Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Isn't there supposed to be slightly more clearance between the crank pulley and the timing belt cover than "none at all"?

foxyroadster

iTrader: (3)

short nose 1.6L issue?

18psi

iTrader: (76)

also the cover is filthy.

there is only 1 solution to this:

1.8 swap + turbo

Bryce

iTrader: (24)

Both my LNC 1.6 and 2.0 do that, though the 2.0 motor isn't as bad.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

My covers are scarred. However, since I did the Locktite repair to my crank nose (50K miles ago . . . where does the time go?), I have good clearance.

Anyway, maybe it's time for a WP + TB. That way you can take a good, hard look. Come to think of it, I'm about due for the same.

curly

iTrader: (25)

My dragged. I let it happen until it wore down it's own clearance. It earned it.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

It's a SNC 1.6, though I don't think it's an issue per se. There's no runout or wobble in the pulley, it's just abnormally close to the timing cover (or the cover is abnormally close to the pulley- not sure which yet.) On the plus side, now I know what's been causing the chirping sound.


Heh. That one spot on the cover which I cleaned took two paper towels and quite a bit of solvent to achieve. This is one of the filthiest engines I've ever seen, and without question the filthiest I've owned. Oddly, the actual amount of oil which it loses isn't all that much- well under 1 qt per 2,000 miles, and a fair bit of that is leaving through the tailipipe.


I've had a water pump and timing belt sitting on the shelf for about two years, I just haven't had the motivation to tear into it. A part of me actually hates working on this car- not because there's anything wrong with it- quite the contrary. This vehicle has held up for 22 years with virtually no maintenance so far as I can tell, so it's almost like a contest to see how long it can hold out.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Whatever happened to the 1.8 build you were so into a while ago? Jessica you called it, iirc. Why not finish that sucker up and stick it in to replace this stinker when it finally goes?
It bothers me that you, one of the smarter folks on here that can achieve greatness, still drives around a slow POS 1.6 n/a. You have the brain power, the funding, and the time to do it right and have an awesome miata. .

What gives?

skidude

iTrader: (3)

I have been wondering the same thing, actually.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

I think he has the brainpower to recognize that to maintain a high level of funding, you need to not waste a bunch of potentially billable time messing around with an old car.

I admire his pragmatism. I blow all kinds of time on my projects.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Heh.

Well,

A: I moved back to CA, which complicates the matter,

B: I'm finding other ways to occupy my time than farting around with the car at every chance, and

C: Like I said, I feel a sense of almost reverence towards this vehicle, given that it's managed to survive for as long as it has with essentially no maintenance. It's got low and uneven compression, it leaks and burns oil, it looks like hell and it's a grumpy old bitch on cold mornings, but it just keeps on fighting.


I could always just pick up a set of "normal" CR pistons and throw the '99 engine together, and I'm sure it'd be great. But I kinda want to see how long this one can hold itself together. It just passed its biannual emissions test last week, and is still blowing numbers well below average.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

So you're saying that once it craps the bed you ARE planning to do the 99 swap?

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

No. Realistically speaking, if the engine suddenly craps the bed I won't have the luxury of having enough time to gather the rest of the parts needed, have the machine work done, and assemble the '99 engine. I'll probably just have to source another junkyard motor and plop it right in over the course of a weekend so I can get back on the road.

But I'll still have the fully disassembled '99 motor sitting on the shelf so that I can talk about my future plans for it in vague and noncommittal terms.

I will admit that I've been looking at the pricing and availability of NBs in the area, and I'm finding that cars in the lower half of the price range are still $6-$8k. That seems kind of weird to me. I guess I shouldn't be surprised given my recent revelation that "normal" cars typically sell for $25-$35k new. It just boggles the imagination that people actually spend this kind of money on a car.

(This admittedly coming from someone who is building a $2,000 bicycle.)

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Cheap cars are at an all time high right now. Anything under 6-7k usually sells very fast because everyone is either too broke or their credit history is too messed up to finance.

If you're looking for an NB and have cash my bro has a few for sale

rleete

iTrader: (21)

So, what happened with that custom frame project? Is that "sitting on a shelf" as well?

I get where you're coming from. I was surfing CL the other day, and found a freaking minivan for almost 40 grand. Sure, it was top of the line Chrysler with all the toys, but $40K for a minivan? I remember when the cool cars I liked were less than that.