1995 Miata M aka fix and drive

I put in the first real repair today.  Replacing the leaking injector seals.  I ordered the seals Tuesday from the local Mazda dealer and was told two days.  Thursday came and I dropped in to pick them up.  I was told "nope, those did not come in try Friday".  Friday came and as a back up I ordered aftermarket seals.  I did not feel well Friday evening and Saturday and missed taking the Miata to the local Maryland Miata Club swap meet today (Sunday).  I installed the seals this afternoon and everything went fine except for one thing.  Did you know if you hook up the two fuel lines backwards (feed & return) the car won't start?  Now I do.  But now she runs and there is no fresh fuel smell.  I still have to look at the tank filler neck for the stale fuel smell.  But that is another day.

Of course while working on the car a person starts to notice things.  On one of the aforementioned fuel lines the clamp was not in the proper position to clamp.  Good thing it was on the return hose.  And then I noticed that there is only one bolt holding the radiator in place.  Put it on the list.  The hood prop rod is flailing about and it is wearing a groove in the upper radiator hose.  Windshield washer hoses are hanging loose from the hood because the retainer clips are broken.  No big deal, it is an old car that needs some help.  And one last thing to mention.  Is there a simple fix for threads for the engine air-box?  It seems my cars air-box is held together with four, 6mm bolts force threaded into 1/4x20 captured fender nuts.  At least there is nothing living in the air-box and the filter is clean.

That trick of switching the fuel lines is an old, old one :) It's especially fun to troubleshoot because there's enough fuel to get the injectors wet. "Ok, I've got fuel, that's not the problem..."

Can you retap those nuts to 6x1.0?

The 1/4x20 captured nuts were just put against the bottom of the air-box ear and the bolts forced into them.  The captured nut was just used as an over-size nut that would not spin when tightened.  I am looking for a slightly better repair.  Can 6mm nutserts be pressed into the ears and use a regular bolt?

Haven't tried myself, but it's worth a shot. Some JB Weld and a 6x1 nut might also work if they're wallered out. 

Keith Tanner said:

Haven't tried myself, but it's worth a shot. Some JB Weld and a 6x1 nut might also work if they're wallered out. 

Whatever the thread was in is missing.  The only air boxes I am used to are Hondas and most of those have some sort metal threaded part pressed into the the air box housing ears.  On the Miata lower air box I see a hole at each corner with a small slot at 9 and 3 o'clock.  -O- Something like that.  I will have to hit a hardware store and see what sort of metric inserts I can find to glue in there.  I will...  Put it on my list.

And the Mazda lived up to my low expectations!  My injector seals were waiting for me at work today.  They sent me ONE.  *sigh*

Good thing I bought aftermarket...

Short update.

Bought a set of 15 inch NB wheels for $80.   One small step for my Miata.  One giant saving for my wallet.

Not much to report.

I had a section of clear coat blow off the hood this morning.  (I thought it was hilarious.)

Fixed the broken dipstick handle.  Thank you Flyin Miata!  (But the handle should be yellow.)  Maybe I will plastidip it.  This is a win.

Removed the tombstone to install a 3d printed radio cubby and found a horror show of radio wiring.  Make a note to fix later.

And I am guessing this is not a factory radio bracket:

No Mazda marking.  Holes listed as A, B, C.  There is a left and a right bracket.

And the 3D cubby does not fit the radio brackets.  *sigh*

Radio brackets were attached to the dash with what looked like rotor screws.  I tossed those and found something the same size with a washer head.  I will call this a win.

The vent "eyeballs" flop like crazy.  I pulled one out and found a cracked housing and sections of cloth tape hanging out the back.  Someone tried to fix this.

Progress of a sort.

It was a nice drive to work this morning and it will be a nice drive home.

And after a quick search I have identified the brackets I have are just like the ones shown on Crutchfield.  

Nothing exciting to report here.

Except for the fact I can now park the car and it will stay put with the parking brake!   No more wheel chock for me!

What can I be done next?   Right, almost everything.

Time to go for a drive.

"Time to go for a drive" is always recommended in an NA Miata.

And a small update.

A bit of sanding and then some more sanding and then after a bit of sanding, the rust is gone!  Then a quick shoot with some paint like this:

Gives me a pair of nice black wipers arms like this one.

I know.  Not a great shot with lots of back round clutter.  At least both wiper arms are now black instead of rusty.

And one is even back on the car.  

Moving right along here, little tiny steps.

I ordered aftermarket *GASP* belt molding for M today.  I would have liked to buy Mazda moldings, but at $140 for the pair I actually justify $42 for the pair of aftermarket moldings.  The aftermarket moldings will be fine.  They will fit just like aftermarket parts do, but better. 

What is currently on there is just so horrible.  I will take some pictures and update this when the moldings come in and I attempt to install them.

BTW, anyone have any good ideas for putting a clock in a NA Miata where it can be seen and be unobtrusive at the same time?

Small step update:  Do almost anything to keep moving forward.  Tally ho!

Gratuitous wiper pictures.  Ignore the cluster cover and the weatherstrip peaking out from under the cowl trim.  And bask in GLORIOUS PAINTED WIPER ARMS!

On to the next.  Over spray Merlot on the headlamp trims.

Looks like this.

I gently remove one from the car and clean it off with some Spray 9 cleaner.  And then leave it to soak over night in diluted Spray 9.  No good.  Paint did not come off after soaking overnight.  One to next step.  Rubbing alcohol.  And paint is coming loose!  Only 2 more trim pieces to do because I am missing one.  And of course I notice I need the clips to hold the washer hoses in place.  (Added to list) And I think I am missing sections of the cowl cover. (Added to list.)

And here is a picture of a trim piece soakingin alcohol, just because.

Almost forgot my big helper.  Meet Tasha.

Ah, the allure of saving money on cheap parts.  I bought some really cheap exterior door window moldings (belt moldings) off of Flea Bay for M (my Miata).  These things are horrible.  To start with, they are flat.  The top edge of the door is not flat.  I tried to add a contour to the first molding and kinked it.  I continued working with it to remove the kink somewhat and make it fit the car.  It will snap in place, but I don't have it shaped quite right and it pops loose.  I do NOT recomend.Spend the money on Mazda parts for your Miata.  Which brings up this thought.

Pick any two.