Bummer.

Oil pump?

Possible I suppose. It was a brand new BE street/strip pump, pre-assembled and clearanced by them. I was revving out to 7500rpm for these runs...but that should be no biggie for the bottom end. (probably only ran it up that far 5 times total since the car's been running).

I feel like something had to go wrong during the last few WOT pulls, then we started getting some metal on metal contact, which produced a lot of friction and the abnormal high oil temp. At that point the damage was probably done and it took me a minute or so to figure it out.

never a better time for v8 miata
:)

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1384108841

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1384108841

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1384108841

I really hope to see you spring back with a new engine. You car was/is an inspiration.

just leave it until you get back.... that way you don't stress about it or work being done while your away.

less stress and you will be more likely to not make a quick decision when you are pissed at it. (like I did)

yeah, i honestly have no desire to do any work with it right now. All I can think really think about is just selling it all. 3 month break will be good to think things over and most likely get me bored....then I'll be more than ready to dig in when I get back, lol.

Really looking like I'm not going to have time to pull the engine and such before I head out.

Found this video online, this is exactly how mine sounded and responded. Sounded fine at idle, rev up to around 2k or above it made that knocking noise. Guy who uploaded video said it ended up being rod bearing failure and crank journal got jacked up (hope mine's OK).

Park the car. Focus on the deployment. We'll see you back in a few.

Happy Vet's day!

Have an extra week in the states... pulled engine last night and finished pulling off all the accessories etc this morning. Motor has been dropped off at a shop to get tore down, inspected and rebuilt.

Thinking about moving onto a new car/project at this point. Maybe get engine back, put it all back together, get it running decent and sell it as a whole. Or, just part it all out once I get the engine back. Still a possibility I guess to put it back together and continue the project, but not really feeling it lately.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1385076390

As someone who has done that (part out)

dont.

you will miss it.

It's easy to feel jaded when things don't work. Even if they do, that postpartum depression after getting rid of a good project for a new one leaves you wondering if you should have kept it all along.

You are bound to hit snags no matter what the project car. Finish what you started...it's the journey not the destination

[insert other motivational colloquialisms here]

Rebuild and enjoy it!

although i want your parts really bad
deep down i think you should just rebuild and enjoy it man
you have so much time and work in that thing it will be such a waste to let it go...

Thanks guys, we'll see. It's more of getting out of a big project car type thing rather than moving into another one. I have enjoyed the building process and learning a lot along the way, I've just gotten much busier since then/less free time, so it's getting hard to enjoy it. I still get a few months to think it all over! In the meantime I've also been browsing 02-04 C5 Z06s.........

Last update for a while.

Engine is tore down. Pretty much as expected- cylinder 4 spun bearing. Crank will need resurfaced there but it's salvageable. Other bearings show some wear but probably due to number 4 taking a shit. Really hard to determine what caused it. Pistons/plugs don't show signs of detonation or anything. Just a hunch, but maybe fuel dilution. When I first got the car up and running I had a dead coilpack, but I wasn't able to figure out what it was right away. So maybe possible that enough fuel got into the oil to early on, did enough damaged and it finally gave out some miles later. I did change the oil right away I got the coilpack replaced, but who knows. Either way, water under the bridge now and I'm not too worried about it. Here's some pics of the #4 bearing.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1385939254

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1385939254

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1385939254

I really hope you continue with this build. I know this car has the potential! please don't sell it.

Well it's pretty much official: going to sell the car/project as is to a fellow (local) Miata enthusiast. He is going to pick up where I left off. I won't be back for another month or so, but still makes me sad thinking about seeing it all go, but it really needs to be done.

bummer man :(

but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Make sure to point the new owner our way. I'd like to see what becomes of this, your car was really awesome and an inspiration.

He's already on here and getting stuff ready to start the rebuild as soon as I get back.

Well, might as well wrap this up, lol. I sold the car as-is to a local car buddy. He is dropped the bottom end of the motor off at a shop to get it looked at and fix what is needed, then he is going to be rebuilding the beast.

I have been eyeing some 2002-2004 Corvette Z06s and picked one up recently. Sadly, the Corvette forums are nowhere near as good as MT!

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398344310

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1398344310