Help me find my oil leak
04-15-2010, 03:04 PM
#41
You guys are right.
I've been fighting with myself about this ever since I wrecked her car. I knew I should have let the project go, made it a daily, and focused on making it up to my wife. Instead I continued full steam ahead with upgrades, and keep scaling them back, ramping them up, and leaving them abandoned due to budget, time and marital constraints.
The whole reason I put so much effort into the Miata is because I dearly miss my bike. I have yet to make this car replace what the bike was to me though. The bike was fast, so fast I didn't have to prove it. The bike was always in one piece...there's only so many upgrades you can make to a 0.955L machine that made almost as much power as my Miata does now (TBR can, PowerCommander etc.). The bike was perfect for throwing a leg over and ripping a few ridiculously fast miles of on to peel away all the stress and worries.
I never drive the Miata just to drive it, where as I used to go on "rides" on the bike. I never had to race anyone on the bike. I knew how fast it was, and it was like the guy with the black belt, use only as much force as necessary. The bike was track ready, out of the box. I was just getting into track days when I let it go.
I'm obsessive about the Miata because it's the only stress relief I really get that's mine. But I try to bite off so much I frustrate myself. I need to let it go.
Expect a part-out thread soon...this car's going back to stock to daily it. I need a proper weekend toy.
First I've got to fix an oil leak....
All of that aside...I am having horrible luck with a turbo'd DD Miata. Yes, it's fun when it's all together, but I spend way too much time working on it, planning upgrades, installing upgrades, fixing botched upgrade installs, uninstalling upgrades, selling/shipping upgrades....etc.
I've been fighting with myself about this ever since I wrecked her car. I knew I should have let the project go, made it a daily, and focused on making it up to my wife. Instead I continued full steam ahead with upgrades, and keep scaling them back, ramping them up, and leaving them abandoned due to budget, time and marital constraints.
The whole reason I put so much effort into the Miata is because I dearly miss my bike. I have yet to make this car replace what the bike was to me though. The bike was fast, so fast I didn't have to prove it. The bike was always in one piece...there's only so many upgrades you can make to a 0.955L machine that made almost as much power as my Miata does now (TBR can, PowerCommander etc.). The bike was perfect for throwing a leg over and ripping a few ridiculously fast miles of on to peel away all the stress and worries.
I never drive the Miata just to drive it, where as I used to go on "rides" on the bike. I never had to race anyone on the bike. I knew how fast it was, and it was like the guy with the black belt, use only as much force as necessary. The bike was track ready, out of the box. I was just getting into track days when I let it go.
I'm obsessive about the Miata because it's the only stress relief I really get that's mine. But I try to bite off so much I frustrate myself. I need to let it go.
Expect a part-out thread soon...this car's going back to stock to daily it. I need a proper weekend toy.
First I've got to fix an oil leak....
All of that aside...I am having horrible luck with a turbo'd DD Miata. Yes, it's fun when it's all together, but I spend way too much time working on it, planning upgrades, installing upgrades, fixing botched upgrade installs, uninstalling upgrades, selling/shipping upgrades....etc.
Of course as I say this its sitting in my driveway dead. I think its just out of gas though =P
But seriously, the only issue's i've had were related to me installing something wrong or cheaping out on something.
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04-15-2010, 03:16 PM
#42
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My problem is really the same thing. This is really about me not having time to do things right, or finish them properly. I hurried to do a motor swap over the weekend, and was still sorting out major running problems a month later.
I've been consolidating my build efforts recently to focus on reliability (and speed), and maybe I can make it work. But maybe I'll just get more fed up and be out more.
My brother was laughing his *** off at me over lunch. Three weeks out from finals and I'm talking about the turbo I'm about to upgrade to. Then about how I shouldn't spend more money on the car, then about the manifold I want to have built.
I'm going to take some time to reassess all of this, but a lot of my point boils down to the fact that I'm really not enjoying it as much as I should.
I love working on cars, but hate not having time to do the job properly.
I love going fast, and getting the most out of a setup, but hate driving something that is problematic, and is giving me grief because I tinkered with it.
I love researching and getting new parts, but hate when I have to sell them, lose money, and deal with online sales.
I love studying up on how to go faster, and planning, but hate it when I turn around and didn't get an assignment done, or forgot to mail a bill.
On the enjoyment side, I need a hobby that frustrates me less, doesn't hinder my necessary transportation, and is pure stress relief when I'm doing it. I've always believed in work hard, play hard...but recently my play has been as gratifying, and I think it affects how hard I work since I'm reverting to the "pleasure principle" when I am used to toughing it out and sacrificing to the "reality principle." I'm getting worse at delayed gratification since I'm more stressed, and less gratified.
If I were single this would be easy, I'd just chase more tail. Being married (and devoted) I have to be a little more responsible, and keep my time to things like golf, building cars, fishing, riding, or something that doesn't end in divorces or herpes.
