Not running worth a crap...

[channelmaniac]

Before I go hog wild and cross post... I'll just post to the entry over on the board...

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...03#post1450003

[tailchaser]

The camshafts are properly aligned, but are they (collectively) in alignment with the crank?

[channelmaniac]

I double/triple checked it... unless the crank is goobered on the end, they are lined up...

I didn't take the crank nose area apart yet... was trying to reuse the old belt to get everything running and inspected... Since the car ran fine up until it overheated & warped the head, I was thinking that it should be OK...

I'm starting to wonder if the fuel filter needs replacing... It appears to be running lean - white plugs...

[POS Racing]

Did you have any trouble setting the timing? Also are the injectors all firing?

[channelmaniac]

No trouble setting the timing, other than the obligatory 2nd try that was needed to line the intake cam on the belt correctly

Since the car sat up for so long with the gas lines disconnected under the hood (and only wrapped with a red shop towel that was held on with some duct tape, I'm headed to AutoZone to get a fuel filter....

I checked for leaks in the air plenum and didn't find any... so I'm wondering about a fuel issue...

It was on E when I got it running... so I put 5 gallons of premium in...

RJ

[MadMerv]

The picture doesn't show enough to tell. The alignment marks are forged into the front of the head, between the gears. The intake gear will have the 'E' at it's mark, while the exhaust gear will have the 'I' at it's mark when the crank is at top-dead-center. Once you get that done, rotate the crank CLOCKWISE 1 5/6 rotations, with the tensioner loose, then tighten it down. Rotate the crank 2 1/6 rotations back to top-dead-center and re-check the alignment marks. If they are correct, you've got it right. If not, start over

Do you know if the block is original to the car? If it is, check your serial number. If the last six digits are 209,446 or lower, you have a small nose crank and the key is probably shot. There is a serial number on the oil pan, also, to verify which crank you have, assuming it has never been apart.

If that thing has been sitting that long, it is probable that the fuel filter or the screen on the pump is clogged. With the lean indication on the plugs, don't keep driving it or you will have worse problems.
Merv

[channelmaniac]

Thanks Merv,

I put a new fuel filter on it and am about to put the valve cover & intake plenum back on and fire it up... Boy... all the posts were right... it IS a messy job... Luckily I had some hemostats & kelly clamps to close off the hoses... But that filter still holds quite a bit.

I guess I'll need to take the fuel pump out and check the screen next... how hard is that to do?

RJ

[Titus]

I guess I'll need to take the fuel pump out and check the screen next... how hard is that to do?

Not bad at all. Remove carpet, remove outer cover, un-plug wiring harness and fuel lines, remove another 4 screws, and out it comes.

[Billy Blaze]

You have Hemostats?

[channelmaniac]

Yup...

Had a friend that was an EMT... They use 'em once & throw 'em away... He'd take 'em home, soak 'em for a day in bleach and then boil 'em...

I'm slowly losing & breaking the ones I have... I think I'm down to 5 or 6...

And the car idles now... and runs much better with a new fuel filter... who would've guessed that it would restrict that much fuel. Hell, I turned it upside down to dump the gas out and you should've seen all the brown crap that came out!

I'm stuck trying to find where the wife hid the paperwork for the car so I can go get it inspected... Her aunt from Germany flew in yesterday and she cleaned up the whole friggin house and hid the title & other paperwork somewhere.

RJ

[channelmaniac]

Well, it drives, but if you give it more than a little gas, it bogs... and if you give it over 2/3 pedal it goes fast... Not sure why the bogging at this point... Frustrating


RJ

[channelmaniac]

OK... I'm wondering about either the crank nose or the crank pulley...

Car runs beautifully with the timing set off the chart... about 20-ish degrees...

But... the timing is pretty steady, not jumping all over... I'm going to try it out & see how she drives...

RJ

[channelmaniac]

THAT WAS IT!!!!

She passed inspection with FLYING COLORS!

Now to find a new/used crank pulley for a small nose 1.6L... I think the outer ring spun around some when the car was severely overheated.

RJ

[Titus]

Congrats!

[Treibenschnell]

THAT WAS IT!!!!

She passed inspection with FLYING COLORS!

Congrats!!

When can I pick up the cat?!

[channelmaniac]

I need to go to the muffler shop & get the exhaust swapped out... I want to keep the new cat that is on the other exhaust system... and it's welded on... I'll have them cut it off & weld a flange on it so I can hook it up to the factory exhaust I got from Merv.

I'll have to check with the muffler shop to see if they are open this weekend... How soon did you need it?

RJ

[Treibenschnell]

I'll have to check with the muffler shop to see if they are open this weekend... How soon did you need it?

RJ

Take your time... no rush!

[Titus]

I meant to post this here for you before your inspection but never got around to it. If you want to check for exhaust leaks, suck a little seafoam into the intake... you then have a few minutes to find leaks by looking for white smoke where there should be no smoke.

[channelmaniac]

I meant to post this here for you before your inspection but never got around to it. If you want to check for exhaust leaks, suck a little seafoam into the intake... you then have a few minutes to find leaks by looking for white smoke where there should be no smoke.

It leaked at the connection between the midpipe and the exhaust manifold... And the little paper thin metal gasket from Mazda was no help there... There wasn't an aftermarket one that would fit so they made one fit and fixed a cracked weld on the resonator. The guys at the muffler shop have been great to work with, and they said they would be happy to do custom numbers on an alignment when I'm ready.

RJ