250
re-surface (on a mill not some gay belt sander)
tank clean
cut valves
cut valve seats
adjust valve lash
replace stem seals (I provide seals)

It seemed like an easy 250 I could save by doing it myself at the time, but after I did it I promised myself I would never, ever do it again

 

At the point I'm at, if I could get the same done for $250, I would totally jump on it.

Of course if I were to do that it would totally defunk the whole 300whp $5k shenanigans

I need to call my machine shop and see what it'll be...

 

be careful brah, if you're exceeding 5k including car, house, and cost of living for the next century, you're DOIN IT WRONG

 

There are approximately 5 posts in the last 100 that are Miata related. Have we lost you?

 

The last few are completely miata related.
I think we just found him

 

Ha! I was reviewing the thread to see how far back I needed to go before I saw anything Miata related, and you guys start posting about Miatas again. LOL.

 

LOL, sorry about that. Just had to get the DD situation resolved, my old teg was reliable but rattly, ugly, and not AWD I'm so stoked to have the foz.

Don't worry, miata>all. I dd it in the summer too. What do you guys think about the ARP hardware. ARP headstuds i know for sure, but are the mainstuds required for a build that will see ~300whp possibly?

I'm thinking probably, but I've got to figure out where to draw the line to keep the motor budget, so if they aren't needed why spend the extra $100 (see the argument on aftermarket vs stock pistons).

 

im really interested to see all the stuff you use for your build. im debating which way i want to go on mine.

 

All out like me.

Send your engine up to Besnik.

 

just read the entire thread....great job man! worked on a few subies in my day and i will say that they can make a solid chassised car. love my miata and my GTO but also wouldnt mind having a subie one day.

...one day

 

Every time I play out a scenario where I skimp on the motor build, I realize how little difference the extra $100 will make on a build where I'll be spending >$10k. Of course it doesn't mean as much once I apply that principle to a BE oil pump, supermiata damper, etc and I'm back at the expensive build. That and it's a lot harder to upgrade studs and pistons later vs external stuff.

 

Pretty sure I've talked myself into the ARP main and headstuds, I figure even if i blow this BP up these are items that can be re-used on another build anyways.

And I know you guys might be tired of screwbadoo content.. but I've done a few more things on her.

Did the old K&N drop in + UEL header. I got a noticeable rumble with the stock exhaust (I LOVE the way it sounds now), and noticeable torque gains especially under part throttle acceleration (where this car spends most its time anyways).



Also did a brake job, front brakes kick *** now (plus I got rid of the horrendous pulsing wheel under braking).



And my driveway is full of subarus now days. Perfect DD where I live, don't hate.



Got a few more things on the subaru list before I tackle the miata. The list looks like:

#1 get my VVL (i active) valve actuators hooked up so I can get the full power out of this motor. Right now it's stuck in "economy" mode which is excellent for part throttle acceleration and whatnot but lacks on the topend.

#2 Get the hood/roof plasti dipped, install my new grille. Should make the car look pretty decent.

#3 on the hunt for a wrx/sti exhaust, i'd like just a tiny bit more sound out of it. It sounds awesome, lol.

 

Ahh yes, the header wrap right next to/below the oil filter, thats not a fire hazard at all.

 

I'm not following

I've never had an oil filter start leaking or burst open randomly, and when you change the oil you obviously use cardboard/plastic/a bit of extra care to ensure you don't soak the header wrap in oil.

If it is seriously an issue i'd like to know.. but there are tons of subie guys with the same setup out there.

 

Its hard to not spill oil all over the header when you do the filter. You can also just get a defective oil filter oring and have that leak, its pretty rare though. You could have at least used the DEI titanium header wrap instead, it doesnt burn as badly as the old school fiberglass stuff. I found that it will still burn though, I have a nice crispy DIY turbo blanket from the miata from when I had the turbo oil feed leak.

 

Yeah, I guess I've just never had an oil filter leak after putting it on - and really if it did, it would probably be a minor leak that would drip onto the ground and not "spurt" onto the header. Under the worse possible conditions it could be a fire hazard.. but I don't think I'm too concerned about it.

The wrap really helps to keep the heat out of the engine bay and the oil filter that it's in proximity to. This IS something I'm going to keep in mind come oil change time though, so thanks.

Also, got a sweet road sign I'm turning into a skid plate, as per vlad's recommendation earlier. Should be awesome

 

Life's been good

 

Off of Juarez?
How's the mountain holding up post Blake family?

 

That's off k5 chute near the top of Kachina peak. So far so good for the mtn, but they are building another lift to access some of my favorite terrain which really kills it.

We shall see

 

The poor bastards in Sochi are dreaming of snow like that.