94 LE VVT Build
#1
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This past spring I picked up a 94 that was pretty cheap. It was smoking some, and had been in a front end accident, but overall it ran and its body was straight with no rocker rust. It had all the options except for ABS, so I figured I could make a decent DD miata to replace my 92 B&T with 335k miles.
I have been lusting over 93 LE's since I first got into miata's years ago. The black and red color combo just touches me in all the right places. One of the things I have been looking for has either been a red interior for sale, or a cheap *** 93 LE to buy. I finally found one from a guy on here. I picked it up a few weeks ago, well everything but the seats and seat belts. I have a lead on the seats and seat belts and should hopefully be getting them this coming weekend.
The overall plan for the car is to be a nice naturally aspirated DD. For the drive train I am doing the standard 949 supermiata build. Stock VVT motor, flat-top manifold, eBay header for now, stock exhaust and intake, and MS3X. Long term I am planning on swapping in a RB header and building a 2.5" exhaust. Also plan on going with one of the new carbon fiber intakes that are possibly being made. I might eventually swap in a 6 speed and 3.63 rear end if I ever find the 3.63. Interior is getting sound deadening and then the red interior swapped in.
First layer of sound deadening.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156610-94-le-vvt-build-ryqcdb6.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
Second layer is some Refletix I got from Lowes. Was recommended by people on m.net
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156611-94-le-vvt-build-sdwgt1c.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
Bottom carpet is installed.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156612-94-le-vvt-build-xlkeksr.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
Dash and door cards are installed.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156613-94-le-vvt-build-ekxsjlq.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
The rear window on the top installed was bad, the car came with a placement top which was cool. I ended up not using the replacement I got and instead swapped on a spare top where the rear window unzips. I prefer those over the ones where the rear window is fixed in.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156614-94-le-vvt-build-n90fvew.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
VVT motor and flat top is in. I have done a coolant reroute. I need to install the exhaust section, do all the wiring to NB sensors hook up accessory hoses, install and hook up radiator, hook up fuel lines, and install intake.
I have been lusting over 93 LE's since I first got into miata's years ago. The black and red color combo just touches me in all the right places. One of the things I have been looking for has either been a red interior for sale, or a cheap *** 93 LE to buy. I finally found one from a guy on here. I picked it up a few weeks ago, well everything but the seats and seat belts. I have a lead on the seats and seat belts and should hopefully be getting them this coming weekend.
The overall plan for the car is to be a nice naturally aspirated DD. For the drive train I am doing the standard 949 supermiata build. Stock VVT motor, flat-top manifold, eBay header for now, stock exhaust and intake, and MS3X. Long term I am planning on swapping in a RB header and building a 2.5" exhaust. Also plan on going with one of the new carbon fiber intakes that are possibly being made. I might eventually swap in a 6 speed and 3.63 rear end if I ever find the 3.63. Interior is getting sound deadening and then the red interior swapped in.
First layer of sound deadening.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156610-94-le-vvt-build-ryqcdb6.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
Second layer is some Refletix I got from Lowes. Was recommended by people on m.net
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156611-94-le-vvt-build-sdwgt1c.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
Bottom carpet is installed.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156612-94-le-vvt-build-xlkeksr.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
Dash and door cards are installed.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156613-94-le-vvt-build-ekxsjlq.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
The rear window on the top installed was bad, the car came with a placement top which was cool. I ended up not using the replacement I got and instead swapped on a spare top where the rear window unzips. I prefer those over the ones where the rear window is fixed in.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156614-94-le-vvt-build-n90fvew.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
VVT motor and flat top is in. I have done a coolant reroute. I need to install the exhaust section, do all the wiring to NB sensors hook up accessory hoses, install and hook up radiator, hook up fuel lines, and install intake.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/156615-94-le-vvt-build-wsesrck.jpg?dateline=1449251629)
#5
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Honestly if I do pick up the full interior along with the seats this weekend, the second set will go into my track car. Then I will have 2 94's with VVT and red interior swaps. Have I mentioned yet how the black/red combo really gives me a boner.
#12
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Over the past month I have done most of the work to get the car going, I will try to snap some pictures tonight. The interior is completed except for plugging the MS to my boomslang harness. I got the exhaust installed, oils filled and everything in the coolant system hooked up. I went to fill the car with coolant Monday night and it started leaking out of the back of the head at the reroute spacer. Last night I spent time removing the spacer and reinstalling it with all new gaskets and a metric **** ton of RTV. Today I will fill it with water again and see if it still leaks. Then get the MS hooked up and see if it starts and has any other issues.
#14
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I went to fill the car with coolant Monday night and it started leaking out of the back of the head at the reroute spacer. Last night I spent time removing the spacer and reinstalling it with all new gaskets and a metric **** ton of RTV. Today I will fill it with water again and see if it still leaks. Then get the MS hooked up and see if it starts and has any other issues.
Which reroute spacer do you have on the car? I am really dreading the day mine leaks. It looks like such a pain in the *** to get to with the motor installed. I went with the group buy spacer in the FS section and so far so good.
#15
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I have the Skou spacer on my car right now. I have gotten the same leak before with the begi spacer. So I will now always use rtv on them. I just filled the coolant and the rear spacer is no longer leaking, but the ******* hose that attaches to the oil filter warmer is. FML, guess I'm pulling intake manifold to get to it.
#17
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I got the second coolant leak fixed. Removing stock IM are PITA compared to my Begi cast manifold. As I was reassembling everything I somehow hit the VVT solenoid connector and broke it off. Stupid *** mistake, luckily since I stock up on VVT parts I have a spare somewhere. I just need to go find it tomorrow.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/158893-94-le-vvt-build-pagc7wj.jpg?dateline=1452213971)
#19
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I got the car out of the garage over the weekend. It is still leaking a bit of oil at the oil pressure sender and vvt line. The bigger problem is that last night I was working on burping the coolant. Temps got up to 195 degrees and then the car started stumbling and then shut off. I could not get it to restart after that. Unfortunately I was not logging so don't know exactly what happened. Tomorrow afternoon I am hoping to get some time to mess with it. I will be checking the crank sensor spacing from the trigger wheel, then checking to make sure the timing belt did not snap, then checking fuel and spark.
#20
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I just had this issue when I went to 460cc injectors and found that my warm up enrichment was making it shut down/stumble after 185 degrees. I bumped the numbers around a bit until it would maintain decent idle and it's been pretty good since. I still have some very rich hot start conditions that I am working on but it's all part of the MS game.