I did a thing.

[turboedpickup]

Ooooh. Very good. I'll have to look into that (brake bleed system).

On the taillights... good reference.

http://www.clubroadster.net/vb_forum...nb1-tails.html

[— kung fu jesus —]

Back to your garage for a moment; great job, man! I’m so tired of the other crowd’s aircraft hangars with multiple lifts and second-floor-apartment-complexes that it’s nice to see an ordinary guy’s garage with push mower and bicycle stowed away to make room for actually working on cars.

Thanks! I really missed having a functioning garage. I mean my tool box was over-stuffed, disorganized, and hard to find tools. It was difficult to exit the cars parked in there because so much equipment was on the ground. My wife has a difficult time judging how she is oriented in her space, and the racking was just a hot mess. I think it was a temporary solution that I just pushed off since we moved in last year. I have so much car maintenance and other projects to do, I kept pushing them off because I was frustrated working in there. I really hate clutter, so setting up the garage also corrected the basement storage too, so it was long overdue. It also seems that when my friends want to work on their cars, my house is the defacto location, despite their own homes having garages. I knew if I didn't get it done before spring (lawn maintenance season), it would probably not be accomplished until next year.

I need to get my bike tuned up. We are really close to some nice, groomed trails and a nice historic downtown area with restaurants. I want to be able to ride more for the exercise, but also for odds and ends; car parts, tacos, etc.

I do my own yard work, which is a little rare around here, because I like the exercise and the results. My yard isn't the nicest, but a lot of long-time residents in our new neighborhood appreciate the effort I put into it and tell me so. I guess this yard wasn't always the tidiest.

[— kung fu jesus —]

Ooooh. Very good. I'll have to look into that (brake bleed system).

On the taillights... good reference.

http://www.clubroadster.net/vb_forum...nb1-tails.html

Thanks!

The specific caps for the bleeder I bought off Amazon.

The Miata brake master cap is MP-1111

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The clutch master cap is MP-1000

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They may be cheaper elsewhere, it's been a while since I bought these.

The Motive bleeder comes with a universal cap you can use too. It fits over the reservoir and has a chain to wrap under the brake master and you tighten it with wing nuts. It works, but its a little clunky.

[— kung fu jesus —]

Ripped a few more tasks off the list tonight. I changed the transmission fluid:

IMG_8908.jpg

No surprises.

I also tackled the rear tow hook. A *little* fiddly, but nothing I couldn't handle. Had to drill a hole for the counter bolt and fish the nut though a hole on the back.

IMG_8909.jpg

IMG_8912.jpg

IMG_8913.jpg

IMG_8914.jpg
(peekaboo! I see you!)



Everything took me about an hour. I went for a test drive. It never ceases to amaze me how much everything comes together on these cars when you reset the maintenance. The new braking system is confident and strong, the rebuilt shifter, new fluids, and other bits...just rowing through the gears at casual speeds, up and down, was precise, exhilarating, and satisfying:



The punch list is dwindling as time shortens. I'm feeling good about my progress.

[turboedpickup]

Everything took me about an hour. I went for a test drive. It never ceases to amaze me how much everything comes together on these cars when you reset the maintenance. The new braking system is confident and strong, the rebuilt shifter, new fluids, and other bits...just rowing through the gears at casual speeds, up and down, was precise, exhilarating, and satisfying:

I bet. Treasurecoast just dropped off a package yesterday - master/slave/ss lines and some fluid. Thought I had replaced these already. Looked at the records - welp - it was the previous miata Shifter rebuild will probably be next. Glad you're getting those feels better!

What would you recommend for a tired chassis? My car has ~180k on it now, and I replaced all the bushings, etc - but it still feels "loose" compared to my previous ~100k miata.

[— kung fu jesus —]

How would you describe "tired" and how far are you willing to go?

[turboedpickup]

You know that's a good question. I can't put my finger on it. It's just that this car still feels "looser" than my previous miata. But it might be related more to the steering than anything else. Granted - the previous miata I bought at 84k miles, and this one I bought at 140k and was the most glaring difference. Haven't touch steering bushings since I don't want to take the column apart (unless that's something I need to do).

As far as how far would I go... It would probably be limited to a single purchase that achieves the most improvement. Leftmost bar on a pareto .

[— kung fu jesus —]

Hey! Look what just arrived in the mail! New magnetic roundels from site sponsor Spinnywhoosh!


And another decal for the toolbox!



I like ‘em!

[— kung fu jesus —]

You know that's a good question. I can't put my finger on it. It's just that this car still feels "looser" than my previous miata. But it might be related more to the steering than anything else. Granted - the previous miata I bought at 84k miles, and this one I bought at 140k and was the most glaring difference. Haven't touch steering bushings since I don't want to take the column apart (unless that's something I need to do).

As far as how far would I go... It would probably be limited to a single purchase that achieves the most improvement. Leftmost bar on a pareto .

I would refurb the steering then. New inner/outer tie rods, new lower balljoints. V8Roadsters used to make bushings for the NB steering racks, but I cannot find them on their site. *Maybe* consider a rebuilt steering rack. I had the rack rebuilt on my NA when I freshened the suspension and steering components. It was all so much more precise afterward, I couldn't tell what affected the most change. On my e30, a rebuilt rack was a bit smoother, but that car was much older and had about 180k on it.

I don't plan to add doorbars to my NB, but I may consider cowl stiffener braces and fit under the front fenders, like these:

https://v8roadsters.com/product/cowl-stabilizer-braces/

Frame rails, maybe.

[turboedpickup]

Hmm. I just checked - apparently I hadn't replaced tie rods yet. Looks like those'll be next on the list before the next alignment. Lower balljoints were replaced. Steering rack bushings though...I think I'd have to take the rack out, correct? Found these but not sure if I want to go delrin.

http://www.miataroadster.com/miataro.../i-407777.aspx

Anyways - thanks for all the help! Realized I've been threadjacking a bit.

Like the garage setup...one day I'll have one to call my own. One day.

[HarryB]

Fender braces make a ton of difference in front end feeling, responsiveness and reduce cowl shake when hitting potholes. I was not expecting much when installing mine but (thankfully) I was wrong

[— kung fu jesus —]

Maybe, maybe not on pulling the rack for the bushings. It’s not as easy as the NA racks. You should also check the condition of your upper BJs. If they are floppy, they are done. Usually on bad upper or lower BJs, you can hear them ‘bobble’ or jiggle over bumps and rough roads.

[CollinMB]

You should also check the condition of your upper BJs. If they are floppy, they are done.

That's usually how I know my BJ is done as well . Sorry, couldn't help myself

[— Agent☣Orange —]

[— kung fu jesus —]