It's basically a new car at this point

"Zaphod's Heart of Gold" (anavriniv)
05/11/2020 at 09:58 • Filed to: None

Last Saturday my engine decided, much like any new drummer, that timing doesn’t matter and hitting as much as possible was the new goal. I don’t know exactly what happened but something slipped and all the valves were bent and stuck open. 16 valves, all open at once. The resulting lack of compression made running tricky.

Luckily I’ve been in and around the Mazdaspeed community for 8+ years now and I know people who know people, and one of those people had an engine for sale, a lower-mile-age than mine gen 2 which is what I needed. For other reasons I also got a new main engine harness, and while I going this far I also put in a new clutch, plugs, all fluids, and a few new gaskets. Also found front brakes ready to be replaced and the set that’s been on the shelf for 3 years came in handy.

At 12:45 Saturday the car looked like the header, by 7:30 it was running and by 8:30 it was a complete car again. The windshield will be replaced soon, been putting that off, and it needs shocks.

My car is new again

DISCUSSION (18)

Nom De Plume > Zaphod's Heart of Gold
05/11/2020 at 10:14

That is a pretty impressive day’s work. On that slanted drive no less!

Zaphod's Heart of Gold > Nom De Plume
05/11/2020 at 10:23

I had one friend helping, and both of us are very familiar with these cars. Both of us have been involved in multiple engine swaps and know the routine, plus I planned accordingly. Still very happy it all came together as well as it did.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Zaphod's Heart of Gold
05/11/2020 at 10:30

Those horns look pretty factory.

Zaphod's Heart of Gold > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
05/11/2020 at 10:46

Mazda stepping their game up

The stock horn was crap before I flooded it, afterward it was just broken. So I upgraded.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Zaphod's Heart of Gold
05/11/2020 at 11:12

You should have welded the two engines together in a V. Every Miata needs a V8.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Zaphod's Heart of Gold
05/11/2020 at 11:16

Please tell me they play the Dukes of Hazzard song

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Nom De Plume
05/11/2020 at 11:21

Flat Driveway > Slanted Driveway

IJustWantMyZBack > Zaphod's Heart of Gold
05/11/2020 at 11:37

I can hardly motivate myself to finish the timing belt change on my NB(too many competing projects but I am on the reassembly side of things) and you swapped a whole motor.

Zaphod's Heart of Gold > Future next gen S2000 owner
05/11/2020 at 11:41

My mazdaspeed 3 is not a miata, for better and worse

Zaphod's Heart of Gold > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/11/2020 at 11:42

Accurate. Unfortunately flattening my current driveway is not a feasible option

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Zaphod's Heart of Gold
05/11/2020 at 11:48

It still needs a twin turbo V8

rockingthe2 > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
05/11/2020 at 11:51

I really hope they do the aw uuuugaaaa old timey car noise

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Zaphod's Heart of Gold
05/11/2020 at 11:57

So if if I buy an MZR 2.3L turbo with transaxle, harness and computer will you help me install it into my 2006 2.0i sedan?

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/11/2020 at 12:08

no Mazda5 swap? https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15391593/return-of-the-boss-wagon-mazdaspeed-5/

Zaphod's Heart of Gold > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/11/2020 at 13:22

Make sure you also but the axles, hubs, dash, engine harnesses, cabin harness, and keys from the same car plus a front mount intercooler, and I’m assuming your car is already a manual. Then fly me and a friend to Monana and stock up on the best local beer. After that I’ll consider it

Zaphod's Heart of Gold > IJustWantMyZBack
05/11/2020 at 13:38

This is my daily and it was the fastest way to get it back on the road. I had plenty of other plans that got sidelined for this and I’m resigned to driving it as long as it runs now....I could have bought a new car but for the cost of a down payment on something that will cost me a few hundred a month for the next 4-7 years I will have a working engine and every wear part will be new. I was very unhappy for a few days but I made the logical decision

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Zaphod's Heart of Gold
05/11/2020 at 13:41

The dash too? But I like my dash with it’s broken 6 disc cd changer.

Zaphod's Heart of Gold > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/11/2020 at 13:43

Not the whole dash just the gauge cluster