Miata Mailing List: February 1999, Message #188

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Hello...

Well, i got a real setback the other day that definitely
had a bearing on the project.  I got laid off, totally
out of the blue!  Man.  I will find another job, so thats
not a problem, but it did require me and my wife to 
re-evaluate things.

When i told her how much more the turbo would cost (incl
the cost of a clutch, radiator, extra cost for installation,
etc) over the cost of several other engine upgrade options,
she rightly said that we had to take a less expensive 
route if possible.  

I agreed with her and decided that it would either be a
Sebring setup or an NA setup using the new FM throttle
bodies due out.  I got on the phone and talked for a long
time with Tony Cooper, who was the only one i knew of that 
had the same kind of Sebring setup i envisioned (i.e. one
combining the Sebring with the FM ECU).  Tony was GREAT
to talk to on the phone.  Very helpful.  Thanks Tony!

I also got on the horn and asked Clint Host, who will be
doing the mechanical work for me, what he thought of the
two cheaper than a turbo options.  Clint probably had
the finest Autorotor in the country, and used the FM ECU
with the Autorotor.  He confirmed Tony Cooper's info, 
that the Sebring with ECU would be a very nice engine
upgrade if i was trying to save money over the cost of
doing a turbo, and would have a great gob of low end grunt.

I went with the Sebring/ECU setup over the throttle body/
ECU setup for several reasons.  First, the throttle bodies
are still in developement.  Second, I am thinking that
the Sebring will be easier to take off and sell if i decide
to go turbo later.  And third, because the Sebring/ECU 
will give more low end power than the throttle bodies i 
would think.  I might be wrong there, but the Sebring 
seemed like the right way to go, mainly because i wanted
something that had been out for awhile and that i knew i
could count on lots of experience with others using it.
I think that the throttle bodie thing does sound VERY cool
though, and cant wait to drive and hear one!

In doing the Sebring/ECU option, i knew that i could very
easily upgrade to the FM turbo in the future if i decided
to, as i would already have the ECU and its easy to sell
the Sebring.  In the meantime, having the ECU now will 
give me more/smoother power, and for sure eliminate all
problems with tip in (i.e. too lean when you pop the 
throttle open with a supercharger, which i have seen big
time first hand on an autorotor powered car).

I didnt want to go with the low end System I turbo, as i
was sure i wanted to do the ECU regardless of which way
i went, and with the ECU, you may as well do a full blown
FMII if you get a turbo.

Both recommended, if i wanted to stay with the Sebring
long term rather than sell the Sebring at some point for
a turbo, that i look into getting the combo of larger
injectors and the new Brainstorm kit due out within the
month that will have a smaller pully and an intercooler.
The injectors cost about $350 extra and the smaller pully/
intercooler by Brainstorm will list for $800 or so,
according to Brainstorm.

So, the only problem left was breaking the news to Bill,
that i was wanting to order, egads, a SEBRING over an
FMII Turbo.  I mainly felt bad to change my order, but
it was necessary, given our new financial situation, and
given how much money has been spent on other upgrade 
orders in the last few weeks.  So, i called DA, and they
were very cool about it.  

I ended up ordering the Sebring, the FM ECU + keypad,
magnacore spark plug wires, the knock sensor that works
with the ECU (not the JS unit), and the bigger injectors
(440s).  Should all be here to put on by the time the
body work gets done in 4 weeks or so.  

This weekend we drive Mimi down to San Antonio (from 
Dallas) to leave her there to have Jeff Holbrooke put on 
her RB kit, TSIs, etc!  

Randy and Mimi
97 soon to not be a base white
:)