The motor, drivetrain,and front/rear subframes are out of my car. Does anyone have any suggestions what I should do while they are out. I know some of y'all think, "if only my motor was out I could do this, or I could do that". What would the this and that be?

For example: Seam welding, install better motor mounts, diff mounts and so on.


Stuff on my list:
Paint bay?
Diff bushings. Done, MazdaSpeed.
Suspension bushings. Done.
Motor mounts. Done, MazdaSpeed/solid hydrid.
Wire tuck.
Coolant reroute. Done.
Weld seams.
DEI trans tunnel and foot well.
Sandblast and paint all parts. Done.
Paint motor. Done.
All new seals. Done.

 

sandblast and powdercoat frames and control arms, fresh bushings everywhere, motor and diff mounts

 

start cleaning like a ****!

 

Are you welding the bung to the oil pan? How about rear main seal?

I think I'm going the same route as you. Keep us updated.

 

ALL BELTS. Even if you changed them like 30 or 40k miles ago it's just so easy with the engine out. All seals. All gaskets. Everything that is hard to reach. CAS seal. And clean it like a ************.

 

Clean and apply undercoating.
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Seam welding... do it. It takes bloody freaking forever (cleaning the areas to be welded), but it is well worth it. I seam welded along the firewall, around the shock towers and the support that goes between the frame rails in the front. I also did the typical places in the cabin. It makes a huge difference. No more shakes and rattles over bumps. Oh, and buy a case of brake parts cleaner and simple green.

 

Buy all the poly bushings you can afford
DEI Tunnel Mat on the driver foot well.
Clean all grounds
Paint the area under the master cylinder.
paint everything white or light gray

 

Convert to manual steering? Although I don't think it's that hard with the engine still in. Coolant reroute for sure. You can do it with the engine in, although mine had a very small leak until I took the engine out, and properly cleaned and torqued the neck.

 

Why?

 

so problems are easier to spot, like oil or coolante leaks!

 

Are you talking about the turbo drain. If so I didn't thing of that, good idea.

 

To what?

 

to the underside of the chassis! it helps prevent rust!

 

 

This might sound retarded, but i did an experiment. If you wax the painted surfaces in your engine bay it will protect them and make them easier to clean. This was just on my fender though. It is paint just like the rest of the car though.

 

While mine was out I added the M-Tuned coolant reroute, did all front/rear engine seals, throw out bearing/pilot bearing and changed out all the small coolant hoses under the intake manifold.

 

My advice on what I would do if I were in your position:

Install the subframes
Install the drivetrain

Driving your car without either = epic fail. Ask me how I know