anavrinIV bought another miata

[anavrinIV]

TLDR: It's blue!

If you've followed me (and lets be honest, you haven't...because that would be pointless) you'd know that there's a thread somewhere around here about an exocet project that I managed to screw up badly and ditch completely.

This isn't that story, but if you stick around long enough it may become that one. Maybe.

Short story even shorter I wanted a few miata parts and decided that parting out a car would be more cost effective (in the long run) than just buying the parts. And that would still be true if I had decided to follow through with that plan. Instead I decided to keep it at least for now.

At this point the long version of the story would be helpful but I'm not going to go there, I've been drinking a little and my thoughts are all kinds of scrambled. Plus there's too much back story that I don't want to get into.

So here's where I'm at. I bought a barely running 1994 miata (c package if anyone cares) that was tossed up on craigslist cheap. The crank key had sheared and the balancer fell off meaning no accessories are being run. But the pulley and belts were all there and everything else worked. I started it up and it was most definitely rough running but it did run. So I bought it.

Got it home and did the first thing that came to mind when I was looking at it: checked timing. Sure enough it was a couple teeth off. Reset it with the help of @Travisms3; and @dev; and in an hour and a half had it running. There's a sticking lifter (maybe more than 1, it's a rattly sumbitch) but ran smooth otherwise. That was a few weeks ago and today I finally got around to ordering parts to fix it, all of which entailed a new key, crank pulley, and a couple of hoses that were missing. Turns out I had one of the hoses but shit was cheap and I didn't know it was there so whatevs. I need some loctite quickmetal or something like that, will basically re-form the bit of crankshaft that was eaten out (heh) by they key. Parts should be in Thursday and I'm eagerly awaiting them!

interior is pretty good with a few exceptions. the seats are a mess so I won't feel bad foamectomying them. Not one bit. Floor mats are in rough shape. But the interior is the 2-tone leather with a matching soft top that doesn't leak, and it even came with the cargo cover leathery thing that I hear is more valuable than it should be. C package has power windows and mirrors, both of which work but the window motors have seen better days. Also all packages past A (base package) with a manual, which this one of course has, came standard with a torsen so it should be a righteous driving little car.

Yes, it was painted at some point. badly. the paint is terrible. And the trunk is a different color because it was replaced. But underneath it's very clean unlike the last NJ disaster of a car I had.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. First order of business is to fix it, then potentially tag it to drive. My stable is getting full at this point....

So here's a pic. Looks exactly like a miata with a cheap blue paint job.

Oh, and because I feel the need...
@mzr0818;
@King Scumbag;
@mize13;
@ekklesia_ms3;
@CockWarner;
@Omega;

[Code Monkey]

Oh hai!

[anavrinIV]

Just because it's funny and I've only posted it once, here's a pic of me in my first '94 miata. It was in different shape...ran better but was a mess underneath. And was RUSTY.

[Code Monkey]

My road racing Miata is beat on the outside and pretty solid on the inside. I am really glad I bought the cheapest Miata possible as if you want to do road racing you end up replacing most of the shit anyway.

[mzr0818]

