Miata Cylinder Head Assembly - GQM Garage

[@alexandruancuta7500]

You're one of my favorite channels on KZbin, keep it going!

[@TheSlipAngle]

Awesome! Thank you Alexandru.

[@lbatalha]

Always wanted a video of that build!

[@lbatalha]

So, if the cold lash was under/over spec would you just somehow grind down the shims (or buy taller shims), if so, is it worth just buying a bit taller shims (7mm or somethin like that) and then grinding them all down to get perfect spec?

[@TheSlipAngle]

You can go taller, but it kinda sucks trying to grind them down evenly because of how small they are. Dealing with shims is just a PITA in general. Manufacturers should take a look at Honda's adjustable rockers and take notes lol.

[@lbatalha]

Thank you :). Your build is my inspiration for what I want out of my NB since its relatively low cost and leaves the bottom end stock. Now ill just have to investigate how the head shaving is gonna work with VVT's huge adjustment range :P

[@TheSlipAngle]

Anytime! I think the VVT should be fine assuming you have an ECU that can control it.

[@MrTAKIS1984]

@@TheSlipAngle you mean ms3???

[@nathanielLEGACY]

I have never rebuilt a head and if I did after watching this I feel like I could do it easy peasy great video

[@TheSlipAngle]

Awesome buddy, thank you!

[@erasmus_locke]

THE MIATA IS BACK

[@showtaito1075]

This is basically lego but 100 times more expensive

[@TheSlipAngle]

LOL, I know, cars are a terribly expensive hobby unfortunately :)

[@Nasonix2]

Awesome and so informative

[@sean1649]

Video gold man, very helpful and informative. Thanks a million for taking the time to break things down, and edit the video for uploading. Love all your cars, please keep these videos coming!

[@TheSlipAngle]

Thank you Sean! No problem!

[@Maik_Grnto]

Excellent video as always! What oil were you using for living the parts up with? Regular motor oil? Or some kind of gear oil? Also in the future, a full engine disassembly video would be cool to see, your style makes it very easy to follow along with!

[@TheSlipAngle]

Thanks Maik. I was using the same 10w30 Royal Purple HPS I run in the car. I haven't actually built a bottom end yet, but maybe it's something I should do for my own experience and to put it on the channel.

[@Nasonix2]

One person asked for help with which parts to buy and since i wrote such a long response, I figured it'd be good to just share with the rest of you. The person asking said they already had valves so for anyone else, I'd recommend avoiding supertech valves. Their inconel ones work fine but for anyone using inconel oversized valves, I'm sure you know enough to not need this help to begin with. For standard size valves I'd recommend either genuine OEM valves or Manley Stainless steel valves. Now on with the post. Supertech single valve springs with titanium retainers would be a nice upgrade. They are easily available. For lifters you could do the same thing as what Quinn's doing and get the mazdaspeed shim under bucket (sub) solid lifters. They are sold at supermiata.com (or .net?) For about $200. That gives you all the lifters. Supertech sells their own SUB lifters too, but they're $400. And I'd recommend saving money where you can because a built head easily adds up to as much money as a built bottom end. You'll need the same size lash caps as Quinn mentions and corrects in his subtitles corrections. It's important to read up carefully to find out how to choose what size lash caps you order. It's an item that will require you to assemble the head on the table like quinn did to find out what sizes you need to order for each lifter individually. As for valve stem seals, don't buy supertech stem seals. Some people have had luck but most people don't and it's not worth it when they're cheap and u can get an OEM upgraded vitron material I believe it's called anyway fab9 and supermiata sells them too. If you need exactly the link let me know. So that covers lifters, valve stem seals, springs, retainers, and shims (aka lash caps). The last thing would be keepers. But before that, one final note. There's a small shim on the bottom of where the valve spring sits at on the cylinder head. It looks like a very thin washer. It's like that from the factory, Quinn only missed mentioning it but you want to keep that shim there. It's very important. If you need extra clarification, I can send you a url to a forum post with images of what I'm talking abt. You'll also need Nb Style keepers (when going SUB/or solid lifters) which both Fab9tuning as well as supermiata sells for about $130? I know, pretty expensive for such a dinky item.. but quality is assured. That price also covers all 32 that you'll need. (2 per valve)

[@lukamatijasevic890]

Thnx a lot for this !

