Finally picked up my Miata

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08-05-2010, 11:42 PM
Matt V

Finally picked up my Miata

Hey guys, I finally sold the Protege5 today and picked up this bad boy.

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMAG0004.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMAG0005.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMAG0006.jpg

Specs: '90 Miata, 5 speed, 1.6L, pearl white paint exterior, black interior, 93k miles, one previous owner.

I've done an oil change, coolant flush, thermostat, transmission fluid, differential, AND brake fluid change today. Took a couple hours but it was fun getting to know my car. I gotta say that the coolant flush made a big difference, I used distilled water and red coolant along with Royal Purple radiator additive, the gauge now stays at below half all day even with the A/C running. Much better than my fluctuating gauge before. I also put Royal Purple 75W-90 in the tranny and diff. I also installed my Alpine headunit.

First car wash today. For some reason my lens was fogging up but these will do for now.

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/DSC_1374.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/DSC_1375.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/DSC_1381.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/DSC_1376.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/DSC_1377.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/DSC_1380.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/DSC_1382.jpg

Needs a few things, shift boot, clay bar, and passenger window fix (I can hear the motor but the window won't move) but otherwise it's perfect. I installed NGK spark plugs today and it runs even better now.
08-06-2010, 12:51 AM
Radio-Active

Congratulations on the new car. Looks real good.
08-06-2010, 01:16 AM
CHeavin_2006

Congrats! Have fun with it!
08-06-2010, 06:15 AM
jrj512

Nice!
08-06-2010, 06:16 AM
cone-cerned

+1 on what CHeavin_2006 said.
08-06-2010, 06:28 AM
sammm

Congrats and enjoy!
08-06-2010, 06:30 AM
bnordin

Congrat's on a very nice looking car.
08-06-2010, 06:59 AM
aalvarez04

Congrats!
08-06-2010, 07:22 AM
Electro

Low miles and the paint looks great. Good find!
08-06-2010, 10:14 AM
CarCar

What a beauty. Congrats.
08-06-2010, 10:16 AM
apex2apex

Congrats. Car looks clean, enjoy it!
08-06-2010, 11:03 AM
motorollow

Your paint looks a lot better than the paint on the white 1990 I had!
08-06-2010, 02:35 PM
Matt V

The car has been repainted, pearl white wasnt a factory color. either way though, i really love it.
08-06-2010, 02:42 PM
OZMDD

Nice! A great example of a clean 90. Looking forward to seeing it in person!
08-06-2010, 05:14 PM
SixAce

Nice ride! Super clean. Now go get her dirty...
08-09-2010, 12:52 AM
Matt V

Detail pics:

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMAG0012.jpg

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMAG0017.jpg
08-10-2010, 09:25 AM
TurboDuane

Very nice looking car!

Since you sound like you're pretty handy mechanically, whats the story on the timing belt? When was it replaced? If you don't know you may want to replace it, if it was done recently then just verify the crank pulley bolt was done correctly using 90lbs of tq. and lock tight. The '90's and early '91's had a small crank nose and if not maintained properly could loosen up causing damage to the nose and the key-way. Note: the original shop manual called for 120lbs of tq. but that has been revised to using only 90lbs. and lock tight, as the smaller crank bolts would stretch causing premature failure . I put many miles on my old '90 model and never had a problem with the crank nose, but I checked the torque every year.

The funny thing is my '97 Miata with the large crank nose is the car that ended up throwing a crank pulley because I failed to check it after I swapped out a transmission. I had used the crank bolt to keep the engine from rotating when I torqued up a the new clutch. I apparently loosened the crank bolt and didn't re-torque after the transmission job. It took over a year for the failure to happen...my bad :(
08-11-2010, 07:41 AM
miata_B_racing

Check the vin # the earlier models had SNC and later are the same as the 1.8L Mat V
Your example is almost the spitting image of our 91 when we got her. in Dec 09. Same
exact split in the front lower bumper. As well as non working passenger window. And
it had to be held up with a piece of cardboard box. 112K miles unknown timing belt change
and or anything else being changed - No past history on the car at All. Today, Just about 9
months since purchase the car still has never even been washed. It stays covered nearly
all the time it's not being driven. This will keep your car looking good if you do not have a
garage to park her in. Nice looking ride though ! Just like the other poster said check that
belt and also the vin for SNC model....

miata_B_racing
08-11-2010, 08:43 AM
TurboDuane

His car is a '90 model. All '90's had the short nose crank, checking vin's doesn't apply until '91 whereby there was a change mid year with regards to the crank. And, IIRC there are three different nose options: short nose, long nose and big nose of which the 1.8L's had.
08-11-2010, 10:07 AM
miata_B_racing

True , I respect that, but the vin # on the frame and motor will reveal any engine swap it may
or may not have had during past life..... All 90's were in deed SNC motors. Ours is a later
model 91 so it's not SNC. I was only refering to the 1.8 L because they are all the same no
mid season change motor wise.

miata_B_racing soon
08-11-2010, 04:45 PM
Matt V

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboDuane

His car is a '90 model. All '90's had the short nose crank, checking vin's doesn't apply until '91 whereby there was a change mid year with regards to the crank. And, IIRC there are three different nose options: short nose, long nose and big nose of which the 1.8L's had.

According to the previous owner, the timing belt was changed. Is there a quick way to see if it was done wrongly or not?
08-11-2010, 08:48 PM
TurboDuane

Just take a tq wrench and check the tq from time to time to verify it's at around 90lbs. Or you could remove the crank bolt and apply locktight, and re-torque to 90 lbs.
08-11-2010, 10:26 PM
Matt V

Sounds like something I'll need help with. That's what you local guys are for. :)
08-12-2010, 06:47 AM
POS Racing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt V

Sounds like something I'll need help with. That's what you local guys are for. :)

Did you have Rogue look at the car?

I'd do that before I even thought about turning a wrench since you could do more harm than good if you do it wrong.

Who did the last timing belt service on it??

Here is some good information on the SNC - http://www.miata.net/garage/crankshaft.html
08-20-2010, 10:40 PM
Matt V

Picked up some NB wheels today.

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1082/nbwheels.jpg
08-21-2010, 08:08 AM
Tom95YJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Did you have Rogue look at the car?

I'd do that before I even thought about turning a wrench since you could do more harm than good if you do it wrong.

Who did the last timing belt service on it??

Here is some good information on the SNC - http://www.miata.net/garage/crankshaft.html

X2 Have Rogue take a look at it , He's a great guy, and Really knows these cars in and out !
08-21-2010, 09:33 AM
Matt V

I had Stevan look at it last week. Everything looked ok to him.