Winter Update

It has been a couple months since I have had anything post-worthy as far as Miata-related activities go. I have been busy with school assignments, work obligations, and holiday traveling, so there has not been much spare time to work on the Miata. In early November, the Miata moved to our new home a few blocks away, and to a significantly smaller garage. At least its in good company, right?

After sitting for several weeks post-move, the battery had gone completely flat in the Miata. I must have left a foot well light on over the time. With a jump, I got it going again, and have not had a problem since. The never-ending unpacking in my home distracted me from putting the car away properly. I covered up the car, and the tailpipe, but hadn't gone beyond that.

Unfortunately, the Volvo has developed an overheating issue and had to go into the shop. This means that commuting duties (~46 miles each way) are on the Miata until the Volvo is back from the shop. I try and do as much of my own work as possible. Completing a head gasket job on a Volvo in freezing temperatures sounds punishing, so I'm leaving it to my indie shop to sort out.

I would not mind driving the Miata in the cold, if it was not for the threat of snow. The ruined soft top was not holding together, so I devised a temporary repair to get me through until I'm able to install a new one.

Using the most basic in materials, I was able to get the window to stay in place enough to prevent weather from entering and most heat escaping. It's embarrassing, but at least you cannot see it from the outside of the car.The awful evidence of the failed top remains in the form of stubborn duct tape adhesive.

I had promised to post some photos of the repaired rocker panel sections.

Other than the dirt from the road and rain, I think it looks pretty good. 

Maaco in Keyport, NJ has been doing business with my auto glass company for some time, so they took good care of this repair. After welding in repair panels for the rusted portion, the area was smoothed and the  rocker panels were completely resprayed. I'm pleased.

Now that the corrosion is dealt with, I can turn my attention to the next items on my agenda for this car. Once the Volvo repairs are completed, I will start preparing to give the Miata some service. I plan to address the top at this time as well. My rough list is already starting to add up.

-Replace Convertible Top

-Replace Exhaust Manifold Gasket and hardware

-Inspect Exhaust System for additional leaks

-New seals around windows on L&R

-Replace Accessory Belts & check A/C idler pulley

-Replace Timing Belt, Idler, Tensioner, and water pump

-Check oil seals and replace if necessary

-Replace thermostat and coolant hoses

-Replace brake hoses and caliper bleeder screws

-Check all suspension components for wear and begin replacing bushings.

If the exhaust manifold or head pipe requires any attention, I'll likely install a header in place of them. 

I'll be driving the Miata to and from work, where we have a large heated work space, so there is a distinct possibility that I could begin some of this work before warmer weather is here, time permitting. 

More updates will be posted as they come!

Labor Day Update

So things are getting pretty dire with this top. I've had to limit driving the car significantly. The window is now only up because its propped into place, as the fabric around the inside of the main part of the top has shed the zipper almost entirely. The tape residue is unsightly, but I had to ensure the window would remain in place while the body shop had the car for a week. I was trying to prevent as much dirt and overspray from getting into the car while the rocker panels were being repaired.

For some good news, I was able to bleed the clutch system and replace the fluid. I used a siphon hose to withdraw the fluid from the reservoir and refilled with new. Using a tutorial from Miata.net, I was able to locate the clutch slave cylinder very easily (on the right side lower bell housing) I was able to access this by removing the RF wheel and jacking up the front of the car. Always use jack stands! There is an 8mm bleeder screw on the slave cylinder, much like a brake bleeder, and I removed any remaining bad fluid from that point.

The old fluid was completely opaque and a dark brown. Clearly, it had not been changed in quite some time. Thankfully, with some new fluid, the clutch seems to operate a little more smoothly than I was used to.

I moved on to siphon the brake fluid from the master cylinder reservoir, and replaced that with new fluid as well. However, the bleeders on the front brake calipers seem to be frozen in place. At this point, I did not attempt to remove them with extra force, as I do not have replacement bleeder screws on hand. I will try again to bleed out the remaining old fluid when I do a replacement of all brake lines next spring. I do not anticipate driving the car much until that point. This should give me ample time to set aside a few bucks for front calipers, should I need them.

I will include some better-quality photos in my next update, as well as better details of the completed rust repairs.

Four months later.

In the past four months, I have been using the Miata as a commuter car, and to travel around on weekends in mostly nice weather.

I have had quite a busy summer, and have not had time to properly chronicle my time in the Miata, so here's an attempt at such!

Since purchase, I have driven the car a little over 5000 miles, averaging about 1,250 miles per month.

Side by side, here is a photo comparison of my first Miata in 2006, versus my current one, August 2012.

