WTF happened to my car?!?! Loud top end noise?
 

Ok so attempted to install my turbo set-up this past weekend. Manifold was wrong, so I put everything back to stock. I never even unplugges the stock ECU before putting the stock stuff back on. CAS was never touched.

The only things I took off/ put back on were...

-Injectors
-Drained Oil (Topped off before attempting to start)
-All exhaust parts
-All intake parts


WTF could have happened here?!?! Is this just a crazy coincidence? I seriously doubt it... Any ideas?

Holy shit that's a fucked motor.

You sure you didn't remove the spark plugs and drop something in? Are you sure you reinstalled your oil drain plug? You can't fuck up a motor by removing the exhaust and putting it back on. Was something dropped while the exhaust manifold was off?

Sort of sounds like very bad lifter tick, but I could be completely wrong.

sounds like dead motor tick.

It started normal yesterday but had a leaking Injector o ring. I replaced that today and at first it clicked like a dead battery would. Put a jump box on it and it still wouldn't turn over. I moved the crank with a breaker bar and the motor was free. Then I tried again and it started but ran like this.

Spark plugs were never pulled... Didn't drop anything in the intake or exhaust that I know of... Wasn't missing any nuts /bolts either.

So the motor was jammed somehow?

I think I'd pull the head for further inspection at this point.

Yeah the motor might have felt a little jammed but I didn't have to force it that hard when I had the breaker bar... Does that sound like something could have fell in the motor?

Put a fork in her, Brian. :(


Time for a 1.8 swap to use your manifold anyways.

I'm going to look for a motor.... Whatever I find first goes in. This really sucks I can't believe all this right now

The NJ Miata Mafia should be able to help you find a motor.

But wait how did it start yesterday and run perfectly and quiet ?!?! Something not adding up. It started and ran normal it just had a leaking Injector. This morning I got new o rings, replaced them and put the injectors back in and bam... Noise.

And yeah I have a post on new Jersey miatas

did you put oil back in it?

Absolutely.

Have you pulled the spark plugs yet?

I'd re-check the oil level too. And what's all that smoke?

The smoke seemed like a normal amount for touching the header with your greasy hands.

Did you drop an injector part down into the intake manifold, and subsequently, your motor?

Pulled plugs earlier but didn't see anything in the cylinders. My stock injectors still had all pieces in tact. My fic injectors still have all the pieces.... So I don't think I lost any Injector parts

The smoke is from penetrating oil burning off

Also I did double and triple check the oil level... It's right at the F mark on the dipstick

$10 says you dropped something into the motor.

That's my best guess at this point also

Your car is telling you to go 1.8.


Sorry dude, that really sucks.

Did some fishing with a small magnet through the spark plug holes.... nothing metal in the cylinders and I dont feel/ hear anything moving around while I was fishing around in any of the cylinders. I'm about the pull the injectors back out I wonder if one of the stock injectors fell apart

What if I just swapped on a different head? I found a 1.6 head (Currently still on a motor in a car) That I can grab for $50.... Thinking about grabbing it and throwing it on with a new head gasket. I really dont want to pull his whole motor because:

a.) It has more miles than mine
b.) He doesn't own a cherry picker and I dont feel like pulling his motor, and than pulling my motor. It would be so much easier to just swap heads...
c.) $50 Vs $100 for the whole motor (Yeah I know $100 is dirt cheap but still...)

Take the valve cover off.

Shuiend would probably give you a spare head for free + shipping. I think it's more than a head issue.

Pull head, inspect for shits/grins. End up buying a 1.8L motor because you already have a baller manifold in hand for one and profit.

yup

So everything I have for a 1.6 (ms, injectors, etc..) that will all go right on a 1.8 correct?

pretty much. if you get a BP05. BP4W would require a few changes to the wiring/sensors.

Might grab one tomorrow...


bp-ze miata engine & manual rwd 5spd transmssion jdm pbze - JDM Engine Depot

Its making oil pressure, yes?

1.6 -> 1.8 really is not all that bad because you already have the Megasquirt. There are a couple sensors that might get fiddly (I believe the 1.6 has more temp sensors or something?) The BPZE in your post will have different crank and cam sensors, and you will also have to figure out the variable TPS for the TB, but that's a good thing. Make sure to grab the real oil pressure sender off the dead 1.6, that ZE probably won't have it.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407285619

If the pictures in that post are the actual motor you are buying, and if you are really fucking lucky and its not a knock-off, that header might be one of the JDM Maxim Works unobtanium headers that sell for $1,000+ new, and maybe 75% of that used. I'm not super good at identifying these things. I wouldn't mention it to those guys :giggle:

Haha I really doubt it's the exact motor shown there...

But yeah my 1.6 is making oil pressure I did verify that on my gauge

It doesn't sound like an HLA, but you could try adding a couple quarts of ATF to the oil. Maybe drain some oil first. :party: Let it idle for 20 or 30 minutes. What have you got to lose?

