Well here we are again, tearing in to the Miata. The first step was to take lots of pictures.

These will be my road map. I would never attempt a disassembly like this if;

1. I didn’t have another Miata to use as a guide.

2. I didn’t have 25 separate Digital photos of engine bay wiring and vacuum connections.

3. I didn’t belong to a Miata Club with lots of helpful friends.

I have the typical 1.6L Engine. This is the second engine and I still own the first. This is the third time I have removed the engine from this car.

The first time was to fix a leaky crank. The second time was to replace the engine due to the short Crank problem (again). This is the third time.

I plan to rebuild either this engine or the original. (Unless I get lucky and find a 1.8L!)

You ever try to pull a Miata up Ramps? Let me tell you, it’s not fun.

But I did it! The Red assumes the position.

The Engine takes flight. Since there was no Hood or any other connections to get in the way. It took 40 minutes to pull this engine. I’ve pulled Eight engines so far, this was the fastest.

I also broke my promise not to be in a hurry, and I made a stupid rookie mistake. I didn’t drain the transmission.

Lots and lots of kitty litter.

Another view….

The hole.

If you’ll take notice the engine bay is stripped of all things easily removed.

What you won’t see is that I have scrubbed the engine bay pretty good, and it is now almost shiny white!

Oh, by the way. As you can see, the car that I refer to as the Red was originally a white car.

This is another reason why I am going so radical with the paint job.

Any surface on this car that is white will just be scuffed before primer is applied.

Mostly because that is the original factory finish.

Any surface that was covered in red was stripped to bare metal.

Fortunately, the white paint exists only in the trunk and under the hood.

The White learns what happens when it doesn’t do what it is told.

Next week: Christmas!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

I may apply Primer next week……..