Once I got this Miata tagged and insured, I set to get rid of the ugly aftermarket 14-inch wheels that really took away from the car's appearance.

This photo shows not only the ugly wheels, but the small spot of rust on the car as well. The tires were nearly brand new, and in great shape, so I decided to go with stock wheels, which were also 14". I was on a pretty tight budget, but managed to score a set of stock 94-97 wheels on Craigslist for only $100. The seller even offered to mount my tires for me!

The stock wheels did much to improve the overall appearance of the car, in my opinion, and it definitely fit into my budget. Within a day, I realized that the aftermarket lug nuts installed by the previous owner would not work with the Mazda alloys, so I would need to source replacements. At $6, new for OEM lug nuts, it seemed a bit silly to spend over $100 on lugs. However, Open Road Mazda hooked me up with a complete set of new take-offs for $60.

The Miata seems to encourage spirited driving, and the result was spent brakes after just a month of me owning the car. I sourced zinc-plated, slotted, vented rotors and replaced the pads and sliders. Here's a quick shot of the new lugs & brakes. Much better!

I replaced the valve cover gasket and PCV valve and eliminated a moderate oil leak from the top of the motor. I seem to have lost the photos of the oily mess, so here's one of the car after some cleanup!

The interior of my Miata has a few items which could stand to be addressed. Of course, the seats have some normal fading from being out in the sun over the past 20 years, but that has not bothered me too much. The carpet could use a replacement soon, as there are some noticeable tears on the passenger side. A careless passenger in heels, perhaps? I re-mounted the radio, cleaned up the dash, and replaced the shift boot. It looks significantly  better with these items addressed. I can turn my attention else where for now.

 This brings me to an important point: the convertible top. The top on the Miata has started to deteriorate significantly over the past several months, due to my frequent folding/unfolding of the roof, and the fabric which retains the zipper for the rear window has separated completely, in a difficult to access area. This wear has now limited my driving of the Miata significantly, as I cannot take the car out if there is the threat of poor weather. Also, without a rear window, the car is not secure to be parked in public places.

I have been shopping for a convertible top since this roof started giving me problems, and have found a suitable replacement.

I've decided to go with a Robbins Streamline top in canvas, with the rear defrost option. Yes, this will eliminate the zip-out rear window, but I think of that as a weak point for most tops anyway. My only concern with this new roof is the fitment compatibility of certain roll bars, which is something I am considering as soon as resources allow.

Before winter comes, I'd like to complete the following:
-Replace clutch and brake fluid.
-Replace Gear Oil with Redline
-Replace Convertible top
-Replace Spark Plugs

Most of this I should be able to accomplish, though timing is a challenge as my courses start Tuesday, adding to my already busy work schedule. There is the possibility that I will be taking the Miata to an autocross event next month, so more excitement for this car is on the horizon.

The Search for the Right Miata, Pt 2

April 22nd, 2012

After seeing the disarray that the white Miata had become, I was feeling a bit discouraged. However, I still hopped onto Craigslist that evening to continue my search.

I found a 1992 Miata that had been listed only the day before.

From the photos, the car looked to be in fairly decent shape, and the price was certainly reasonable. I called the seller to ask him some questions about the car. He said that it did run well, and that he's had it for the past 7-8 years or so. He also said that there was no rust on the body, which was great to hear. I arranged to see the car after work the next day.

Within an hour,  my phone rang. It was the seller.

"I just wanted to call and tell you, before you make the trip..."

My heart sank. I was sure he had sold the car to someone local. I knew it was too good to be true.

"I wanted to let you know I did find a little spot of rust on the car. Just wanted to make sure you still wanted it."

Wanted it?! Yes, I still wanted the car, which apparently had two small spots of rust. The seller said we could "talk about the price" which I thought was more than fair to begin with. You could say I was sufficiently excited about this car.

Monday morning at work was relatively slow, which allowed me to escape long enough in order to make the trek to see the Miata. I borrowed my boss's Ford Expedition and set out to pick up my tow dolly, and then down to the car.

I arrived in Somers Point mid afternoon, to a plain, small ranch house with an empty driveway. I got out of the Expedition and walked a few steps towards the house, when the seller, a short, slender man in his mid to late 60s greeted me from the driveway. He shook my hand and I followed him to the back of the house.

I walked past an immaculate fox-body Ford Mustang notch-back, and a 90's Dodge Ram 1500 that looked like it had never seen salt. In front of me as I turned the corner, was a late 80's RX-7, and the Miata, looking much better than I had expected.

