FM Turbo Unboxing

Those are some BIG boxes...

Those are some BIG boxes...

This post has been coming for a while. I ordered these big boxes a little less than a month ago. But I feel like I’ve been waiting for years. Both boxes came from Flyin Miata. The short box holds an FM II turbo kit. The tall box holds an exhaust.

Both boxes actually hold happiness, horsepower, and zoom-zoom.

Yes, I said “zoom-zoom.”

See? Told ya they held happiness.

See? Told ya they held happiness.

My little Uglydoll buddies helped me out with the unboxing. Or rather, they saw the big boxes and immediately jumped in with both feet. Some were more helpful than others.

Wage unpacks the intercooler.

Wage unpacks the intercooler.

Each box held multiple boxes. And in each of those small boxes were more small boxes. I think the blow off valve had one more box around it than the intercooler did.

The intercooler was nested in boxes three deep.

It was like Christmas.

It was like Christmas.

I opened box after box. I dug about and found different stuff embedded in the packing peanuts. I pulled out shiny part after shiny part, never knowing what would be next. It was very much like Christmas.

Wage liked the little hat.

No, Target. It's not a turkey.

No, Target. It's not a turkey.

This was the final box. It was square and HEAVY and had this strange lump of plastic in the middle. Target insisted it was a frozen turkey.

Knife + Uglydolls = uh-oh time.

Knife + Uglydolls = uh-oh time.

When Target grabbed my knife to “let the turkey out,” I decided it was time to take the shiny car stuff away and retreat to my office where I could photograph it properly.

Turbo.

Turbo.

Packed with tiny pinwheel goodness.

Packed with tiny pinwheel goodness.

Manifold stamp

Manifold stamp

I honestly had no idea that the turbo and manifold would be all assembled before shipping. This, to me, is pretty damn cool. That’s a lot of tedious work I don’t have to do. Thanks, FM!

I feel cooler already.

I feel cooler already.

I don’t plan to display the FM logo when I install the intercooler, (the other side is unmarked) but it does look rather spiffy. And this thing is THICK! Gonna be fun to wedge in the Miata nose.

Intercooler pipes

Intercooler pipes

The silicon intercooler pipes are one of my favorite features of this kit. Far fewer hose clamps are required than with standard rigid pipes and you can easily bend them around various parts during the install.

The shiny pipes you see are for the BOV and the air filter. They add just the right amount of bright work to make the kit look GOOD under the hood.

Beefy.

Beefy.

Speaking of hose clamps…. I couldn’t resist shooting these things. They’re shiny and really really impressive. In a word: beefy.

Blow off valve and boost controller

Blow off valve and boost controller

I chose the vent-to-atmosphere BOV with my kit. One less hose to run and extra PSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! sounds. And 34mm vs 20mm means it should possibly be a bit more efficient?

The little manual boost controller is cute, isn’t it? I was expecting a little brass fiting. This guy is WAY nicer than a brass fitting. Every part of this kit just screams “quality.”

550 cc of injector-y goodness.

550 cc of injector-y goodness.

I also got the optional injector clips. No soldering injector connectors for me! Nope. Just clip and go. I learned my lesson with the 97 what with modifying my stock wiring harness. If you can somehow build or buy a harness like this, I say do it. The Boomslang harness I used to hook up my Link was one of the better purchases I ever made.

Hardline upgrade for the water and oil lines.

Hardline upgrade for the water and oil lines.

The last option I chose was this spiffy hardline upgrade. I guess you have to swap out the oil and water feeds to the turbo once in a while with the standard soft hoses. These lines make that maintenance unnecessary. Sounds good to me.

And that’s it. I’m planning to spend a leasurely few weeks bolting this stuff to my 99 engine. It is resting on an engine stand, waiting very eagerly for some attention. I’ll keep the blog updated with my progress.

BOOST!!!!!!!!

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  • […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Sal Pou, Adam. Adam said: New blog post! Lots of boost. Even some Uglydolls. – Turbo Unboxing https://revlimiter.net/blog/s/1153 […]

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  • Czubaka says:

    Excellent! Now hurry up and put it on Sharka! I’m curious to know your opinion of it vs the supercharger. Plus, since spending money on my Okinawa miata is out of the question, I have to live vicariously through you.

  • Czubaka says:

    Uh, BTW, what are you going to do with that monsterflow intake? An plans to sell it (maybe to a former RGRSCCA’r)? 🙂

  • Adam says:

    Hey I was just wondering, what do you think the weight of the entire FM2 kit is? How much was the shipping weight? I suppose it’d be about 5lbs lighter than that. Just wanna know how much extra weight I’m putting on the car. I’m planning to order this kit, not sure if I can swing the full 3″ exhaust option just yet though. Might buy that down the line. How much power did you put down with this?

    • revlimiter says:

      Sorry, but I have absolutely no idea about the weight. I could guess, but it wouldn’t be a good one. The shipping boxes were recycled nearly 2 years ago. Call FM. They’ll be happy to help you.

  • Jose De Cunto says:

    Dear friend:
    I have a ’91 (Mazda Miata Special Edition 1.6) and I’d like put a little more power, something like you bougth for yours: what do you recomend me (may I put something similar, I don’t know what engine has your Miata).
    Thank you

    • revlimiter says:

      I cannot recommend anything more highly than one of Flyin’ Miata’s turbos. They are an excellent kit. Very well put together, complete, and well engineered. Mine has been dead reliable since I installed it.

      Engine type is irrelevant. They have turbos for all Miata motors.

  • Impulse2010 says:

    How long have you had the turbo installed on your car, is it reliable? and how many miles was on engine when you added the turbo?

    I am new to turbo world, but always pictured them being not very reliable like always needing something done to keep them running right or something.. Or putting stress on a engine?? Maybe i do not know much about them lol.

    I would love more power but do not want to lose reliability or my miata as a daily driver.

    • revlimiter says:

      The FM kit has been fantastic. Only one issue with an oil line breaking, but that was my fault. I didn’t use their hardware the first time. No problems since. I’d get up right now and drive across country with it. It’s a great kit.

      That said, a good rule for life is “do not boost your only car.” I’ve done it. It was horrible. I bought a supercharger that wasn’t very well thought out. Get a beater and then play with boost on the fun car.

      • Impulse2010 says:

        Yeah, right now MY miata is my daily driver so i might hold off on it. Maybe it will come down on price some lol, doubt that.

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