Maxx Mazda
Contributor
- :
- Stock P5
Got the engine together today. Picked up all my Mazda parts, basically every gasket in the engine is new, new oil squirters, valve shims, and some other stuff:
Even though the block was clean, I wanted to clean it again for good measure. Outside it went for a good scrub:
Once inside, the block was meticulously dried with a blow gun. Took me about 20 minutes - no joke. This is about halfway through:
When building an engine, you can't be clean enough. The garage floor was wet to keep dust down, and I put on a fancy pants clean lab coat and rubber gloves. I use Federal Mogul for my assembly lube of choice:
With the block clean and dry, i installed the bearings and thrust washers, lubed everything profusely, and installed the crank:
Using ARP moly lube, the main caps were installed and torqued using a 3 step procedure, in the proper sequence. I checked to make sure the crank spun freely - it did! Also checked crankshaft thrust play, it was within limits.
The rings were installed onto the pistons, and the bearings into the rods:
Hard to see, but when installing the wristpins, make sure the circlip opening does no coincide with the opening:
Pistons installed onto their rods, ringed, bearing'd, ready to go in.
The pistons were given an oil bath:
Using a ring compressor and the tail of a plastic mallet, the piston is tapped into the cylinder. I don't know why, but everytime I build an engine, I find the feeling of this step to be very satisfying when the piston finally drops into place.
All 4 pistons in, and torqued onto the crank using PLENTY of assembly lube. Excuse the gunk left from the mallet handle. It's cleaned later.
4 new oil jets, ready to be pressed into place:
#1 oil jet pressed in, and clearanced properly from both the piston and the crank.
Jets #1 and #2 in position:
All 4 jets pressed in and clearanced:
Next, I like to button up the bottom end before putting the head on. I started with the oil pump. New O-rings were used, and a new main seal was installed. Silicone applied and torqued down:
I was able to sneak the rear main seal on with the engine still on the stand:
Next up is the MBSP, silicone applied:
MBSP torqued down, oil pickup installed. Although I am using the AWR oil pan, I DO NOT use the spacer as it's too long and will end up smooshing the pickup. As it sits, the screen JUST touches the bottom of the pan.
Oil pan installed and torqued down:
Topside all cleaned up:
Cometic head gasket installed over the ARP studs
Final look at the head:
Head on and torqued following a 3 stage process, using the sequence described in the shop manual. I'm glad I went with a silver block!
That's as far as I got today, didn't end up starting until noon. Tomorrow I should have all the ancillary stuff bolted up, and the engine done.
Even though the block was clean, I wanted to clean it again for good measure. Outside it went for a good scrub:
Once inside, the block was meticulously dried with a blow gun. Took me about 20 minutes - no joke. This is about halfway through:
When building an engine, you can't be clean enough. The garage floor was wet to keep dust down, and I put on a fancy pants clean lab coat and rubber gloves. I use Federal Mogul for my assembly lube of choice:
With the block clean and dry, i installed the bearings and thrust washers, lubed everything profusely, and installed the crank:
Using ARP moly lube, the main caps were installed and torqued using a 3 step procedure, in the proper sequence. I checked to make sure the crank spun freely - it did! Also checked crankshaft thrust play, it was within limits.
The rings were installed onto the pistons, and the bearings into the rods:
Hard to see, but when installing the wristpins, make sure the circlip opening does no coincide with the opening:
Pistons installed onto their rods, ringed, bearing'd, ready to go in.
The pistons were given an oil bath:
Using a ring compressor and the tail of a plastic mallet, the piston is tapped into the cylinder. I don't know why, but everytime I build an engine, I find the feeling of this step to be very satisfying when the piston finally drops into place.
All 4 pistons in, and torqued onto the crank using PLENTY of assembly lube. Excuse the gunk left from the mallet handle. It's cleaned later.
4 new oil jets, ready to be pressed into place:
#1 oil jet pressed in, and clearanced properly from both the piston and the crank.
Jets #1 and #2 in position:
All 4 jets pressed in and clearanced:
Next, I like to button up the bottom end before putting the head on. I started with the oil pump. New O-rings were used, and a new main seal was installed. Silicone applied and torqued down:
I was able to sneak the rear main seal on with the engine still on the stand:
Next up is the MBSP, silicone applied:
MBSP torqued down, oil pickup installed. Although I am using the AWR oil pan, I DO NOT use the spacer as it's too long and will end up smooshing the pickup. As it sits, the screen JUST touches the bottom of the pan.
Oil pan installed and torqued down:
Topside all cleaned up:
Cometic head gasket installed over the ARP studs
Final look at the head:
Head on and torqued following a 3 stage process, using the sequence described in the shop manual. I'm glad I went with a silver block!
That's as far as I got today, didn't end up starting until noon. Tomorrow I should have all the ancillary stuff bolted up, and the engine done.
