Route recommendations - Austin to Seattle

Many people have told me so.

Actually, most of it was done by the PO. It is fun, but I often wonder what I am doing driving a near-race car on the street. It is very rare that I am using all of the power even at 10 psi. She also wants premium gas and synthetic oil, plus bigger tires. She is a more demanding mistress than the last one. Curb-surfing on $1400.00 rims also makes me nervous.

I modified my last miata to the way that I wanted it, though I did want forced induction of some sort. I don't like the color of this one or the fact that you can't use a glass window top or a hardtop on it. I could always swap the rollbar.

A/C has been a big factor as well, this should not be a primary daily driver in Texas, but up north it will obviously be better.

Anyway, I bought this one because he was forced to sell it for a very low amount of money because of a sudden overseas job offer, right after dumping an absurd amount of money and time into it. He started at $9500.00 and came way down as the departure deadline approached.

His plan was to turn it into a full racer with the dash removed, racing seats, etc. It was obviously not his only vehicle. I guess that he was not planning on any mandatory-hardtop racing with the rollbar that he chose.

Pat

My experience is that 93/92 octane is impossible to find over most of the US, area wise. With Bozo, my approach was to disable the SC, but it is likely more difficult with a turbo. Though I guess you can play games with the waste gate.

Just a thought in case you do decide to drive it up north.

Leon

And don't forget the words of wisdom from Flying Miata: a turbo will "correct" for higher altitude by compressing the air more by volume, meaning much higher knock potential than you would expect for that altitude for nonturbo (including SC) cars.

Leon

Presumably, Pat's fancy ECU has a knock sensor to deal with that.

Pat, in the past we let him out at night, but the next door neighbor complained about the big paw tracks on the top of his cars. We don't let him out off the leash now. I kept telling him that it was his other cars that were doing it , but he said he didn't think so! (He has 3 "Jag's, a XKE, a 140 and a '87 4 door. ) I still think it was his Jag's, my Jasper wouldn't jump on a "Jag U ware" ! :-)

Bruce Bing '03 LS

So does my fancy ECU. They are quite limited in what they can do.

Leon

Pat Sheldon's leavin' Austin A trail of broken parts behind Some of 'em he sold on ebay, Though others were a waste of time.

Pat Sheldon's leavin' Austin Lookin' for a room to hire But without a penny in his pocket Looks like he'll have to sell his tires.

Next verse please, someone.

Our Pat's leaving soon for Seattle; As for lodging, his brain's in a battle. He really oughta Sleep in his Miata-- If the trip doesn't kill him, a cat'll.

You're killin' me Pat! Carol dumped you?

Chris

You guys are killing me! How about this.

Too many hands on my time Too many feelings Too many things on my mind When I leave I don't know What I'm hoping to find When I leave I don't know What I'm leaving behind

Ok, I totally stole that. Free shipping on the pink poodle mug to anyone who can name the song without punching the lyrics into Google.... :-)

Pat

Hmmmm, does your neighbor have an extra room? I am desperate here. Also, does he have any large and dangerous animals?

Speaking of animals, I must find a home for my tortoise. It just wouldn't be right to take her to that environment.

Pat

She broke my heart. You know those Houston women.....

Pat

Ok, which is it? You both know more about forced induction, driving at high altitude, knock and what needs to be done to avoid problems than I do.

This isn't who has the fancier ECU thing, but is it possible that the Tec3 can be programmed in a way that the link can not to compensate for the higher altitudes?

It is supposed to be "state-of-the-art" for whatever that is worth. The adjustments are nearly endless and I have just gone back to the map the PO set up each time I have messed with it.

Pat

I am a theoretician, remember? :) One of the problems with retarding timing after you hear knock is that by then, the cylinder wall deposits are already igniting the mixture by themselves, so even not igniting with any spark at all may not be enough if the mixture is combustible enough.

I do not know how adjustable those waste gates are, but if you can set them to open right at atmospheric pressure, it ought to do it, I would think.

Otherwise, try searching the FM web site tech pages for a hint. It must be something that a lot of their customers can encounter.

Leon

I think it's Rush - um, Analog Kid?

Iva & Belle.) '90B Classic Red.) #3 winkin' Miata

You win the free shipping! Now get on there on grab that poodle mug before someone else does. ;-)

Pat

Thanks Leon, one more thing for me to research..... :-)

I'll see what I can find out.

Thanks again,

Pat

Is second prize two poodle mugs?

DING-DING-DING-DING! Give dat driver a seee-gar! :)

(Rush fan of many years typing atcha - That whole album just plain rocks. One of their finest efforts. Eagerly anticipating their soon-to-be-released new one, titled "Snakes & Arrows". Check out the lead-off single, titled "Far Cry")