rodan

I keep forgetting that you have an NB now... yeah, with OBD-II, it could be a problem.

If you're going to pick up another manifold, just get a VICS manifold off a 99-00. It's supposed to make a little better power than the the VTCS, but not quite as good as a flat top. Don't think a typical smog guy would know the difference... It's pretty easy to delete. Took about 5 minutes to pull the rod/plates, just need to tap the hole tomorrow and pick up a plug.

Stripped the manifolds and motor mounts off today. Overall, looks pretty clean, though I'll get a better idea when the valve cover comes off. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_9516_zpskmshuox6.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_9517_zpsoyj6vr9e.jpg Also fit up the '99 fuel rail with the 1.6 FPR. Took a bit of grinding on the intake to clear, but it looks good to go. Also deleted the VTCS. It'll get all new injector o-rings, etc. before it all goes together. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_9514_zpsdssxlnap.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_9515_zpszlazxso4.jpg Planning to order the MS3 tomorrow...

I swapped in a 4.10 Torsen a couple of years back, so that's good to go. My plan is for MS3 w/MS3x expansion board, which I understand to be able to natively control the VVT. I really like MS3 Pro, but can't justify the extra cost for what I plan to do with the car. I'm planning to use a standard box with DIYBOB to connect to the NA6 harness so the MS3 is not dedicated to the chassis. Depending what I do down the road with the Miata (LFX?), it may eventually end up in my Bronco running a Ford V8... I think I can be all-in on engine management for ~$850...

That's a great build... and I think this car is going to end up going full retard (stripped and caged track rat). I'm still undecided whether I will go forced induction or do a V8/V6 swap down the road, but I had to do something as the 1.6 had about had it. Picked up the motor this morning: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_1845_zps0dbkijrz.jpg My shop helper assisted in unloading it... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_1852_zpssahdggc2.jpg Good compression #s http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_1851_zpsk4lf8san.jpg I can really feel the difference turning it over. The 1.6 had almost no resistance at all, the 1.8 you can definitely feel the compression stroke. A guy on M.net posted a before after dyno from 1.6 to 1.8VVT and he picked up 53hp! I will be overjoyed if I make anywhere close to that. Fortuitously, a gun I put up for sale over the weekend sold almost immediately, so I hope to order my MS3 early next week. Then I can start ordering the other miscellaneous stuff I need before putting the engine back in the car...

I did the clutch slave a couple of years ago, just considering doing the whole kit from 949 since the motor's out. I also did all the coolant hoses when I did the TB/WP on the 1.6 in 2012, so they're in pretty good shape. Trans seals are a good point, I'll look into that. If I could seam weld without having to paint, it'd be a no brainer (I have MIG and TIG). Painting the engine compartment raises the PITA threshold quite a bit...

Space isn't really the issue, I just don't want this to snowball into a never ending "one more thing" saga before the 1.8 goes in... I got the trans split from the 1.6, and pulled all the stuff I need to keep. Engine is loaded in the truck for it's trip to oblivion... at least they're giving me something for the core. Clutch looked surprisingly good, though I won't be re-using it. I also confirmed my mystery rattle at 2900 rpm under light load was likely the springs in the clutch disc, which were loose. Trans is going to need a good cleanup as the rear and front seals were leaking. They weren't gushing, but it was enough to make a mess of the underside of the engine/trans. It'll be nice to get everything cleaned up in the engine bay before the 1.8 goes in. The list of 'must do' (so far): TB/WP on the 1.8 New seals (crank/cam) Clutch/PP Coolant re-route (including head gasket) New motor mounts MS3 The list of 'would be nice to do' (which keeps getting longer): Drill/tap oil pan for turbo return line (possible eventuality) Seam weld engine compartment/ shave 'wings'/ paint Wire cleanup/ partial tuck New clutch hydraulics Anyone have any other things I should think about while the motor's out?

That might just happen, as the list of crap I want to do before reinstalling the engine keeps getting longer...

Step one... done. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_1842_zpsjdwx0ml8.jpg BTW, here's a great thread on MT.net on VVT swap: http://www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/definitive-vvt-swap-into-90-97-chassis-megathread-80469/

The motor will run with the VVT disabled, but obviously you don't get the benefits. I mostly just want the car to be mobile, and make sure the engine doesn't have any issues (90 day warranty). I don't plan to drive it much until I get the MS3 installed.

Megasquirt is definitely in the plan, but it'll take me a month or two to scratch together the funds, so I'm going to try to get it running on the stock ECU. I remember the problems you had, and it's definitely not a permanent solution. If it becomes an overwhelming PITA, the car can sit, I'd just rather have it driveable. Starting on pulling the 1.6 tomorrow, and picking up the VVT motor on Monday.

