Project: 1995 Miata

[Jake]

Edit: Original "ZOMG I bought it" thread is here.

I figured I'd better start a thread now that I'm doing things to my car.

For starters, it's a 1995 Miata with the 1.8L motor. Makes ~128 HP at the crank, no idea how much at the wheels (less, duh). It has the Popular Equipment package, so I have cruise, power windows, headrest speakers, and a Torsen LSD.

Mods so far:

JVC KD-G510 head unit installed to replace my 13-y.o. Mazda unit.
Pioneer door speakers, to replace the crumbly Mazda ones
Headrest speakers replaced, with 3" ones from a Zenith home-theater-in-a-box system. They suck less than the Mazda ones that were (again) falling apart.

I also installed a set of Flyin' Miata sway bars over the break. Here's my first "issue" I guess. Front one is installed fine. Rear is, too, except for one bolt on a bushing. We uh, snapped it in half. Most of the bolt is still in the car. The sway bar is on, but I need to get the bolt out and replace it. Soon.

So, any tips for getting that bolt out? I know I can run to Lowe's and buy another bolt, but I may have to drill the other one out. It's threaded, I think. We tried just hammering it out and that failed.

The project thread begins [/list]

[.RJ]

Soak it with penetrant several times for a few hours (Kroil works best), then heat it up (smoke wrench).

Is there any part of the bolt sticking out? Vice grips will help if there is. If not, then try a left handed drill bit. If that fails, ez-out. Do not break off the ez-out in the bolt or you're in a world of shit.

[Maengelito]

Soak it with penetrant several times for a few hours (Kroil works best)

FYI 2 for 1 deal - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.kanolabs.com/google/">http://www.kanolabs.com/google/</a><!-- m -->

[Evan]

Kroil better than PB?

[.RJ]

Yes, by far. I have some at the house if you want to try it out.

[Maengelito]

Yes, by far. I have some at the house if you want to try it out.

its a trap!

[Jake]

Thanks for the uh, tips. And picture.
Guess I'll be trying that sometime this week. The rear sway is clanging something awful when I go over speed bumps.

[Jake]

Shenandoah Automotive (on the right side of S. Main) has some very friendly people. I got tired of the sway bar bumpin' around, and I also looked and the bushing was bent back. Figured I should take care of it sooner rather than later.

Instead of me freezing my ass off in the 3° weather of H-Burg, I took it to them. $29 later, I was out of there with the little piece of metal blasted off, and a new bolt in its' place.

I'm not sure a drill would have fit. The exhaust is in the way. We used a pneumatic 'chisel' type thing to get it out, and came from the other (flat, spot-welded) side. Easy thing to do, if you have proper tools.

[Jake]

Well... not looking like the world's best day for MM cars. I got home tonight after a great Skyline Cruise and visit to Summit and parked in the driveway. After an hour-ish, I moved the car and had left a sizable (4-inch diameter?) pool of oil on the driveway.

It's leaking somewhere. Oil (on a cold engine) is reading as almost an entire quart low. If the car's been running - drove it 3 miles to Exxon and back - it reads close to full.

Not a huge deal as I was planning on leaving the car anyway and taking the Escape back tomorrow to move out. I was also planning on autocrossing the Miata tomorrow at FedEx. Now I get to try my hand at mom's Crossfire...

Let's hope it's nothing hugely serious to fix, please. Any ideas? DJ mentioned it could be the oil drain plug not sealing properly (and thus needing replacement) so I'm hoping it's that and it's minor.

[Mike]

oil pan gasket? valve cover gasket?

[Nis01]

oil pan gasket? valve cover gasket?

I don't know why it would just suddenly appear now but make sure its not the oil pan plug crush gasket or the oil filter seal coming lose. I know its pretty easy to just keep adding crush gaskets onto the oil pan plug so make sure that hasn't created a bad seal. Hopefully its nothing too serious Jake, good luck with diagnosing the leak.

[Evan]

Probably the CAS o-ring, They leak ike clockwork on these cars.
although ususally it doesnt gush oil that much.
if that is indeed what it is, start planning on a new clutch too because that much oil would get in the bellhousing and cause the clutch to slip (happened to me)

My valve cover gaskets also start leaking at regular intervals so give that a look too.

