30 Oct Engine-ering
What’s that? More engines, you say? Well, don’t mind if we do.
Last time we took a look at Erik’s Mazda3 motor, it was still being given a few Cosworth and Supertech goodies to give it a little extra performance over the old, blown up motor. With most everything on, we ran to fabrication for two quick additions. First, we constructed a block-off plate for the intake manifold. Second, we designed and cut a phenolic spacer to help keep temperatures down. After both were installed, we wheeled the motor back over to service.
After the addition of a small handful of parts (including the header that we wrapped), we mounted the motor to the subframe along with the transmission. From there, it was an exercise in lowering the car onto the motor and subframe, while using the engine crane to hold the motor in the exact position necessary to align it with the motor and transmission mounts.
From here, it’s just a matter of hooking all the wires, hoses, sensors and everything else back up to where it was before. We also took this time to attach the valve cover, which we painted the same blue as the intake manifold.
And with that, the motor was fully reattached! Now that it’s in, it’s going to be a matter of starting up the motor and checking it thoroughly to make sure that every single item on it is working correctly and within defined tolerances. It’s a long road, but we’ve run so much of it that the end is in sight. We know we’ll be excited when it leaves, and Erik will be even more excited to have it back!
In other engine swap news, the vintage 911 is currently receiving its new (to it) 993 heart. Before we put everything back, though, we removed a lot of the dry-rotted deadening material above where the motor normally sits. After a thorough power washing, Ed saw it fit to replace that old busted material with some shiny new deadening. Here it is, fresh and ready for its new motor. And with the ECU arriving this week, everything’s falling into place quite nicely.
Finally, we have an engine that’s all in one piece, hanging out inside a car of all places. This is our newest winner for cleanest engine bay of the week. Actually, this is probably the cleanest CAR to show up in our shop this week. It’s a very low-mileage SL600 with a V12 crammed underneath the hood. Not only is the engine bay clean, but the wheels are shiny, the paint is like new and the interior isn’t bad for a car that was sold to its first owner in 1998. Not only is it an excellent example of old-school V12 charm, but it’s a great example of how nice a car can stay when you give it a little TLC.
Have a great day!
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