Well I ported the irons. Did an okay job. The ports are clean and for the most part are about as close to the markings of the template as I'm comfortable doing by carbide bit. I've beveled the edges to soften them out a little bit using a jewelers file. I don't think they're going to do any damage to any seals that pass by them. Whether it be side seals or corner seals.
I cleaned the rotors too by hand and I noticed something peculiar. One rotor has smooth faces, the other has a textured face. Did Mazda alter how they did rotors one year compared to another? I also removed all seals and springs from the rotors and prepped the seal locations for seals. All in all I think I'm just about ready to start rebuilding the engine. Lets see if I can actually put it all together without issues.
Here's hopin'.
I also received in the mail today a package full of stainless steel flanges and a dump tube for the waste gate. I will probably watch my TIG welding friend make works of art out of them. A word on the flanges. They're not water jet cut or laser cut. They seem to be cast stainless steel and then put through a machining process. Although the thickness is .5" there is what seems to be a severe lack of symmetry on the 3 hole flanges. The V-band flanges however seem quite good on quality. The upper portion of the down pipe should be welded up as well tomorrow.
Speaking of welding it looks like tomorrow is going to be a very big welding day. I have the replacement cross member that will need to be welded up. The hood support that will be welded up as well, and to top it all off I have a hole in my oil pan for the oil return line from the turbo that's going to have a bung welded to it.
While this is all going on I plan on rebuilding the engine or at the very least getting it started. I'd love to have it completely assembled and ready to be installed with the oil pan and what not by the end of the night--though I won't be installing it until after I paint the engine bay... man, there's no rest for this project.
Pictures will for tomorrow will be forthcoming at some point I'm sure.