Mazdamitch's new project truck

MazdaMitch

Well for those of you that have followed me on Instagram and YouTube you know or have known that I have a 91 Mazda le5 project truck with a locked up engine.

Been sitting in the yard for 2 years now and I'm finally getting around to it.

This truck is an automatic and it's the first automatic I've ever had so this truck should open up a ton of video opportunities.

This is what I need to do:

Pull the engine that's locked up and put it to the side.
Take the old engine that I have and do a quick and dirty rebuild.
Put that engine in the truck to see if the trucks transmission even works.

That's really what I need to do but it's going to be hard. I seem to have this problem sometimes where I can't just stick to some basics I generally if I see something that needs cleaning or repaired along the way I'll stop and do it before you know it the whole truck's brand new and that's not my intention yet.

I've got to stick with the basics to make sure this trucks transmission works and go from there.

I'll probably update this post as I go along....you know adding to it.

Mrcrowley

MazdaMitch that's clean

JoeFountain

MazdaMitch I love those Harbor Freight Gantry Cranes. I've been using mine for a little over a year and have pulled heavy service beds, heavy diesel engines, and even picked up my entire 1990 B2200 Base truck to set it on a trailer with no ramps. I only wish I had a concrete floor or even a garage, as all my work is done laying in gravel out in the weather.

Red91EFI

MazdaMitch

You've got a great shop that you built to work on your projects.

Xoloanon

Truck I’m working on is auto also and is first automatic minitruck I’ve ever had.

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Mazda's auto trans in these trucks are not bad at all. Anyone that thinks that the auto will rob too much horsepower from these Mazda engines......well......they don't have any horsepower to begin with! I believe Mazda put a taller rear gear in the auto trans trucks, which can help the fuel mileage when driving on the highways......I know my B2600i auto truck has a taller rear gear than the manual trans truck of the same year/engine.

Red91EFI

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Doesn't your B2600i have a 120hp engine .

Axel-Breaker-Earl

JoeFountain I only wish I had a concrete floor or even a garage, as all my work is done laying in gravel out in the weather.

Welcome to the forum! You definitely need a concrete slab at least! 🙂

MazdaMitch

JoeFountain I only wish I had a concrete floor or even a garage, as all my work is done laying in gravel out in the weather.

It wasn't always like this with the nice shop.
I too have laid in the dirt and worked in the elements.

JoeFountain

Axel-Breaker-Earl and more time to work on my 90 b2200

JoeFountain

JoeFountain I've replaced the bumper, all front suspension and steering, brakes, and now have to do the timing, valve seals, hydraulic lifters, and front main seal(dumps oil about 1 qt per 100 miles). 220k miles on the clock and still running strong on everything completely stock...except the huge cloud of blue smoke when it's cold-started. Either way, for me being 6'4" tall and it being a regular cab. It's so fun to drive and easy to work on. It's my go-cart.

Mrcrowley

MazdaMitch I like your crane

Cusser

Great shop, Mitch !!!

I have enclosed garages at both my places. But on days like today, I'll be working on Mrs. Cusser's horse trailer ("dressing room" door re-alignment - trouble closing and latching/locking, and re-installing the trailer wheel fender) in the street, but both are on the right/sidewalk side.

MazdaMitch

I actually enjoy working on the outside.
I have good lighting, but I love good outdoor lighting when I'm working.

Cusser

MazdaMitch I actually enjoy working on the outside.
I have good lighting, but I love good outdoor lighting when I'm working.

I like the outdoor lighting too, as I get older.....however, here in Arizona there are way too many months that are just way too hot to work on a vehicle outside. If you think where you live in the southeast is hot - try spending a summer in Phoenix AZ, where the summer nights can cool off to 97F by 4am !!!!

MazdaMitch

Cusser you forget I have family there, I know about the heat.

Me biking in it.

Cusser

Braver and younger than I !!!!

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Hot temperature changes to a whole different kind of hot, when you add 80-90% humidity!

Unfortunately, I am currently sitting mostly indoors for over a month as I am having to apply Fluorouracil 5% cream to my face, ears, scalp, neck, and shoulders. I am up to 2 weeks of twice-a-day applications, and it is miserable! My skin is peeling off, and sores are developing......and the Dermatologist wants me to do this for 2 more weeks......I won't make it that long! If I can get to 3 weeks total, I will stop applying and try to heal up.

All those years in the Florida sun, working construction, and surfing at the beach every weekend when I was younger, has caught up to me......all I can say is......wear your sunscreen people! I am going stir crazy as I can't get in the sun (having to stay indoors) while I'm applying (and healing) this "chemotherapy" treatment.

MazdaMitch

Axel-Breaker-Earl I hate to hear that.
I have had several cancerous spots removed from my back so these days I try to wear those Sun shirts even though I love the Sun.

It only gets worse as we age because our skin loses its ability to protect us, coupled with the long-term damage exposure we did when we were younger.

Axel-Breaker-Earl

MazdaMitch I have had several cancerous spots removed from my back so these days I try to wear those Sun shirts even though I love the Sun.

Thanks Mitch.

Me to......I know all about MOHS surgery.......having been through those dozens of times. This is the first time that I have done the "skin peel" medication......and I don't think I will ever do it again, on my face anyway. It is way too torturous to me!

Axel-Breaker-Earl

Mitch.......I finally installed the B2000 engine in my friends 1989 B2200 auto trans truck today. I had to run to the hardware store and get a new O-ring for the Input Shaft on the transmission......it is located near the outer end of the input shaft, and in the Workshop Manual is states to Replace it. I tried to order one through the local Mazda dealership, but they couldn't guarantee me that the one they found in GA would show up on Monday. So I just matched it up with an O-ring from Ace Hardware. It is 7/8" outside diameter and 3/4" inside diameter and it is 1/16" in thickness........it worked fine for me.

MazdaMitch

Axel-Breaker-Earl
I may have ordered the last one...but first....

I have several o ring kits and I measured and came to a decision on one, and I think this was it.

From this SAE kit from Harbor Freight... I went with the 116 I think.

It fits good.

The original had a nick cut out of it, and looked "flat" so since I was ordering a few things and tried to order a new dipstick, I ordered the proper O-Ring.