That is one beautiful TII S5!! And that Miata was a steal, you could part it out if you had to and make twice what you paid for it.

 

Thanks for the compliment on the RX-7. It started life as GXL, the turbo swap came in 2006 when the NA finally popped.

I plan to get this Miata back into shape by April. It is going to Deals Gap with the 7 for the annual Deals Gap Rotary Rally.

Hopefully, I will have another engine this weekend. If I have to, I will just rent a hoist!

 

Sorry guys, no news yet. I have an engine hoist at the house (courtesy of a coworker), but it has been too friggin cold out to do any work. Also, my father-in-law has yet to pick up his ATV that I repaired, so that is hogging up space for work to be done.

As soon as I can get the engine out, things will progress rather quickly. I am anxious to get this thing on the road, and the 7 needs to get back in the garage so I can reseal the oil pan.......and because that is her spot!

 

update?

 

Wow! What timing...

Speaking of timing. I have the 1.8 in the car now, all buttoned up and bolted down. But it doesn't want to start. I think the timing is way off.

Right now it backfires when attempting to start.

Any ideas?

 

Has the timing belt been off? Your cam timing could be off.

 

It would help to know what you've had apart.

 

Are your wires in the correct coils? I'm pretty sure the 1.6 and 1.8 are backwards from each other. Cyls 1/4 should come off the left coil looking from the front and 2/3 should come off the right side.

 

Figured that out at 10pm last night as I was ready to go to sleep. For some reason I out the wires on the same pattern as they came on the 1.8, forgetting that I am running 1.6 electronics.

Hopefully today after work it will start.

sixshooter: I had everything apart. Did a 1.8 swap, and a full refresh on the engine gaskets, new WP, timing components, etc.

 

watching

 

Also, I am worried that the lower radiator hose, and the heater hoses are awfully close to the header. I am going to thermal wrap them tonight.

 

Alright guys, sorry I kind of forgot about this. The motor is in (like stated before).

Figured out the starting issue, it was the firing order. Fired up the first time after that. Had a few vacuum leaks, fixed those. Had a high idle, new TB gasket took care of that.

I have been fixing dings, sanding, sanding, and more sanding in preparation for paint this week.

I only have two issues right now:
-the 1.8 header contacts the trans tunnel
-the outer heater hose is leaking where the bend is inside the cabin (up by the firewall)

The list of parts now includes:
-DDM Works ELK intake
-eBay header
-Mangaflow cat
-custom catback from local shop
-Flyin Miata 1.8 kit, various interior parts and 1.6 crossover tube
-All new gaskets and seals, tune up stuff, alternator, timing water pump.
-Moss Motors rubber shifter boot
-eBay leather shift boot (really nice actually!)

Here are some pics-

Interior (minus boot, wasn't in yet)


Underhood (dirty)


Header and Intake


Gotta love shitty Mazda white paint. Starting to have issues with my FC as well.

 

Wow! I thought the RX-7 guys were vultures!

The BEGi kit was sold along with the blown 1.6 to a local friends father. He has it installed, and it about to switch to a MS PnP instead of the AFPR.

I need to get some pics of the engine carnage from him. The old motor snapped the crank at cylinder #2, shattered the connecting rod and blew three holes in the top of the piston.

Epic.