So, today I did a little archaeology in my back yard to unearth my engine hoist.... Literally unearthed, as it hasn't been used in a long time... like almost 20 years! 10 years in it's current location and it had sunk into the ground. I can't remember how long I've had it, but I think I bought it to pull the motor in my Fox Mustang, and I actually found a pic where it looks like the stickers are new. This was in 1991... The car was being shot for a magazine feature the next week, so I decided to pull the motor and paint the motor, engine compartment and under hood over the weekend! the things you do when you're young... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/Engine%20pull_zpsilakmgn3.jpg Here's what the hoist looks like today... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_1833_zpsvotqfihq.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_1835_zpsuozscnet.jpg The original steel casters were rusted solid, so I had to cut them off, and weld on some new ones I picked up at HF. The ram still works, and holds weight, so I think I'm in business. And what does this have to do with Miatae, you might ask? Hopefully, I'm going to be picking up a VVT motor later this week to head down the 1.8 swap rabbit hole...

I haven't had any problems with belts on my Miata, but on our Bronco, cheaper belts have driven me crazy with chirping, especially in colder weather. I just buy the more expensive ones now...

Everyone needs at least one Miata.

949 was getting good results with a passenger side intake... http://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/engine-performance-56/34097d1328952731-2-0l-bp4w-182whp-ogk20_motor_na.jpg May require standalone, though... I don't see an MAF in their inlet. Bleeding the brakes on my NA today... what fun!

Sean was who I was thinking of... he posted some good info on the Feals. IIRC it was in his original build thread on CR. Goodwin picked up the Feal line a little later, but I think the specification was developed in part from Sean's experience with them. His install of the Feals starts here: http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/89-roadster-projects/44470-my-na-becomes-track-car-build-thread-53.html

Forgot about Feal... couple of guys who are active on the Miata forums and are hardcore racers are using them with good results. Truth is if you want damping good enough to control race level spring rates, you're going to spend $1.5-2k on coilovers. Everything else is a compromise.

FM offers several levels of suspension, and were arguably one of the first to offer 'track' suspension with the now superceded AFCO coilovers. The have shock/spring combos, the VMaxx in two varieties, and the new Fox coilovers. FM is one of the few outfits to actually test and develop their products specifically for Miatae (949 is the other)... All that's a long way of saying there are several levels of "track ready". Casual HPDEers would probably be perfectly satisfied with spring/shock combos or VMaxx. I have the VMaxx Classic, and it's a good compromise for street/track use, if you're mostly on the street, or you're not pushing hard on R comp tires. I plan to change to either 949's Xidas, or the FM Fox down the road, but don't have $2k to drop on suspension right now. The FM Fox should be good enough for hardcore HPDEers or even casual 'racers'. High level racers will probably be looking for more, but that's beyond 99% of us. I rode in an NC with the FM Fox last summer, and it was pretty impressive. Especially after they told me the spring rates. I think the wife's NC is going to get a set, when I can come up with $2k... Anyway, long post, but if you're anything other than a hard core racer, FM sells something that will work. And the VMaxx is good enough for casual HPDE. If you're running R-comps, and drive well/fast enough to make use of them, you'll want more spring rate, which means FM Fox, or 949 Xida...

I've been running the Rotella T6 in all my bikes and most of my other vehicles for years. Great oil and cheap. Only the wife's NC gets something different: Mobil 1.

It's become more than that... it's the LGT Miata thread...

I know a couple guys were cheering for a black top, but I'm glad I went with red... A couple of glamour shots from this morning: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/Miata%2010-17-15-3_zpsip7y683f.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/Miata%2010-17-15-4_zps78f5718r.jpg At the local C&C: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/10-17-15%20CandC_zpsha3nexlq.jpg I think it will look really good with the black 'street' wheels back on. The NT-01s are going into storage 'till it's time for a trackday.

I really like driving the car on the street as a roadster, but wanted the hardtop for the track. I still have to bodge up the window seals, and it's going to need a cut and buff... it is a garage paint job, after all... But, the color is on... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_9440_zpsudwj7puh.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_9438_zpsrfik6mpv.jpg

Teaser... http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_9423_zpsmxztnau3.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RodanAZ/Miata/DSC_9424_zpszwqgh2nw.jpg

I scored a soft top frame with new looking window seals from the JY today. Going to cannibalize the seals for my Snugtop, and the front bow for a Project G style bikini top for next summer. Not sure if I'm going to pay their (really high!) price, or try to have a local upholstery shop make something for me... Tomorrow, I'm going to start sanding to get the Snugtop ready for paint... (ugh... I hate bodywork!)

OK. I knew there was an issue with them, but didn't know they fixed it in 01...