Workshop manual for '99 (?!)
 

The Mazda manual that I have for my '92 is wonderful. It gives complete instructions and specs for a total engine rebuild. Little stuff like the standard diameter and wear limit of a valve stem, oil clearances for the bearings, fastener torques and sequences, how to rebuild an oil pump, etc.

The electronic version of the '99 manual that I have, by comparison, is a joke. It spends 160 pages talking about OBD-II codes and basic troubleshooting, but pays no attention whatsoever to actually assembling an engine. The whole "Engine, Mechanical" section is 18 pages, and tells me how to adjust valve clearance, replace the belts, change the head gasket, etc. But nothing at all about the bottom end.

Where the heck can I find a proper workshop manual for the '99 that actually tells me how to put together the damn engine?

Is the one you have for the 99 the 1661 page version?

I have one which is 739 pages, entitled "1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Workshop Manual" and one which is 736 pages that appears to be the same thing, minus the first couple of pages, and is identified only by filename as being for '99-'00.

I'm more than happy to pony up the $99 to buy the official printed version from Rosenthal, so long as I'm not buying the same content-free piece of shit that I've got in PDF form.

That's about the only version I've been able to find as well. The bigger one is just adds in a 6 speed supplement, service highlights, wiring diagrams, body shop manual, training manual and a parts catalog. Like you were saying though, nothing in depth. My 01 printed version from Rosenthal wasn't any better either.

So what the hell? Are folks with NB's expected to just buy crate engines?

I assume that the mechanical specs are identical to the '94-'97 engines. Anybody know if those manuals contain detailed rebuild specs?

Same thing here with the pitiful engine section in the printed version. I ended up buying the crappy Haynes manual for the 94-97 for torque specs and clearances.

Yes. Paradigm shift in philosophy by Mazda corporate. Why sell pistons and bearings when you can sell longblocks instead?
I'd look at Rod's Enthusiasts Manual. The one I have is for 1.6, but it's every bit as detailed as the 1.6 FSM--if not more so.