18psi

iTrader: (76)

kewl hawnduh bro

but yeah, I also learned the hard way on my many RSX-S's that uber lower vtaks switchover isn't always uber mad jdm tyte like some people want to think it is

that's a huge dip you got rid of, and gaining torque on a torqueless car is a big plus

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Wow, i can't believe you found a stock 2 door in that condition. Did you build the car, or buy it with the b16 swap? That's a great daily if you live in the city, imho.

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

BUILT

not BOUGHT

The car was an automatic EX, originally owned by American Honda as a manager "company" car. The guy I bought it from bought it from American Honda and he and his wife used it as a commuter for 10+ years. They aren't really car people but they took good enough care of it. It's been in Ohio it's whole life but it's surprisingly rust free (at least for a mid-west car).

Anyway, his daughter was using it as her college car and she kept ignoring the OIL PRESSURE light, figuring daddy would just get the oil changed the next time she was back home.

Long story short, rod went through block, I purchased car for cheap.

I bought the engine and trans from one of the race teams I work with. It has a Mugen Type-R diff, which is a bit obnoxious for a DD...


All in all I have less than $2000 in it, and I have a full H&R suspension, sway-bars, wheels, etc. etc. waiting in the corner of the garage for it.

It should be a pretty good track car / TT car all said and done, but for now it's my cruddy little DD (coming from Suby FXT goodness DD).

Honestly, it is a pretty good little daily even if my wife loathes it. This is the first proper VTEC powered car I've owned even though I've worked for Honda R&D for almost six years. That said, I'm not a huge old skool Honda fanboi. The car does sing pretty good above 6000rpms though, I guess I can see the appeal 10+ years ago...

Long term plan is probably to sell it to some silly Honda fanboi and make $$$ off of it...

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Don't worry, I'm still alive.

Since posting last I quit my job, got a new job, moved to North Carolina, sold a house, bought a house, etc etc.

Miata project has been put on hold for life events...

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

So "not an update" update forthcoming.

I close on the sale of my house in Ohio this Friday. Movers and the moving truck are coming Thursday to load all my sh?t up and take it to storage. I close on my new (to me) house in Waxhaw, NC on June 26th. I'll be in temporary corporate housing (ie no garage) until then.

Miata engine build was unfortunately interrupted by moving cross country. All of the old and new engine parts were haphazardly packed in two or three different boxes so I'm sure finding all that stuff when I'm ready for it is going to frustrating.

On a good note, the new house has a much bigger garage and there's a perfect spot on the property for a 30'x30' or 30'x40' shop. Yay! :-)

Also, since Union county NC is lame, I now have to have my cars emissions tested. That is completely alien to me. Pre-obd II cars do not have to be tested/inspected so I might just sell my 96 and look for a 94-95 instead. I never really liked the car anyway. Problem is it has a dented door, dented fender, suspect head gasket amongst other issues. I wonder how much $$$ I'd be losing by selling it as is...

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Final (maybe) not update UPDATE:

I'm very close to being ready to begin work on the motor again. I'm still in the process of cleaning, organizing and unpacking my garage after moving. The garage is getting better every day but it's still pretty cluttered and there is still a few boxes to unpack.

On July 29th some South Carolina hilljacks are coming to build me a shed which will greatly improve the working conditions in the garage. Currently there are two lawn mowers, two 50cc pit bikes, and about 30 wheels and tires taking up precious floor space in the garage. After the shed is constructed I can move those items and have aproper space to work on cars and motors and such.

So, worst case I should be able to get some work done by Aug. 4th, which would mean moving from Ohio to North Carolina only caused a 4 month delay...

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Nice man, my engine build has been on hold as well. Burnt myself out working on cars and giving it a break, doing a lot of mountain biking instead.

Looking back through the last page of your build makes me want to get out to the garage though, so soon...

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

So I finally unwrapped the engine last night to continue on this disaster. I went to install the oil pump and naturally I didn't have the necessary o-ring to install.



So I ordered two. One from Rosenthal, and one of the viton 4 piece kits from Miataroadster. We'll see which one gets here first, I'm betting on Rosenthal...

Anyway, it's really frustrating when a $2 part delays your build.

No pictures of this fael parade, but how about a few of the tire/wheel rack I built on my new shed? As of right now I have ~30 wheels and tires so finding room for them all is a challenge. Because racecars

Doh...NM uploading from phone isn't working, I'll post some later.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

Luke what manifold and downpipe are you going with for the EFR?

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

If and when I finally get the EFR installed it will be with my homemade log manifold and I'll build a down pipe for it.

There's a picture of the manifold in the first post of this thread

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I will get in contact with you later about the setup, I might have a better option in the near future for you.

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Ok long overdue pictures of my shed project.

Building a tire rack in my 8x12 shed because I have TOO MUCH STUFF! Total cost was about $10 in wood and maybe $2-3 in screws.


Shed started out like this:




And then I added some 2x3s




And then a few more 2x3s



And then put ~9 225 tires on the rack



And then repacked the shed full of TOO MUCH STUFF




And then I spend entirely too much time working on my POS stupid awful Troy Bilt Pony craptard lawnmower...

Junior mechanic hard at work trying to figure out Troy Bilt's "Engineering"

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

So the above post actually took place a week ago or so.

Tonight

PROGRESS

though not much.

Finally, after 4+ months I did some work on the engine.

Installed the oil pump.






Wanted to install the oil pan too but it still needs a good washing which was going to take too long...

Hopefully the next delay is shorter than 4 months.

Jeffbucc

My god that engine is so clean and perfect...I had an OCD boner...until I saw the bolts!

Seriously good work though man, anytime spent doing a little work is a little less time you have to do in the future. No rush, no hurry.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Clean? Do you see that sloppy *** masking job he did on the oil filter boss?! Got to get all that point off that machined surface before you can put that stuff back on.

Jeffbucc

I mean, general overall cleanliness. He will obviously clean that up right!

(I honestly didn't notice that at all...)

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Well if Jeff thinks it's clean, who am I to argue...

And yes I did a not so great job of masking some of the surfaces when painting the block.

Unfortunately, I have neither the time nor patience to clean all the bolts, so the engine will mostly go back together with cruddy looking hardware. I'm not badass enough to send out all the bolts for professional re-plating

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Dirty oil pan installed, sorry Jeff. Actually, it looks dirty, but I've cleaned this darn thing inside and out about four times. I was thinking I might paint it but, meh, paint on raw aluminum casting is...?

Also, while installing the oil pan I managed to explode my tube of Hondabond...which makes me very sad. I love me some Hondabond and now I have none.






Those of you with sharp eyes will notice I cleaned up some paint overspray on some of the sealing services. Thank you Leafy for pointing it out!


All wrapped up for the night (these were taken a couple nights ago).





I'm going to install the water pump now, and hopefully get some time later today to work on installing the head. Going to be re-using stock head bolts and shooting for 300+ whp. I will be the guinea pig

Little by little, we're getting closer to having a buttoned up engine.

Jeffbucc

Dude it took me forever to clean/wire wheel the oil pan. Given the choice I'd just clean the oil off it any put it on as you did. Truly was a bitch to make look pretty.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Arent stock head bolts single use only and thats why we all just end up with ARP studs?