Need advice on Engine Rebuild

[wozzah1975]

Thanks everyone for their input and the many, many PMs that I've received thus far.

I'm steering towards the engine rebuild route and I'm planning to source a set of Carrillo H-beam rods from the U.S. via Flyin Miata and might start a GB for others who are interested to grab stuff from them at the same time.

Moving forward, I'll also be investing in an aftermarket ECU (most likely an Adaptronic) to make the power delivery smoother as well as a boost controller to give me 2 or 3 boost settings to play with from inside the cabin (1 for rainy days, 1 for city driving and 1 for full power).

What I'd like to know is what other things should I try to source from the U.S. at the same time?... i.e. Clutch is a possibility.

Unless you're going to push things to the absolute limit Carrillo's are over the top and expensive. Absolutely no doubt that they are better than Eagles, Spools etc, but not required unless you're chasing big numbers. You're better off investing the extra money somewhere else.

Cheers
Woz

[NitroDann]

When eagles and spools and M tuned etc, are strong enough to smash gearboxes and shred hoosiers I dont see the point in spending more.

Dann

[evil_weevil]

Moving forward, I'll also be investing in an aftermarket ECU (most likely an Adaptronic) to make the power delivery smoother as well as a boost controller to give me 2 or 3 boost settings to play with from inside the cabin (1 for rainy days, 1 for city driving and 1 for full power).

In my old R33 I had a Greedy Profec B II boost controller
when it was off - wastegate pressure 10psi (on my old GT-RS turbo) then low boost 14psi and high boost 18psi

pretty cheap from memory even though it was 4 years ago! about $350

could be a good option

[manga_blue]

I'm no expert so I asked one of our IT consultants who does a bit of engine building as a hobby about whether Eagle rods are OK. He replied he's using them in his HQ and it's putting out over 2,000bhp. So I figure they're probably OK for an MX5.

[wozzah1975]

I'm no expert so I asked one of our IT consultants who does a bit of engine building as a hobby about whether Eagle rods are OK. He replied he's using them in his HQ and it's putting out over 2,000bhp. So I figure they're probably OK for an MX5.

Exactly. For 90% of people Eagles, Spools or equiv will be more than enough. I've been spinning my Spools to 8500+ and well over 200hp for almost 12 months now with no issues.

I do have Carrillos for the next build, but the only reason for this is they were over 50 grams lighter, and I was chasing every bit of weight I could without going to titanium.

Woz

[BadBong]

thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated.

I'll talk with the engine builder about cheaper rod options but in relative terms to the whole job, $200 difference is like one of those rebates that you get from US stores.... but every dollar counts and I have no doubt that the gearbox is on its way next...

evil_weevil, so is a boost controller all I'll need to achieve the 3 boost settings that I'm aiming for? will it work perfectly with an Adaptronic? and will I need to get anything else in order to have a switch in the cabin?

[NitroDann]

yeah a 2 stage EBC is easy.

You use NO ebc as low boost. This is gate pressure (usually 7psi). Low boost and high boost are 2 setting above this.

the ecu has no idea theres EBC there, it just sees less boost and assumes less throttle, it just wont read as far up the KPA side of the map.

Dann

[PaulF]

(Totally unhelpful post)

I reckon you should have the EBC unit hidden behind the dash, just rigged up to an innocent looking three-way switch on the dash/console somewhere... and then either leave it unmarked, or label it "No magic" -> "Magic" -> "More Magic". (Or maybe I'm the only one that thinks that would be amusing).

[sailaholic]

Aren't mtuned rods about 380 and Carrillo rods > 1000?

a but off topic.

I don't really see why the ecu couldn't handle the boost control, so I must be missing something. Maybe some more turbo minded can explain?
I assume the controller just defines when the "excess" boost is allowed to bypass. So assuming appropriate triggering, could a ecu high current, pwm cable, output control the boost?

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[NitroDann]

Only with MS2 lololol

Dann

[sailaholic]

Huh?

Come on dann, you know you can answer better than that.

Anyway, I will assume you mean it is possible to do it as described. Which means an adaptronic should be able to control the boost for you vic.

Andy would be able to provide a full answer, but I'm sure (maybe with some reconfiguring) one of the high current outputs and digital inputs could work as a controller.

Might save you a few $.

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[BadBong]

Thanks mate, I'll shoot Andy and email.

Maybe all I'll need is a switch connected to the ECU to trigger the change in boost.

[NitroDann]

Huh?

Come on dann, you know you can answer better than that.

Anyway, I will assume you mean it is possible to do it as described. Which means an adaptronic should be able to control the boost for you vic.

Andy would be able to provide a full answer, but I'm sure (maybe with some reconfiguring) one of the high current outputs and digital inputs could work as a controller.

Might save you a few $.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Yeah fair enough...

if your ecu has multiple outputs, and it can do PWM boost control, and you can configure 2 or more to do exactly the same thing, but with different settings, you will be able to trigger these each to give different boost curves.

Chances are you will only have 1 boost control output, in which case you can have only 2 settings, no ebc, and hence gate pressure, and ebc, high boost. There is no way to do 3 boost settings in this case.

As for paying 350 for a standalone boost controller, MS2 is 600 odd plug and play and has the feature built in, id hope and 1500 dollar+ ecu also had the feature.

Dann