Maybe test the chrome...it might be interesting.

The gold worked because it's really just a superfine metallic, it doesn't really look like the cap, the cap shows it as being shiny like chrome/gold.

The clear's expensive but worth it...it's also supposed to be fuel/oil/chemical resistant, and that's what sold me.

I don't know what to do about my motor. Every time I try to price out a DIY budget build, I come too close to what it would cost to buy from somebody else...and yeah, it gets pricey quick.

Bird

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330407205
Bottom end assembled. Just have torque the connecting rod bolts (which idiot put imperial bolts on these?!)

I also went ahead and bought a mazdaspeed 6 speed. Drove 500 miles round trip to pick it up. Worth it. And tomorrow I'm trading my 4.3 torsen for a 3.9 torsen. Straight up trade so I'm happy like a cat.

I painted the block and just threw it all together real quick.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330744541

how do you like the speed6? My neighbor bought one and I've always liked them, a hellofva deal, but I think I'm going with a speed3.

at first I was like wat.
but then I realized.

"mazdaspeed 6 speed" = 6 speed transmission from a mazdaspeed miata. not the mazdaspeed6 CAR, lol

Nice work, makes me feel so unaccomplished after seeing your subframe assy sitting on the floor. You should really do the sitting-on-milk-crate-pretending-to-drive pic, it's required.

Why don't you have air tools for the amount of work you're doing?

Because I'm strong like a bear.

I work on this pretty much every day I'm not drinking. I didn't post a lot of pics but the subframes have been painted and are all pretty now.

Hey, Soviet, did you bother to balance the internals? If not, why didn't you?

He assembled the motor with a 20 dollar torque wrench, I'm sure balancing wasn't a priority.

Leonid :fawk:

Yeah, debating on building an engine as cheap as possible myself, trying to pick people's brains (Like soviet's!) for info on doing it.

he shares a wrench with the rest of his village, that's how it works.

Nope, didn't bother. I wanted a bottom end that just can support power, not a state of the art magical engine. I don't even know how much it would cost.

And a $50 micrometer and $3 plastigage. Your point? Maybe your hands just grow from your ass :)

For reference, I used a beam-type torque wrench. Old-fashioned, cheap, works great.

Sorry for the incessant questioning, but why? Are you not concerned about the longevity issues I've heard about from not balancing? Trying to get as much detail as I can out of you on this!

The only machine work I got was bore/hone ($30/cyl), and machine flat both block and head ($70 and $60). And $70 hot tank. All in all it was $320.

The only thing I would do differently is get an extra set of rings to practice filing (e.g. get 5 sets of rings). I filed one ring more than I needed. I put it in another cylinder and the gap was good, but still....

I am concerned about a lot of things! Too many!!! Are the journals too loose? Did the machine shop do the right piston/wall clearance? Did I clean it through? There are like 90 million things I worried about it :giggle:

Basically, IMO, if balancing will give you a piece of mind, do it. Personally it didn't even cross my mind. I didn't even weigh the piston/rod assemblies although probably should have.

Try to remember that we have a drunk posting thread and that this is not the random post thread. Keep it related to the build.

So a friend of mine came over to fix his exhaust leak. Apparently 94 midpipe from JDM ebay motor is exactly same as 1.6 midpipe but with a o2 bung.

Then we cleaned the garage and pulled the motor. This afternoon I started stripping and cleaning the donor car. I'll clean up some more tonight but basically making good progress. Also dragged the old shell out to the driveway. I have a leet mazda car cover so neighbors won't be scared by the ugliness of the old shell.

Anyways, pictars.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330901550
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330901550
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330901550
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330901550
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330901550
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330901550

Sorry for LE HUGE pics but I'm at work and that's all I have.

Anyways, yesterday I primered and painted the engine bay. I used pretty much the same approach as TheBirdmanJD in his thread. Except I didn't sand anything because I'm lazy and the paint is Duplicolor CS101 chrome. So yeah, chrome engine bay :giggle:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1331133989

Then the kicker - my EFR setup arrived yesterday. That's right, EFR. I bought the wittyworks setup, along with ID1000 injectors. It's beautiful and comes with 2 wastegates - low boost and high boost. Thanks to Evan with clearly labeling it with "ALL OF IT", lol.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1331133989

I have to clear coat the engine bay, tap the oil pan for my new -8AN oil drain and then assemble this bitch.

The chrome looks nice! You're bumming me out with how quick you're moving though...I feel like I'm at a standstill.

Baller status achieved. lol @ ALL OF IT wastegate!

Leonid, details on baller timing belt kit with black idlers, por favor