Weekend Work on Your BRG

[1991mick]

I'll try to see if I can breathe any life into this thread.

Anyone doing some work on their brg this weekend? Performance mods, brakes, tires, wash / wax, etc. Let's start some chatter!

As for myself, I will wash mine, and time permitting I'll put the season's first coat of wax on it.

I'll make sure I clean the inside of the windshield. Here's a question. Seems like the inside of my windshield gets a haze on it on a regular basis. I don't smoke, and no one smokes in the car, but I still get the haze. Is there any kind of filter on any air vents that are removable / replaceable / cleanable? (How's that for a lot of .....ables?)

Let's get back to the topic. Will anyone work on straightening out some curves this weekend? Let's hear it!

[BRG MX5]

Hey 1991 mick. Here in Seattle, it is not raining and the sky is sorta bright. I will be doing some detailing on BRG and the M Edition. Also, finishing up the install of the CB radio wiring getting ready for club drives this summer.
Re: the front window....this is the bain of our existence! I cannot get them clean without streaks and then keep them clean. I do run the defrost most of the time to give the good airflow so wonder too if that is putting a film on the windshield?
vicki

[1991mick]

Washed and waxed the brg yesterday. Son #2 comes home from college for the weekend and needs a brake job (Pontiac G6). Puts it in the middle of the garage, takes it apart, but brings the rotors in too late to have them turned yesterday. The brg stays outside last night. You guessed it. Rains last night! Well, the good thing is by the beads, it was a good wax job!

[91brgse]

Hey Mick, Saturday I bumped up the timing, chaged the oil and installed a K&N air filter. Sunday we took her for a drive befor the rain. Today I took her to the paint shop. I'll have to catch up on the work around the house for the THREE WEEKS she will be gone.

[1991mick]

Does that mean you'll have miata withdrawls?

[91brgse]

Probably, but it will be all better when I get her back!!!

[BRG MX5]

BRG turned 40,079 this week end. Kind a big hurdle, reminded me of my 40th Birthday!
vicki

[1991mick]

So you drive 1,000 miles per year?

[LordHz]

1991mick, I think you meant a little over 2000 miles per year ;)

I couldn't do that, Miata's were built to be driven. Mine is a daily driver, and the top is down unless its pouring. My first Miata was 128K, second was over 20K per year and now the BRG (Miata #3) is at 120K.

Its funny really, I wouldn't have ever considered a Miata until I married into one. Once I started driving my wife's it was all over.

As for weekend work on the BRG, diff and manual transmission fluid changes are on tap. Full synth, probably MTL or one of the Mobile synths.

Matthew

[1991mick]

Matt, Glad to see someone picked up on my 'rithmetic!

I like your story about marrying into a Miata. Adds a new dimension to a marriage made in heaven! There's got to be a joke in there somewhere, something like "What's better than marrying a girl who's dad owns a tavern (or golf course / fishing hole / bible school, etc)? Marrying a girl with a Miata!" Kinda lame, maybe someone else can think of a better one.

As for the fluid change, I'm getting a new clutch on Tuesday (finally!!!). They'll change the transmission fluid while they're in there. What can you tell me about synthetic trans fluid. Pro's? Con's?

[LordHz]

1991mick,

Pro's: Better lubricating properties, don't break down as easily due to high heat so they should last longer between changes, in a manual trans many drivers report a smoother shift feel (although that might be purely from new/clean fluid).
Con's: More expensive, sometimes viscosity is less than spec.

In a manual trans I would recommend full synth to anyone, the diff is slightly less important, but should last over 30k miles. I change mine on schedule anyhow. But if you don't its good to know the synth fluid will still be doing its job well.

Matthew

[1991mick]

Matthew,

Thanks for the info. The mechanic included the trans fluid in his pricing. I'm being charged $45 (3 qts @ $15 / qt). That should cover synth. I'll know more tomorrow when I bring it in.

Mick

[91BRG]

I swapped the trans fluid in mine about 2 months ago with Ford Motorcraft Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid - the dealer is much more impressed if you can remember the whole name ;) It's absurdly expensive, and initially I didn't think it made a darn bit of difference. After about 2 weeks it was a LOT smoother. It seems to engage better in all weather, that 'rifle bolt' smoothness is there, and none of the notchiness I had previously is there. Yep, some of that is no doubt due just to draining the fluid, but I do think the specific fluid is a lot of it. I'll keep telling myself that as long as I have to spend so much for the stuff. Plus, at 30k mile intervals the price isn't that brutal.

Also swapped the LSD fluid for Redline NS which has made no difference other than I'm happy I have new clean fluid in there.

Added bronze Konig Heliums :)

Lost half the interior to rain... long story. Short version, nut in drain behind passenger seat makes pond on floor. Being away for a week while this is happening makes pond stagnate... ick. Moral: Check & Clean Your Drains.

Need to do Tbelt/Serpentine...

Need more time!!

[1991mick]

Thanks for the update. My clutch / flywheel work is complete. The shop did use syn tran fluid. I was told the light weight flywheel might cause some chatter, but I haven't heard any as of yet. I wonder if the syn fluid has anything to do with it?

My problems are not yet over. I now have antifreeze on the garage floor. I bring it in tomorrow evening. I hope it's not the water pump. If it is, the good thing is the timing belt will get changed!

[91BRG-1STOWNR]

Well I had the Miata up on jackstands for a few days during which time I replaced the oil & filter, differential oil, transmission oil, clutch fluid, brake fluid, coolant, fuel filter, shift turret boots (both torn) and shift turret oil; cleaned brake pads and calipers; lubricated caliper pins; rotated the tires; opened up the bottom of both front fenders and cleared out the debris; removed scuff plates and cleaned sills; checked all drains; ran diagnostics (no codes); checked spark plug wire resistance; checked timing; cleaned the engine bay.

Biggest problem I had was with the transmission filler plug. It was frozen in (iron plug, aluminum transmission case, lots of heat, not removed in 11 years). Besides that I didn't have the proper tool. The plug head is square and doesn't accept a standard socket. I took the car to my usual reliable garage and had them loosen it ( 15 minutes of work and no charge). After much searching I finally obtained the proper tool so I could correctly torque the plug back down. The tool is a 9/16" 8-point (also called double square) socket.

[1991mick]

91brg, tanx for the update! Sounds like you know your stuff when it comes to Miata's.

Here's a question for everyone. If you brought your brg into your local shop and had everything done that 91brg did, how much do you think it would cost?

[91BRG-1STOWNR]

Here's the breakdown of the cost of the parts for the services I performed.

Synthetic differential oil $17.40
Synthetic transmission oil $38.31
Brake & clutch fluid $24.75
Coolant $18.07
Deionized water $ 6.75
Brake lubricant $ 7.90
Brake cleaner $ 7.33
Non-synthetic engine oil $20.29
Oil filter $ 7.90
4 crush washers $ 8.23
2 Turret boots $62.83
Fuel filter $52.10
Sealant (for boots) $ 3.15
Rust Cure (spray for inside of fenders) $13.55
Transmission filler plug $ 2.83
5 Speed Bleeder screws (brakes & clutch) $40.95
Double square (8 point) socket $9.23
---------
Total $341.57

This is in Canadian dollars and includes all taxes (13%).