Building a blonde young beefcake wearing nothing but skimpy shorts named Rocky
#1064
Maybe I'm just overly paranoid. I dunno. But with the boatloads of money you're spending I just don't see another 380 or whatever being a big deal.
#1066
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Royal Oak Michigan
Posts: 754
Total Cats: 68
Good news. Just got off the phone with the machine shop - He said they look great. The coating was compromised but he said that's what it's for - he is going to take the coating down and clean them up then I'll take them over to dart for a serious coating.
On the note of metal fatigue - These pistons have not been dented, chipped or manipulated in any way, I have the feeling you're picturing something much more severe than they actually are. No chips at all. It actually just looks identical to the wear caused by piston slap on the outer edges in an engine built with large tolerances. I wish I took a picture of the other pistons, you'd probably ask why I'm even thinking about replacing them.
On the note of metal fatigue - These pistons have not been dented, chipped or manipulated in any way, I have the feeling you're picturing something much more severe than they actually are. No chips at all. It actually just looks identical to the wear caused by piston slap on the outer edges in an engine built with large tolerances. I wish I took a picture of the other pistons, you'd probably ask why I'm even thinking about replacing them.
#1067
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Royal Oak Michigan
Posts: 754
Total Cats: 68
Just saw this. Thanks man. Honestly there was a moment when I was completely drained and contemplated just selling all of it. There are so many other platforms that I could get this performance out of more reliably.. But in the end it's so much cooler to rape face in a Miata. Nobody ever expects it.
#1070
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
Posts: 5,677
Total Cats: 800
Well. You said it. I want to rape face with a Miata. Valve springs, and valves will be ordered. Which should be sooner than later here. Currently waiting on FM to send me some stuff.
#1072
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,468
Total Cats: 365
Indeed! I am not yet at the point where I can go Vette hunting on the straightaways, but I can already destroy most of them in the corners. It's almost as good as sex. Edit: this thread keeps delivering for what to do with engine 2.0.
#1073
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Royal Oak Michigan
Posts: 754
Total Cats: 68
So my head was back from the machine shop freshly decked with my Supertech dual valve springs and valves installed. I cleaned up the cam caps polished the cam journals and installed them using Lucas engine assembly lube.
I was looking at the factory VVT setup and I’m actually annoyed by the hard line that runs to the solenoid on the valve cover, I never replace those copper crush washers and I’m pretty sure it was slightly leaking where it attaches to the block. So I decided to convert it to a braided line.
I basically tapped took off the fitting going to the solenoid and cut the line off, then drilled it out to install a -4 AN fitting.
I’ll likely use a banjo to AN fitting on the block to get rid of the rest of the factory setup. That way in order to remove the head it’s a simple -4AN fitting.
I was looking at the factory VVT setup and I’m actually annoyed by the hard line that runs to the solenoid on the valve cover, I never replace those copper crush washers and I’m pretty sure it was slightly leaking where it attaches to the block. So I decided to convert it to a braided line.
I basically tapped took off the fitting going to the solenoid and cut the line off, then drilled it out to install a -4 AN fitting.
I’ll likely use a banjo to AN fitting on the block to get rid of the rest of the factory setup. That way in order to remove the head it’s a simple -4AN fitting.
#1076
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Royal Oak Michigan
Posts: 754
Total Cats: 68
I'd say 2 weeks. I'm at the mercy of my machine guys at this point. The actual assembly should take no time though. I have every thing setup to be really servicable at this point.