Originally Posted by anavrinIV TLDR: It's blue! If you've followed me (and lets be honest, you haven't...because that would be pointless) you'd know that there's a thread somewhere around here about an exocet project that I managed to screw up badly and ditch completely. This isn't that story, but if you stick around long enough it may become that one. Maybe. Short story even shorter I wanted a few miata parts and decided that parting out a car would be more cost effective (in the long run) than just buying the parts. And that would still be true if I had decided to follow through with that plan. Instead I decided to keep it at least for now. At this point the long version of the story would be helpful but I'm not going to go there, I've been drinking a little and my thoughts are all kinds of scrambled. Plus there's too much back story that I don't want to get into. So here's where I'm at. I bought a barely running 1994 miata (c package if anyone cares) that was tossed up on craigslist cheap. The crank key had sheared and the balancer fell off meaning no accessories are being run. But the pulley and belts were all there and everything else worked. I started it up and it was most definitely rough running but it did run. So I bought it. Got it home and did the first thing that came to mind when I was looking at it: checked timing. Sure enough it was a couple teeth off. Reset it with the help of @Travisms3; and @dev; and in an hour and a half had it running. There's a sticking lifter (maybe more than 1, it's a rattly sumbitch) but ran smooth otherwise. That was a few weeks ago and today I finally got around to ordering parts to fix it, all of which entailed a new key, crank pulley, and a couple of hoses that were missing. Turns out I had one of the hoses but shit was cheap and I didn't know it was there so whatevs. I need some loctite quickmetal or something like that, will basically re-form the bit of crankshaft that was eaten out (heh) by they key. Parts should be in Thursday and I'm eagerly awaiting them! interior is pretty good with a few exceptions. the seats are a mess so I won't feel bad foamectomying them. Not one bit. Floor mats are in rough shape. But the interior is the 2-tone leather with a matching soft top that doesn't leak, and it even came with the cargo cover leathery thing that I hear is more valuable than it should be. C package has power windows and mirrors, both of which work but the window motors have seen better days. Also all packages past A (base package) with a manual, which this one of course has, came standard with a torsen so it should be a righteous driving little car. Yes, it was painted at some point. badly. the paint is terrible. And the trunk is a different color because it was replaced. But underneath it's very clean unlike the last NJ disaster of a car I had. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. First order of business is to fix it, then potentially tag it to drive. My stable is getting full at this point.... So here's a pic. Looks exactly like a miata with a cheap blue paint job. Oh, and because I feel the need... @mzr0818; @King Scumbag; @mize13; @ekklesia_ms3; @CockWarner; @Omega;

That's not blue. That's just a shade off of homo



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[anavrinIV]

Since I'd actually like to drive this one a slightly further distance than from a parking spot into the garage I figured I'd work on fitting myself into it a bit better. Last night I yoinked the driver's seat and cut some foam. Gained 1.5-2" of clearance. I was going to take some out of the back but I like my lumbar support. And also there were a lot of metal bits behind the back foam that would have been hella uncomfy. So that stays. For now.

Seat leather is a mess and I'm going to either patch or stitch some large tears in it back together before the seat goes back in. I also want to vacuum the car out.

It's nice having something I can just play with and if it doesn't go well...eh don't care.

[Neverlift]

With leather seats, you can remove the lumbar area padding that is sewn to the leather itself, leave the foam covering the back of the seat alone. The leather provides enough cushion to be comfy, and will provide sufficient side bolstering as well in the turns.

[anavrinIV]

Originally Posted by Neverlift With leather seats, you can remove the lumbar area padding that is sewn to the leather itself, leave the foam covering the back of the seat alone. The leather provides enough cushion to be comfy, and will provide sufficient side bolstering as well in the turns.

That may be true if this seat didn't have what looked to be a speaker with a fairly large frame smack behind the padding. There's no way removing it would have been comfortable, my spine would have been directly on steel.

Put the seat back together and sewed up some large tears in the side of the driver's seat, all is well in the world. It's definitely sitting a bit lower but at my height it's not enough yet. I'll continue to work on it. Next adventure is seeing what I can do about the steering column being in my lap...

new crank key and bolt and things should be in tomorrow so I'm expecting to test drive it on Friday. Hopefully that all goes as planned.

[anavrinIV]

Did some seat surgery, had a couple HUGE gashes that looked like someone took a razor blade to the driver's seat. I'm no good at sewing but I think the side stitches look pretty good, definitely better than the exposed foam that was there.

Bolted the seat back in and made vroom vroom noises. Should have hardware tonight, ready for a test drive tomorrow!

Side note...speed6 getting a brake job in the background. I was just there for the lulz

[Neverlift]

Originally Posted by anavrinIV That may be true if this seat didn't have what looked to be a speaker with a fairly large frame smack behind the padding. There's no way removing it would have been comfortable, my spine would have been directly on steel.

