Yeah, I haven't been able to do much useful with it yet. OTOH, it's somewhat inconclusive, because I haven't figured out the pinging yet.

--Ian

 

Ok, **** my life. I just found a Metric to Inches unit conversion error in the engine FSM with regards to valve clearances.

I'll take a picture once I stop crying.

 

Dear lord, why are none of my calculations come out correctly?



Probably because 0.12 mm ≠ 0.0111 in

It does not gain me anything, but it was enough to make me scratch my head and doubt everything for about 5 minutes.

I may take you up on this, thank you for the offer! I'll PM you what I'm looking for and we'll see if we can make something match up

 

Hm. So which is correct?

--Ian

 

The metric is correct as far as I can tell. The actual spec for the intake is 0.0083 ±0.0011 as called out in every other location in this manual, or any other manual I downloaded in the last half hour or so.

 

Need a hand this weekend? I have no plans.

 

Sure! More hands the merrier! I need to get the shim thing worked out, and of course I'll have to buy more beer

 

The metric units are the native design dimensions. The English units contain conversion/roundoff errors. 1 inch = 25.4mm (exactly).

 

That was heavier than expected.


The fun part about this image is that you can aaaaaaaallmost read the headstamp from the bolt.

As you can see, I am strong and fuzzy just like bear. Rawr. (honestly, I won't be doing that again without a hoist)

 

You need to get some sun.

 

Wow I know that's a heavy assembly! I bet that sucked! I carried my shortblock only and it was pretty damn heavy.... I would guess that assembly you lifted is over 200 lbs... I think the shortblock is around 150.

Did you hear back anything about the shim issue?

Side note- motor looks pretty!

 

assembled long block is right around 300 undressed

 

What's a shortblock weigh?

 

Thats the underside of my arm. Genetically I'm half Portuguese half "various european white" (Grandpas description, lol) so if I get any sun at all end up with a very olive skin tone, its tough to explain. My Dad looks like he's Mexican and made out of old leather after decades of working outdoors Right now I have a glorious farmers tan because I work at a desk.
It weights exactly this much:

Yep! I found another set of feelers that has 0.0005 graduations and yes, you can add .0005 to nearly all those measurements. I suspect its even more on most of them. It is on the tight end of the spec and I ordered a couple shims to take care of the ones that are way out. Doing a bit of digging it looks like the Spec Miata guys run these motors even tighter to try to fake a couple extra degrees of duration out of the cams. While this is not a SM motor and while I don't usually condone copying things they do, it does not appear to destroy things. I am going to run it through the break-in naturally aspirated and see where things end up. Once it settles in and before I install the turbo I'll go though and reshim back closer to OEM. If my budget will allow I might even go SUBs. Maybe. Probably not though I can dream.
Thanks! I wasn't sold on the color initially, but I've gotten used to it. IIRC its VHT SP997 "Nu-Cast Cast Iron." It ended up being a lot more gold than I was expecting. I'd like to touch up a couple places where its a little thin, but it'll probably be fine.
That sounds about right. My highly calibrated spine registers it as weighting "too much." Also, there is also an intake manifold on the back of that thing
"too much" minus head

 

<br />
<br />Do you even own a Miata?
<br />
<br />Where are my mail kittens.

 

FWIW, Ryan G runs his oil feed through the opening behind the cam plate without issue. It is a clean way to route it.

 

Sweet, thanks Six. I'll go hustle his build thread and see if I can find some pics.

 

It has begun.

I dropped the engine off at Gesso's place last night, tonights task will be to put the Miata back together so I can drive it up to his place tomorrow and tear it apart again.

Still no tracking number on the shims. I'm somewhat nervous about this detail.

 

Am I missing something or do you tear apart your car every weekend to do 1...thing...at....a.....time?

LOL

Need to change an exhaust bushing?
tear whole car apart down to the tub

Need to test fit a lug nut?
tear whole car apart down to the tub

need to try a new shift ****?
tear whole car apart down to the tub

 

All that tearing down to the tub helps you get it done in 2 hours flat!