Donnie`s 95 Overheated
 

Hello to all, I started in the nubee section :noob:, saw all the real stuff here.
So I started this thread here.
I was luckly to find a 42,000 mile, fresh , 1995 Miata M-series
for a good price. I put up to 68,000 until I blew a hose, lost coolent on the highway at 75 MPH. I as so heartbroken. So I`ve been working my way thru the engine rebuild. I started with the head, total rebuild, new HLAs, machine
shop seemed to do a great job. Without tearing the main block apart, I ran good for another 800 miles. Then the squealing started in the front lower block. I knew it was time to pull the engine. I had no knocking sounds until
I ran engine cleaner thru the oil system. Squeal went away, knocking started after I flushed out the engine and put in new oil. So, now the engine is pulled and I don`t see any abnormal wear on the crank, cylinder walls, bearings, rings, pistons, rods. Things look ok, "to me"? :cool:
So, I`m looking for tips to proceed to ensure success with my Miata rebuild.
Anyone have good pointers about the knocking? Can a bad oil pump do that?

Love the car, I wanna do the right restore job, It ran so beautiful till the OVERHEATING moment.:vash:
Thanks in advance
Don Belisle

Oh noes cross postings! Post it in 1 place mang. Also add location and more info about yourself.

I re did my nubee section intro.
So I`m about to hone the cylinders this weekend, need to figure out what to to about the crank, just curious what others have experienced past this point of the rebuild.
Don B

If you ran the thing for any amount of time with no coolant, you need a new water-pump.

Miata's are very finicky when it comes to oil. I'm curious that changing the oil caused the car to knock. Are you familiary with HLA noise? To the unfamiliar, it can sound exactly like knock.

If you're going to pull the bottom end apart, just get an OEM rebiuld kit and do the whole thing. There are a dozen or so kits out there. If you're not planning on boost, then a Topline Kit or similar is cheap and includes EVERYTHING except a new crank and rods.

Thanks. i would have been here earlier but was putting the crossmember back on the miata this morning. I ran to the local AZ store ordered complete rings, pistons, bearing kits, gasket kit, new oil pump too. I`m on my 3rd water pump, I didn`t trust the squeal on #2, so I have a brand new one - it didin`t make any difference. Sounds like from what I`ve been reading , I`ll take the crank to an expert, check balance and wear.
I guess I`ll just do the usual engine recon, looks like here, everyone does a lot of TURBOing mods to their Miata`s. COOL
Don Belisle