As I eluded to earlier, I asked Dann to do a little extra work in addition to the tune. This might be a big post, but there's pictures to keep your attention
First up was installing some injectors I'd bought earlier. Flow Force 640s are based on Bosch EV14s (as are Injector Dynamics), they come Plug and Play ready, with all the pigtails and spacers ready to roll, and at US$300, they're probably the best bang for buck injector on the market. The only downside is that they're likely too small to ever provide me enough fuel for E85, if I ever want to go to a flex fuel setup I'll need to replace them. Dann installed these for me befor the tune, they're actually tested to flow at an average of 655cc/min!
Pretty packaging!http://www.flowforceinjectors.com/products/ff610-pnp-flow-matched-injector-kit-miatahttp://www.trackspeedengineering.com/Fuel-Delivery/flow-force-640cc-ev14-injectors.htmlMegasquirt has inbuilt Electronic Boost Control, you just need to replace the stock boost solenoid with a MAC Valve and setup and tune it appropriately. I had previously replaced my dodgy "bog" solenoid with just such a MAC valve, but seeing as Megasquirt bypasses that mess I have reverted back to the stock solenoid (needed to complete the vacuum circuits - but unused), and re-purposed the MAC Valve for boost duties. I let Dann handle the wiring and plumbing on this, as well sas the tuning of course.
My dodgy crimps are showing!A little while back I ordered some Hybrid Motor Mounts from 949Racing.com. They're hybrid in the sense that on one side of the motor you have a polyurethane mount, and the other side you have a Mazdaspeed Competition rubber mount. 949 advertise these as having 80% of the engine locating that 2 poly mounts would provide, whilst only slightly increasing NVH over what 2 Mazdaspeed Comp mounts would deliver. IE, lots of strength and stability without the harshness. I read up a bit on doing the install of these and read a few too many horror stories, so I figured I'd best leave the job to someone with all the tools and experience to get the job done. And Dann told me there were a few troubles!
The mounts certainly anchor the engine more solidly. One of my old mounts was completely broken, and the other wasn't in great shape. The NVH is now getting up there. I like it, it really makes the car feel purposeful and provides excellent feedback, but if you're sensitive to noise (like my Mrs), then it's a bridge too far. As it was I made my drive home, 9 hours straight, without issue. But the cabin is quite buzy now, with the combination of mounts, intake and exhaust noise. This isn't a "cardigan" car!
That poly mount is bigger and heavier than I expectedhttp://949racing.com/Supermiata-hybrid-motor-mount.aspxIf you know SEs/MSMs, you'll know it has a catch-can built in to the strut tower, that drains back into. And you might also know that it's not a very good solution, and often once you've added a few bolt-ons and start making more power and boost the system oil starts going places it shouldn't! So I asked Dann for one of his very nice catch cans, that I'm sure you've all seen. I considered other aftermarket alternatives, but Dann's design looks to cover reliability very well, comes with excellent fittings, and it looks very nice snugged in next to the shock. Dann had to plug up the stock drain port, I'll just use the drain tap periodically to empty the system.
This is Dann's photo of the catch-canhttps://www.facebook.com/NitroDann/posts/629435307233825A few weeks ago I ordered a Cappuccino washer bottle from Amayama, with the plan of replacing my stock washer bottle with the new unit - creating a much freer engine bay, and fabbing up some brackets and extending the harness. When I got to the workshop, Dann asked me what I thought of his new product - a stainless washer bottle designed to bolt in where the Cappuccino bottle would go, but without the need for brackets, and he'd include a harness extension! It looked excellent, and I told him so. It would sell really well. I thought if I didn't have the Cappuccino at home then it would be perfect, but I'd stick with what I had - maybe I'd buy an extension from him to save myself some trouble.
Then while I was home Dann advertised the washer bottle on Facebook and here in the forums using my car as the test fit model - and I had to have it! I guess I have a Cappuccino bottle to sell
My car, Dann's photo - and I was sold!https://www.facebook.com/NitroDann/posts/650724088438280http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=73508And the final piece of work! I asked Dann to fabricate me an airbox for my intake. I didn't love having the filter exposed, and seeing the likes of Kev's, Lokiel's and others running the BEGi intake, I knew I wanted a box made. I knew Dann had made a few for various builds he'd done, and asked him for one. Originally the plan was just to modify the intake I already had (a previous NitroDann fabrication), but Dann realised he'd need to change so much of it, it'd be better to just make a new one from scratch and that way I could sell the old one. It's a very sexy piece, and along with the washer bottle and catch can, it really adds some bling to the engine bay!
Bling Bling!Now all I need is Dann to make a radiator overflow bottle to balance out the engine bay! I'll be keeping everything raw stainless I think. Though someday I may clean them all up a bit and spray them in clear coat for a nice finish.
I've got a few more pictures to share about placement of things and plumbing etc, but this post is big enough for now I think.
Thank you Dann for all your hard work!
