^ I plan on sacrificing my Rivals to the tire gods for some RS3s. Dual burnout videos hornet.

Sucks about the valves man, you just got it back too!

 

@jeffbucc, off topic but:
I was watching an F1 documentary on the new tires and tire development... and one of those transition screens had the info that 24,000 tires (IIRC) were used in the 2013 season. How unreal is that.

 

You'll first notice it if your idle is rough. Typically, when you really hurt something, idle will roughen because of the lack of static compression. As you rev, it will smooth out as dynamic compression takes over. If you have a bunch of blowby, you've hurt the piston sealing. Otherwise, likely the valve train. Confirm with compression and leakdown tests.

So, if your idle is smooth, I'd say you are a lucky bastard!!

Haha!!

 

Careful about that. The RS3s are great in the heat. Not so much when it cools off. That's where the Rivals do well. You may burn up your cool weather tires and switch to hot weather tires just in time for the seasons to change.

RS3 Gen II might be different though.

 

It really sucks to hear about dem valves, BUT, in a way I'm kind of happy because this thread will have some awesome updates soon

Seriously though, sorry to hear it sir. Looks like the car is a real demon on the track.

 

Dual valve spring kit on order from Emilio. I'll be pulling the head over the next couple of evenings. Stay tuned for intake valve carnage!

 

In no time it will be running again

 

Just decided to get on MT to see what you found out about your rough idle, looks like your thoughts about the valves were correct, unfortunately! Too bad I didn't get a chance to ride in your car at Hallett!

So, new valves and valvesprings? Sounds like a good reason to post plenty of pics!

Speaking of pics, I'll be making a thread titled something like "Dustin's 10 year plan for making a Dual Duty Track car" so I can show off pics from my first track day.

Yes, this will include the photo of my first off track excursion!

 

About time you posted up. Hey, everybody, Dustin went to Hallett and had his first track driving experience. He also introduced us all to his lovely wife. She's a sweetheart, take good care of her Dustin.

I should have been taking some pics, sorry guys. But here's the update:

-Head is off.

-Cylinders and pistons look great. Beautiful cross-hatching, no signs of det.

-Measured valve lash on the head. Exhaust valves are fine. EVERY SINGLE intake valve is stretched to the point that I couldn't measure lash. If you're gonna' do it, do it right!

-As I was tearing down the head, found the cam caps and saddles were scored. Intake side damage was slight, but exhaust side damage was bad enough to require machine work. The cam journals (especially exhaust cam at the E-3 cap position) were rough. It would seem that the machine shop didn't do a good enough cleaning job before assembling the head. Took the head back to the shop and, after mic'ing the cams, they requested that I furnish a different exhaust cam.

-Hope to have all parts in hand for the head rebuild Friday. That would be valve springs and seals from Emilio and a new exhaust cam from Mazdaspeed. Machine shop should deliver the refurbished head (with new intake valves) on Monday and I'll re-assemble.

Next track event is 9/27-28! Should be ready just in time.

 

Wow, you move quick! Glad to hear it's only valves.

 

Some pictures from Hallett. It was fun running out there with fellow Miataheads.







Update on the head. When disassembled, all the intake valve faces were extremely worn -- to the point that there was no valve lash. Basically, they looked like this:



The valves weren't otherwise damaged, no stretching or bending. Machine shop doesn't know what could have caused them to wear so quickly. In any case, head is being put back together with Supertech dual springs/Ti retainers and Supertech valves on the intake side. The exhaust valves were fine. I'll be getting the head back today or tomorrow.

Makes me nervous that we don't really know the wear mechanism. Obviously, I haven't been easy on the engine, but temperatures have always been in good control. I did have a few mechanical overrevs, but I thought that would cause stretching/bending, not accelerated face wear. ???

 

So, I've now got a 100% Supertech valvetrain. Valves, dual valve springs, retainers, valve guide seals. Compression is back. Engine is happy and revvy. I would have taken pictures, but heck, it was just a simple head job (this last sentence might be quotable). Sealing the MLS gasket turned out to be a non-issue as the surfaces were in good shape.

Did the TDE event at MSR this last weekend. Yellow group. This is a fun vid . . . I'm chasing my friend Paul (Orange Lotus Exige) through all kinds of traffic. I just catch him at the end. That was the funnest session for me:

This is my current PB on the 1.7 going CW (1:30.05). Nearly 3 seconds off my CCW pace. Need to work on that.

All in all, fun weekend.

 

And done. Thanks for the new sig quote. Glad to see Honey Badger back on the track.

 

Haha! Happy to contribute.

 

Got back out to the track today. A couple of interesting vids:

We're still on a warmup lap. Spec 944 in front of me misjudged Rattlesnake just a bit and paid a hefty price. Fortunately the engine was OK, but he's looking for an oil pan. Apparently, oil pans are a PITA to replace on these. What a bummer.
Later that same session . . . Had a pretty good lap going but missed my downshift going into Wagon Wheel. Had a nice spin but stayed on track. Laughed it off!

New PB on the 1.7CW. 1:29.734 (including some traffic).

 

nice vids

 

Vid from a couple of weeks ago. Cool three laps that includes a bit of open running, an MX-5 cup car spinning in front of me and having to school an SVT Mustang:


This car has really settled in. All I'm doing now is basic maintenance/upkeep and driving the snot out of it. Eyeballing the V8 Roadster LFX conversion though . . . .

 

That track looks like a total riot. Jelly. nice driving! Car looks really strong and solid.

 

Sounds like you're satisfying the original purpose of the car.

Build thread #4?

And yeah, I'm jealous you have a bulletproof track beater.

 

Yes...do the things.