Baymax Engine Swap

[Datawiz]

Turkey Day/Christmas Break 2016

GWiz and I will be swapping in an engine from a 1995 Miata with 108K miles on it into a 1995 Miata with 221k miles on it. Gonna repaint it, swap out all of the gaskets, and make it cool as hell. Gonna have her document this one like she did Skittles when she was 15. Only difference is I think the swap can take a single weekend. I have the engine, and we'll de-grease it, paint it and change the gaskets that we can over Turkey Day weekend. Then, when she brings the car home from school over xmas break, we'll swap it in. $400 for an engine with 1/2 the miles. Gotta love Miatas.

Will be GWiz's 3rd engine swap.







Baymax

[Black94lt1]

Originally Posted by datawiz

That don't look quite right!

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by Black94lt1

That don't look quite right!

Plastic cover over timing belt is not installed correctly. We'll be replacing the timing belt, gaskets, and likely those plastic pieces too.

That's part # 11 on the exploded diagram. $37.99. No worries.

[Datawiz]

So I buy an engine for $400, and just spent $500 on all of the gaskets, hoses, spark plugs, plug wires, timing belt kit ....

That'll all be here tomorrow. We're going to tear down the engine between now and Sunday. Every single gasket, shy of the head gasket, will be replaced. Engine will be completely degreased and painted. Red block, white valve cover (and possibly intake) and black engine mounts and other hang on parts.

We're also having seat covers made for xmas. We contacted the lady who made the ninja turtle seat covers for Skittles and she said she could make whatever we want. Currently envisioning something like this:

[Kerrmudgeon]

Just wondering why you guys need two Miatas? What's she going to do with the turtle car?......garage art?

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

Just wondering why you guys need two Miatas? What's she going to do with the turtle car?......garage art?

Turtle Car is her "magnum opus" and she'll keep it forever. 2015 BRZ is too nice for a college campus. This was a $2,200 car, receiving about $1,500 in upgrades to personalize it for her. Perfect college car, but with the customizations, I think she'll start to cherish it as much as the turtle car.

Long term plan for Baymax is to make it her V8 swap candidate.

[snide]

Originally Posted by datawiz

Long term plan for Baymax is to make it her V8 swap candidate.

LS3? LS7? LT1? LT4?

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by snide

LS3? LS7? LT1? LT4?

Rover V8 engine, derived from an early 1960s Buick/Oldsmobile all-aluminum V8 215 cu in (3.52 L) that Rover acquired from General Motors in the mid-60s, an extremely reliable, flexible, and robust powerplant, would be my suggestion.

[Black94lt1]

Originally Posted by snide

LS3? LS7? LT1? LT4?

LT5

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

Rover V8 engine, derived from an early 1960s Buick/Oldsmobile all-aluminum V8 215 cu in (3.52 L) that Rover acquired from General Motors in the mid-60s, an extremely reliable, flexible, and robust powerplant, would be my suggestion.

63 Olds F85 4 dr sedan.....tan/brown with white top......MOM's only car bought new by Dad of course......I put most of the miles on it, but she did manage to do many trips to the stores with it......car only had 35k miles on it when we sold it in the late 80's.....215 CI all aluminum block

I had to overhaul the carb and replace all the brake system in order to get it to a gas station, after setting some 20 years, that gasoline was PUTRID!!! but that little engine managed to make it some 6 miles to the station, filled up about 1/2 the tank topped it off.....ran better, and it took about 2 tanks to actually get it smooth again......been a while....

It was the car I got stuck driving Mom to the store when home from school, and so one damn Sat AM....a bunch of dawgs ran out in front of me, and I swerved, 2 lane country road, into the ditch, overhanging tree of course caught the top corner of the windshield/top and messed it up BAD.....Mom got a headache from hitting the w/s lovely......

ever since then, I do not swerve,....it ain't human, it gets hit......

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by snide

LS3? LS7? LT1? LT4?

Based on the cost benefit analysis, I'm guessing LS3. LS7 or 9 is obviously desirable, but WAY WAY too much money, and again, putting that power to the ground is the big issue. A brand new LS3 crate motor is cheap. She can certainly do heads/cam/intake and headers for likely 550 HP if she wants.

[Datawiz]

Updated sample

[simpleman68]

Looks good man! On stand-by for the upcoming progress pics.
Scott

[Datawiz]

Progress has been made. GWiz taking pictures on her phone. When she gets out of the shower and sends them to me, I'll post the progress. Good progress so far.

Tried a dark candy apple red paint for the block, but it had no coverage. Will have to return those and I picked up 3 cans of "common red". Or whatever the hell they call it. Already have a list of some more gaskets and hoses we'll need during install in December.

[Datawiz]

We're going to have to pull the head, as it's leaking too, so this baby will have new head, oil, valve cover, cam, crank, thermostat and water pump gaskets. It's truly in need of some major TLC.

[Datawiz]

[Datawiz]

[Jeff '79]

Poor girl never gets a break.

[Rotorhead]

You left some stuff loose!

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by Rotorhead

You left some stuff loose!

Lot more stuff to become loose. Going to pull the head tomorrow, paint it, replace the gasket, install a new timing belt and tensioners, but I have to order a new head gasket. Didn't plan on that one with my initial purchase of parts. Got a bunch of other things to buy too. Amazing how a $400 engine is going to be a $1500 refresh.