I've seen that quiet an apparently collapsed lifter. 100 miles with more ATF, fresh oil and fresh filter completely cured it. The motor was quieter and smoother than before the incident.

Again, what have you got to lose other than a few buck worth of ATF?

Wow, that sucks. And i imagine what you are feelign since the engine was fine.

But please move on to 1.8. You will never regret it , only if you don´t do it :rofl:


I pulled my 1.6 with the excuse to replace a Alternator…never went in again! And if you already have a manifold for the 1.8…:drool:

whatever is left of his bottom end

Thinking about parting out my setup, throwing another 1.6 in the car and selling it and using the $$ for a down payment on something new. I want/ need a reliable car and honestly im tired of the BS. I might be looking at a Focus ST.

Come on man, you are so close! Don't throw in the towel quite yet, pull the head and see what you are up against first.

Is this your only car or just a fun project? If it's your only, and if you habe the ability to do so, i highly recommend you get something else to "just drive" while the miata is down. A boosted miata is the most fun you can have legally, in public, with your pants on. If you do a bunch of work and sell it off, you will regret it. You are much better positioned than most of the other guys on this forum when it's comes to a 1.6 -> 1.8 swap. Hell, you already have a super bitchen manifold and (I assume) downpipe to go with the swap, a megasquirt, injectors, etc so it's not like you have to re - buy all that stuff. Projects like this have ups and downs and this is a pretty solid down. But it's not the end of the world. We know you can swap a motor, we've seen you do it.

Ultimately it's up to you because you have a better idea of your avaliable time and financial situation than we do, but I'd hate to see someone give up on something like this.

Appreciate that! Definitely some things to consider. I'm going to sleep on it for a week before I make any decisions I'll regret.

Thankfully I manage a car rental company so I have been driving a nice 2013 focus with a/c on blast and loving every minute of it lol

Well shoot. If that's the case, then this is your opportunity to tear it down and really build it up right!

BTMiata did you buy a 1.8 manifold and downpipe form Abe on accident or what? Honestly with a SNC 1.6 and already having a 1.8 manifold, ms and injectors, the 1.8 swap is the most logical thing to do.

No he made a mistake and used a 1.8 flange by accident.... Yeah if I end up keeping the car / setup I will swap in a 1.8. Actually I'll probably swap in a 1.8 either way because everyone knows it's the more desirable motor... It would probably be easier to sell if it has the 1.8

NOW you're talkin :party:

You're only saying that because you know once I have a 1.8 in the car the turbo setup will go in... -__- lol

Everybody wins.

Is $900 too much to pay for a 1.8 with everything on it (Manifolds, all accessories, cas, etc) ????

900 is a great price for a bp6d
900 is an ok price for a bp4w
900 is a bad price for a bp05

Unless this thing is uber low mileage and mint condition, IMO that's expensive. Last time I was shopping, I saw bp05's for 450-550 everywehre.

Its a bp05 with 114K miles. Good compression #'s and its still running in the car, he is sending a video. I can't find a 1.8 for the life of me over here in NJ... Not sure if there are just more available on the west coast or what :o

I was thinking I'd offer him $800. Its all the way up in CT so a ~3hr drive from south jersey

BP05 for $800? Fuck that shit.

I bought my bp4w for $400... i know it was a pretty good deal but I could have bought 05's for days at 400-500 as well. I can get a kia sephia (1.8 with a little different dressing) long block for 300 all day from the salvage yard.

Location, Location, Location. I would not pay $800-900 for a 94-97 engine. I know a good friend of mine picked up a VVT motor for about $800 shipped off ebay a few years ago.

+1 on just getting the 1.8.

Its really consistent in its frequency. Does sound like a really horrible lifter tick. When a crank pulley came apart on me once it actually sounded sort of like that. Is there anything wonky on the belt side of things? I once found a 10MM socket wedged into my belts that had done basically no damage and I am pretty sure it was in there for like 1000 miles. Funny stuff happens in an engine bay.

I spent this morning tinkering with the car between customers here at the store. Cylinder 3 looks wet when I looked down through the spark plug holes (This is the cylinder where I had the leaking injector o-ring) ... The spark plug smells like gas. Also the oil smells like gas for some reason. I took the injectors all out and nothing looks out of whack..

I also looked around in the belts and nothing out of place or jammed in a pulley or anything..

Compression test or bust.

Found 2 motors at a yard near me.

89k - $850
120k - $750

Both come with everything except accessories, but all I need for the swap is an alternator anyway.

Might be able to get either of them cheaper if I flash some cash at them.

News on the 1.6... Let it run for 15-20 mins... Not much change in noise. Its def blowed up and at this point IDGAF right now about what happened to it... It's done and that's that. Maybe I'll get curious one day and break it apart before dragging it to the scrap yard next door...

That's understandable, but I do hope you open it up at some point and solve the mystery. I'd really like to know what went wrong, so I can avoid that problem in the future. Subscribed just in case :)

Why don´t you use the 1.6 Cranckshaft Pulley and use the 1.6 Alternator?

That´s what i have done on my car.

I have a shortnose crank pulley