[@TheSlipAngle]

Hey Luka, anytime ;)

[@Paintplayer1]

Excellent demo! My 93 Miata is currently inoperable, I think it might have a blown head gasket (coolant coming from under the exhaust manifold when I try to start it). I want to try that gasket replacement myself since I'm not looking to spend tons of money on this car. Would it make sense to fully disassemble the head and have it cleaned up at a machine shop, cleaning the the stock internals myself and reinstalling them, to try to refresh everything on this ~185k engine? Or is that opening a potentially expensive can of worms on an engine that hasn't had any problems other than that probable blown head gasket? I don't want to try a full engine rebuild if avoidable because it seems to get exponentially more expensive for additional parts, tools, and machining. Great video again, and thanks for any input you're willing to provide!

[@leoroehr98]

I have a couple questions. If I shave my head .040 (1mm) will I have to do anything else to compensate for the higher compression? Like getting a new ecu and tune? Also I herd something like using 2 stock intake cams do you have any info on that?

[@jojonoshie5185]

I don't know much about this, but I think you are talking about the exintake cam mod. This uses two exhaust cams because they have more lift and duration.

[@SU37]

Love your build!! I assume I can do it with the VVT head too?? Thanks :)

[@TheSlipAngle]

Thank you! Yes you can.

[@FabioandBiri]

i need help knowing what to buy for my 1.8 head 1996. i need springs lifters ratianers seals everything except the valves i just dont know if i need oem parts or aftermarket i plan on boosting it too please help

[@Nasonix2]

You still need the help??!

[@Nasonix2]

Supertech single valve springs with titanium retainers would be a nice upgrade. They are easily available. For lifters you could do the same thing as what Quinn's doing and get the mazdaspeed shim under bucket (sub) solid lifters. They are sold at supermiata.com (or .net?) For about $200. That gives you all the lifters. Supertech sells their own SUB lifters too, but they're $400. And I'd recommend saving money where you can because a built head easily adds up to as much money as a built bottom end. You'll need the same size lash caps as Quinn mentions and corrects in his subtitles corrections. It's important to read up carefully to find out how to choose what size lash caps you order. It's an item that will require you to assemble the head on the table like quinn did to find out what sizes you need to order for each lifter individually. As for valve stem seals, don't buy supertech stem seals. Some people have had luck but most people don't and it's not worth it when they're cheap and u can get an OEM upgraded vitron material I believe it's called anyway fab9 and supermiata sells them too. If you need exactly the link let me know. So that covers lifters, valve stem seals, springs, retainers, and shims (aka lash caps). The last thing would be keepers. But before that, one final note. There's a small shim on the bottom of where the valve spring sits at on the cylinder head. It looks like a very thin washer. It's like that from the factory, Quinn only missed mentioning it but you want to keep that shim there. It's very important. If you need extra clarification, I can send you a url to a forum post with images of what I'm talking abt. You'll also need Nb Style keepers (when going SUB/or solid lifters) which both Fab9tuning as well as supermiata sells for about $130? I know, pretty expensive for such a dinky item.. but quality is assured. That price also covers all 32 that you'll need. (2 per valve)

[@sklyrovka]

awesome.. thanks dude.

[@TheSlipAngle]

Thanks, anytime!

[@TheCTM124]

awesome wrenching as usual. what your background on your knowledge

[@TheSlipAngle]

Thanks man. As for my background, it's just years and years of researching, asking questions when I got stuck and diving into projects. I didn't go to school for automotive or anything like that if that is what you are wondering :)

[@TheCTM124]

Garage Quinn Motors That's exactly what I was wondering. good stuff man. I run a automotive repair shop here in Tampa FL with my dad.

[@nbmiata8401]

Awesome video! Question: whats the best way to preserve the head when building the engine? So it won't rust

[@TheSlipAngle]

The head is aluminum so no worries there. A light coat of oil on the valvetrain components should keep them cherry 👍

[@nbmiata8401]

thanks!

[@DJL210397]

Will be doing a head rebuild on my spare 99 cylinder head to go on my MK1, so this is really helpfull and informative thanks! have you gasket matched the ports and smoothed the casting marks?

[@TheSlipAngle]

Awesome! For the last build I ported the head by cleaning up all the flash and popcorns in the casting, thus making the ports bigger. The Hondata gasket and manifold for the ITBs are port matched as well.

[@killzone1o3]

I have replaced the vvti head. With a normal Mazda etude 1.8 non vvti head. Way forward?

[@killzone1o3]

Non vvti head was fitted to my nb miata. How do I start it up?

