Couple hunderd pounds give or take 20.... I just picked up a 1.8 block/crank/rods

 

Doable, although getting it into the passenger floorboard probably won't be a ton of fun without a hand.

I just recently bear hugged my long block from the loading dock to the truck bed. Not hard but I didn't actually have to lower it. The bed was roughly the same height as the dock just a few feet away.

 

I thought this thread was for power tops? You can move that bottom buddy

 

with oil pan:

 

So, I found a low mileage VVT engine for $1000. It may be time.

 

Time to invest in a real garage with hand tools and air supply.

 

I'm waiting at least 2 more years.

I have all the hand-tools necessary. Really, I have a shockingly well-stocked hand-tool set, enough for a professional mechanic.

 

Build car like professional mechanic

Win it all

Buy garage with house built on side

Now I get it. Method to the madness.

 

Can I run an OEM VVT headgasket with a coolant reroute or does that need to change?

 

You "can" but you shouldnt, defeats the purpose.

 

If the car is going on track with the junkyard motor, pull the head and swap to the 94-00 head gasket before you put the motor in.

 

Thanks. I assumed this was a bad idea, just wanted to be sure from people who had real data on this. I'm still trying to get some parts sold so I can get the engine...it doesn't look like it's going to happen this weekend.

 

I believe I would leave the oem vvt gasket in and run no reroute. KISS

EDIT: http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=350182

Originally Posted by 949racing.com
Attention 01-05 owners: Mazda changed the head gasket design for these years to restrict flow to the #1 cylinder. Not a real fix but it does allow the 01-05 to run a tiny bit cooler than the previous years. Because of this change however, the reroute could cause uneven cylinder head temps, even while improving overall cooling. For this reason, M-Tuned recommends using the 94-05 head gasket (BP26-10-271) if installing the reroute on an 01-05 USDM Miata.

 

I ran my 02 for 4 yrs turbo'd and 2yrs of it was at Hallet and 3 times at Texas Mtr sport ranch in some really hot temps and no reroute, just stock with no issues, 180* thermostat.

 

If the VVT motor was going in Hustlers street car I would agree no reroute and leave stock head gasket, but for a track car it is cheap easy insurance to make the swap.

 

Yes. Since you're going to have it out anyway, do the 94-00 head gasket, BP26-10-271, along with a reroute.

 

What kind of times were you running?

 

cause you know what they say about SM lap times.

 

 

With a stock 02 SE which scaled out with me driving at 2584# with a DD Harddog bar in it and running a stock engine with a FM/Hydra 2.5 with Jeremys basic tune, I used to run high 129's., and I would run about 10 to 12 days a season. There has been alot of debate on if the VVT motors need rerouted with their revamped flow and I never found it needed. I used to take temp readings with a gun and didn't see any need and as you know with the Oak and Texas heat and hummidity it is brutal. The car has probably seen 50track days and still was reading in the 190's comp. when I sold it.