Lewis and Dan of Lewis Vehicle Services attempt to fire up a Mazda MX-5 1.8 turbo engine swapped into a classic Jensen Healey, navigating a series of diagnostic and installation challenges.
To get the long-dormant MX-5 engine running, the team carried out a compression test, confirming readings over 100 psi. After draining stale fuel and verifying spark, a smoke check successfully identified a leak from an injector seal.
Although the turbocharged engine fired up, it ran lumpily due to heavy over-fuelling. Dropping the fuel pressure to the required 35 PSI made no difference, indicating the issue lies within the aftermarket ECU’s base map.
General workshop tasks included modifying an ill-fitting aftermarket rear suspension arm for a Kia using a Clarke Turbo 150 MIG welder. They also addressed a Volkswagen with a broken injector clamp stretch bolt snapped off inside the cylinder head.
Finally, the team traced a persistent front-end rattle to loose aftermarket brake pads, and treated a severely overheated engine with a chemical sealant after the customer drove several miles with the coolant red light on.
