From Mexie ... to MXSE ...

[ManiacLachy]

I feel the same way as you about the HT. It's good to have, but I like the drop-top.

You should make a PVC stand like mine, very easy to do with a drop-saw, surprisingly sturdy as well.

[KevGoat]

Yeah I used your links and copied the plans and parts a few weeks ago and probably will build one at some stage. Then need something to secure it in as my main carport, though behind a locked roller door, is still open and easy to get to. Maybe one of the skinny bicycle sheds will do the trick. I really haven't thought about it yet, too many other things first.

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[KevGoat]

In the last few weeks, an old vibration between 55kph and 60kph that feels exactly like a wheel out of balance has reared its head again. I had this years ago, and after a balance and alignment, I found out one of the wheels was slightly buckled. Replaced the wheel and seemed to sort it, though from memory I think I also fitted the chassis rails around that time, too. So, back to the present, and the tyres were getting old, so as we're heading over to Vic for a week, I thought I'd replace them plus have a wheel alignment and get them to check the wheels carefully and see if they could discover any cause. All was good, and although the new tyres feel a lot more comfortable (the old ones were getting pretty hard with age), the vibration remained. With a couple of days before we leave I decided to get the car up in the air to have a good look. Immediately found this....





All the hangers are surprisingly perished. They've only been on there a few months less than 5 years, so this wasn't what I was expecting to find!



Grabbed the old originals from the shed and changed them all over (such a fun job) and took it for a drive. Immediate difference, though still some vibration noticeable. I had another thought and lifted the car back up and checked the chassis rail bolts, and all were a bit loose. Tightened everything, had a check around everything else, and took it for another drive. Feels a lot better! There's still a very minor vibration, probably only noticeable to me because I'm searching for it. Hopefully, it all goes OK for the trip.

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[Lokiel]

Here in QLD, due to the humidity, rubber tends to go "slimy" and peels/tears off - none of my original tools I brought up here with rubber on the handles has any rubber left on them.

I saw these "Mazda MX5 Bushes MK2 NB 1998-2005 Miata Eunos Exhaust Mounts Poly Polyurethane" recently on eBay and bought a set for when I need to replace mine.
See https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/374464664924?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201210111314%26meid%3Decaad7c79ea74156a2cd34f21aa79967%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D391877601809%26itm%3D374464664924%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuWithLambda85KnnRecallV1V4V6ItemNrtInQueryAndCassiniVisualRankerAndBertRecall%26brand%3DFloflex&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A374464664924ecaad7c79ea74156a2cd34f21aa79967%7Cenc%3AAQAHAAABYBEC%252B8HimpTF6XPanG8lCeF3G6jifrewDlLoKJMPz0RnJH8s%252BUBlIo2cSQSdgSGvSVvCKC6zF4X6tOnQIr392G0gldH8QjhGQ2fmdEokLVFt29UKj%252FEph29NUO0KxqhEb84gZhbKWlWfbravBJF8o5LAD8D3zwuWgNpsP0rd%252Bujkbh0qrBmmVLs7dE5%252BaZ5ysalYoRLM2UVmHF%252B%252BzlSOYlSeNhHbnkRuHj%252FQsUL2%252B%252FEtog5E1UxR%252FlwVCMqWvKtOa1HzgBpSzWY5%252B%252FrOyO37uoy3OWh9mvutyeQICPTTpZy%252BHQeqyG4Fxus3A5CipSArXWwbOZNfEZIWsnrEKFsoPn%252Fi75POyOTug6ArR8d2%252FwI4G3DGpCB%252FBVSDm8f%252F3F8yvUTT4Aj4RwJXEMHTQQiRTzVZe6VtTUHCiiMlILcJGX%252Fwu%252BdNzhW3ZYXhgIE0IKqMafpKBDyHakkqSPiQgIzALNU%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675&epid=28025900958



My rubber exhaust hangers are actually in good condition and I wonder if it's because I spray them with silicone spray when I get them off and the silicone coats them "enough" against humidity degradation?

I also bought their steering rack mounting bushes too - not sure I'll ever need them but figured why not, will save S&H costs next time.

[KevGoat]

Mine had done the opposite. They were dried out and solid, with no flexibility left in them at all. In fact, when I put the originals back in, I was worried they were too flexible, and the exhaust could rattle with the small tolerances in some places. Seems OK, though. I had started searching and found the polyurethane ones and wondered if anyone had any experience with them. The ones I found were Powerflex. Will do more research when we get back.

