mitch_f1's mariner NA6

[Nemo]

So here is my to do list for tomorrow:
-remove old pressure plate and flywheel and clean everything and discover the mystery that is my current clutch
-remove old rear main seal (if there is anything left of it)
-install new RMS, front trans seal and gasket, new flywheel, clutch and pressure plate, as well as 949 braided clutch hose
-try to get the new temp sender location organised while I have the gearbox out, as it provides superior accessability to that area around heater hoses.
-enjoy my new car
-install boost pressure gauge
-install shift light

Sneaky.

[mitch_f1]

So here is my to do list for tomorrow:
-remove old pressure plate and flywheel and clean everything and discover the mystery that is my current clutch
-remove old rear main seal (if there is anything left of it)
-install new RMS, front trans seal and gasket, new flywheel, clutch and pressure plate, as well as 949 braided clutch hose
-try to get the new temp sender location organised while I have the gearbox out, as it provides superior accessability to that area around heater hoses.
-enjoy my new car
-install boost pressure gauge
-install shift light

[mitch_f1]

Was a massive day, but a massive thanks to Hayden, Emily, and Erin for coming by and lending a helping hand!!

So here is my to do list for tomorrow:
-remove old pressure plate and flywheel and clean everything and discover the mystery that is my current clutch
-remove old rear main seal (if there is anything left of it)
-install new RMS, front trans seal and gasket, new flywheel, clutch and pressure plate, as well as 949 braided clutch hose
-try to get the new temp sender location organised while I have the gearbox out, as it provides superior accessability to that area around heater hoses.
-enjoy my new car
-install boost pressure gauge
-install shift light

In bold is left to do. Also have to get driveshaft back in, center consol in, gearbox oil filled, clutch slave put back in, and check everything over three times.

Also, I am not sure if I put grease on the tip of the clutch thingy fork. I put it on the spline shaft of the friction plate, and the shaft that has the clutch release bearing, and the pivot for the fork but unsure about the end of the forks...anything to lose sleep over?

[mitch_f1]

Day 2:
Started the day by removing the old clutch and pressure plate, as well as flywheel. I was suprised that there was a bit of meat still left on the clutch, but it was smooth as glass, so that was an issue. The pressure plate also had lots of heat spots, so did the flywheel:








The spigot bearing also just fell out, which I don't think is the best sign. Not to mention it was nice a crunchy when rotated


The rear of the engine was a bit better than the bell housing, but there was still a lot of oil in it




I don't think that the rear main seal is supposed to sit this low?? Could have been the source of my problems


Old vs new (don't worry about the missing material on the old; I did that trying to get it out)






Cleaned up a bit:






Put the new RMS in place:




Went up to the local servo and got the very helpful mechanic to help me press the spigot bearing into the new flywheel
Engine side:


Gearbox side:


Cleaned all the old threadlock off of the old flywheel bolts:




Flywheel installed:


Followed by clutch and pressure plate installed:


In the middle here Emily came by to help Hayden wire in his new shift light and boost gauge. Her soldering put mine very much to shame :p


I didn't get any pics of the gearbox install as it was a very stressful period. Before we started I thought to myself 'aww yeh, half an hour and it will be in!!' One hour later.... It was such a prick; we had someone up the front with a socket on the crankshaft jiggling, and rocking gearbox back and forth, and it still was just a stubborn little prick to get in, but we got there eventually. Soon after this all the help went home, so I got to torquing everying up, installing and PPF and putting the electrical connectors back on the gearbox (could they really have made them any more difficult to access!?!??!?!?!)

[mitch_f1]

Today I started by cleaning up the garage a little bit:


It was at this point that I found a lone 14mm bellhousing bolt, which had fallen out of the cardboard and been forgotten... So that went in.

I then got right to putting the driveshaft back in place


I then started to attempt putting the 949racing braided clutch line in. Here I hit a snag; it was about an inch to an inch and a half too short....




And was resting hard up on the gearbox


So it took me an hour to get the old clutch line back in place, which was still nice and malleable, and not hard and brittle, so it should be fine. In the process I realised that I had not put one of the brackets for the electrical loom heading to the rear of the car back in place, so had to remove a couple of bolts to do that properly. I then tried to bleed the clutch and had a bit of a panic when the pedal was limp, and no fluid was moving. It took me a while to realise that I hadn't released the nipple far enough, so after doing that it started flowing nicely. I then got dad to help me pump some oil into the gearbox, which was made difficult by an incredibly tight filler plug!! So by about 2pm everything was ready to go, just waiting to pick up my fixed headers


While waiting I put a new radiator top hose in, in place of the one which had the T for the VDO gauge sender. I had to trim a bit off of each end due to the thickness of the radiator:

[emily_mx5]

In the middle here Emily came by to help Hayden wire in his new shift light and boost gauge. Her soldering put mine very much to shame :p

haha your soldering iron and kit and accessories put mine very much to shame!