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04-15-2010, 05:14 PM
#43
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On a serious note, Write down your plan for the car item by item. Then put the list in order of importance. Then stick to it. If you never plan you will constantly keep doing and undoing. "You rack disciprine!" ...and focus...and direction. You need a firm plan.
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04-15-2010, 05:23 PM
#44
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http://www.aka.kite.org/
On a serious note, Write down your plan for the car item by item. Then put the list in order of importance. Then stick to it. If you never plan you will constantly keep doing and undoing. "You rack disciprine!" ...and focus...and direction. You need a firm plan.
On a serious note, Write down your plan for the car item by item. Then put the list in order of importance. Then stick to it. If you never plan you will constantly keep doing and undoing. "You rack disciprine!" ...and focus...and direction. You need a firm plan.
I actually make a nice list every season. It usually goes out the window due to other problems, good deals I catch, and an incredible lack of time to actually just do what's on the list.
If I could just go down the list, I would enjoy this. Unfortunately I put lots of miles on the car, and constantly am "fixing" the last thing I put on or touched in the process. Maybe I'm subconsciously a masochist.
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04-16-2010, 12:43 AM
#45
You guys are right.
I've been fighting with myself about this ever since I wrecked her car. I knew I should have let the project go, made it a daily, and focused on making it up to my wife. Instead I continued full steam ahead with upgrades, and keep scaling them back, ramping them up, and leaving them abandoned due to budget, time and marital constraints.
The whole reason I put so much effort into the Miata is because I dearly miss my bike. I have yet to make this car replace what the bike was to me though. The bike was fast, so fast I didn't have to prove it. The bike was always in one piece...there's only so many upgrades you can make to a 0.955L machine that made almost as much power as my Miata does now (TBR can, PowerCommander etc.). The bike was perfect for throwing a leg over and ripping a few ridiculously fast miles of on to peel away all the stress and worries.
I never drive the Miata just to drive it, where as I used to go on "rides" on the bike. I never had to race anyone on the bike. I knew how fast it was, and it was like the guy with the black belt, use only as much force as necessary. The bike was track ready, out of the box. I was just getting into track days when I let it go.
I'm obsessive about the Miata because it's the only stress relief I really get that's mine. But I try to bite off so much I frustrate myself. I need to let it go.
Expect a part-out thread soon...this car's going back to stock to daily it. I need a proper weekend toy.
First I've got to fix an oil leak....
All of that aside...I am having horrible luck with a turbo'd DD Miata. Yes, it's fun when it's all together, but I spend way too much time working on it, planning upgrades, installing upgrades, fixing botched upgrade installs, uninstalling upgrades, selling/shipping upgrades....etc.
I've been fighting with myself about this ever since I wrecked her car. I knew I should have let the project go, made it a daily, and focused on making it up to my wife. Instead I continued full steam ahead with upgrades, and keep scaling them back, ramping them up, and leaving them abandoned due to budget, time and marital constraints.
The whole reason I put so much effort into the Miata is because I dearly miss my bike. I have yet to make this car replace what the bike was to me though. The bike was fast, so fast I didn't have to prove it. The bike was always in one piece...there's only so many upgrades you can make to a 0.955L machine that made almost as much power as my Miata does now (TBR can, PowerCommander etc.). The bike was perfect for throwing a leg over and ripping a few ridiculously fast miles of on to peel away all the stress and worries.
I never drive the Miata just to drive it, where as I used to go on "rides" on the bike. I never had to race anyone on the bike. I knew how fast it was, and it was like the guy with the black belt, use only as much force as necessary. The bike was track ready, out of the box. I was just getting into track days when I let it go.
I'm obsessive about the Miata because it's the only stress relief I really get that's mine. But I try to bite off so much I frustrate myself. I need to let it go.
Expect a part-out thread soon...this car's going back to stock to daily it. I need a proper weekend toy.
First I've got to fix an oil leak....
All of that aside...I am having horrible luck with a turbo'd DD Miata. Yes, it's fun when it's all together, but I spend way too much time working on it, planning upgrades, installing upgrades, fixing botched upgrade installs, uninstalling upgrades, selling/shipping upgrades....etc.
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04-16-2010, 12:49 AM
#46
Buy a Kart for your daughter, 50cc comer. Family time and it's fun. Then you can talk your wife into letting you get a kart so your daughter can follow you. This is what my dad did and now we have half of kart track paved in our back yard lol.
also,
The world's longest game of Monopoly lasted more than 660 hours.
also,
The world's longest game of Monopoly lasted more than 660 hours.
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04-16-2010, 06:29 AM
#47
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It is a hard decision to make but in your case i think it will be a good one. Your wife was probly being abit to nice for her own good when she persuaded you to stop selling the **** the first time. And might even regret it the more time you spend on the miata. I hate to see you leave the ranks of turbo miatas but you have to ask yourself honestly if this will be the ultimate end for you i think not. I look forward to more good **** when you get school and the rest of your life back on track gl to you man.
