MX-3.com

So, I went to see how my head is going... I'm a little ticked.

The machinst is an older guy, has a bit of an accent.

I told him, I just wanted him to check it over, make sure nothing was leaky and eveything was sealing properly, and if it wasn't regrind it.

He did my whole head, and didn't pressure test it.

Isn't that the opposite of what I asked?

On top of that, its nearly $200 CAD! I don't quite know what to do. He had no parts to buy... And all he did was dissassemble, regrind, and reassmble with my new intake seals...

Is that freakishly unreasonable? What should I do/say?

I'm feeling better about the money I'm putting into the head. It looks so good...

I just hope my rings are okay. Piston, that is.

Things I've replaced w/ new:

All gaskets
All seals
Waterpump
Thermostat
Tbelt, tensioner and idler
Reground head

All things I have/will need to modify or replace:

TB and TPS. I'm looking into wiring diagrams, and seeing if I can rig the auto TPS to splice into the manual harness.
Fuel rail. The Ford connections are different, and I need a Mazda rail... Next saturday I'm looking for myself, after that, I'm buying online.
The waterpump I aquired online was different than my stocker. The spot for the tensioner pully was overbored and non threaded. I managed to squeeze a nut in behind with a new and longer bolt, and I believe I can make it work. Everything else lines up. Its also got a few extra tab type details... not sure of the purpose and I hope they don't interfere with anything.
Thats all I can remember, but there is more...

If you just had headwork done, why are you skimping and not getting new rings?

Head looks clean, btw.

Because I'm trying to do the best job I can on my tiny budget. I'll look around on prices... I might be able to convince myself yet.

So the swap has cost me about $750 so far. I'm overbudget. Thats okay. I need to do something I want to do instead of work and do calculus all the time.


On another note, I finally finished the gf's audio install. We got

x2 MTX 4500 subs (10")
Power Acoustik 820W (guessing peak) 4channel amplifier HP and LP
Power Acoustik 840W (guessing peak) channel LP amplifier
All wiring
~$300 (thx @ Empire)
Schoche (or something) 4 channel LOC w/ gain controls
~$40
Polk DB650s coaxials up front, my xmas to her.
~$120
Some decent sony 3way 55wrms
~$5 (scrapper )
Sub box, self constructed, 4 cu ft, stereo/mono capable, tuned at 35hz.
~$40
Misc connectors and stuff
~$20
Time
~15 hours

All in all, she got an awesome deal on her system. I must say, Hondas are beaches to take apart. Totally moronic designs. I love my MX. It took me no time at all to figure out. This Honda shyte, kill me now, I'm never pulling one apart again.
To access the front speakers, you must remove the door panel, and build an adapter plate for any speaker
To access the rears, you need to take off the seat bolsters, weather stripping, b pillars, and rear deck.

We also removed the kick panels, sils, mid pillars, rear sils, bolster trim, centre console (stupidest of all) and the list goes on.... its so so stupid. Broke many clips, destroyed one panel, left stress creases on others.... Its a nightmare. Everything feels like its going to break.

Still need to fine tune it. Its freaking amazing compared to the stock though. Even un tuned.



On an acutal MX related note, I'm going to go to the scrapper tomorrow and hopefully find a mazda 1st gen BP so I can actually start the swap! Decided I only really NEED the fuel rail, everything else won't stop it from running! Who needs a TPS or ECU Wish me luck!

hey if you have enough of the escort lines you could always put a flange on them with a brake flaring tool.

Ryan, seriously, $50 for new rings...you will want new rings to make sure they seat right after you get them crosshatched!

http://www.store.partsdinosaur.com/product2258.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I havent even checked ebay, those are OEM rings as far as I know. He's a good seller.

Do I have to do any machining when I get new rings? Or can I just plug and play....

Well you need to get your bore honed/cross hatched but while you're there you should tell them the OEM specs for rings so they can check to make sure the cylinders are fine and dandy. If they're within spec, you shouldn't have to do anything extra. As for installing them, I've never done it. I think Flyin' Miata has a "how to" over there, but there are other places on the next that have it - I have personally never done internal engine work...yet...

Talked to my mechanic today. Its a power tool we have at the shop, so I'm going ahead with stock size rings. All you need to do is disconnect the rod and slide it out the bottom, and you can slip the new rings on like that, with a few other ideas tossed in that I'll understand as I/we do it.

What the hell, right? Gone this far... but I'm drawing the line after this!

Also, I cleaned and primed all my HLA's Wasn't so hard, just time consuming.

Yup, make sure that there is oil on the cylinder before you move ANY metal parts...and the only thing with the rings is to make sure they are gapped properly! Then put a nice oil coating on the cylinders again and slide em in!

Every day I'm at the shop I put a new layer of ATF down the walls


My mechanic and friend has 20+ years in the field, nearly exclusively with Mazda. He knows what he's doing

I want a friend like that. All my friends/family look at me funny when I talk to them about cars...

I'm slowly teaching the GF. Ha.

The other day, I taught her the stages of a 4 stroke motor.

Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow.

No joke, shs remembers it off by heart now, and which valves are doing what when...

lol GOOD girlfriend haha i taught mine how to drive a stick haha!