Cascade Crew

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:40 am Post subject: Update from AlohaLand

What up dudes! So I needed to share an update to my fellow motor heads. Black Betty is still in the capable hands of my brother Rob in Spokane, but i was so sick and tired of driving around an automatic slow honda. The wife and I decided we needed a second car so i took the oportunity to find something that i wanted to drive.

I settled on this 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata Turbo. I know I know, Go ahead and get all the chick car jokes out, I know i deserve them. HAHA But this car is amazing.

Its a factory Turbo car, 6 speed, and bilstein suspension. The previous owner installed all new cold side piping, bigger intercooler, full stainless exhaust, HKS BOV, Greddy Manual boost controller pushing 10lbs. Its good for around 200whp, and it weighs 2500lbs. And its a convertible in Hawaii so yeah...

~JAKE

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:42 am Post subject:

Moar Pictars!

chevymad · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 11:07 am Post subject:

Hmm.. mustache, hawaii, red sports car...

QwkTrip · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 12:18 pm Post subject:

I think I know where you're going with this........ He's gay.

Alphius · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 1:39 pm Post subject:

Nice.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 1:44 pm Post subject:

Its my RX but newer. Good choice!

aaron_sK · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 2:11 pm Post subject:

Well, as the guy around here who makes fun of everything...

...the MX5 is a great platform. That one has been tastefully modified, I like the rims and it is the proper color. It's a quality buy, Jake. Cool

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 2:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys, I've driven a few miatas over the years and this one is hands down the most fun to drive. I cant get over how amazing the turbo and BOV sound and feel. I think I may now be addicted to boost.

Its not the fastest thing around, but its quick enough to wipe the smug look off the face of a tourist in their convertible mustang. Laughing

Paul, i thought that exact same thing when i got it! And the best part is the wife loves it. Very Happy

Plus it is in great shape, only 40,000 original miles! The long term plan for this car is to drive the hell out of it while I'm here in Maui, and eventually blow the motor up so i can do an LSx swap. Twisted Evil

~JAKE

chevymad · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 3:19 pm Post subject:

I was just thinking he'd graduated from the Hoff to Sellick.. What's the next step?

Xophertony · Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 8:30 pm Post subject:

Dewey316 · Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 11:03 am Post subject:

I only kid, well, just.... cool car, if only other people hadn't ruined the miata/mx-5 reputation. I dig the small light sports cars. That is the prefect little toy for island life. Congrats man!

fiveoformula · Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 11:13 am Post subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp1kuo6xkbE

Wow I must not get out much, had no idea the made a factory turbo one! good find, that one looks nice.

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 6:20 pm Post subject:

LMFAO at Johns pic! HAHA i was going to go for limo tint windows and a hard top but that works. Laughing

Derek - They did the factory turbo as an ultra limited edition part of the Mazdaspeed Mx5. A total of only 5428 were ever made. Mine of which is #1156. They made 4000 in 2004 and planned to make 4000 more in 2005 but the facotry burned down mid run, so they scrapped the project all together. Turns out the factory burned just after they started painting the 2005's "Lava Orange".......

Too bad they scrapped the program, this was the most powerful miata they ever made and it is BY FAR the most fun i've ever driven.

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 2:07 am Post subject:

So when i was installing my new radio in this thing, I happened to notice something odd. Turns out the previous owner had installed a Hydra EMS in place of the stock ECM. For those of you who don't know, a google search shows its a crazy expensive fully programmable ECM for boosted import cars.

So looks like i need to get a wideband and start logging and see how this thing is tuned. although it makes me a little nervous since the only tuning ive ever done was with my old EBL Flash that i sold to Derek. I dont know the first thing about tuning a boosted car. Anyone heard anything about these things?

~JAKE

fiveoformula · Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 2:49 pm Post subject:

I have never tuned for boost. Im still learning when it comes to tuning my TBI but im sure that knowlege is out there somewhere. lol

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 11:44 pm Post subject:

So upon further review, this Hydra EMS is even better than i thought. It already has a wideband 02 and pretty much runs a tuning loop. Based on info from the wideband and long term averages, it constantly tunes itself. You can adjust WOT timing and fuel based on revs and boost. Pretty slick set up. I need to tweak the idle settings to see if i can get it to idle a little smoother, but this thing builds boost nicely and pulls all the way through 7k. More updates to come.

~JAKE

As a side note, there is a tight knit group of autocross guys here that i hung out with last sunday. I need to get a second set of tires to rage on once a month. This thing is an autocross beast!

Alphius · Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 5:16 am Post subject:

No wonder you thought it was fast. Razz

The stock MazdaSpeed Miata is said to be woefully slow and need lots of work and money to even make it as useful as an aftermarket turbo kit on a regular Miata. Most guys say skip the price premium on the MSM and go for a regular Miata with a Flyin' Miata turbo kit or something. Apparently you get a much better setup at a very reduced price, but it sounds like you got lucky and scored an already modded MSM. Good find! Sounds like a lot of fun.