I am slowly making progress on the engine - everything is being removed, sandblasted, and painted. I am making a lot of compromises from my original plan after several setbacks due to money issues. I'm pretty much going stock except for the turbo and intercooler. Right now its still a sight for sore eyes but it will look nice soon.

Please keep in mind these pictures have been taken over a 5 month period.


Trying to pull the valves from my spare head using an improvised spring compressor...




Trying not to scrach the HLA wells




You can see the vavlestem and the valve keepers here.




Not very efficient but it did work.




Exhaust valves




Preliminary porting & polishing on the intake side




Mmmm shiny.




Combustion chambers are still dirty.




I put tape on the head surface so it wouldnt get scratched up too bad




Preliminary knifedging on the exhaust side.




Still have a LOT more to do




Thats a knife edge though.




I painted it green! The stripes were eyeballed and came out pretty good.




I didnt paint the hardtop incase I ever want to sell it.




Shitty angle.




Front bumper removed




The dirty engine without the valvecover




The turbo is completely shot




Random parts




I got around to painting stripes on the back too.




Pretty even.




Meh.




Got the bumper too









Pictures dont do it justice. It really is a LOT uglier than it looks.




Sexy Capri ass




A look at the nightmare I'm getting into




I blew out the turbo at 168k after boosting to 20 psi on it.




Even from here you can tell the compressor is SHOT




There was about 3/8" shaft play in it...




Noting the distributor timing before I take it off.




Noting clutch cable adjustment




Front motor mount is shot.




These are the upper mounting bolts for the downpipe - they are a nightmare to get off.




My straightpipe exhaust. Pretty ghetto, going much bigger next time




Shot turbo's turbine housing




You can see shiny metal on the turbine - it was clipping the housing.




I'm trying to show how much of a gap there is but its not working.




Nope.




Oil everywhere too.




The compressor blades are bent.









This is the center shaft or whatever, The bearing thing there is obliterated.




Ugly.




The fins are razor sharp from hitting the compressor housing - not to mention pretty bent.




Very bent.




Very ugly.




How did it last this long?




You can see where it touched the housing




Exhuast manifold bolt pattern




Looking to see if its possible to turn a miata turbo manifold upside down




The 4 holes on the end are the only ones that match up.




Would be difficult to re-drill this one.




Conclusion: very possible




My would- be replacement turbo




Half-ugly




The blades arent bent but there is a little shaft play




Paint does wonders.




I decided not to use it but it would have been a temp replacement.




The shifter assembly




Ugly rust




Noting distributor connections




Some bracket thingy goes there




A little clearer




Another dizzy connection




Knock sensor plug




Ground at front left of head




Ground at rear left of head




Noting vacuum lines




That one is important. I think.




The head's off




Its a head!




Intake manifold removed.




Ugly. I had previously painted the fuel rail but it didnt hold up.




The valvetrain




Mmmmm pistons




Fucking carbon. Who the hell made up the saying "A redline a day keeps the carbon away?" Its BULLSHIT




Ugly engine bay




The knock sensor




A real fartcan muffler!




Its winking. (about what, I'm not sure)




Trying to pull the axles out




Still trying to pull the axles out




Alternator bracket




Noting alternator connections




Front view




The bar & plate intercooler I bought.




Its at least twice the stock size, and made of more efficient Aluminum




My axles with shot outer CV joints. Dont run 30,000 miles with split boots




Noting oil cooler line




Noting the other one.




I'm sure this is something important too.




At 168k there is still crosshatch visible in the bore




Axles OUT! They are a pain but just hit em hard enough




Other side.




The end of the halfshaft




Theres a bracket that mounts to the block.




Another view, and that wierd pipe for some J-spec thing




Theres a wire connected to the power steering pump. The car will explode without it.




Noting bracket on transmission bolt




Front struts. One dust boost is obliterated




The half-shaft and bracket pulled out.




Noting transmission mount bolts




This one on the bottom is 12mm.




Better pic.




There are 2 front the starter side




Seperated! On hindsight thought, its best to take them both out as one unit.




Tight squeeze




Mess of wires and connectors




Its out!




Crank side




Front side




Transmission side. This is the flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate




Ugly ass bell housing.




The speed sensor gear thing




Its plastic.




It also doubles as the fill-hole




Noting transmission connections.



















One goes way up here somewhere.




The clutch and pressure plate.




The flywheel




Empty engine bay!




The oil cooler




Stock shifter Vs. Civic short throw shifter I bought on eBay for $15




It fits but the bushings dont seat well




IHI-VJ11 turbo I bought on eBay




Good condition, little shaft play




Again, paint does wonders.




MMmmmmmm...




Shiny!




I hope it lasts.




Crate 'O parts that need to be blasted and painted




Engine in my shed on the stand




Noting that the Capri Master Cylinder has 4 outlet lines




It doesnt use an external proportioning valve.




Painted transmission




Smushed pic, shelves full of parts




Another smushed pic w/ head on block




Mocking the head on the block to test turbo clearance




Ugly.




Needs cleaning.




Waiting to be sandblasted.




Shiny intake manifold!




The stock tailights work with the body but arent very stylish.




BAM!!! The '94 style look AWESOME




Pic of the old exhaust




The cat was cleaned out by the previous owner.




Suprisingly, it wasnt very loud like this.




Noting a connection on the passenger door.




Its a power lock actuator!




Funny, because power locks were not a factory option, and this is an OEM ford part.




Boost and A/F ratio gauges installed in the A-pillar pod




The pods arent the best fit but they do work.




The lower guage bulb hits the dash but its better than duct tape!




Painted intake manifold loaded with painted & polished accesories




Slightly bored throttle body inlet (done out of boredom)




Polished injectors need a coat of high temp clearcoat




No more "TURBO" decal




Without flash - shows the colors better




Or not...




painted block




Oil pan too




Front of the block




Ribbed oil pan




Quick shot of the capri sleeping...Intercooler hasnt been mounted yet.