From what I have been told many of the larger, high end engine builders including mazda test-run their engines before shipping to ensure no problems and easy startup for customers. I have always thought that'd be really nice for me to do, with my own rebuilds, but who knows how much an engine dyno costs, it is obviously prohibitive for me.

So then one day I thought to myself, "how cool would it be to take what makes an FC run, out of the fc, and bolt it all to a bench of some kind, so you could just sit an engine down on the bench with a hoist, hook up some things, and test-run it."

So, the more I thought, I figured it'd be really easy in reality to do just that. I have plenty of FC parts and partscars to pull anything I need from, and I have this heavy ***, all metal large work bench I could use, that would even conduct ground just like the chassis of a car. So, I decided to do it.

IT looks like hell, but it works perfectly. I used a known running engine for the initial startup, to be sure everything was hooked up right and such. This was run open header and then no header, but for future use a custom exhaust pipe will be set up that leads outside the building.

The setup: stock s4 NA main wiring harness, ecu, engine wiring harness, gauge cluster and idiot lights (for coolant and oil level warning), battery and charger, L and T coils, radiator with e-fan hooked to a toggle switch, fuel tank with fuel pump hooked to a toggle switch, airflow meter and intake hose, basic sensors and relays required, a loop hose in place of the oil cooler, caps for certain coolant passages, and an ignition switch.

This engine was an already assembled, known working one...in the future, when used to test rebuilt shortblocks, I will run a stripped s4 NA manifold, primary fuel rail with FPD installed and 2 injectors, stripped s4 NA wiring harness, OMP blockoff plate, water pump, housing, and alternator, and flywheel, all that wil bolt on in a matter of minutes for the test.

 

Once I got the thing working, I wanted to make noise and shoot flames.

So here are a couple of shots at idle.




Interesting blue flames at IDLE out of the open manifold. So, I decided to remove it altogether and see what I could see, just for the fun of it...these are also at idle.

 

Here are a couple revved up to around 5krpm. Thing gets hot quick around there. Note the glowing orange exhaust diffusers.

 

that is a great idea and a peace of mind for people doing business with you since they are sure that the engine will run.

 

Now tell me that isnt the single coolest ******* thing you guys have ever seen??

 

I saw that when cranking my new motor up for the first time, unfortunately I had a fuel leak and had to use compressed air to extuingish the fire, then replace the plastic oil lines

But yes it looks ******* badass irl

 

Nice work!

 

That is the single coolest ******* thing I have ever seen!!

Dan

 

Ditto! Lmao, Kevin, that is AWESOME! Now you need to homebrew up a brake dyno! Haha, very cool though! A+ at my science fair.

Steve

 

I was thinking of modifying a stock a/c compressor to indroduce drag for breakin of new engines. Flip a switch and put the engine under load...have to rig up a throttle cable for that though.

 

THAT HAS TO BE THE COOOOOLEST THING I HAVE EVER EVER SEEN.....WOW!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sweet! So what's the story on that sad FD sitting under a box?

 

That is my winter project this year. See that convertible in my sig? It looked worse than that last year this time, and sat on jackstands with no drivetrain and half interior until april.

BTW, that isn't just a box, that's the convertible's greddy FMIC kit

 

Looks like a jet ready to take off! great job! looks badass!

 

Yo,


Kevin, tell us honestly...

How ******* loud is that thing with no exhaust at all on it?

I mean, I can't even begin to imagine it.

Any glass break nearby?

Heh.

Kevin
1989 GTUs "136dB."

 

That is kick ***! I must say, nice work. It makes me want one, just to play with .. even though I have only ever rebuilt 1 engine

 

Open manifold is loud, and ear piercing, but it is also sorta deep. Taking the manifold off and running open ports is like the difference between a racing beat exhaust and a corksport single...it gets WAY raspier and higher pitched.

 

Yeah, I can't believe you built that thing INDOORS. haha! You should hook up a drivetrain and some nice solid axles, and drive your bench around the parking lot at ss7? Lol, now THAT would be beyond the coolest ******* thing ever.

Steve

 

Yeah, you can use the engine to cool a room in your house! Ha! wouldn't that be great!

 

Any chance of a video?

That is way to cool.

 

after just seeing those chopping up pics. I was expecting to see part of a front clip holding the engine

 

That's really cool, and I really hope you had earplugs in

-Manolis

 

wow, thats a nice heater for the cold winter

 

I can do video with my digicam, but it doesn't capture sound at all. Not sure about using my camcorder though.

Video but no sound okay, or is it a must I get out the camcorder and do a capture on the tv card?

 

The new server is the greatest...double post due to proxy 502 error.