In my last vlog I mentioned my clutch problems. Basically it's like the clutch was never engaging. Trying to put it in any gear when running was basically like trying to put it in gear without using the clutch. 

As I mentioned last week, Project NB was really starting to come together. The motor is in and the fuel pump made it run. I set about doing my clutch adjustment, but even with a new slave cylinder and clutch line and doing all the pedal adjustment and bleeding the hell out of the system, it won't go into any gear with the engine running. I'm going to try to get it on the lift tomorrow and figure out just what the hell is going on. 

It runs under it's own power! I still need to install the new clutch slave cylinder and bleed the clutch system, and I'm still waiting on a replacement radiator since the one I got from Rockauto leaks, but I got the DW300 fuel pump installed today and finally cranked the damn car up. 

I should get the clutch stuff done by this weekend but the radiator won't be here until Monday. I might can fill the leaky radiator up with water and take it around the block, we'll see how brave I feel when the time comes, but all that really matters is it's a real live running car. I didn't even mess up the timing belt or anything! 

So this Saturday I had the Miata almost put together and a shop with nothing really to do. I decided it was time to get it running. 

I put the car on the lift, installed the lower radiator hose, put the mid pipe on the exhaust so I could install and plug in the catalytic converter, tightened a few accessories up that I couldn't easily get to from above, and plugged in the oil pressure sending unit (when I finally figured out what the hell that weird little connector went to). 

Just a small update this week, mostly rambling about progress on Project NB. The next one should feature Project NB actually moving under it's own power. 

I should have already had this done, but it's been a busy week. I have it ready to go next week. All accessories are on, all belts are on the accessories, and the wiring harness is back in and most everything is plugged in. All of my coolant hoses are on the motor, including the pain in the ass hose that lives at the back of the head for the SuperMiata coolant reroute, and all vacuum lines except a couple that plug into the intake pipe are back on. Exhaust manifold is also back on. The only thing left to do is wait for some lift time, put the downpipe on so I can plug in the O2 sensor, and do the multi-step, ass-ache-sounding clutch bleed/pedal adjustment for the FM happy meal clutch. SO CLOSE BROS. 

I got it bolted to the mounts and to the transmission last Saturday, and all this week I've been tinkering in my spare time. I also noticed that I left a part of the power steering bracket was left on the old motor, and I turned it in as a core (damn $500 core charge!), so I had to order one on eBay. I do have the exhaust manifold, AC Compressor, and alternator on, so hopefully tomorrow I can adjust the clutch up, throw the downpipe on, and at least fire it up for a minute or two. Still needs cooling but I'm not putting that back on until everything is checked out because it's so much easier to work without the radiator and fans in the way. Anyway, have some picture! 

Finally, amirite? I decided to stop procrastinating yesterday and drop the motor in.

Like for real for real. I got my pilot bearing installed, got my flywheel bolted up, got my clutch disk and flex plate on. I just need lift time, and I should get that next week.

Now I need to decide on a car play head unit, because I can’t go back to not having it. I’ll do a ton of research this weekend and post up what I decide on.

So yeah, I put my flywheel on earlier this week and went to go install the pressure plate and clutch today and got the feeling that something is missing. I quickly realized I should probably install the pilot bearing in the center of the flywheel. I tried to gently tap it in with the flywheel in place but I abandoned that idea pretty quickly, pulled the flywheel back off and pressed it in. I feel like a total moron, but at least I realized it before I put the motor in.

Much better. Now let’s get this clutch on and get this damn motor in. I want to drive my NB.

I replaced the oil pump pickup tube, got an AN10 fitting welded on the pan and finally put everything back together. I’m just waiting on lift time to put it in.

Meanwhile the white Miata is just waiting on the fender to come back from the paint shop. It should be back today and I’ll throw it on early next week. I also have a new convertible top sitting in my garage waiting for the title to come in so I can drive it home and then install it. It will be my first soft top replacement, I’ll do my best to document it here.

Pretty boring update this week but next week should be fun.

So, like I mentioned before, I bought a $700 blown up Miata. In the last week, I've procured a junkyard engine for around $1k, and I've been doing all the stuff that would be annoying with the engine in. So far I've done timing belt and tensioners, water pump, front main seal, and EGR block off plate. The rest of this week I'll do clutch and flywheel, rear main seal, coolant reroute and hopefully drop the motor in next Saturday. In an attempt to suck less at video, I've been doing some videos on the Miata build for my Youtube channel. Here's a video of my progress so far.

So, like I said in my previous post, I’m not screwing around this time. I’m getting right down to work, so I pulled the NB in today to get started on pulling the motor. This thing is M I N T Y, I totally lucked out on such a clean, well maintained car. Here’s our starting point, one blown up NB. Poor 1.8.

Looks pretty damn good right? Check out the inside of this air box:

It looks brand fucking new! Maybe they replaced it recently trying to diagnose the problem, but if so they suck, because this shouldn’t be too terribly difficult to diagnose:

That’s cylinder number three, and I’m guessing that’s some part of a valve, but whatever the fuck it is, it’s not supposed to be chillin on top of the piston. Anyway. The car is super clean, and I’m actually being super careful taking it apart, preserving all the clips and shit. I’m trying to keep it nice bros. I did crack the radiator, but it was the 20 year old original, and judging by the pint or two of coolant in it and the coolant in cylinder number 3, it got HOT, so I’m not going to lose my sleep over it. As soon as I get done posting this I’m going to try and find me a good aluminum radiator, because this won’t be going back in.

It took a comically long time for me to find all of the bolts on this splash shield, primarily because none of my hoopties have ever had this by the time I got them 😂

And this is where I stopped today, it was getting late and I had actual work stuff to do. Exhaust side is totally taken apart. The manifold is unbolted, just have to disconnect at the cat and pull it off. The wiring harness is pulled back out of the way, the cooling system is drained and removed. I basically need to pull the fuel lines, the bellhousing bolts, and the motor mount and I should be able to drop it right out.

Not two bad for two hours with a heat index of 105 while also dealing with normal work stuff. I feel like I burned a million calories, maybe “Car Repair Yoga” should be my new workout routine. Here’s a picture I took for Daisy to demonstrate just how hot it was outside.

Anyway, Tuesday I should be able to push it over to the lift and do the last few things and snatch the engine out of it. My maintenance stuff for the new motor is coming from RockAuto.com on Monday, my clutch happy meal is coming from Flyin Miata on Wednesday. My new motor will be in from a junkyard on Tuesday. Starting to come together pretty quick, I’m gonna stay on top of it and get this car built. I’ll update next week with an empty engine bay.

Now to decide on a turbo kit. I'm leaning toward the FM stage 1 but at the same time, the MKTurbo kit seems like a really strong value considering it includes a Megasquirt EFI. Have a little bit of time to decide while I put a motor in and sell my NC...anyone wanna buy a PRHT Miata?