When is Enough Enough?

I've been working on this berkeleying Miata since 4:30.

Doing what? The simple task of removing the top latches and installing SM brackets. Only up front! I knew i didn't want to mess with the sides today.

2 hours to get the latches off. (Thanks to Mr. Phillips and his hellish invention)

2.5 hours trying to install an off-the-shelf part on a berkeleying Miata, culminating in an "I think i got it!" moment, followed shortly by the realization that i now have berkeleyed up threads in my windshield frame.

Why do i even bother? Everything i touch goes to E36 M3.

Good thing i took the whole week off and threw down a grand and change for cabins for MATG, because this piece of E36 M3 clearly isn't going to make it.

Wish i knew what i was doing wrong. This happens far too often. Like damn near every time.

I've got a parts car if you need anything

Appreciate the offer, but my main concern is that i no longer have a way to bolt down my hardtop or protect anything inside the car from being stolen.

I'd roll it into the garage but the garage is full of broken cars for which this car was supposed to be the palate cleanser.

Got a tap set?

Drink a beer, chase the threads with the tap, take a deep breath and try again.

Oh, and Phillips screws take a lot of patience and a damn good screwdriver. Not a pretty good one, a DAMN good one. Kline, Snap-On, whatever. Spend a bundle on it.

I've also had good luck with a Bosch Phillips tip in a electric impact.

A little spit and some fine sand can also be helpful.

Problem with these Phillips screws is that they're made out of play doh and they're slathered in red loc-tite from the factory. Butane torch sorted them out.

And yes, i have a tap set. It's just an hour's round trip to go get it. Le sigh.

Since then, i managed to get the passenger side bolted by not giving a berkeley about hogging out the holes in the brackets. So... Progress.

When I smoked, I'd step away and smoke a cigarette. That would usually do the trick.

Now, I usually step back and check the forum or FB on my phone, or possibly read the directions.

Sometimes you just have to clear the brain and start again.

Good luck. Crap bolts and Phillips tips are a bad combination.

This. Same tool you use for the screws that hold the rotors to the hubs. Makes removal a five minute job.

In reply to Junkyard_Dog:

That on a windshield frame would make me cringe.

But yes, they are the right tool for the job on occasion.

Toyman01 wrote: In reply to Junkyard_Dog: That on a windshield frame would make me cringe. But yes, they are the right tool for the job on occasion.

Then let me add: DO NOT use it on the windshield frame with a BFH. Not even the Lil' BFH!

Man, I feel your pain. I berkeley up two things for every one thing I fix. But every once in a while I get it right. And when I get it right, just taking that first drive (and every drive after before something hidden breaks again) makes everything it took to get there "OK".

Grab a beer, cool off, throw a wrench in a semi-safe direction, and grab another beer. You'll get it

Getting everything off when i had a method was easy.

Putting new brackets on.... Not so much. I have all the bolts in save for the one with really bad threads now. Way stiffer than with latches. Door closing sounds different.

Will tap that hole and hog out the bracket later this week. I need a break.

All this because my buddy needs the latches. Sigh.

I've had hardtop brackets for about 2 years, but only installed the side ones for the longest time. I only just installed the front ones because of rallycross. Berk that red loctite mess. It's not just you.

As New Order once said: "It's Never Enough Until Your Heart Stops Beating."

I'm excited to see what the difference is like with all the brackets for once. I hear good things.

Btw, they're not Philips. They're JIS. Works much better.

Keith Tanner wrote: Btw, they're not Philips. They're JIS. Works much better.

Yeah... I need to get a set of those for the home garage. Have them at the main workplace.

I found a weird looking bit in a Gearwrench set i had that engaged them pretty well. After i hit them with the torch it was smooth sailing.

Go to sleep.

Trust me, I've broken more things and threatened to flip over more cars at 2:30 in the morning because I was tired.

Lord Humongous is right: Just-Walk-Away.

Hope you have a better go of it today. My experiences have pretty much all been like yours so in answer to your first question......enough is never enough. It never ends.

Keith Tanner wrote: Btw, they're not Philips. They're JIS. Works much better.

Thanks, Keith - I learned something today (never knew about JIS).

For a long time, I had a bad habit of going through old Japanese motorcycles...same problem. The hardware is incredibly soft, and a JIS driver was one of the best investments I ever made. Eventually, just as part of getting a new bike, I would replace all the phillips hardware with allen head screws. It's totally worth doing if it is something you'll ever touch again.

Yeah i replaced the screws with bolts. Will replace everything with security Torx when i have them off again to do the rollbar, which will inevitably be a disaster as well.

Feedyurhed wrote: Hope you have a better go of it today. My experiences have pretty much all been like yours so in answer to your first question......enough is never enough. It never ends.

Me too. Working on the Jeep today after work. Have to fix window regulator, replace motor and trans mounts, and change trans fluid. Potential for much disaster.

sell it to me for $12.. I'll tkae that "disaster" off your hands.

Heh miata would get parted out if i ditch it, and the Jeep would take more like $4k.