NEMOC Random BS Thread

[Reitrof]

That's not a huge RV, would you like a more private place to park? Easily done in my driveway (with Miata detatched), or on the road around the side, we are the last house on a dead end street. PMing my address and phone number if you are interested.

Thanks for the offer Mike but we stay at Super Walmarts which are open 24/7 and we can get supplies. Besides I need to run the generator at times and I think your neighbours would complain.

Hey gang.

Hey bruce on your way to mikes, make a stop in easton. what route are you taking up to the scranto area?

I81 all the way to the border. I don't make any off excursions, at 8mpg it gets expensive.

 

[6speed]

Gotcha and understood. Ran into a snag with the Hydra install, the wideband O2 specifically. I'll have to force it to run in open loop for 3-4 weeks until I start the FM2 install it looks like. If it doesn't stall me out completely and if the weather isn't miserable, I'll swing by up there. tomorrow.

 

[bazooka joe]

Sooo did this today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmgxm4I8wMQ

beautiful day for a "kinda" ride and walk with the pouch!

 

[Speed3.5]

here is one side of basement

here is the other

I'd be in for a mazda meet .. i like the pool in the basement

 

[THE Phen]

FM downpipe. Stainless steel anyway, and had flyin miata engraved back at the tip of the cat back. The cat itself looks oem though, lots of rust on it.

Edit: Actually, no, the front o2 is in the oem manifold. FM2 will move it to the downpipe. That install will be a few weeks, after my track event.

Edit: O2 swapped. Fighting with the center console now. can't get the window switches out to get the last screw....

Edit: Got most of the center console up, but found that the aftermarket heated seats don't have any disconnects within ~12 inches of the switches, so that is restricting how far I can move the center console. Probably will need to wire in some disconnects.

My new problem though is trying to figure out how I can get the hydra cable from the OEM ECU location to behind the glovebox. I can see 3 different routes through, none of which are big enough for these huge connectors. I'm tempted to just lay the cabling across in front of the base of the radio just up from the shifter, but that's tacky, risky, and might leave me too short of cable.

Searches for Hydra install info is coming up dry, apparently I'm either missing something big or something the prior owner did filled in gaps. I don't know....

Also tempting to install the Hydra under/behind the driver's seat. Under might be safe enough from theft, but I'd worry about getting caught out with the top down, or a top leak, and having the Hydra get water damaged.

I'll get pics of my install. Mine is in the glovebox with the wires going thru the dashboard.

 

[6speed]

I got it finally

Posting some updates from yesterday along with some pics, in my thread.

 

[subspeed6]

Sorry o hear about the hail dmg chris...when did that happen?

It happened the day I left for a business trip on the 18th... I flew out in the morning and the hail came in the afternoon. (rolleyes)

 

[CTt3P5]

Happy Easter!!! Anyone have big plans for the day? We lounged this morning and watched some shows on the Tivo. Girls are at DSW shopping now, they need more shoes like I need more car parts...um wait..lol Heading to her mom and dads for dinner later.

Thanks for the offer Mike but we stay at Super Walmarts which are open 24/7 and we can get supplies. Besides I need to run the generator at times and I think your neighbours would complain.



I81 all the way to the border. I don't make any off excursions, at 8mpg it gets expensive.

Gotcha and don't blame ya. I81 is a good hour or so from me. Travel safe!

I got it finally

Posting some updates from yesterday along with some pics, in my thread.

Just read the updates. Making some good progress, good luck with that plug.

It happened the day I left for a business trip on the 18th... I flew out in the morning and the hail came in the afternoon. (rolleyes)

Aw geez, well at least you weren't home to see the carnage?

 

[NETC_Redd]

Did a bike race this morning

http://aerochick.com/2013/03/easter-wells-ave-report/

 

[Reitrof]

Safely in Walmart north of Scranton. Last day in the US this month. Back to Canuck land tomorrow. Looks like it is above freezing tomorrow nite, yay, won't have to winterize the rig I hope.

 

[6speed]

I just got to the point in the manual where it says: "take a deep breath and turn the key. Hopefully it fires up."

So no go on trying to drop by Scranton. Catch you later in the year Bruce.

 

[Reitrof]

I just got to the point in the manual where it says: "take a deep breath and turn the key. Hopefully it fires up."

So no go on trying to drop by Scranton. Catch you later in the year Bruce.

Lol, so what happened?? WOn't start??

No worries Mike. Look for me in Oct again.

 

[chuyler1]

So I've been travel trailer shopping lately. Looking at fiberglass trailers like the Scamp or Casita. Something to fit Amanda and I and the dogs. Plan would be to take it to race weekends, a few camping trips, and maybe a few longer excursions. In the short term, I'll tow it with the REPU. It has a 1,400 lb payload and should be able to pull 2,500-3,000 lbs at a reasonable pace. C'mon, you know you'd love to see me pull up at LRP or Watkins Glen in the REPU with a trailer in tow. I got a hitch installed this weekend so there's no stopping me now...well I do need some tow mirrors and a safe way to mount them without damaging the paint.