"It looks good", I said, trying to hold back my enthusiasm until I drove the car. It took a real close inspection to find the spots of rust on the lower body in front of the rear wheels, but it appeared to be fixable without having to do major bodywork. The car had been painted once, but appeared to be a good job, as it shined up nicely, and all of the emblems were back in the proper places. I wasn't a big fan of the aftermarket wheels, but the rest of the car looked great!

The seller gave me the keys and I got in to take it for a ride. To my surprise, this car was equipped with the very same aftermarket radio which my first Miata had. This was a small, but funny coincidence. On the road, the car felt planted. The clutch engaged well. The brakes worked and did not pulsate. The top looked to be in good, usable shape as well.

I returned to the driveway after my short test drive, and smiling, asked the seller why he was selling the car. He said he wanted to spend more time on his other cars, and pointed to his garage where I saw this Camaro. No further explanation required! What a car!

 

I was confident that this Miata had been in the hands of someone who could take care of it, and purchased it for $2300. I think it was a great deal, considering the others I had looked at.

I loaded the car up and took home my bounty. I was now a Miata owner, once again.

The Search for the right Miata (pt1)

As this Spring 2012 approached, I started thinking about owning another Miata. At the time, we owned two Volvo wagons, a 2000 V70 with a 5 speed manual transmission, and a 1994 850 with the 4 speed automatic. The V70 was just purchased a few months prior, as a backup to the 850, which I had been driving daily. At 220,000  miles, the 850 was showing its age, bearing the scars of careless parking and driving by the previous owner.

(Probably the nicest photo of the 850)

After some Craigslist and eBay hunting, I decided to sell/trade the 850 for a weekend driver/project Miata. I listed my Volvo on Craigslist and did not have much luck. I was getting offers of $1000-$1400, which would not buy me much of a Miata. In April, I listed the car on eBay, and it sold for $2000 within a couple of days. I received a $500 deposit, and started looking for the right Miata to buy. The amount of Miatas listed on eBay and Craigslist dwindled as the weather warmed up.

My criteria was as follows:
-Budget of $3000
-91+ (was looking to avoid the Short Nose crank issues)
-Manual Transmission
-Minimal/ No Rust
-Solid motor/transmission

I'd accept one with minor issues, as I could do a little bit of my own work in the parking garage at home, but larger items and bodywork would have to be sourced out to a professional.

Given the budget, I'd say these were fairly reasonable expectations. I've learned that nothing is to be taken granted with a 20+ year old car, especially one that has been driven hard. I started my search with those requirements in mind.

I arranged to look at a white 91 Miata at a local dealer, but it was sold before I arrived. Two days later, I met with a seller and his 70,000-mile 1991 Miata. After a quick glance, I could see the entire rocker area was stuffed with foam and bondo. After I hauled out an impressive handful of pine needles from behind the seats and console, the seller confessed that the car was sitting outside for some time with a bad top. Bad news.

It was time to expand my search area.

I found a 1991 Miata in Levittown PA, about 1.5 hours from me, and arranged to see the car on a Saturday. The car had rust poking out from old bodywork work. I was able to spot that before the owner even answered the door. That would have been acceptable, if the car worked properly. On the test drive, the clutch was acting up, and there were horrible rattles coming from the suspension. I walked away, as the car had a salvage history and the seller would not move from $2900.

The next Saturday, I found a Craigslist ad for a 55,000-mile, one-owner Miata.  The ad was simple and had been written by someone who was clearly unfamiliar with the internet, or extraordinarily vague.

"MIATA: Standard transmission, 55k, RED, Never driven in rain ....$3000"

Was this the rust-free dream Miata that I wanted? I had to see the car. Even though I still was waiting to be paid for my Volvo, I went to see this car, deposit in hand. I drove up to Morristown and met the elderly owner in his driveway as he was vacuuming out his Mercedes-Benz CLK convertible. The glistening Miata sat parked nearby. This was the cleanest NA Miata I had ever laid my eyes on. Every aspect about it was clean and factory spec. I turned and whispered to my boyfriend, "I'm gonna buy this car." What happened next was, unexpected. 

I opened the door, and gasped in horror.

IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC!

Clearly, the seller and I did not agree what constituted a "standard transmission" as this Miata was equipped with the 4-speed auto-tragic transmission. Having driven nearly an hour to see the car, I was obliged to take it down the street at least. Maybe it would be worth it to buy and swap to manual? If the car drove fine, maybe I would buy. 

I was wrong. The jerky shifts and sluggish nature of this automatic Miata were unbearable. Disappointed, I left the clean, automatic Miata and continued my search later that night. I came upon an advert for a 1991 Miata in white with a hardtop and manual trans for only $2600. I called the seller, and arranged to come by the next morning, as he lived only 15 minutes away.

