I'm still laughing, and yes this thread delivered.

If it ran, and you actually went back out and boosted 21+psi on it like that, again, I'd buy plane ticket and fly down there JUST to give you props in person

:brain:

Was discussing this atrocity with my brother: If only I had stumbled upon some free forged rods and pistons to throw in, bought new bearings and an engine diaper it would've ended up on a dyno for more 21+psi pulls until it either produced beyond what I wanted to pay for on the dyno or blew up.. That would've been magazine material!

You know, if the crank isn't too badly damaged (it only ran for a few seconds knocking) I might replace the bearings, oil pump gasket, clean the oil pump and try again... hahahahaha!


Wondering if maybe not replacing that stupid paper gasket between the oil pump and pickup tube might have contributed to the failure. Still haven't pulled it apart to inspect, busy painting the newly sheetrocked basement.

Here we go again!

Before obtaining the '96 engine I got from FRT_FUN (the recent one that blew up.. :sadwavey:) I was working over another '96 engine I got off Craigslist in 2005 to have "just in case" that sat in my garage until March 2012 when I finally decided to look into it. Turns out that engine was seized up and wouldn't rotate, so this is what I found after pulling it apart:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1376113325

Not good. The rings slightly rusted to the cylinder walls, but overall condition was good for the most part. No scoring, could still see some cross hatch in a few places through the glazing. Picked up a ball hone and ran through all the cylinders and this is what we ended up with:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1376113325

Looking good so far, now for the rest:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1376113325

Now that the cylinder walls are in perfect condition it's time to measure things out:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1376113325

I don't believe this motor had very many miles on it when it was obtained. Next step was to order rings and that's where we ran into problems. No place in town it seemed could you obtain rings for STOCK bore size, even had some issues online. Didn't look hard enough:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1376113325


So theoretically, $110 and I'll have a good shortblock again. I hope.


Yeah, I'm one stubborn son of a bitch.. :party:

If ever there was a block screaming to be hot tanked.

Seeing those photo's on page 2 made my heart sink, seeing your undying attempts to do this your own way is inspirational... I'm not sure I should be encouraging you but what the heck...

Good luck!