Thank you man. I can tell you put effort into your grammar there, which means more than the words convey, all they do convey quite a bit when decipherable. Don't worry, I'll be back, with a vengeance. You're right on a lot of the above advice though, and I've been too stubborn to see it.
Buy a Kart for your daughter, 50cc comer. Family time and it's fun. Then you can talk your wife into letting you get a kart so your daughter can follow you. This is what my dad did and now we have half of kart track paved in our back yard lol.
also,
The world's longest game of Monopoly lasted more than 660 hours.
also,
The world's longest game of Monopoly lasted more than 660 hours.
If I ever told you that you're a dimwit I apologize...you've got at least a 15W bulb flickering up there.
You hit the nail on the head though. When I first starting going out to the garage my daughter would go with, and my wife didn't mind because she could tell I was enjoying it. I think I got to the point my wife could tell I'd had a bad round of golf each Sunday morning, and my daughter got bored as I became more concerned with wrapping up what I was doing and less with keeping her involved.
You apparently had great parents, and I'm going to try and do that. I've learned recently from kayaking that the things you can do with your kids are ten times more enjoyable, regardless of where they fall on the efficiency island.
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04-16-2010, 12:45 PM
#49
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More seriously, have you considered brewing beer? It's a gear sport - check. You get to play with fire (or heating elements if you go electric) - check. As your brewing equipment list grows you can end up playing with pumps, automated controllers, all kinds of fun tech geeky stuff - check. You get to drink beer - check.
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04-16-2010, 01:26 PM
#50
More seriously, have you considered brewing beer? It's a gear sport - check. You get to play with fire (or heating elements if you go electric) - check. As your brewing equipment list grows you can end up playing with pumps, automated controllers, all kinds of fun tech geeky stuff - check. You get to drink beer - check.
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04-16-2010, 02:13 PM
#52
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Internet ****. May still be somewhat of a divorce risk, but meets all of your other criteria.
More seriously, have you considered brewing beer? It's a gear sport - check. You get to play with fire (or heating elements if you go electric) - check. As your brewing equipment list grows you can end up playing with pumps, automated controllers, all kinds of fun tech geeky stuff - check. You get to drink beer - check.
More seriously, have you considered brewing beer? It's a gear sport - check. You get to play with fire (or heating elements if you go electric) - check. As your brewing equipment list grows you can end up playing with pumps, automated controllers, all kinds of fun tech geeky stuff - check. You get to drink beer - check.
The bike I'm looking at has belonged to a friend of mine for 3yrs. Full build thread, detailed maintenance spreadsheet, all the mods I'd do already there. Just get on and ride, no plans, no projects.
I just picked up a few of the parts I needed to get the Miata back to stock, and, oddly enough, this will actually be a fun project this summer. Fix major issues, get it running, clean everything up and have a good daily driver. I've got an engine on the stand I'll still finish rebuilding, and I have spares of nearly every critical part. Should be dependable and easy/cheap to fix.
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04-16-2010, 04:00 PM
#53
Haha sounds fun, but I actually need to not nerd out on something for a while. I tend to delve into thing entirely. If I don't know everything about it and how to do it right I don't stop reading/talking/researching until I do.
The bike I'm looking at has belonged to a friend of mine for 3yrs. Full build thread, detailed maintenance spreadsheet, all the mods I'd do already there. Just get on and ride, no plans, no projects.
I just picked up a few of the parts I needed to get the Miata back to stock, and, oddly enough, this will actually be a fun project this summer. Fix major issues, get it running, clean everything up and have a good daily driver. I've got an engine on the stand I'll still finish rebuilding, and I have spares of nearly every critical part. Should be dependable and easy/cheap to fix.
The bike I'm looking at has belonged to a friend of mine for 3yrs. Full build thread, detailed maintenance spreadsheet, all the mods I'd do already there. Just get on and ride, no plans, no projects.
I just picked up a few of the parts I needed to get the Miata back to stock, and, oddly enough, this will actually be a fun project this summer. Fix major issues, get it running, clean everything up and have a good daily driver. I've got an engine on the stand I'll still finish rebuilding, and I have spares of nearly every critical part. Should be dependable and easy/cheap to fix.
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04-16-2010, 06:24 PM
#54
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It will take some work, but once done it's done. I'm also waiting til summer to do this, when I have more time.
I could keep the turbo car reliable, if I'd stop tinkering with it. Problem is I'm always changing or upgrading something, and working out the kinks. I can't stop since the whole point is to get the most out of it.
If you touch 20 bolts a week, and you don't mess them up 99% of the time, then every 5 weeks you'll still have a bolt fall off.
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04-16-2010, 06:51 PM
#56
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Jk, he's hanging by a thread, if he had a kid and was still studying he would have already parked the bastard. He's a trooper though, knows too damn much, and like innovation. He needs to drive the Altima for a month, and then remember why he puts up with a 15yr old convertible.
The Miata is GREAT when you're mid corner, rolling into the boost, top down and smiling.
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