So how bad is it to do a BP waterpump while it's in the car?

[TorqueEffect]

Long story short, found a leak at the waterpump, can't tell if it's the seal or the weep hole.

I should've just done it before I put the engine in, but I was too broke to care at the time and just wanted to get the oh so sweet BP goodness in there. lol
It doesn't look too bad to do, looks like I can gain enough clearance just by remove the passenger mount and either raising or lowing the the front of the engine.

I would have searched, but everyone knows that two letter words like "BP" don't work in the search. lol

So what should I expect, do I need to remove the cam sprockets like on a Miata?

[FestYboy]

The only difference between a sohc and dohc water pump is the extra idler pulley for the timing belt so far as I can tell. It's still just 4 bolts holding it on, and since you don't have to contend with the water outlet, there should be plenty of room to remove it without removing the sprockets. I would go in with draining fluid, removal of the WP pulley, upper cover, lower intake tube, loosen timing belt and slide it behind the mount, remove the idler pulley to gain access to the one bolt that sits behind it.

[shadetree]

Your engine mount will make the job unique to your car . The job can be done normally with the mount still on . I remove the cam gears and the plate behind them that makes cleaning and removal much easier .
Good luck .

[RdstrBlk]

On the BP this unfortunately requires removal of the timing belt. Just did this on my 94 miata. 4 bolts for WP. 1 bolt for alternator bracket. 2 bolts, an o ring, and a hose clamp for the inlet pipe. Go for the gates 42134 on amazon, $35 and a cast impellor. Retiming is easy, just line up your marks, count 19 teeth on the belt between I and E, then set belt tension at 1 2/3 turns of the crank. Does the fwd version of the BP also have the need for an optimized coolant reroute? If so, do it now.

[TorqueEffect]

Thanks for the tips guys! Sounds like really the only added difficulty is having two cam gears to deal with instead of one.

On the BP this unfortunately requires removal of the timing belt. Just did this on my 94 miata. 4 bolts for WP. 1 bolt for alternator bracket. 2 bolts, an o ring, and a hose clamp for the inlet pipe. Go for the gates 42134 on amazon, $35 and a cast impellor. Retiming is easy, just line up your marks, count 19 teeth on the belt between I and E, then set belt tension at 1 2/3 turns of the crank. Does the fwd version of the BP also have the need for an optimized coolant reroute? If so, do it now.

Rockauto says different for the Escort Waterpump, gives 42131 for the Dayco Waterpump not 42134, also is over $10 cheaper than Amazon. Looking at the fitment it fits Miatas, but not for your 94', only 91'-93', probably the B6 Miatas.

And yeah I know the timing belt has to come off, planning on changing that for good measure too, getting the DAYCO 95179K1. Comes with a new belt, tensioner, idler, and 3 new tensioner springs.

EDIT: Found a good video on youtube, though it's for a Miata, allot of it would apply to our application. In fact it looks easier to do on our cars, than on a Miata.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKHv5_d1a6I

[Dragonhealer]

As to coolant rerout, all 1800 head gaskets i've seen are correct for the transverse engine configuration through 1997, sadly even the Miata which takes it's coolant of off the wrong end of the head and would benefit from a rerout (or replace head gasket with 2004 MazdaSpeed head gasket which addressed the issue)

[TorqueEffect]

As to coolant rerout, all 1800 head gaskets i've seen are correct for the transverse engine configuration through 1997, sadly even the Miata which takes it's coolant of off the wrong end of the head and would benefit from a rerout (or replace head gasket with 2004 MazdaSpeed head gasket which addressed the issue)

That may be, but I think I will leave well enough alone
Also I found out the difference in the water pump is just down to the 94' and up Miatas have a extra tab on the water pump that the alternator bracket bolts to.

[Dragonhealer]

That may be, but I think I will leave well enough alone
Also I found out the difference in the water pump is just down to the 94' and up Miatas have a extra tab on the water pump that the alternator bracket bolts to.

Yes, but the 1600 pump has a smaller diameter impeller to reduce cavitation at the higher rpm the 1600 runs.
My current supplier (of cast impellor pumps) uses the larger impellor on all of them, so I have to machine them down for 1600 use.