Tech Day: It's finally time for that '99 head swap

[trickyrix]

I can get you before/after numbers on a boosted 95 Miata with a 99 head and intake manifold. Not NA though, sorry.

Oh, and before/after numbers on a boosted Miata with the head swap and gutted 99 intake manifold. Again, no NA though.

Cool! I'd like to see that... my eventual plan is to boost the thing.

[CarCar]

I can come down and be of some help if June 12. I mostly want to watch and learn some tho.

[Rob®]

Important note: That 99 head was later found to be FUBARed. When the valve cover was powdercoated, it was never thoroughly cleaned so a bit of steel beads were run through it. Also, the valve clearances weren't checked prior to install, so it very well could have needed shims and such. So yes, this dyno is practically useless :)

[CraiginTX]

Looking at that chart, I'm not sure I would't rather have all that torque in the 3800-5000 range than a little extra power up top. That's interesting...

[Rob®]

Same here. But like I said, the head was later found to be rather beat, so that might be the cause of it. I certainly hope so anyway. The project was never revisited either..when the 99 head was removed, a stock one was put back on and that was that.

[Piff]

/old man rant

I wish dyno graphs had more than hairline thin plot lines. I rarely can see the different colors. And it's not like making the lines a couple points thicker would really make it less precise.

/old man rant off

I would like to make this, but mostly likely I will have a conflict that day.

[JDSM]

i'd be down to help, and, i've done timing belt and headwork before.

[gabkwong]

Ricky,

I may be getting into everyone's way and don't anything about the head swap. I guess I'll try to be there for moral support and keep your strippers in line , for your help with the alternator job you help me on the side of I20!

[David]

I'm willing to help. Haven't done any work on a Mazda.

I have worked on my 92 3000gt vr4, 90 300zx 2+2, 1989 Nissan 240sx, and restored/built my 1971 olds though.

If anything, I'd like to hang with you guys, get to meet some of you and see it done incase I have to do it in the future.

[sloked up]

i might make it... you never know.

and ricky, thanks for the water the other night... i really needed it... and the chair lol

[trickyrix]

Thought I'd post an update...

This weekend I'm going to round up all the parts sitting over at my folks' house and take a final inventory. Wags pointed out a couple of things I still need to pick up, but they're just little gaskets - nothing big. Also, I'm going to make sure my Frankenstein intake fits with the fuel rail. If so, then I'll go ahead and get that put together. Looks like I'm still on track for a head swap on the 12th, but I'll post back here if anything changes.

[goofygrin]

I just pulled my stock boat anchor exhaust manifold (00) if you need one, hardee harrr harrr.

[trickyrix]

It might make a nice door stop...

[CarCar]

I am still planning on being there. Do you have all the tools? I wouldn't mind bringing some if you need. Pneumatics and portable compressor are available for disassemble if you want.

[trickyrix]

I think I've got all the tools I need, including air tools, so we should be all set.

[juxt3r]

Still planning to be there! :)

[cam76034]

A frigid forecast of 95 means I'll be there.

[sxk122]

do you have the bfh ready?

[trickyrix]

My BFH is ready, but I still haven't taken a full parts inventory, and I still need to track down some piddly hardware and gaskets. Right now I'm staring at piles and boxes of parts that need to be sorted. I've been hella busy this week - ARGH!

If it doesn't wreck anyone's plans, I'm going to put this off till 6/26 - that will give me time to assemble the head/intake/fuel rail so it's ready to drop on (there's still some question in my mind about which rail I need to use). However, if anyone wants to swing by and watch/help with the assembly job, I'm game.

Any objections?

[juxt3r]

Welp, guess I'll see if there are any tix left for the Rev Horton Heat show still available...