The First 2002 Lives On - Resurgence of M10 with VIN 1660001

[conkitchen]

Just think, someday maybe there will be a bunch of people talking about the first Mazda Miata to land on the US soil and how it ate every 2 seater British car's lunch in sales, like MG, Triumph, Jag, Austin, and Lotus. 

 

see tag line below

[Conserv]

One of the facts that piques my interest is the standard bores (and, obviously, pistons).

 

While we all believe that M10 bottom ends are plenty durable, my impression is that the majority of M10’s with over 100K-130K miles need an overbore, at least to first oversize. This theory could be totally wrong and maybe engine number 1660001 has 200K miles on it. @Mike Self, for instance, tends to get far more life out of his engines, clutches, and transmissions than those “gear jammer” types — that would be me!

 

But even if my low-mileage theory is wrong regarding 1660001, this engine must have spent its life in the hands of owners who maintained it and didn’t endlessly abuse it!

Both press car use and the presence of dual sidedrafts — when found — suggest enthusiastic driving. I wonder how it spent the rest of these 55 years!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

[02Les]

7 hours ago, conkitchen said:

Just think, someday maybe there will be a bunch of people talking about the first Mazda Miata to land on the US soil and how it ate every 2 seater British car's lunch in sales, like MG, Triumph, Jag, Austin, and Lotus. 

 

see tag line below

 

Correct me if i'm wrong, but most 'British' 2 seater roadsters had ceased production way before the Miata came along in the late '80s. 

[mike472]

3 hours ago, 02Les said:

 

Correct me if i'm wrong, but most 'British' 2 seater roadsters had ceased production way before the Miata came along in the late '80s. 

British cars did themselves in.  Mazda didn’t need to help.  I still want a TR4A

[Son of Marty]

Seeing how Mazda ripped off the style of the Miata from Lotus Elan. I'll take the Lotus because of Colin.

[Mike Self]

It just tickled me to find that 1660001 still existed, at least it's engine, and has been redone to it's original condition.  If 1660001 was the car that Road & Track tested, they were disappointed in its performance--and later discovered (and reported in a subsequent story) that the car had been fitted with a 1600 flywheel, which had incorrect timing marks.  When (presumably) Hoffman fitted the correct flywheel (and presumably clutch assembly) it was much quicker.  That probably accounts for the disparity in performance figures between the R&T and C and D road tests.  

 

My '69 is one of the last 02s off the line (400th from the last) with a 6 bolt crank and that 3 finger pressure plate.  I had to replace the clutch disk at 150k or so, and figured I might as well replace the pressure plate and throwout bearing at the same time.  This was 25 years ago and even then finding both pressure plate and T/O bearing wasn't easy...Finally found the pressure plate at a VW parts specialist  (no it doesn't fit a VW, he just had a couple).  It was in a very tatty box stamped 1982.  I kept the old pressure place and T/O bearing because both were in good shape...and I might need 'em someday!

 

Keep us posted on progress....there are more than a few complete and original early roundies (68s and "first series" 69s around) for authenticity purposes...

 

mike

[02Les]

10 hours ago, mike472 said:

British cars did themselves in.  Mazda didn’t need to help.  I still want a TR4A

And the Unions didn't help. My favourite was the Triumph Stag.

[jplips]

22 hours ago, Conserv said:

One of the facts that piques my interest is the standard bores (and, obviously, pistons).

 

While we all believe that M10 bottom ends are plenty durable, my impression is that the majority of M10’s with over 100K-130K miles need an overbore, at least to first oversize. This theory could be totally wrong and maybe engine number 1660001 has 200K miles on it. @Mike Self, for instance, tends to get far more life out of his engines, clutches, and transmissions than those “gear jammer” types — that would be me!

 

But even if my low-mileage theory is wrong regarding 1660001, this engine must have spent its life in the hands of owners who maintained it and didn’t endlessly abuse it!

Both press car use and the presence of dual sidedrafts — when found — suggest enthusiastic driving. I wonder how it spent the rest of these 55 years!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Steve, often I wonder as well how this engine survived for 55 years. For as far as I know, we only have knowledge for about half of those 55 years thanks to 02Les Cartwright’s database. It was transplanted into a 1600 that was sold in 2006 on eBay in Michigan, where it was described as a non-runner since 1997. Based on the evidence on the lower end during the resurrection process, the chain sprocket on the crankshaft had more than regular wear and tear and was replaced with genuine BMW part.

 

The main bearings were in decent shape and had BMW part number for standard size, nevertheless were replaced with new Glyco standard bearings as well as new Kolbenschmidt rod bearings.

[conkitchen]

19 hours ago, 02Les said:

 

Correct me if i'm wrong, but most 'British' 2 seater roadsters had ceased production way before the Miata came along in the late '80s. 

Correction: ate everyone's lunch in the late 80's  

[ray_]

JP, an excellent and illuminating, and expertly written article!

 

Cheers,