Anyone in Austin ever worked on MSPs????

[Jason94Cobra]

Looking to get the timing belt, water pump, and possibly the cam seals replaced soon and wondered if there was anyone in the area that has done this themselves...

Also manifold gasket and possibly wastegate actuator too...

 

[hornsfan10609]

I've done all of that myself except the cam seals and I used to own 94 cobra #320!! I just helped a local Leif install all 4 motor mounts in his MSP. Where are you at in Austin? I'm down south near Circle C.

I would be more than willing to do that work for you or help you do it and I would be less than 1/2 the price of any shop in town.

 

[Jason94Cobra]

Nice... the 18 month old just erased everything I typed as a reply... I will get back to you when he goes to bed...

ok, so what I was trying to say earlier is that I live in Buda actually... my question was basically how long do you think it would take to do the following items if all goes as planned... I have a hard time letting the car go to a place where someone is doing it strictly for work and not because they have an interest in the car. Also I obviously prefer someone that has worked on these specific model cars and jobs. Dinner/Lunch at the Salt Lick is generally included for whomever works on the cars plus whatever we work on on the $$$.... Once we get some details worked out I can start collecting/ordering parts... any specific part suggestions are helpful...

timing belt, water pump, possibly tensioners & cam seals (if you know how to do those too) These are the big ones...

The exhaust manifold gasket, wastegate actuator, possible upgrading the attachment hardware for the manifold?? This wouldn't have to be during the first visit if you think it would take a long time...

What other things would you suggest to be replaced during any of these repairs??? i.e. wellll this is out, might as well replace xxx, etc...

J

Just looked over your want list... perhaps I will order some doubles of a couple of the ones I have been thinking about and you can have the extra set too... hmmmm

 

[hornsfan10609]

I love these cars and i would love to help you out. I live right off 1826 so im not too far away.
I ordered a Gates timing belt kit from Rockauto.com, it includes the belt, tensioner and idler pulleys. I also got a new water pump from rockauto and new tensioner spring from Roger beasley mazda for about $9. I also needed a new timing cover set because my stock one was busted and the gates replacement i ordered didnt fit because the timing mark hit the crank pulley teeth so i had to order a new set from Mazda.

My exhaust mani was missing 3 bolts so i ordered a set of ARP studs from Sam at Cross.over auto with a felpro gasket and a new Forge wasegate. I dont know if i would recommend the Forge because it spikes pretty bad at times but it works otherwise and i chose it because i heard the ATP would fail after about 30k miles. I also needed a new jpipe gasket for the exhaust where i unbolted it. And new vacuum lines for the WGA.

If you still have the stock intercooler setup i have a Forge replacement BPV i would sell for cheap.

I also forgot the valve cover gasket and new exterior belts if they need to be replaced. Its also a good time to swap the passenger side motor mount if you havent already, since it has to be removed. And little things like spark plugs and a MillenniaS PCV if you want. The timing belt and water pump and cam seals (did they fail? Why do they need to be replaced?) should easily be done in a day.
Is your MSP gray or yellow? The Cobra I had was rio red with a black leather interior and I still miss it. Not that it would come close to the Bullitt my dad now has.

 

[Jason94Cobra]

I also forgot the valve cover gasket and new exterior belts if they need to be replaced. Its also a good time to swap the passenger side motor mount if you havent already, since it has to be removed. And little things like spark plugs and a MillenniaS PCV if you want. The timing belt and water pump and cam seals (did they fail? Why do they need to be replaced?) should easily be done in a day.
Is your MSP gray or yellow? The Cobra I had was rio red with a black leather interior and I still miss it. Not that it would come close to the Bullitt my dad now has.

MSP #1,573 is Titanium and has just over 100,000 miles on it and is due for the TB... no failures... Cam seals, maybe replace, maybe not??? I don't know if they are leaking or not... I can't see them... I think new ones are only $20, so thought they might be a good idea at 100,000 miles...

Spark plugs are Iridium and I can't remember when I put them in, but I am thinkng at about 85,000... so they are ok...

