You shooting for the June 3rd event or the October event? Either way keep up the good work!
You shooting for the June 3rd event or the October event? Either way keep up the good work!
I don't know if this will help anyone, but I remember it helped me the first time I did vavletrain work about 10 years ago on my Miata head. It's from memory, so I would double-check the well diameter, but I think it is correct.
I used a small piece of steel electrical conduit, 3/4" (which is actually just shy of 1" diameter, really). It was about 60-75mm long. I left about 13mm at the top and bottom of the tube, then cut diagonally to about the center, and again perpendicular. I filed the edge of the cut so it wouldn't be sharp while I was sticking my fingers in there. It gave me plenty of room to work with for the retainers. This was placed on the valve spring keeper and the valve spring compressor tool on top of this custom spacer tool. You could use a regular, large C-clamp or what ever clamping tool you have on hand with this spacer to compress the valvespring assembly for this type of work.
Miata Valvespring Spacer Tool.jpg
This is a rough estimate of how it looked.
Demon I Am (05-02-2016),NCGreasemonkey (05-03-2016),tsingson (05-02-2016)
This is brilliant; could see it working better than a few market available valve spring compressors, thanks for sharing!
kung fu jesus (05-02-2016)
Had a lull between contracts, so after I invoiced my clients I got back on the engine to make up some ground.
1.8 99-00 oil pump vs original LNC 1.6 pump. Exact fit, but the 1.8 pump uses RTV and a single o-ring gasket instead of the 1.6's paper gasket. I had to transfer over a small plug too.
Oil pump installed.
Test fitting the oil pick up, windage tray before installing the oil pan.
Pan and seals installed. I used a bit extra RTV. I hate oil leaks.
Prepping to lay the head.
ARP head studs and head gasket.
Waterpump went on before the head. Then the head, and the water neck.
Time to keep on trucking...
HarryB (05-02-2016),JamieH (05-02-2016),NCGreasemonkey (05-03-2016),tsingson (05-03-2016)
Time to stop for the evening. Good progress.
Demon I Am (05-03-2016),HarryB (05-03-2016),JamieH (05-02-2016),NCGreasemonkey (05-03-2016),oldgrayleather (05-03-2016),tsingson (05-03-2016)
Holyshmoly
That looks freaking great!
I'm probably going to regret saying this, but the head shave makes installing a timing belt a lot easier.
theothersawyer (05-04-2016),tsingson (05-03-2016)
kung fu jesus (05-04-2016),theothersawyer (05-04-2016),tsingson (05-04-2016)
Not much more to report. The engine is 95% done. Need to find the dr. side motor mount, put the new starter on the bracket then finish few simple things on the chassis.
I forgot to seal the RMS carrier, soooo the pan had to come back off.
Not too bad, took me about 90 minutes and I got to see how the RTV squished towards the inside. I was able to salvage the pan's saddle seals, so that was good. . I ran a double bead around the pan, one went inside the bolt holes, one outside.
I also painted some small stuff; the TB bracket, alternator bracket, fuel rail, H2O pump pulley, and the IAC valve.
I have made arrangements to have friends over Saturday to get this in the car. Still have to install the rear main seal, flywheel, clutch, tranny, starter, slave. Also need to connect the cooling hoses, install the rad and fans, hook up the electrical connections. Not too bad.
HarryB (05-05-2016),JamieH (05-05-2016),NCGreasemonkey (05-07-2016),oldgrayleather (05-05-2016),riefdaddy (05-04-2016),theothersawyer (05-04-2016),tsingson (05-07-2016),Vegard (05-05-2016)
That is one pretty motor!
Will second that!
I didn't take many photos today. It was a turn and burn day, conservatively.
The cooling reroute fits, eats a lot of room under the IM, but that is the price for performance. The car starts, runs, and idles, but the timing is off so I will adjust the belt tomorrow. Not too difficult. The motor is heathy, makes great oil pressure, and Is responsive. I can feel the additional compression in the exhaust pulses.
I'm pretty beat, but feeling happy. Just a few adjustments to make and some items to add. . I have some really awesome friends.
HarryB (05-08-2016),JamieH (05-08-2016),Martin (05-07-2016),Munky (05-07-2016),NCGreasemonkey (05-07-2016),oldgrayleather (05-08-2016),RustRat (05-08-2016),theothersawyer (05-07-2016),tsingson (05-07-2016),ueru (05-08-2016),Vegard (05-07-2016)
The wrinkle red intake and cam cover look great. You had me holding my breath scrolling through the install pics. just waiting for a scratch. Really are set off by the blue back-ground.
Gonna be down your way next Saturday. I'll be meeting with Cxmoney and Monky to pick-up some goodies just south of you.
kung fu jesus (05-07-2016)
Chase and Miguel are good people.
The powder coating has held up alright through the years. It takes chemicals better than paint.
I will re-do the timing tomorrow, get the engine set, and put 50 miles on it. So many new components, I'm sure there will be a few things to iron out. Need an alignment, too.
I need to add the new heat shielding, put the interior together, then try to get 500 miles on it by June 3 for Road Atlanta.
HarryB (05-08-2016),NCGreasemonkey (05-07-2016),oldgrayleather (05-08-2016),theothersawyer (05-08-2016)