I never said anything about the headrest speakers. In fact, you should not be anywhere near them. My previous post will work for those exact seats, had them in my 94M.

[anavrinIV]

Originally Posted by Neverlift I never said anything about the headrest speakers. In fact, you should not be anywhere near them. My previous post will work for those exact seats, had them in my 94M.

I'll get a pic if I can. I know it's not the headrest speakers but there is definitely a huge metal chunk with wires coming out of it dead in the middle of the back...if i took out the foam that's hogged to the leather there would be literally nothing between it and my spine

[anavrinIV]

IT RUNS!

New parts installed and she runs like a top. Had a bad lifter tick and felt like it wanted to stall on decel coming to a stop but 10 minutes of running and both problems cleared up. There's a flashing air bag light and the brakes feel....old. but other than that no problems i can find.

Happy.

[anavrinIV]

e-brake didn't work when I bought the car. All brakes seem to operate normally but not the e brakes. Took a look at them today and it seems both rear calipers are seized open. Better than closed I guess but still annoying. They're soaking in Kroil for now, I'll pop them apart some time soon and see if I can't get them functioning again. I have the set of cables from the last 94 I took apart and I'll probably swap them out, I think the current ones are stretched from trying to engage the brake on stuck calipers.

Also I fubar'd the studs/nuts/threads that hold the cat when I took it out. So either a test pipe is in order or I'll be doing some serious drilling. I think I'll give the drilling a shot first because it's cheaper.

[anavrinIV]

Bought a set of rear calipers yesterday, the ones on the car are toast. So over the next couple evenings I'll be swapping rear calipers and e-brake cables, resurfacing pads and rotors, cleaning and lubing all the caliper slides, and doing a brake fluid flush. I just wish it wasn't 100 out.

[anavrinIV]

PFFFFT.

Shit just don't go right sometimes.

Resurfaced the rear pads and rotors, installed in new calipers, greased the slides, bolted up, put the lines back on. Removed front wheels, took off front calipers...pads are gone. Unusably gone.

Took a day to mull it over and ordered new brakes all around. Centric premium rotors and stoptech street performance pads, same setup I have (and love) on the speed. Won't be here for a week or so, gives me time to get the cat pipe fixed I guess.

Can't leave well enough alone sometimes...

[anavrinIV]

Fixing the e-brake has turned into the world's longest brake job.

Took almost 2 weeks to get my brake parts in, swapped them all in an afternoon and planned to bleed the next day.

Next day rolls around, @Travisms3; comes over to help with a job that should have taken about an hour. Go to crack all the bleeders open and the first one (right rear) shears completely, flush with the caliper. After travis laughs hysterically for a few minutes and I just stare at the ground in defeat I grab my can of kroil and hit the rest of them, which all break free easily.

So that was that for the day.

Following day I head to the store for a couple screw extractors (#1 and #2 ) and new bleeders, get them and head home to pull the rest of the broken bleeder that's now been soaking in kroil for a day. The #2 looks about right so I hook it all up and....it eats right through the bleeder. The aluminum is so soft it just made a conical hole.

So the next day I got larger set of screw extractors and tried the #3 . This one worked beautifully! For the first half of the depth. At which point the bleeder broke some more leaving the last portion of it half way down the bleeder screw hole. And of course teh #3 is a bit too big to get in that far.

So back to the #2 , threads in, tightens, I think it's pulling! but I'm wrong. And it snaps.

At this point I give up. I'm just ordering a new caliper. I'm too far in to give up now and I'm too angry to keep going with this caliper. This brake job has now cost more than the speed's did.

[Travisms3]

Even more lulz

[anavrinIV]

replacement replacement caliper on its way, should be in tomorrow.

[anavrinIV]

blah blah got the car back together and bled things.

Sold it yesterday. It was either sell it now or resign myself to dumping a lot of money into and I wasn't prepared for option #2 . So consider this case closed.

[Code Monkey]

My prediction for the next project: