Winter Journal

[melicha8]

the oil pressure sender will be pegged if the sensor wires get crossed or if the ground on the sender isn't proper. Check all the wiring to the sensor.

I checked that last night. I ran the ground from the sender to the firewall and thought that might be the problem. I uncoupled it and made a direct ground the the battery and it still reads the highest reading. Any other idea's?

 

[melicha8]

This marks a milestone in my build. I'm done with most of the engine. I have to finish the gauges and get that last bug out and set my idle, but that's it. I guess I'll keep going until I get tired of posting. For now the opening of a new subdirectory, rx7footwork(previously rx7engine), has given me renewed vigor. So did my delivery today.
This is something stinky and sticky icky I also like. New tires!

Weighing in at 20lbs(take my word for it)

Paired with the vert wheels at 12lbs(again take my word for it)

So total wheel rolling stock weight is 32 lbs. I'll weigh my current setup to get an idea of how much weight I'm saving fudging in the weight loss resulting from treadwear. I'm hoping for 12 lbs loss on unsprung weight

 

[melicha8]

A vid of my idle and a 4.5k blip. It sounds so pathetic getting in the car. I'm gonna have to hit that with some wd40 before tommorrow. It's embarrassing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVXzIFzovBk

 

[Kansei]

I've never seen a racing beat exhaust I didn't LOVE

 

[melicha8]

So I put them on. Looks? Not so hot. I don't care really. I dropped 4 lbs of weight on each corner and reduced my tire cirumfrence by 4 inches. This is going to pay dividends tommorrow. This also puts me on an even playing field with the other cars not running BFG Traction T/A's. With the larger weight of the car and the same amount of rubber as a miata I'll have to be carefull not to overdrive the corners. I might be able to get them on the straights.
Direct measurement of the difference in circumfrence of the tires.

Previouse wheel weight at 36 lbs 205/60R15

Lots of room to fill

Rear Quarter Shot

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

I think the BBS look sexay on it

 

[melicha8]

I also fixed my idle. I thought because all the things I did it would have messed it up. I was sitting at a stop light and I just put the weight of my toe on the accelerator. I jumped up to 3krpm instantly. I thought throttle cable. I looked under the hood and saw that some of the shiny anodized finish was exposed. I guess I tightened up the cable too much. I in the original position and my idle dropped to 500rpm and then I readjusted the screw on the throttle body and there I am with a 750rpm idle just like it was before

 

[Roywhitep5]

good times today at the autocross

 

[melicha8]

Ya dude that was pretty fun. A safe family friendly enviroment where you can push your car to the limits and dress like a woman.

 

[Kansei]

you guys can drive on Laguna Seca, you suck

j/p

 

[melicha8]

Results are up. I'll have to be sure to take a camera with me in the car next time I go out. It was a really fun course and I'm glad the work I did over the winter made a difference. Well, I guess the tires and wheels made all the difference. Just as in all racing I foundthe car's achilles heel before I even ran. I sat at the start with the clutch pedal in and I lost hydraulic pressure and the clutch slowly engaged and stalled the car. Car ran fine and after a couple pumps it was fine and I ran the rest of the day and kept off the clutch as much as possible. Time to get a new clutch master cylinder I guess.
http://www.sfrscca.com/solo2/Results/2007/Championship/round01.html#st2

 

[melicha8]

Just bought a thermoplastic welder. Expect great things to come on this thread.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

how much did that run ya? and how hard is it to learn how to weld?

 

[Kansei]

Just bought a thermoplastic welder. Expect great things to come on this thread.

plastic welding mmmm

 

[melicha8]

40.00 harbor freight

 

[melicha8]

So not much to do lately. I'm still waiting on that dam master cylinder for my clutch so I've been cleaning more. You can see in the pic below where I was able to get to. Lots of small things removed from the engine bay but there are places nearly impossible to reach or clean with anything more than a toothpick. It looks so much better already compared to all the grime the flash highlighted in previous posts

And I love this trick racing s***. To me it's completely cosmetic but damn it'll be nice to have them when I need them. Mazda was all about lightening this car so here's my aluminum spare and jack. Almost complete minus lug wrench. I don't know if these were available during 88 because I know mazda cheaped out for a while and provided steel replacements. But this is how I would have had it from the factory. I need to get a replacement spare though

 

[melicha8]

Still waiting on that damn part. So still doing some more damn cleaning. One whole side done. You can see as far as I went just up to the low pressure a/c line. It's filthy all on the inside.

 

[melicha8]

So I find out today that the clutch supposedly was delivered on the 2nd but usps didn't leave me diddly to tell me they came by with it. I'm going first thing tommorrow to make sure they didn't send it back to the mailer. Did some more cleaning. I'm trying a flank and contain approach so I don't get other clean things dirty again.

 

[melicha8]

Picked up my clutch master cylinder from USPS depot. Boo for valentine's day or I'd have it done tonight.

 

[melicha8]

When it rains it pours. Time to get to work. Three day weekend FTW