Millenia S PCV, sounds good... what year do I need?

What oil filter are you using, larger capacity???

Valve cover gasket was at the same time as the spark plugs, but probably needs removed and cleaned... I don't think I torqued them right...

Accessory belts were done at time of alternator replacement so they are good...

Does the water pump HAVE to come off to get to the timing belt or not? I honestly would prefer not to replace that but not completely against it... just depends...

Passenger side motor mount sounds good, thinking I might order a whole set and replace the others later... What are the options for aftermarket lately??? Not sure I want AWR's...

As far as the exhaust stuff goes maybe that is something for another day and maybe you can tell what all I need for that deal too... I don't know if the WGA is bad or not... maybe the ATP would be ok for $60 a pop... if you think the Forge is not a good idea... I think I would like that Forge BPV you have... does it require mods to the stock piping??? I think I have an extra set of part of the plastic pipes somewhere...

This 94 Cobra #3,672 is black with the saddle cloth interior... 1 of 130 built... she's a whollllllleeeee 'nother story....

 

[hornsfan10609]

Awesome another Titanium! I've only worked on Titaniums, lol. Mine has 112k, the similarities are uncanny. My Cobra was 1 of 620, if it had cloth it would have been super rare.

I got my MillenniaS PCV from autozone, purolator part #1047 and I actually have a spare you can have with about 10k miles on it. I run a Mazda V6 oil filter, it's slightly taller and fits perfect, it's listed for a 00 Mazda 626 V6 and it's the same filter that almost all Hondas use, my grandmas CRV, and my parents Pilot and Civic and my MSP all use the same oil filter.
Be careful with the VC bolts, I broke one off in my current MSP and in my old P5. The water pump is under the timing belt so it is generally replaced when you do the timing belt so you avoid the possibility of it going bad and it's pretty cheap. I wouldn't skip it just in case, it's a lot of work.

The Forge is a stock replacement no mods needed and it's a little louder than stock. For the exhaust all you need are a new set of ARP studs or new hardware from Mazda ( I highly recommend the ARP) a Felpro triple layer gasket and the wastegate with a few feet of new silicone vacuum line because it's much easier to do when the mani is pulled away.

I have an AWR mount for the passenger side and Minerva mounts for the other 3. The minervas were cheap, HaleTru (who's mounts we installed the other day) bought a full set of Minerva mounts for 150 and I paid the same for just 3 so you can get a good deal if you message him and say you have an MSP. It's the same guy that started MAM and Medieval. I prefer the design of the AWR passenger side mount to any other brand and that's why I chose it but the other mounts are all basically the same no matter what brand.
minervamotorwerkz.com

I only work weekends so i'm open most of the time to get it done.

Here's my poor Cobra, the day I sold it, 9-4-08.

 

[Jason94Cobra]

Looks like that complete mount set is $290... I emailed them to see if they had been running a special or something... I don't think I want to spend $300 on mount sets for a car this slow (at least not now)... but I would like to replace the stockers...

I will start ordering some of the "known quantity" parts this week and see how far I get on the detail parts...

 

[hornsfan10609]

You can talk him down. He gave me a free PS pulley when i offered to send him pics of the mounts installed. If you still have the stock mounts you will want to replace them. They are worth every penny. One of my absolute favorite mods, no wheelhop ever since.

I may have a new odometer gear for your cobra. I had to order a new pair of gears for mine and i was sent an extra and its been sitting ever since. You will still need the worm gear if that is also broken.

 

[Jason94Cobra]

I ordered a timing kit last night... I am starting to evaluate what I want to do with this car... not sure I want to invest in the mounts, may order the inserts and window weld a new stock replacement set... still looking...

I guess I need to update my sig... Cobra has a working speedometer and basically needs tires and few other things to get street legal again...

 

[hornsfan10609]

Well any parts I can find from my cobra you can have, I know of a shop manual and an OBD 1 code reader thing and probably some other crap. The mounts are completely worth it but I have also heard good things about filled stock mounts. Honestly for what new OEM mounts cost you could easily get a full set of Minerva mounts.

