Vecia's 1994 MX-3: UPDATE - 8/06/12 New Picture!

[Vecia]

Yes! Looking good. Nice to see the parts being put to use. What kind of paint did you use/how did you paint it?

Youre going to hate me man but I used Duplicolor Perfect Match. It actually turned out awesome despite what many have stated about Duplicolor. I followed the instructions to the letter and watched a million youtube videos... lol The Perfect Match, Ford Cardinal Red is the same color code as the Blaze Red and it matched perfect.

Love the parts by the way. Thanks again man for real.

[_-Night-Shade-_]

Why would I hate you? It looks good, good for you. And don't worry about it, I should be thanking you; those were just some spares I had. And yeah I don't think you can put a B6ZE into an MX-3 as the coolant necks are different and a B6ZE wouldn't have an EGR if it was J-spec.

[DeadMaker]

Another thing I know for certain...



That's the only look of a B6ZE that the internet will pull up and mine don't look like that.

I wish Mazda would have stamped the dang block in plain site so I could see it right in front of me without having to take a bunch of crap apart. Just dont have that kind of time.

Exactly this a b6ze and is used on mx5.Never on mx3.We have b6de when it comes for doch.Btw all mazda cars for Europe market are made in japan until today and i think it goes for usa too..

[Vecia]

Well, see there? I learned something new. I told you I'm not too hip with it.

I responded to the guy's email about the engine he quoted me being for an MX-5. lol

Wow... 30 something years in business... I don't think he can explain himself out of that one. Well, back to looking for another machine shop...

[Josh]

The ZE was used in JDM cars in later years. The only difference was the cams from what i remember, could have been a little higher in compression to, its been a while i dont completely remember i would have to look it up. I had a B6ZE motor in my car for a minute until i blew it. And if you really wanted to you can swap the Miata motor into your car, you just have to swap a couple of things over from F-R to Transverse mount. the mechanist generally go off of engine code so its common even for the JDM importers to get the F-R and Transverse motors mixed up. The Block stamp should be on the front right side of the exhaust manifold, rite by the distributor. There it will say either DE or ZE if it is.

[DeadMaker]

So the header gasket from a miata bp 1989-1997 are the same with the protege or escort?

[Inodoro Pereyra]

So the header gasket from a miata bp 1989-1997 are the same with the protege or escort?

Are you talking about the head gasket, or the exhaust gasket?

Anyways, if you're talking about the head gasket, the Miata BP uses the same as the ford, kia or protege BP. But the Miata came with a BP only since '94. Before that it came with a B6-ZE.

[Josh]

So the header gasket from a miata bp 1989-1997 are the same with the protege or escort?

The 1.6L B6 was 89-93, 1.8L BP was 94 and up in the Miata. Yes the gasket is the same. I am running a Miata turbo manifold on my BP now. My BP is out of a Escort GT, and i am also using a thermal Miata intake gasket. The newer 98 and up Miata heads have intake fitment issues that you have to dremmel and re-drill, or cut and swap flanges to get them to fit.

[DeadMaker]

So intake and exhaust manifold is the same between miata 94-97 and protege or escort gt.
So Josh you say that 98 miata is different on intake.This goes and for the exhaust too?
Thanks guys

[Vecia]

Still pricing the dang rebuild. This is so freaking nerve racking. I so wish I had the time to rebuild it myself like allot of you guys. It would be such an awesome experience for me to learn my car.

At any rate, a few more paychecks down and I should have enough for the rebuild plus a few extras; maybe a good clutch or a better exhaust system. We will see how it goes.

[_-Night-Shade-_]

Just outta curiousity, why do you wanna rebuild?

[Vecia]

Because It's something I've never done.

I can't buy a B6 Engine brand new so unless there is another way I am missing, its really the only option I have. My car's engine is on its way out so I have to do something soon.

[Vecia]

Nothing really big to put in here. Today I was pretty beat from work but I decided to color sand the spot I fixed on my driver's side. I also color sanded the side skirts to, to really bring out the shine. I still have to compound but other than that, they are done. I think they turned out okay. Anyways... enjoy.

[Vecia]

Update... Kind of...

Been working like 70 to 80 hours a week so nothing new done to my girl. After I color sanded the repair, I compounded a week later and suddenly realized there was a faint line in the clear coat... needless to say, the fault was my own so I decided that weekend to sand off the clear back to the color and re clear the entire quarter panel from the driver side roll bar near the windshield to the driver side tail light. So, I sanded and sanded until all was gone and then decided to take a break because it had gotten quite hot.

I fell asleep after chugging a big glass of ice tea and its been over 106 degrees in Texas ever since... So... I've been driving my car with one dull side and one shiny side... lololol I haven't washed it in a few weeks because of the heat either.

In better news, I finally have enough to start my engine bay restoration. Engine will be done as soon as I get some time off. Next day off won't be until Labor Day but the Wal-Mart/ Sam's Club combo store will be finished by the 8th of next month so I'm setting my sites for my rebuild in September. I can't wait either.

Currently I have no A/C because my front seal (or near that general area) is leaking and it filled my A/C Compressor with oil and caused it to go out. Can't fix my A/C system until the oil leak is fixed and if I have to go through all of the drama to change out my seals and gaskets then I'm just going to drop in a whole new (rebuilt) engine built the way I want it. So, at least I'll have A/C before the season is completely over. Funny thing is, I don't even care about A/C when I'm driving an hour home every day from Dallas in 106 to 112 degree weather in the middle of traffic because I love my car that dang much

Anyways, I will update soon. Thanks for reading.

[Vecia]

Update:

Still working like crazy; however, a few things to report.

A bit ago I had purchased a 95 Base B6 engine. Took it up to a place to have it rebuilt (as I completely do not have the time to do it myself... so sucks) and after two weeks... 2 @#$ing WEEKS! I get a call saying that it will be "X" amount of dollars to repair the block due to a crack in the coolant wall. Then they tell me I owe them like five hundred bucks for diagnostics fees and labor already spent. So, I went up there, screamed a bit too much and finally after an hour of bickering and giving myself a migraine, I walked out of there owing nothing but less an engine. Screw spending more money for them to patch up an engine I want to be as good as OEM.

So, for the last little bit, I have been frustrated and havent really been motivated to do much of anything. I called and checked on several MX-3s on Craigs list, searched a thousand JDM Engine houses, made up my mind to do a BP Swap then changed my mind again only to become more frustrated because I could never really find what I needed (due to time restrictions) for the price I could afford.

Then, on Monday... It happened....

I was skimming Ebay just really wasting time before bed when I saw a B6 Engine for 1,250 bucks. I was like; "Hell no... way too expensive..." I was just about to click back when I saw "Remanufactured"...

I know for certain that Autozone and NAPPA sell the B6DE Remanufactured Engine for like 2100 bucks or something. So... 1250 dollars for a "Like" New engine?

Anyway, after communication back and forth with the guy, I finally offered him a thousand bucks. He accepted after a few days and needless to say, its sitting in my garage right now.









Down here, I couldn't get a rebuild done for less than 1600 bucks and though it does come with the install, I'm still shaky on what these people can do because most of them around here are pretty shady. So, to make a long story short, I have a good engine now and with my hours going back to a normal 40, I should be able to get it installed myself on schedule through September before I head to Florida for my next work project.

Well, there it is. Sorry so long but I was excited and wanted to share. Hope you guys enjoy.