thenuge26

iTrader: (2)

How much is your time worth? If the rings don't seat right, they won't really hurt anything except the time it takes to pull the engine and re-ring.

So the equation is something like:

(Price of expensive rings) - (price of cheap rings) = (time it takes to re-ring if something goes bad) X (what your time is worth) X (probability the cheap rings won't seal)

The cheap rings will be cheaper if you get them seated properly, but more expensive if you don't. But I guess you already knew that

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

swank force racing approved? Good enough for me. LOL, seriously though.. the rings themselves look of decent quality and the only info about them I can find via google was positive. They are basically oem replacements. I'm inclined to say that the ringlands on the stock pistons would fail before these rings, plus I'll be running e85 for any kind of "high" boost which should help keep detonation at bay.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

I definitely see where you are coming from on this. But also, there is this point of view. These steel/iron rings are of a softer material which should seat much easier and quicker than the more expensive chrome ring sets regardless of their price.

If i were to get "better" rings, which would I get? I want rings that will seat the best, not necessarily last the longest or be the strongest. I most certainly do NOT want to pull this motor and re-ring it anytime soon :P

concealer404

iTrader: (3)

You're talking about a stock piston car. Doesn't matter so much. I wouldn't bother putting fancy rings on it.

I've used TONS of DNJ parts in the past, never once had a problem with any of them.

I actually went even cheaper than that for the rings in the new Swank Force One motor.

So yeah, they're Swank Force Racing approved.



This is what i used. I suspect that most of this stuff is just rebranded and there's probably only 1-2 companies actually making them.

83 02 Fits Ford Probe Mazda 2 0L 2 2L 2184cc F2 SOHC 12V L4 Piston Rings E542 | eBay

I'd bet good money that the DNJs and my super fancy "Diamond Racing" rings are actually just re-boxed NPRs.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Thanks for everyone input on the rings situation. I think I'm gonna run em'.

Now, did some work on the car. Raised the suspension, about 1.5" all around. Dear god, it's so much better, and really in my eyes looks better too.

The ride is actually somewhat acceptable, i can go more than 15mph down my dirt road, and potholes arent as bad either.



The car runs like a champion, other than the WHITE oil smoke it has at idle sometimes. not all the time either. Almost sure it's the turbo, with the noise it's making as well. Also, the smoke is white, but obviously smells like oil. From what I've read when oil burns at lower temperatures by leaking into the exhaust past the turbo seals, it can burn white. When its burnt in the combustion chamber, it's blueish.

Who knows, i'm gonna drive it as is while I build my new setup. I forgot how much I missed this car .

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

I got a set of NB rear tophats on the way, should be an improvement on my suspension as well. Probably going to tackle the new dash install this weekend so I can be done with the interior. It looks pretty craptastic right now and it's getting to me.

With the interior finished i'll move onto getting the new motor/turbo setup in place.

Finally, i'll start working on bodywork/paint. That's the tentative plan for the car right now at least. It's been running so damn good i'm almost hesitant to pull it apart. I even considered slapping this 2860 on the current motor, because i'm pretty sure my t25 is dying :(.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

To bring this back from the dead, the new(used) dash has been installed!

First, this is how the dash was looking:



Yes, it's terrible. You can see where I attempted to repair it with adhesive about 5 years ago now, which uhh.. didn't work. Yeah, stupid. This was my first car afterall.

So i said fugdat, and did the ole swapparoo:


Wasn't so hard to remove and/or replace. IIRC it took me about 4-5 hours, but I was doing other things as well. Cleaned up a bunch of wiring, some old ghetto alarm system. Also cleaned out the blower and installed a proper a/c delete tube. went back together and now she looks decent, considering it's a 25 year old car.




Anyways, been working on saving money and stuffs. Good thing i have all the parts for my engine build already. That is absolutely still going to happen in the near (enough) future.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

and he's back

dash looking 200% better

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Yay! You're back. I'm wishing I had put in an na6 dash into honey badger before the cage. So much lighter. Scottyp told me so ....

Jeffbucc

I was very happy to see that cleaning, welcome back good sir.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Thanks guys <3. One step at a time. I've come to the conclusion that I will likely have this car forever, because it's sure not worth it to sell (AND it's my first car, that my mother gave to me, and it's a seriously kickass car)

Next step from here for me is more stuff that doesn't cost me any money. So, that means I'll be playing with all these engine parts I have laying around. I have a nice turbo sitting around too

I also came to the realization that I need to focus money on real life and not cars, but i'm not about to sell any of the parts i have stockpiled

Right now the goal is to play with this motor over fall/winter, build a carport of some kind come spring, focus on further developing my property, etc. You cannot leave cars exposed to the sun out here and expect them to last, i needz carport.

For now the car is parked in the sun with two sunblockers, one for the windsheild, and one tucked behind the seats for the hardtop window. Should work for now and keep my new dash from cracking.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

I still have my first car. Grandson has already claimed it.

BoostedSmurf

iTrader: (1)

Glad to see a Miata related update in here!

EErockMiata

Welcome back. Love this build. Dash swap looks 100000x better.

viperormiata

iTrader: (24)

I didn't know you had Elise seats. Mad jelly over here. Let me know if you decide to throw them in the trash.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Thanks everyone, props all around!

Yip, got them for a score too.. $350 for the set including the rails to bolt into my car.. plus trade for my old ratty OEM seats.

They aren't perfect, but to be honest they really go with the theme of the car. This car will never be perfect, as that's not my style. Having a car as clean as jeffbucc's gives me nightmares actually.. i couldn't even drive that thing down my road.

I do however want the car to come together as a nice clean package, eventually complete with body and paintwork as well. That is down the road though, because I don't even have a carport at home yet. At the very least i need a carport for this thing and my bike.

Next is figuring out how i want to mount the WBO2, as i'm really enjoying having those vents back. Right now i'm leaning towards a 2/3 gauge din mount. The only thing i want to do for a stereo eventually is an Aux into an amp with no headunit. I like the clean look. Then again, i had toyed around with mounting a tablet there to tune with.

Decisions..

adamiata

iTrader: (1)

I find myself in the exact same position with my Mariner Blue as well. Not my first car, but the first I truly bonded with (it was easy to say goodbye to my '88 Bronco II).

I've been following this thread for a while. Really dig your setup.

Jeffbucc

Fire I can make you a blanking plate like mine(covered with fabric or not) just let me know. I have a ton of scrap abs plastic/fabric.

I can also drill the hole for the WB02 or leave it blank. I'd hate to see you have to remove one of your vents.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

This sounds great. PM'd, i'll make it worth your time as well

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Thanks for the kind words man. These cars kick ***. mariner is the best color too