[@guiguitonicmotorsport]

hi you know if it's similar for europe B6 1.6 miata nb? Do you have the possibility to put the subtitles in French please. good job it will serve me

[@travis6604]

What valve stem seals do you recommend. I know there is controversy about supertechs... I have a 1.6 I will be doing some maintenance on in a couple months. Also when I was looking at oem seals I noticed there wasn't an intake seal vs exhaust seal specifically. Is there no size difference or are all the valve seals the same for both sides? Aka are intake and exhaust valve stem seals interchangeable on the 1.6?

[@TheSlipAngle]

I put Supertechs in my 1.6 and had a lot of smoking. I've used OEMs on 3 different occasions since and haven't had a problem. If I recall, the 1.8's have different Intake vs Exhaust seals, the 1.6 might be the same for both sides. I did a video talking about them and changing them without removing the head. I might have mentioned the differences there.

[@ayboogie420]

do you run oversize valves? and if so do you know if aftermarket pistons would need their valve reliefs machined to accept oversize valves if you were using a domed piston?

[@TheSlipAngle]

I do not run oversized valves. From what I've seen most aftermarket pistons have bigger reliefs than stock.

[@josepimp404]

How much did you cut your head? Ported? Did you need a tune after

[@TheSlipAngle]

.100", Yes and Yes

[@BullPlop11]

About to do a head rebuild on my 1.6L. Would I be correct in assuming the parts and assembly are mostly the same (minus your aftermarket changes of course)?

[@TheSlipAngle]

The parts are not interchangeable with 1.8 components, but the procedure is mostly the same yes. Your lifters are hydraulic so you do not have to worry about the cold valve lash clearance (assuming older 1.6).

[@elijahsalazar7762]

Whats is the torque spec on the cams caps

[@ren930]

Do you know of any good sources for shim-on-bucket lifter shims?

[@TheSlipAngle]

I believe you can still buy them from Mazda Motorsports Development, but Supertech offers them as well.

[@nbmiata8401]

I have another question, how do you adjust the valve clearance when its too tight or too lose?

[@TheSlipAngle]

Change the shim size accordingly

[@Shredzilla100]

Hey. One of my exhaust valve lifters on my 01 measured at over 0.018 so I swapped it out with a spare full lifter I had. I think it measured around 0.016 or 0.017. Do you think that’s way too loose?

[@TheSlipAngle]

It won't hurt anything.

[@Shredzilla100]

Garage Quinn Motors great! That’s I’m relieved thanks

[@FecesPhantom]

if lash is off with the one piece style, how would you adjust?

[@TheSlipAngle]

Use a different sized lash cap

[@Shredzilla100]

I have a 01 vvt head im building. Wouldn't I need to measure the MSM solid lifters before final install to make sure they are in proper tolerance specs?

[@TheSlipAngle]

You would measure the cold lash like I did in this video. When you say MSM are you referring to the Mazdaspeed Miata that came turbocharged and with shim over bucket solid lifters or shim under bucket Mazdaspeed solid lifters like I am running in this video? Either way you should measure cold lash and if needed, buy the correct shim size you need to get your cold lash clearance.

[@Shredzilla100]

Garage Quinn Motors I was referring to the shim under bucket like the ones in this video. Are they not from the mazda speed miata?

[@Shredzilla100]

Garage Quinn Motors ok you answered my questionz Where did you get these from since they don’t come oem on Miatas?

[@TheSlipAngle]

You might be able to still buy them from Mazdaspeed Motorsports. If not Supertech makes an alternative. I believe www.miataroadster.com sells them.

[@Shredzilla100]

Garage Quinn Motors great thank you

[@shidous]

Wow! Very informative and entertaining video Quinn! I never thought i would be able to watch you wrench on the head for half an hour, but this was awesome! I have a question, what should you do if the gap between the cams and the valves are too big? Maybe i missed it in the video?

[@TheSlipAngle]

Thank you Abdulah. If the gap is too big you would have to order a bigger shim. It makes you appreciate engines that have adjustments on the fly.

[@Socautogroup]

Hate to watch another mans pockets but how much would a build like this cost ? I'm torn between a 240sx or Miata for a platform LS swaps are plentiful but this motor sounds like a Yamaha .

[@TheSlipAngle]

Honestly, too much. I don't keep track of everything I spent, but I recommend people just go K-Series if they want serious N/A power in a Miata.

[@Socautogroup]

Garage Quinn Motors dammit ls swap it is lol love the channel that's a sick motor the sound is worth every dollar spent