Anyway, that brings me to the issue of longer distance camping, or times I don't want to take the REPU. I know I mentioned to you guys at the car show that an SUV might be my next purchase. I do like the new Mazda6 but with the dogs, a sedan just doesn't work. The CX-5 isn't bad, but it is pretty small for a 6'3" guy, and it only has a 2,000 lb towing capacity meaning I wouldn't be able to use it to haul the new trailer. The CX-9 has a 3,500 towing capacity but..automatic? Nah. I can't do that.

Soooo, bear with me for a second. I'm considering a Nissan Xterra. It has something that Mazda doesn't offer. An off road capable SUV with a stick shift and 5,000 lb towing capacity. With the amount of mountain biking I do, and the hiking and camping Amanda wants to do this summer and up coming summers, it seems to have a lot of things that no other manufacturers offer besides the dreaded Jeep. I'm not going domestic. I want a vehicle that will make it to 100k with minimal visits to the dealership. The XTerra appeared to suffer some reliability issues from 05-06 but Consumer reports gives it pretty good ratings after that. Complaints are mostly about road noise which I can deal with. I'm still shopping though, so if someone has a recommendation I'd like to hear it. Requirements are: Stick shift, SUV with room for the dogs, 3,000lb towing capacity.

 

[6speed]

No, a snafu with the wideband sensor. I just now tried starting it for the first time and discovered that I drained down the battery yesterday before disconnecting it. It's on the charger now.

The delays are from putting it in the wrong spot, getting informed of that, trying to figure out a solution, then being told that there actually was a solution in place, it's just not documented anywhere in the manuals I got. Then it was a matter of removing the downpipe, which was difficult due to heavily rusted bolts that were not metric in size. Prior owner clearly just grabbed SAE bolts from the hardware store, so not rust protected and didn't fit any of my tools. I ended up having to use my small sledge to pound impact sockets onto the nut side and clamping down on the bolt side. After plenty of PB blaster soaking. Then a store run to get the hex key socket needed to pull the plug in the correct O2 spot yada yada yada.

Will try to crank it over again in a bit.

 

[THE Phen]

I feel your pain man! Many similar gripes when I did mine. When I was finally able to start mine, I was freaking out. Once it fired, I was looking for leaks everywhere!

Oh... speaking of that, the new banjo fitting supplied for the coolant line on the block... was it a good fit? They sent me the wrong one at first, but called me and sent the right one overnight.

 

[6speed]

Just the Hydra install right now, FM2 is going to wait till after my track event, far too much stuff that could go wrong, as the Hydra install is showing. Updating my thread in a couple minutes with pics. Got it fired, but have to re-do the injectors.

 

[bazooka joe]

Just the Hydra install right now, FM2 is going to wait till after my track event, far too much stuff that could go wrong, as the Hydra install is showing. Updating my thread in a couple minutes with pics. Got it fired, but have to re-do the injectors.

nice! i agree, do one thing at a time...i tried doing to many things at once and when i had a problem it was so much more difficult to solve...good work mike!

 

[genericuser]

Soooo, bear with me for a second. I'm considering a Nissan Xterra. It has something that Mazda doesn't offer. An off road capable SUV with a stick shift and 5,000 lb towing capacity. With the amount of mountain biking I do, and the hiking and camping Amanda wants to do this summer and up coming summers, it seems to have a lot of things that no other manufacturers offer besides the dreaded Jeep. I'm not going domestic. I want a vehicle that will make it to 100k with minimal visits to the dealership. The XTerra appeared to suffer some reliability issues from 05-06 but Consumer reports gives it pretty good ratings after that. Complaints are mostly about road noise which I can deal with. I'm still shopping though, so if someone has a recommendation I'd like to hear it. Requirements are: Stick shift, SUV with room for the dogs, 3,000lb towing capacity.

ok.. Let me give you an honest opinion.

I had an xterra for a month as a long term rental when my 6 was being fixed from the accident. YOU DO NOT want an xterra.

It is one of the least comfortable vehicles I have ever been in, especially if you are tall, which you are. I had problems with the seats and such at 6'0, I can't imagine what you'd go through.

It gets 13mpg on the highway on a good day and the transfer case was destroyed when I turned it back in.

It was the worst vehicle I have ever driven, hands down. I'd buy a pathfinder before an xterra.

 

[aMaff]

I'd buy a pathfinder before an xterra.

What's wrong with a pathfinder?? (unamused)

 

[genericuser]

What's wrong with a pathfinder?? (unamused)

nothing.. that was honest advice. I dig pathys.