[Jake]

Probably the CAS o-ring, They leak ike clockwork on these cars.
although ususally it doesnt gush oil that much.
if that is indeed what it is, start planning on a new clutch too because that much oil would get in the bellhousing and cause the clutch to slip (happened to me)

My valve cover gaskets also start leaking at regular intervals so give that a look too.

Unfortunately it's not either the CAS or the valve cover gasket. I replaced both of those over spring break (because CAS was leaking) and things were tight until now. No leaks at all.

I'm back at JMU now, Dad's going to take it in for me and foot the bill as a thank you for some work I've done for him lately. I'll definitely post back to say what was busted though.

EDIT: Got a call from the repair shop. Busted washer between the oil drain plug and the oil pan. Everything looked fine when I put it back together after last week's oil change, but the guy on the phone said it could take a while (in my case, a week) for it to leak and once it does, it doesn't stop.

Glad it wasn't anything worse. Thanks for everyone's suggestions!

[Jake]

I has new tires... got a set of Falken Azenis put on today. I upsized from the stock 185/60-14 to 195/60-14 as per recommendations from Miata.net.

Even in the rain, I can tell they are far more grippy and sporting. My Riken Raptors (put on by the p.o.) were as menacing on track as this lil' Raptor:



so it's nice to have something better, finally!

[Jake]

Welp, I did something to my car and didn't blow it up! It's intake time. I don't have the cash for a tur-bow or supercharger, but wanted some vroomy sounds and figured a few extra HP couldn't hurt either.

It's a Racing Beat CAI, ordered from Good-Win Racing. Took a week to get here from California - which is good, I guess. I was impatient. Anyway... arrived and installed yesterday. Mucho thanks to Goodspeed for the garage space, tools, and help.



This is my year-old air filter. Still looked fairly clean...



The hardest part of this whole install was relocating my cruise control. It sits right where the CAI wants to be, so Racing Beat includes a relo kit. It's a very tight fit when things are said and done, and the pictures they provide are too small to be useful. Fortunately, the directions are pretty descriptive, so once you figure out the general location where the CC will go, it all just makes sense.



All installed! RB says you "may have to bend the brackets to allow the hood to close" - they aren't kidding. We bent them significantly, but it all fits just fine.



Took Goodspeed for a celebratory cruise... we left North 38 and I basically idled onto the back road, then floored it in 1st. And holy hell, the heavens opened up and my puny motor breathed fire. It sounds SO good now... the extra vroom noise happens based on throttle position. About 40% throttle or more results in massive gulping of air. Less than that, and she's as quiet as stock.

I'm pleased :thumbup:

[ScottyB]

intakes are fun its nice that you don't deal with any drone, you just get fun noises when you want them

[V1GiLaNtE]

I expect a ride on Friday to here the VROOM VROOM VROOM!!!

[Jake]

Figure it's time for an update. I've passed the 20,000 mile mark of ownership as of last week. My very blurry, iPhoney shot crossing 92,880 miles:



In all, the car has been very reliable. I've put 20,000 miles on it, not all of which were grandma-style cruising. She's had autocross, some light track time (touring laps) and of course, the glorious backroad cruises that require 3rd gear at high rpm for a few miles at a time

Mod-wise... FM sway bars, Falken Azenis, Racing Beat intake, aluminum radiator, and a crap-ton of seat time. All of the issues that I've had with leaks - lots of coolant and a little bit of oil (from earlier in the thread) - have been caused by my wrenching and learning as I go. Nothing leaks at the moment which is great, and I'm hoping to keep it that way. I think with regular maintenance, it'll remain as solid as it has. I'm happy, especially considering the car is 15 years old now.

Once all this damn snow and cold dissipates a bit, she needs a bath, bad. When the weather gets a bit nicer, I'd like to pull the seats and really clean everything well.

[Goodspeed]

Once all this damn snow and cold dissipates a bit, she needs a bath, bad. When the weather gets a bit nicer, I'd like to pull the seats and really clean everything well.

Quit yer whining son, get out there and wash her, its not that bad. Just make sure you dry off all the water at the back of the car first where it'll freeze the fastest, ask me how I know hehe.

When its warm bring it by N38 and we'll detail the rides. You can use my LG cleaner and polish, it'll do wonders.

[D_Eclipse9916]

You have no room to talk mr. "its too cold to autocross.....yet ill spray water everywhere and spend hours detailing my car int he same weather". Seriously? Good god at least at the autox your IN the car.