pdexta's build: round 3
#162
Moderator
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/moderator.png)
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 20,887
Total Cats: 3,075
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I wouldn't pull the head without doing a compression check. If your compression is good then your oil is coming from other than the rings and you may not need to pull the head. Pull the exhaust mani and see if oil is present pre- or post-turbo. You can narrow it down if only one exhaust port is oily. I'm curious if one or more of your valve stem seals became dislodged or cut when you changed valves. It is possible to replace them with the head on the block if necessary.
#165
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,949
Total Cats: 183
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I wouldn't pull the head without doing a compression check. If your compression is good then your oil is coming from other than the rings and you may not need to pull the head. Pull the exhaust mani and see if oil is present pre- or post-turbo. You can narrow it down if only one exhaust port is oily. I'm curious if one or more of your valve stem seals became dislodged or cut when you changed valves. It is possible to replace them with the head on the block if necessary.
![facepalm](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/facepalm.gif)
You asked about valve seals earlier, I didn't replace them, but I'm like 99.9% sure they are there. The 4 valves I replaced slid in and would hold theirselves in place, I'm assuming if the seals were gone they wouldn't have any resistance at all. That was the first time I've done anything to a head so I really didn't have a clue what I was doing. The seals are definitely my list of things to check though.
#166
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,949
Total Cats: 183
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Compression test, FWIW the tester has always read low. Could have been more consistent, but I would think the numbers are decent for a 9:1 freshly built motor.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/69813-pdextas-build-round-3-compression.jpg?dateline=1363036586)
Clean intake manifold:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/69814-pdextas-build-round-3-dsc00580.jpg?dateline=1363036586)
Clean throttle body:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/69815-pdextas-build-round-3-dsc00581.jpg?dateline=1363036586)
Dirrrty exhaust side of head:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/69813-pdextas-build-round-3-compression.jpg?dateline=1363036586)
Clean intake manifold:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/69814-pdextas-build-round-3-dsc00580.jpg?dateline=1363036586)
Clean throttle body:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/69815-pdextas-build-round-3-dsc00581.jpg?dateline=1363036586)
Dirrrty exhaust side of head:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/69816-pdextas-build-round-3-dsc00584.jpg?dateline=1363036586)
#167
Moderator
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/moderator.png)
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 20,887
Total Cats: 3,075
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Compression being even is good. Did you have the throttle wide open when cranking it over?
Are you running 2-stroke pre-mix or diesel by accident? lol
If it is a fresh rebuild it may indeed smoke some until the rings seat. Please tell me that it didn't idle for a prolonged period of time just after first startup. The engine needs varied RPMs and needs a good strong load put on it to seat the rings within the first few minutes. Chromoly rings are the worst if you have them because they are so hard.
Did you alternate the position of the ring gaps, even on the oil rings?
How long had the head been sitting? Are you sure it was in good shape?
Are you absolutely positive it is oil and not glycol?
Are you running 2-stroke pre-mix or diesel by accident? lol
If it is a fresh rebuild it may indeed smoke some until the rings seat. Please tell me that it didn't idle for a prolonged period of time just after first startup. The engine needs varied RPMs and needs a good strong load put on it to seat the rings within the first few minutes. Chromoly rings are the worst if you have them because they are so hard.
Did you alternate the position of the ring gaps, even on the oil rings?
How long had the head been sitting? Are you sure it was in good shape?
Are you absolutely positive it is oil and not glycol?
#169
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,949
Total Cats: 183
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
If it is a fresh rebuild it may indeed smoke some until the rings seat. Please tell me that it didn't idle for a prolonged period of time just after first startup. The engine needs varied RPMs and needs a good strong load put on it to seat the rings within the first few minutes. Chromoly rings are the worst if you have them because they are so hard.
Did you alternate the position of the ring gaps, even on the oil rings?
I've got someone that's supposed to know what they're doing this time to supervise me and hopefully prevent more faeflora moments.
How long had the head been sitting? Are you sure it was in good shape?
Are you absolutely positive it is oil and not glycol?
#170
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,949
Total Cats: 183
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It seems that the issues have been identified and corrected. The car has been reassembled, is running fine so far (although I've only put like 5 miles on it), and not smoking at all.
Before going into my mistakes, I just want to state that: Clearly I'm no mechanic, this is a hobby for me and one that I would never claim to be particularly good at. I enjoy doing as much work myself as I can, even if that means making stupid mistakes.
There were 2 major issues with the motor build (that I'm aware of so far):
First, I attempted to gap the oil compression ring. I read so much about ring gap and concerns of them touching that I made the idiotic assumption that these rings should not touch as well. I gapped them like the others, rather than allowing them to compress in the cylinder.
Second, I did not realize there was an "up" and "down" on the rings. I completely missed the markings on them. Remarkably only 2 of the 8 were on upside down.
While I had the motor back apart I had a friend weld my external wastegate back into the exhaust. Yay, I can put a hood on! There's still a ton of stuff to address, but it's back on the road for now.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/71081-pdextas-build-round-3-dsc00603.jpg?dateline=1364085853)
Before going into my mistakes, I just want to state that: Clearly I'm no mechanic, this is a hobby for me and one that I would never claim to be particularly good at. I enjoy doing as much work myself as I can, even if that means making stupid mistakes.
There were 2 major issues with the motor build (that I'm aware of so far):
First, I attempted to gap the oil compression ring. I read so much about ring gap and concerns of them touching that I made the idiotic assumption that these rings should not touch as well. I gapped them like the others, rather than allowing them to compress in the cylinder.
Second, I did not realize there was an "up" and "down" on the rings. I completely missed the markings on them. Remarkably only 2 of the 8 were on upside down.
While I had the motor back apart I had a friend weld my external wastegate back into the exhaust. Yay, I can put a hood on! There's still a ton of stuff to address, but it's back on the road for now.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/71081-pdextas-build-round-3-dsc00603.jpg?dateline=1364085853)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/71082-pdextas-build-round-3-dsc00602.jpg?dateline=1364085853)
#174
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,949
Total Cats: 183
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
So nice. I've been driving my crappy '01 Civic the last few months. It feels great to take a turn and not feel like you're about to flip.
I'm having some issues with the car stuttering when I roll on the throttle. It was doing the same thing on the last motor, so I feel like it's something electical, or in the tune.
If I tap the gas from idle it will drop RPM's; from ~1000rpms down to ~500 or so. I've even had a couple times that it will stall from idle when I tap the gas with the clutch still engaged. That makes me thing it's maybe an IAC issue, but it seems to do something similar rolling on the throttle from cruise as well (stutters/misses before it accelerates). If anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them.
I'm having some issues with the car stuttering when I roll on the throttle. It was doing the same thing on the last motor, so I feel like it's something electical, or in the tune.
If I tap the gas from idle it will drop RPM's; from ~1000rpms down to ~500 or so. I've even had a couple times that it will stall from idle when I tap the gas with the clutch still engaged. That makes me thing it's maybe an IAC issue, but it seems to do something similar rolling on the throttle from cruise as well (stutters/misses before it accelerates). If anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them.
#179
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,949
Total Cats: 183
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Definitely not enrichments, I messed with them yesterday with no improvement.
I drove around a little and it started puking oil out the valve cover. When installing the head my torque wrench just stopped clicking, by the time I realized it I'm pretty sure the head was considerably over torqued. I'm guessing I crushed the gasket, probably screwed the head too at the rate I'm going. Seems like that would explain the crap idle/roll on throttle. Probably gonna take a break for a little while.
I drove around a little and it started puking oil out the valve cover. When installing the head my torque wrench just stopped clicking, by the time I realized it I'm pretty sure the head was considerably over torqued. I'm guessing I crushed the gasket, probably screwed the head too at the rate I'm going. Seems like that would explain the crap idle/roll on throttle. Probably gonna take a break for a little while.