The new engine is in and running

The blocking plates showed up the day after the last post, so I was able to install those and get started on the engine installation over the weekend.

 This is the blockoff for the EGR valve on the back of the head.  Below is where the valve was located.

 The tube that went from the head to the intake nanifold had to also go away, so here is the plug for the hole in the head.

 And the plug for the intake manifold side.  I did cut off some of the extra tubing that went into the manifold (the longer part on the right.)

 

 

The EGR valve also had a water line going to it, so that also got capped off.

I thought I had a good picture of the blocking plate for the PCV valve on the side of the engine between the head and block, but can't find it now.  In any case, it is a beautifully machined piece similar to the EGR valve blocking plate, but larger.

By getting rid of that valve, we'll no longer have oils, etc. going into the intake and through the throttle body.  So we'll now have much cleaner intake tract.  This also allowed us to get rid of the hose that went between the valve cover and the intake. I will be putting a catch can in place to take care of the bad stuff coming from the valve cover, and then on the intake side, I purchased a cap to go over the inlet into the intake.

 

 

 

While I was installing the new engine, I decided it was time to upgrade the motor mounts, so I ordered up a set of AWR mounts.  These feature 95 durometer polyurethane, and should stiffen up the drivetrain quite a bit.

 





I also chose to replace the major coolant hoses while everything was being cleaned up/replaced.  Big thanks as usual goes out to Mazda Motorsports here, as they got these to us quickly and now the engine compartment looks incredible.

So, a little more about the engine.  The rules in DP allow a lot to be done, so the motor has new cams, forged pistons with the allowed overbore, a forged crank, and updated just about everything else.


The break-in procedure for the new engine is to start it, let it run for a minute, then do 20 minutes at 2000 rpm.  Let the engine cool, and repeat twice more.  Tonight started the first of these sessions, as our break-in oil from Maxima finally arrived.  Between the more aggressive cams and the much stiffer motor mounts, the car sure does vibrate a lot more!

The first events will be this coming weekend, so we'll report back after that.