again. Now it is at 10 psi.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/14272_10151074580362134_1754101939_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/30360_10151074580227134_646241903_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/61211_10151074579982134_2110975264_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/553677_10151074579837134_615569108_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/936_10151074579742134_296193558_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/553995_10151064544202134_806926083_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/408074_10151064544782134_1641613157_n.jpg

[trackstar42]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/484975_10151074579512134_2010393827_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/542874_10151074579117134_1452204430_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/15962_10151074575967134_979822299_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/486338_10151073476272134_911133787_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/599876_10151073476397134_706727648_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/318971_10151073476587134_104512607_n.jpg

heres the pic my fiance took with her new galaxy s4
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/406821_4531337036780_339914756_n.jpg

I was just trolling on ebay and I came across a set of #305 injectors for sale and they were super cheap so I picked those up. And purchased a timing belt and now we are current.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/r180/3922_10151074575507134_1722345944_n.jpg
I will probably install the injectors tomorrow since don't work then turn the boost up again by 1 pound. after that who knows whats next.

[trackstar42]

I got the injectors in but now I have a vacuum leak somewhere. So I need to redo the whole process today to find this stupid leak. Once the car is running well and the timing belt is installed, I will have they car do a few dyno pulls.

[tsingson]

I seriously am only seeing the pictures that you got from other sites. I am not seeing the other ones of your personal car. Is anyone other than the OP having trouble seeing the pictures?

[trackstar42]

are you seeing red x's or what?

[tsingson]

Nothing. Just the text. No pictures except for the ones from the websites.

[artcentermiata]

Well, hello sir!

-I can see the pics

Door dent :)

[trackstar42]

Hi Jeremy! are you still installing the s/c on Friday morning? If so ill be there.

[artcentermiata]

Yup, ill be there early in the AM to start

[trackstar42]

So I found the vacuum leak. Apparently I broke a lower injector seal when trying to seat the injectors properly. But the car is all fixed now. No rough idle, or idling at 900 rpms. Power delivery is smoother at higher speeds. In the lower speeds there is still a bit of lag. I also replaced some of the hoses connected to my boost gauge because I noticed that they were crush. After that I saw my boost readings drop 1.5-2 psi. So I'll have to turn the boost back up 10 pretty soon.

[trackstar42]

update
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/224126_10151085428062134_1583888847_n.jpg

shifting is much easier now.
dont mind the food.

[maharaj]

Awesome car....it has really come a long way!

[trackstar42]

thanks man, its a work in progress

[atank]

Love the Ti MSM's!

[trackstar42]

^Thanks But I think the black ones are better. Lol

[trackstar42]

Im a bit sad because the vanity plate that I wanted to get is taken by this guy. although he is in NJ I might be able to get it
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/5841166990_2742606bb7_b.jpg

[trackstar42]

I haven't updated this thread in awhile so he goes. The car ended up eating its own oil on new years day. And because of that it spun a bearing. I am now in the process of sourcing parts that I need to have the motor rebuilt. It is going to be a very beastly motor if things go my way.

[trackstar42]

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/r270/551525_10151211941427134_1670195890_n.jpg
just a few parts that I have bought for the rebuild. Hopefully I will be sending the car off to the engine builder next week.

[trackstar42]

so it seems like people dont respect you property anymore. The day before my birthday my car got hit again. thats the second hit and run on this car. the bottom of the rear bumper is scraped. on the bright side i am getting this friday and the car will finally make it to a shop at the end of the month

[trackstar42]

okay so it has been a long time for an update. So the car was in the shop for about 3 months or so. But it still needs some work done. It basically came down to time vs cost vs affordability. Things that where done, resurfaced head, OEM lightened flywheel, full balance, new crankshaft, new oil pump, water pump, timing belt, bearings rods and pistons. So now the engine is almost basically brand spanking new except for the head. That I will revisit at another time but for now I am satisfied. I did order my vanity plates while the car was down and cant wait for those to come in.

on to the pics
pistons and stuff
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/579402_10151274657702134_1141433042_n.jpg

the new bottom end. The rods where pretty good with the balance but now they are better.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1013709_10151390294947134_781674226_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1013432_10151390300267134_2093422101_n.jpg


the old pistons and rods. They are in very good shape actually. Only one rod was scuffed up but it could be saved. the rings and everything else is perfect.
https://sphotos-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/1001316_10151390296107134_2088701733_n.jpg

the cause of the problem
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1043844_10151390297257134_1770988319_n.jpg

the flywheel. blur pic but if you read it, it says 14.6lbs. Took a total of 3.6 lbs off not bad for $90.
https://sphotos-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1014069_10151390298712134_2027734812_n.jpg

baby turbo is baby
https://sphotos-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1016096_10151390299182134_1940039711_n.jpg

the resurfaced head. very clean, besides the valves
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/17505_10151390299467134_1828676197_n.jpg


and finally the new and improved 1.8, I mean 1.9L. 1884cc of pure love.
https://sphotos-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1069906_10151436986717134_117721102_n.jpg

so here is the day i picked the car up and that was drama!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/557297_10151436987267134_514055876_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1012419_10151436987362134_1560894733_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546849_10151436987502134_113362768_n.jpg

I left the shop got gas and headed straight to work, everything was fine. But a soon as I got on the freeway which was about 4 miles away from the shop I started to hear a loud clanking sound but I thought it was my driveshaft so I called up the guys at Project -G to get a new driveshaft. I drove to work which was a good 13 miles miles away from the shop and back home to get the driveshaft at KINOD which is another 15 or so miles with this loud clanking noise to finally find out that what was causing the issue was the lug nuts not being tightened. One wheel flew off in the parking lot after the meet creating some damage but not anything that is not fixable.

Because JB documents everything. Pic of Marco and I
http://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii491/Jonathan_Bartolome/IMAG2501_1_zps55cd7b82.jpg

bent brake dust cover
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/971890_10151436988992134_1154125581_n.jpg
I bent it back but I am still not happy with it. I'll be fixing it this week.

But I have to say thanks again for getting me the lug nuts I needed.
Also the power door lock fuse blew as well so i need to fix that but that is not a big deal since the car sits right now. I only drive it when I need to.
But on to some more pictures
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1002480_10151436990157134_1307845197_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/312338_10151454412172134_314974178_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/971203_10151457996847134_1622173881_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1000314_10151457996992134_1695475456_n.jpg

Other than that nothing is new, the car does pull really hard, boost has dropped from 9.75psi to 8.5 but the turbo is loud and this is with the stock downpipe. I have to get the car smogged still. :(