 

[Jason94Cobra]

Hopefully the timing kit gets here this week and I can figure out what else is needed...

So this car is probably not going to get many mods forever... butttt I am considering buying the Forge bypass valve you have...

What would you suggest in the way of the silicone vacuum hose kits? also the ATP WGA or the Forge???

Still deciding on the engine mounts... who knows... perhaps some of my issues are related to coil packs instead of WGA... I don't know how to tell...

I forgot about the exhaust gasket... the exhaust situation can be assessed during the TB, WP install...

 

[hornsfan10609]

Don't skip it, replace the WGA, if it's original I can't believe it has lasted this long. I like my Forge but it occasionally spikes, could be due to my EBC. The ATP apparently only lasts about 20-30k miles so if you don't want to replace it anytime soon go with the Forge. Silicone hoses are all the same, I bought about 5 feet from here.
http://www.$treetunit.com/Silicone_Vacuum_Line_p/suvac.htm (Change the $ to an s)

 

[Jason94Cobra]

ok, so I got a TB, WP, and tensioner/idler package... emailing Minerva about a mount kit today... then will figure out what to do about the exhaust stuff... WGA, silcone hose, etc... This car is lucky I still like it a LOT!!!

 

[hornsfan10609]

If you think you like it now, wait until you get the mounts, then you will want to upgrade the tune, exhaust and intercooler. Then you will be happy with it.
Dont forget the tensioner spring from Mazda, you are going to need it. And timing covers unless yours are in good shape, mine werent.

 

[Jason94Cobra]

ordered the mount kit a few minutes ago... The timing covers have never been touched, I don't think... I'm guessing they are fine...
my little bonus needs to hurry up and get here so I can order a few more of the maintenance, but yet semi-fun things shortly!!!

This is what I am leaning towards as stuff to get... anything look out of place or missing???

<DIR><DIR>Exhaust Manifold Gasket MSP
Timing Belt Tensioner Spring MSP
　
Vibrant Silcone Hose Pit Pack
Item # 2104 S,R,Y,B
Color: Silver
　
Torque Solution Shifter Bushings MSP
Item # TS-MP-005-1
　
Forge Motorsport WG Actuator MSP
　
ARP Exhaust Manifold Studs MSP
Item # M8x1.25
Length: 400-8023-45mm
　
Torque Solution Exhaust Hanger MSP
</DIR></DIR>Item # TS-EH-010-1x2,TS-EH-012-1x2

 

[hornsfan10609]

Sounds good, if you want to run a vacuum block I highly recommend them. My head gasket blew so my motor is currently torn down replacing it. At least the timing belt and setting the timing will be fresh on my mind.
You wouldn't happen to know of a good machine shop that preferably has some experience with Mazdas? I need to get the valves done and head checked out.

 

[Jason94Cobra]

What purpose would a vacuum block serve on a 98% stock car???

Precision Engine is one of the best in Austin at Imports... There used to be a place in San Antonio that sold BADASS heads and probably could rebuild yours, but I can't remember the name... I will ask a friend...

 

[bbrich57]

... You wouldn't happen to know of a good machine shop that preferably has some experience with Mazdas? I need to get the valves done and head checked out.

Any good machine shop worth its salt will be able to do that for you. To a machine shop, a head is a head, a block is a block,

 

[hornsfan10609]

The WGA is not supposed to see vacuum, which is why the stock ones fail. The Vac block gives an even reading to the BPV/BOV, WGA, boost gauge, SSAFC, whatever is hooked into it. More consistent than the stock port on the IM. Thanks for the tip I will check out Precision. Would like to find a trustworthy shop that won't break the bank.

 

[Jason94Cobra]

ok, so checking in again... Minerva mounts on order a bit ago... emailed them tonight for tracking number...
Vibrant pit pack silcone vacuum hose from Amazon.com tonight
Forge WGA from Street Unit tonight...

Still need a few odds and ends, but getting closer!!!