But while I was sitting around being really helpful I snapped a couple of pics

[hamx5ter]

lookin' good mitch... gonna have to take me out in your car so I can see what the lightweight flywheel feels like.. didn't know you had started working on it on Sunday.. thought you were rostered.. oh well..

[username]

So why didnt the 949 clutch line fit? Was it a defect or do American miatas have a shorter clutch line standard?

And how did you install the shift light? Did yours come with instructions, did you find instructions online or did you just know what you were doing haha

[emily_mx5]

Shift light was simple, only 3 wires: 12V power, ground and RPM signal.

[mitch_f1]

Thanks for the pics Emily

Sorry Deen I had Monday Tuesday rostered off, but then I switched my brain on and realised I also had Sunday off

In terms of the shiftlight, Hayden's one came with instructions and all, and then flyin' miata had a miata specific install guide as well

Forgot to mention in the previous post that I replaced the spring washers on the tail shafts as they were comparatively flat


So I went and picked up my newly fixed exhaust ($100 exhaust turns into $300 exhaust). The great guys at Quick Fit Motorsport in Hornsby came to the rescue on this one fixing me a new flex joint for $120. The joint is even more flexy now, which is good; it might fix some of my exhaust noise




Because he was cutting it in half before the flange, maintaining the correct orientation is critical, and here are some of his measuring marks




I took this opportunity to put a new exhaust manifold gasket in place of the generic fibrous one which was there previously


So after getting exhaust, intake and strut brace bolted back in the car I decided to start it to see if I could get the wheels to turn while still in the air. This was the moment of truth for me; if it starts I would be awesome, if it didn't I would be sooper annoyed. So turn key and it starts, no noises. HECK YES!!! So I put it in first gear, and the wheels turn. HECK YES x2!!! After this success we dropped the car to the ground in 3 stages and I went for a drive around the block. The shifting is so much nicer now, and the clutch is much more responsive, not to mention the fact that the pickup is right down the bottom of the pedal travel, where it is supposed to be (previously it was right up the top). I am getting some flywheel chatter when high torque demands are put on the car in lower revs (going up a hill in a high gear). But this is really only noticeable when there is something next to the car to reflect the sound.

After dinner I went for a drive down McCarrs Creek Road, and did my favourite sequence of turns a few times. I love shifting in this car now; downshifting is like something else the car rev matches perfectly, all you do is breathe on the throttle and the revs rise. It's so nice! In terms of acceleration I haven't noticed a huge difference except that on quick acceleration with quick changes the changes are pretty quick and snappy. Some people say that with a lightweight flywheel it is difficult to keep highway speeds, but in the 90 zone on Mona Vale Road I didn't find that to be a problem at all. Overall I am really happy and very pleased that I got it all done with next to no hiccups or troubles

[Hjt]

Im very pleased with the result. Bring on Australia Day

[hamx5ter]

cool... well done..

can you launch at reasonable revs from a standstill? or do you have to rev it silly or stall...?
how much did the flywheel weigh?

[mitch_f1]

Yeh it seems very reasonable, not too much different from stock flywheel; I'm certainly not revving to silly revs (wheelspin ensues..hehe).

[evil_weevil]

stupid computer, just typed a post and it fkn failed.
ARGH.

anyhoo,
I cant see pics at work cause of stupid computer/server!! i'll look tonight, seems you have been very busy lately mate - good work. Puts me to shame!
Aus day your next track day? Im down that weekend for MRA.

me on the other hand been neglecting my 5 not getting a/m ECU now and new clutch is scheduled to go in on 21st. week before MRA...hope I run it in enough haha dont want to bust out 5k launches on an unran in clutch lol

to be honest though I have had naughty thoughts of selling it

[mitch_f1]

Sooo never really crossed my mind, the whole bedding in a clutch....as a result it may have been abused a little last night.

CC aus day is next track day, yes. You coming down for it?

Why sell? What would you replace it with?