Ziggo's 1993 Miata

[Neverlift]

Yeah, that should be a good time for you. Do you have a press? I recommend putting them in the freezer overnight the day before doing them.

[Ziggo]

Originally Posted by Neverlift Yeah, that should be a good time for you. Do you have a press? I recommend putting them in the freezer overnight the day before doing them.

I don't have a press, but the 3 jaw puller I got from harbor freight has done a pretty good job of pressing them out. The biggest issues is they tend to get hung up on one side, then go crooked. When I straighten it out it releases the tension on the 3 jaw puller which then likes to fall off.

More junk arrived today. A very necessary rear view mirror to replace the ricey thing that was on there before, not only because it was ricey, but because it was blocking my line of sight. New radiator cap, just cause I don't trust the old one and it was $5 and new steering rack boots.

[Easter Bunny]

The mirror that came with it would be awesome for track use. Unless you are too tall.

Can't believe no one else commented on the splatter painted valve cover.

[Ziggo]

Originally Posted by Easter Bunny The mirror that came with it would be awesome for track use. Unless you are too tall. Can't believe no one else commented on the splatter painted valve cover.

I am way too tall, and it was not secured well enough or of high enough quality for me to trust it around my head.

The valve cover is.... Special. I like to think of the splatter as rainbow jizz from a unicorn.

[Pu Manchu]

Originally Posted by Easter Bunny Can't believe no one else commented on the splatter painted valve cover.

oh, he got plenty of comments on shout, believe me.

and it's a shame the vc won't fit the inevitable 1.8l swap, cause it suits him

[Easter Bunny]

Originally Posted by Pu Manchu oh, he got plenty of comments on shout, believe me. and it's a shame the vc won't fit the inevitable 1.8l swap, cause it suits him

Originally Posted by Ziggo

Honestly after this picure was posted I want to splatter paint my whole car.

[Dano]

holy mother of god!

1) that's a ton of work.
2) no way to drink a soda while driving the car afterward unless its in a sippy cup.
3) BTW I did love the VC paint job.

Originally Posted by Ziggo Gangs all here, but goddamn does it look like alot of work. Time to start using an impact on the puller to push bushings out, I didn't realize how many were on the rear. Also on the to do is to install a zerk on every one of these except the end links and the diff mounts. Then repaint black with rattle can.

[pzr2874]

Why would you install a zerk on all of them?.... those should outlast your life.... err.... the life of the car.

[Neverlift]

Originally Posted by pzr2874 Why would you install a zerk on all of them?.... those should outlast your life.... err.... the life of the car.

Without a zerk, it's basically half assing the job. If you damage a part that has the bushing installed, and then need to replace that part, you wont be getting that bushing back out, and you will need find a means of just replacing that bushing. Grease is going to keep them clean, keep water out, and will also keep them from binding. Binding is going to be a bigger problem than squeaking.

[pzr2874]

good point, I was thinking of longevity.

[Ziggo]

Binding is the reason as I hear it. You want as little resistance in the bushings as you can get to keep the suspension action pure, you want the spring/shock to control the suspension, not hysteresis in the bushing. Regular greasing helps that.

Really I am just copying what (many) others have done before when setting up a track miata

[Ziggo]

Originally Posted by Dano holy mother of god! 1) that's a ton of work. 2) no way to drink a soda while driving the car afterward unless its in a sippy cup. 3) BTW I did love the VC paint job.

Good thing I have a massive collection of sippy cups!

uploadfromtaptalk1406411589752.jpg

[Ziggo]

Just so I don't go too long without doing anything.... Rearview mirror installed.



Also zerk fittings and snazzy caps have arrived.

[himurax13]

Just spotted this little gem

Miata

[Chief_Wiggum]

I was worried for a minute, based on the picture I thought you installed blue led lights in the interior.

[Neverlift]

That steering wheel is hilarious with that lighting.

How many dead hookers would it take to get it from you?

[Ziggo]

Originally Posted by Chief_Wiggum I was worried for a minute, based on the picture I thought you installed blue led lights in the interior.

Potato camera FTL. I swear no leds were used in the making of this picture, aside from the led "flash" from the phone.

[Chief_Wiggum]

Is that matching glow in the dark paint around the vents as well?

