robertw

The new transmission seems to be decent but now there’s a new problem. The motor started filling my catch cans with oil, both cans full, after only a few laps. Lots of smoke on hard acceleration and deceleration out the exhaust. Did a compression test and cylinder 1 is way down, leak down cylinder one lost like 80%.

So time to pull the motor.












Found the problem







8 hard years on that motor, piston finally let go.


Picked up a junkyard 1997 motor, hoping it’s usable.

Joseph Conley

Bummer, but congrats for getting it to live this long.

robertw

Junk yard motor swap continued...

Leak down test, air leaking out of the exhaust and intake manifold, decided to swap my head on. At least this would save some time dealing with injectors and other stuff.


Cleaned up my head.


Swapping the head was a bit of a last minute call, couldn't find a Mazda head gasket on such short notice, so went with a felpro. Reused the ARP headstuds.




Parts from moss


Swapped my pan on, this build is sponsored by Felpro




Looking like a motor again



I cracked a coolant hardline for the turbo when shuffling around the head.


Placed an order with FlyinMiata



Motor in the car


Test drive...

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Holy crap! Nice rebound and quick work on the wrenching so that you could get back to driving. This is how it's done. Goood **** and the new motor sounds nice and healthy.

I might have missed this, do you run this thing on pump or e85? I'm certain it's in this thread somewhere, just curious. Haven't seen too many ringland failures so I'm kinda of surprised (but not really seeing how much abuse it has seen). Just curious if detonation might have been a factor or if it just let go.

robertw

The car is on pump gas, 93. I think cyl 1 may have been hurt for a while and it recently full but the dust. Fortunately the cylinder walls are not damaged so I’m hoping to rebuild the old motor to have a spare.

robertw

Drove at GridLife Circuit Legends at Lime Rock Park. Awesome track and event.

robertw

The junkyard motor continues to do it's thing.




Three camera angles, same run.