I arrived at the seller's house in Garfield NJ just as it started to rain. The car was advertised with a hard top, so I was doubtful that the interior would be wet for the test drive. The seller admitted the car might need some minor work, but that he was driving it to and from classes until a week ago, and decided to focus on his Civic instead. I completely forgot about my trivial concerns once I saw this car, and the complete mess it had become. I took some photos with my cell phone, because I could not believe how badly this Miata had been abused.

The ugly spoiler and dents are forgivable, but what is this on the tail panel? 

What the hell happened here? What alcohol/drug combination induced this trunk popping body hackery? It looks like someone used a crowbar to punch out an air hole from the inside! Was the seller holding a tiny person hostage in the trunk? Munchkin Mafia deal gone bad? I'll never know.  I only stayed around long enough to take these few photos with my iPhone.

What would possess someone to paint over ALL of the bumper-mounted reflectors? 

"Visibility? Eh... fuck it! This will look hella tight."

At least, that's the mental dialog I imagine when I think of the buffoon who mistreated this Miata. 

Around the front of the car, the story was similar. 

"Parallel parking is easy. Wham-bam-TAP and you're in! Let me just put these stickers right...here"

Now that the seller was able to get the hood open (after much tugging and pulling), let's have a look!

Gah! What a mess! Where to I start? I'm digging that intake clanking around on the driver side. Filter looks good, right? ;) However, the seller's electrical precautions are where he really shines.

Yes, that's a coolant temp sensor wire just twisted together. No solder. No connector. Filth and finger-twists are all that's required to accurately operate my cooling system. NO! You are doing it wrong, good sir. 

I shook my head and continued looking the car over.

"Minor rust" as dictated by the seller. This foot-wide mess of rust is how both rocker panels looked (area that's in front of the rear wheels). Considering this car is a crispy, cut-up creature, maybe I'd offer him something for the hard top? The driver side looks fine, so how about the passenger side?

The seller wasn't the only one who was on crack (with his asking price at $2600). Those hardtop cracks extended through the fiberglass. This hard top also needed all new seals and gaskets, making it worth a couple hundred at best. The car itself ran well, but it didn't seem to be worth my time. (Stupidly) I offered the seller $800 for the car, as is. To be fair, it did run and move, but the body, instruments, wiring, cosmetics, timing housing, top, and....forget it. It all needed a ton of work. That Miata was a huge mess. 

Feeling discouraged, I drove home in the rain, which did nothing to shake the sinking feeling I had, now that I had sold my trusty old Volvo for a Miata that seemed impossible to find, without making incredulous concessions on my criteria. 

It seemed finding a good Miata within my budget was wishful thinking.

My Miata past.

In the the fall of 2006, I was working as a mobile glass repair technician throughout central and southern New Jersey. One afternoon, I was driving between stops when I caught a glimpse of a Miata sitting in a front yard along Rt 79 in Marlboro NJ. The car looked neglected, but complete. Being the curious car geek that I am, I left a note for the owner. 

I received a call from the owner later that evening, telling me he was looking to sell the car, but that it would need some attention to a variety of items. After a quick phone conversation,I arranged to come back for that car. Three days later, I bought my first Miata, a 1992 base model, for only $600!

I jumped the car and drove it onto a trailer. The seller provided me with a few "mystery boxes" of parts, which would soon come in handy. I was quite fortunate that the car ran quite well, despite having over 200,000 miles on the engine and transmission. 

 I put about 7000 miles on the Miata in just a few months, repairing many different aspects of the car. I installed new brakes, a new radiator, a new roof, and many other parts. The car was starting to look and perform significantly better.

As is the case with any neglected car, issues arise from being driven hard without the proper maintenance. The car developed an overheating issue at 220,000 miles, with some symptoms of a failed head gasket. Lacking the expertise and funds to repair the car properly, I listed the car on eBay as a project, and sold it for a loss. 

Over the next five years, I worked on numerous other automotive projects, and gained confidence and experience under the hood. Until recently, I had always regretted selling my first Miata.

Intro

If you are already visiting this page, you may be wondering why I chose to create a blog on one of the most popular roadsters from the 1990s, when there are countless other blogs out there with better information and more pertinent content. My answer to that question is very simple: I enjoy writing, but do so seldom, and my interest in automobiles is one of the few things I can currently elaborate on without boring myself. I will apologize for my lack of concise posts, as my writing is out of practice lately.
I have been posting about my love for cars and adventures in owning, maintaining, and modifying them throughout several online mediums such as Facebook, Twitter, and enthusiast forums. This is my effort to consolidate my sporadic posts into one.

I do welcome questions, suggestions, and other input to my personal email at: michaeljmilan(at)gmail.com.