[jbmazda6]

Have you taken a blacklight over the interior yet? I bet this guy got a lot of gay man jizz all over it while zipping around town.

In all seriousness this looks like an awesome build in the making.

[Chief_Wiggum]

Originally Posted by jbmazda6 Have you taken a blacklight over the interior yet? I bet this guy got a lot of gay man jizz all over it while zipping around town..

It's funny because it's true...

[Ziggo]

Thank goodness I don't have a black light. Ignorance is bliss

Originally Posted by Chief_Wiggum Is that matching glow in the dark paint around the vents as well?

It doesn't seem to glow with the lights off, but it does match.

[aaronc7]

Ziggo spotted with new paint job

[Neverlift]

Funny the bumper doesn't read, Out of Closet, Wife Doesn't Know

[Pu Manchu]

bump

[Downmented]

Yummy. Hows the car feel now that you have all the new bushings installed?

[Ziggo]

Don't shame me! It's been too hot to be in the garage working recently. Been working lots of overtime though, will help me purchase those xida clubsports I have been ogling

[SpencerC]

I'm curious on the bushings too, I should do it to my Miata.

[Ziggo]

Alright, I spent a couple hours in the garage this morning before it got too warm. Chose not to work suspension stuff because I may be able to buy those xida coilovers I have been wanting in the next couple months, so no point to getting too far ahead on the rest of it.

I completed removing the AC system from the car, I had not removed the condenser before. The Evaporator is still in, I will figure that out later. I also took a rag and cleaned up the worst of the grime from the bay, most of which was leaked power steering fluid. Looks like the AC system (minus the evaporator) and power steering system total to 41.5lbs. Not too shabby, but I figure quite a few drivers will weigh 40lbs less than me too, so meh..

Installed the new radiator overflow tank, and the washer fluid pump. I seem to have misplaced the cap for the washer fluid tank though. It will turn up eventually I figure.

Flushed the coolant system twice, it was like mud was coming out the first time, the second it was still cloudy, so I will probably do it one more time. However having the car on that long revealed that the alternator was not charging the battery. So that is my next item to troubleshoot. While the car was warming up I also installed the new boots on the steering rack. Will need to buy some hose to loop the lines to complete it and have it ready to reinstall.

[Ziggo]

I pulled the drivers seat an did a foamectomy on the seat bottom, and pulled the center piece of foam from the seat back. Bolstering is much better now, and I am a a good few inches below the roll bar. Looks like I should be able to make do with just a deep dish steering wheel and a proper rollbar

[Ziggo]

Well shit. Foamectomy less successful than I initially assumed. Looks like I am going to have to race seat it and drop the floor pan to pass tech. I need another 4" down to pass. I do sit low enough with no seat in the car so I suppose there is still hope.

[Tyhackman15]

Race seat and a hard top

[Code Monkey]

I did a foamectomy too and overall disappointed. It helps a little bit but not too much, especially if you want to track the car. Bolting the seats to the floor is the best solution, here is a nice write up by a local track junkie.

[Neverlift]

That rollbar isn't passing tech anyway chief.

[cld12pk2go]

Ok I'll bite, WTF is HLA?

Yes, I know it must be something obvious, but I have been drinking good beer since 4pm...

[aaronc7]

Hydraulic lash adjuster. Type of lifter used on NA Miatas.

[Pu Manchu]

Originally Posted by cld12pk2go Ok I'll bite, WTF is HLA? Yes, I know it must be something obvious, but I have been drinking good beer since 4pm...

since ziggo has tapped out, i assume you're talkin about the hydraulic lash adjusters from very early in this thread

[Tyhackman15]

Originally Posted by Neverlift That rollbar isn't passing tech anyway chief.

Yea looking back on the pics it looks like a painted style bar lol. I'd get a real roll bar before you measure anything.

[Ziggo]

Well the intention is to take it to MER and have them fab me up a roll bar, plus possibly door bars, but I want a hard/soft top to be able to clear it so I can't raise the bar height much, if any.

[pzr2874]

So you're talking about going pro SCCA Chris? Could always give it a season to iron the shit out on the track b4

[SpencerC]

Helmets man. Take up too much space. Lol. The foamectomy I did on mine didn't help as much as I would have liked either. It was better, but not great.