I'd be giving that number 3 cylinder and piston a really good looking over before I reinstalled a new head.
Larry White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 SM2 FM I+ Turbo Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow #99 SM2L JR Supercharger Whooosh 2004 Titanium Mazdaspeed MX-5 LowCountry Miata http://www.lowcountrymiataclub.net Masters Miata RAGS 074 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brad Franks Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 5:45 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Head Gasket - the story so far, with a few questions. For those living vicariously through me, here's an update. For those not, go ahead and delete, I don't mind. Well, got under way this morning around 10 am. I've got everything off the head at this point and was about to crack the cam cover when I remembered that I don't have a 12mm 12 point socket. Off to Napa to get one. I had to remove the Rod Millen 4-2-1 header, it was interfering with the steering column before it would clear the studs. Proved telling - the #3 runner is saturated with oil, the other three are bone dry, all four are sooty and crappy caked as hell. I remember now why/when I started burning oil - it was the NOS... an 80HP 4 port wet system that I haven't even used in about 5 years. Now I am kicking myself for how I installed it - all four nozzles are right in the way of the lower bolts/studs. I pulled the fuel system before I pulled the intake manifold. Was this a good idea? Could I have pulled it completely assembled? The big sticking point for me was that I couldn't get the fuel lines to let go of the fuel rail. I think I bunked one of the injector seals in the process - actually I believe it's the insulator - the hard knobby plastic piece with a rubber liner that interfaces between the injector and manifold. OK to reuse or do I replace? I've been taking some photos along the way. My plan is to pull the head this afternoon and call it a day. Unfortunately my package of supplies from FM won't be here until tomorrow afternoon. In the mean time I'll straigh edge the head coming off. I checked the spare head I had last night (and cleaned it up a little). It's flat as a nail no matter which way I measure it. Thanks for listening! Inexperience puts me a little on the nervous side - slow and steady wins the race though. It's a comfort knowing there are people on the list who will help where they can - gives me some peace of mind. Thanks! Brad _______________________________________________ Miatapower mailing list [email protected] http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower _______________________________________________ Miatapower mailing list [email protected] http://list.miatapower.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/miatapower
