What have you done to your Miata today?

[chiefmg]

I finally got the rest of the parts I had ordered to get the battery mounting in order, installed those yesterday. The proper battery tray and hold down clamp, as well as a new fiberboard piece that goes over the whole thing (the old one was missing the white plastic location piece). It's nice having it all correct.

Pulled the top this morning. Got the old one removed ok, although I removed one of the tension cable guides before I realized I didn't have to. That ended up screwing me up, as I put it back on, discovered I missed putting a tab in a slot so drilled out the pop rivet. For some reason the drill bit walked while I was doing that so the rivet didn't get drilled properly. When I tried cutting the head off the rivet I broke the guide. That's going to mean a trip to the dealer before I can finish the top. The fabric does look pretty nice.

 

[bazooka joe]

pics?

 

[chiefmg]

pics?

Smahtahss.

I will post a picture, JUST FOR YOU, once I get it all installed. Now, don't you feel special?

 

[bazooka joe]

(cabpatch)

 

[Perro del Sol]

You ladies are funny in the morning! Mike, are you out to sea Memorial Day weekend? If not you should join us @ Lime Rock Park!

 

[chiefmg]

You ladies are funny in the morning! Mike, are you out to sea Memorial Day weekend? If not you should join us @ Lime Rock Park!

You know us!

I will be home so it's a possibility. However, I will be away from home for 3 weeks during my vacation (already did a conference and have some training for the new ship I'll be joining in Sept) and Robyn likes keeping me around as much as she can. She's not much for road trips so I have to see how she would feel about it.

Found out that tension cable guide isn't available (doesn't even show on the parts drawing) so it's probably part of the complete frame. I put it in place with a little black silicone. Got the rest of the top put back together and mounted on the car. That went ok, until I got the the trim piece that holds the rear of the rain rail in place. What a PITA! Got one nut on, I'm taking a break (maybe even until tomorrow) as my contortionist days are long past and I can only take so long pushing on things. It looks real nice though, and the color is a match for the original one.

 

[bazooka joe]

mike, lrp is epic!

 

[chiefmg]

We talking "The Ten Commandments" epic, or hookers and blow epic?

 

[aMaff]

Got the battery harness disconnected and stripped down to move the batter to the passenger footwell, and started doing a little fab work for the end result there.

 

[bazooka joe]

We talking "The Ten Commandments" epic, or hookers and blow epic?

haha!

Got the battery harness disconnected and stripped down to move the batter to the passenger footwell, and started doing a little fab work for the end result there.

nice andrew!

 

[THE Phen]

We talking "The Ten Commandments" epic, or hookers and blow epic?

Think The Mitty...

 

[chiefmg]

I take back what I have said about a Miata's top being easy. It is, until you get to the rear trim pieces. I've fought with it for several hours over the past two days with no luck. I have now put all the nuts across the back section, going to let it sit like that overnight to see if the rain rail will take a set and let me get the metal trim attached.

 

[bazooka joe]

Think The Mitty...

- the pasta all over the shirt and pants of the guy sitting at the table with you!
(lol)

 

[Reitrof]

- the pasta all over the shirt and pants of the guy sitting at the table with you!
(lol)

And then apologizing all night to the guy while in a drunken stupor.

 

[chiefmg]

Guys, guys...let's not embarrass Phen with that story.



It was meatballs. Robyn and I had a ringside seat, she still laughs about it.

 

[THE Phen]

Hahahaha. If you guys didn't remind me, Marlon would. Lesson learned... don't buy an Italian car because "Meatball" becomes your official name.

 

[Perro del Sol]

The foillowing year, we run into the guy again! Guess what type of sandwich Phen ordered from Subway? You guessed it, MEATBALL!

 

[princess peach]

Phen embarrassed? I'd like to see that...

 

[WillD]

Sorry to interrupt whatever it is you guys are talking about, but over the weekend I continued my suspension refresher project.

Old and new bushings:

Suspension is all gone! (Don't mind the bolts/nuts strewn everywhere I know where they all go )

Front control arms with new bushings and sleeves installed:

The rear axle nut claimed a couple of my tools:

I'm looking forward to utilizing the Craftsman lifetime warranty.

So because I couldn't get the rear axle nut off, that means I'll just replace the bushing in the upright on the car using my handy dandy Harbor Freight press thing:

And, rear upper all done:

I also realized that I need new front brake pads. The inner pad was much thinner than the outer one:

The long bolt that attaches the RLCA to the upright is being a b**** and pissing me off. That is the only thing that prevented me from completing the project yesterday.

 

[Reitrof]

Nice work, but what has that to do with Phen??