Cool, now I don't have to try find out what that slight engine noise on the Miata was

If you are going to replace it anyway might as well flog it till it blows. At least that way you will have some fun and a good story.

The only fly in that particular ointment is that the "local" track is about 70 miles away int the middle of the desert and it's probably the most likely place for the engine to blow...

Like I said...good story. That doesn't mean it's fun at the time.

LS1.

Right? Right??!?

<opens wallet, semi-starved moths escape>

I don't think so.

At least not right now. Actually, if I try to sum up what I'd like to see in an ideal Miata build for me, it would be something like this:

• Decent suspension, nice 15x7 wheels and good sticky tires
• Good roll bar
• VVT engine with (probably) MS + VVTuner, improved intake and a good header, high-flow cat and a good exhaust. That should net somewhere between 150-160 whp, which is close to the 1.6 turbo I had for a while but hopefully a lot more reliable

Hmm... forgive me if I rescind my trade offer... Unfortunately, much of why I want to move from the E30 is it has turned into a bit more of a project than I had hoped for.

I wouldn't expect you to keep up your trade offer, so no worries.

Set of rings.

Valve job

Set of bearings

Matybe an oil pump

Set of gaskets.

How come nobody wants to do this anymore ?

Well, you forgot the machine shop part in the list above , at least in my case. I'm pretty sure that I might need new pistons and an overbore.

The problem for me is that the cost of the FM rebuild kit adds up almost to what the local-ish recommended place is asking for a complete tested (and IIRC warrantied) used engine. That's hard to compete with.

In my case, I know myself so if I tear into the engine the next thing that is going to happen is that I "accidentally" send the head off for gas flowing etc etc.

VVT motor what are those?

Variable Valve Timing, like V-tech etc.

They're the motors out of the 2001-2005 Miata. Higher compression, variable cam timing on the inlet cam. Need some electronic wizardry to work in an NA, but you get a noticeable bump in power.

iceracer wrote: How come nobody wants to do this anymore ?

I do. Actually, this is pretty much exactly my plan for the g/f's Spitfire engine while we source an engine to rebuild with more scoot in mind.

Ian F wrote: I do. Actually, this is pretty much exactly my plan for the g/f's Spitfire engine while we source an engine to rebuild with more scoot in mind.

Like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=daVDrGsaDME

Javelin wrote: So the car needs an engine, wheels, tires, and a suspension. And you're having a hard time deciding? DUMP IT!!!!

And someone will pick it up... "All it needs is an engine, wheels, tires, and suspension!"

I knew VVT was like Vtech I did not know it was the motor from the newer MX-5 thanks

Dashpot wrote:

Ian F wrote: I do. Actually, this is pretty much exactly my plan for the g/f's Spitfire engine while we source an engine to rebuild with more scoot in mind.

Like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=daVDrGsaDME

Maybe for the new engine, but probably not for the current one. One nice thing about a Spit engine is a quick freshening can be done with the engine block staying in the car. At least that's the plan... We've been known to suffer from scope creep... But the idea is to be in and out as quickly as possible and at minimal expense.

You know, nothing has really changed with the car, except now you know something you didn't. Drive it. Enjoy it. Fix it as you need to. It is a Miata, simple, reliable, easy and cheap to fix.

Well, I actually know something now that I suspected for a while, not that that makes it any better.

My current plan is to try and nurse the engine along for the rest of the year and in the meantime hopefully pick up a VVT engine and drop that in.

BoxheadTim wrote: Well, you forgot the machine shop part in the list above , at least in my case. I'm pretty sure that I might need new pistons and an overbore. The problem for me is that the cost of the FM rebuild kit adds up almost to what the local-ish recommended place is asking for a complete tested (and IIRC warrantied) used engine. That's hard to compete with. In my case, I know myself so if I tear into the engine the next thing that is going to happen is that I "accidentally" send the head off for gas flowing etc etc.

I'd be willing to bet you won't need a rebore. Besides, by overhal, you have basically a new engine, not a used one. "Warranty" We will send you another engine after you send us the bad one. Of course you have to do the R&R and pay shipping.

EvanB wrote: Variable Valve Timing, like V-tech etc.

It's like a phone?

my friend in nor cal is looking for a donor to replace his recently bent spec miata

In reply to amg_rx7:

Tried to PM you on here but I don't know if you received the email. Have him PM me, we might be able to come up with a deal here.

I think you would be surprised how long an engine can run badly

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'd just bite the bullet and get it to where you want. Devil you know. Or you can dump it... and probably have to do at least wheels, tires, and a suspension anyways. Dumping it and getting a new one seems like a lot of work to save $500.

I lean toward this answer.

This is the answer, I know you hang out on this board, any of the other cars you mentioned are going to cost you more to buy a NICE one than to get the Miata ready.

Anyone who knows anything will know the Miata is sick, you'll have to be less than honest to sell, which you WILL feel bad about.........so fix the Miata and have fun with it.

Perfect opp to grab a junkyard motor and finish the work.