Chris GTO TT

Cleaning up the engine bay wasn't too terrible, but cleaning up the old RTV from the oil pan, windage tray and block was a pain.

Turned the engine over and pulled the oil pan and windage tray. Then lots and lots of cleaning!

 

 

 

The track time sold out almost as fast as Miatas at MRLS... they've since added another track day (Wednesday), which I think still has some openings...

 

Yeah Wednesday, I got their Email which is why I was looking at it.

For S&G I looked at going to FM Summer Camp... Not sure about the 14+ hour drive.

6 point star or external torx. The really annoying piece is the windage tray being sandwiched between the pan and the block. Means I have to do two lines of super gray RTV.

F you Mazda... Star bolts for the windage/oil baffle and its between the pan and the block

Yeah I was hoping to have it back in last weekend, but knew I was being hopeful with that plan.

 

Nice!

Picked up some of the final parts for reassembly. Hopefully I'll be able to pull and clean up the oil pan tomorrow. Then get it installed before I let it sit overnight to cure. If all goes well I'll have the engine back in on Sunday.

I'll gladly make the drive to Sonoma or Thunderhill and help out. I'm kinda half way between both.

I've never driven one but would definitely cross shop it with a Miata. I really liked how the NC Club drove when I test drove it.

See I'd be pretty content with a ND with a flash tune and a decent coilover suspension and sways.

And I'm about 99% sure my oil pan is leaking just below the crank pulling the pan was not part of my plan

Oh I love the S2 it reminds me of a lighter version of the wheels I have.

 

Finishing up on the front of the engine hopefully O'Reilly has a new valve cover gasket. Then I'm hoping home depot or maybe o'reilly has the collector stud I need. The last seal I need to replace is the rear crank. If I get the front buttoned up I might hang it from the hoist and take care of that today.

So get the storm S2.... I think the look better than the S1.

More progress today. I'm not good at stopping for pictures while I'm working. I got the cam seals replaced, the FM seal presses were amazing! It looks like the intake cam seal was leaking and was just dried up stuck badly. Hopefully that fixes my oil leak issues at the front of the engine. I noticed the VVT oil feed line seems to be leaking at the banjo bolt on the block so I'll have to do some investigating on that. Also the sensor above it seems to have melted the wax out.

 

I forgot about the rubber boots at the shifter so manged to tear those. One of the collector studs got mangled so I'll have to pull that out to replace it. I keep debating on if I want to get a 6spd and a coolant reroute or not. Also have to decide how much I want to spend on maintenance that's easier with the engine out.

 

 

 

Ha looks like it! I borrowed mine from the body shop that repaired my Miata lol

Picked up an engine hoist and stand today, then put the car up in the air to get ready to pull out the motor and transmission.

 

 

Today's progress

 

Can even fit the other cars in the garage with the extra equipment when I'm done for the day!

Yeah but the headlights are damned expensive... Good used ones are at least $250 each and new ones are $500 each.

If it's 'crazing' (tiny cracks in the plastic) you'll never get rid of it. Our 'Vette had that, and me attempting to restore them didn't do a thing...

 

Nope it's more of a milky white haze all the way through the lenses.

 

I pulled it out of the garage for the first time since I parked it in there. Went for a quick spin to get some lunch and then cleaned up the headlights. Mine didn't come out quite as nice as rodan's but still a nice improvement. I think mine have a permanent haze all the way through the lenses.

That NB looks pretty decent, though I'm not a fan of the color after seeing a few in person. It may even have sport brakes. If it could be had for ~$4000-4200, it would be a nice platform.

 

it should be a factory 6spd car so that means it comes with all the chassis bracing and the sport brakes. I'd probably offer $4k or walk, it has too many little things that were cheaped out on for me to spend more than that on it. I really don't want to do another top and roll hoop install though

Thinking about taking a chance on a NC.... https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/2006-mazda-miata-6-speed-as-is/6478070508.html

 

So I messaged this guy today. The title is still in the previous owners name, claims it has a cracked intake manifold and it doesn't have the LSD. Not going to go for it, I don't feel like swapping in a LSD.

 

I was talking to this guy https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/2002-mazda-miata-se/6458675277.html and may go see it tomorrow. I'd have do timing/water pump, install my roll hoop, my clutch/flywheel and buy some Feal's

Believe that is not an LSD given that the 2011 REX has only a VLCD and traction control (TCS).

 

Correct it would be an open diff

Yeah, read that today...

 

I still think the 2.5 is a viable option, but I do agree that some of the expectations are a bit exaggerated by the folks making money off the swaps.

 

In other news, signed up for FM Summer Camp this morning, it will be our sixth! Track time is already sold out... first time I remember that happening in less than 24 hours!

 

In yet other news... this car is for sale close by: https://www.flyinmiata.com/V8/for_sale.html

 

Too bad the convenience store clerk gave me the wrong lotto ticket... again!

 

Agreed it seems to be overly hyped. I probably wouldn't do it as long as I'm in CA.

 

Saw them post that one on Instagram and sent it to my wife

 

The jerk at the convenience store does the same thing to me

saw this on m.net by chance. https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=661439