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[KevGoat]

Ok ... so we loaded the suitcase and esky and stuff in to MXSE and drove to Robe, then the next day to Port Fairy, and have to say the car has never felt better! Parts of the roads on this trip get pretty bad. The tyres I managed to fit last minute (Kumho Ecsta PA51) with virtually no choice locally of "on hand" stock, are more passenger than performance, but tbh are easily good enough for my requirements and on this trip alone have shown just how much difference there is between old hard tyres to new! We've dríven this route with Mexie (NA6), the NB8A, and MXSE (apart from other cars) prior to this, and never has any of them felt this comfortable in absorbing the rough roads or as confident in handling high speed cruising as these tyres have! I have always felt Mexie (NA6) was my best handling vs. comfort setup I've managed to build, but now I'm not so sure - I'll reserve judgement until further long-term experience. I was really peeved that I had to fix the tyre issue so unexpectedly and quickly for this trip when my plan had always been to fit 15's (originally had my eye on Rotas) when the existing tyres wore out. Unfortunately, this hasn't worked out. However, maybe with the way it feels so far, it can stay looking stock, which, tbh is by far my preference.

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[KevGoat]

Oh...and after the exhaust repairs, there's been no vibration or rattling from the exhaust with using the old hangers. In fact, it appears to be less noise transmitted to the cabin.

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[ManiacLachy]

I keep saying it, you have built a great GT car. OEM+, taking the base car and elevating it in small but important ways. Glad you're enjoying it.

Now, remind us, are you still on stock wheels and suspension? If so, there's room for a little more improvement. The new 949 Tecna coilovers are made specifically for your use.

And I'll let Lokiel tell you once again the virtues of 15" and the evils of 17" wheels

[KevGoat]

Yeah, I'm on stock wheels and suspension. I did have my old 15" Racing Harts fitted early on, but the offset never looked quite right, so I went back to the stock wheels with the intention of finding something else. But as time has gone on, I have reverted to my past (I've always liked factory looking cars with the upgrades I feel they need) and I am for now enjoying the nearly factory look with, as you mentioned, the subtle body and power upgrades and certainly an improved driveability over standard. My wife and I are strangely (compared to the opposing widespread opinion) happy with the ride and comfort. I guess maybe the way I've always set my car suspensions in the past must've prepared us for this one

And I'll let Lokiel tell you once again the virtues of 15" and the evils of 17" wheels

Ah yes, I have prepared myself ..... though he's probably dropping his head in his hands in despair for any hope for me





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[Lokiel]

Words are not enough here!

[KevGoat]

So I mentioned in another thread a couple of days ago that my wife and I were going to go for a drive in MXSE, but we only made it around the block as she was running rough. Back at home, she was also now idling rough. My first thought was maybe dirty fuel, though the tank was filled prior to these drives and ran fine then. It’s only about 7-8 weeks since last dríven, though she’s been moved a few times out of the carport to be washed or just moved out the way. Never any sign any problem. The other thought, and maybe more likely, is a vacuum leak. The vacuum gauge is showing a constant and smooth 12 in/hg at idle - I’m sure that was over 20 somewhere at idle in the past? Haven’t thought to look at it when driving and the rough running cuts in.

So since this happened, I’ve had the (Champion) spark plugs out. I assume they are the original iridium plugs as the car has only done 63k since new. They looked fine.

Checked the coolant, very clean and green, no sign of oil or anything.

Checked that rear nut on the exhaust manifold (would this even cause this issue?) and that’s all fine. No sign of sooty residue around it either. This meant I had all the air cleaner box and pipes and the turbo piping off to get the heat shield off. That also meant I could now discount all those from the issue.

I’ve spent most of today checking every hose and connections trying to find wear, cracks, holes or loose fittings. Nothing.

However, during all this and the many restarts, idling and even drive around the block and one drive up the hill near us, the issue has improved slightly to the point of now idling smoothly and even revving smoothly at standstill, but put under load down the road and it feels like only running on 3 cylinders. It will do that, then clear and run right, then run rough again intermittently.

It has started easily and idled smooth until the engine temp comes up and the revs drop to normal at idle then it would start “missing” and idling rough, but now it’s idling smoothly and revs out smoothly in the carport and I don’t know what’s changed. It’s only rough under any load, though even this is not constantly.

Might take it round the block tomorrow and watch the boost gauge to see if anything strange happens. When I’ve done the other short test drives it’s pulled strongly between the rough parts and feels very normal. It’s a real puzzle.

[KevGoat]

Oh … forgot to mention … I also plugged in the OBD reader - no error codes. Also did an ECU reset - which could have been why it improved a bit but I can’t remember if it had done that before or after the reset.

Just been looking online and looks like that vacuum reading at idle is low, so is potentially pointing to a leak somewhere.

Last resort options otherwise - could still be a spark plug, so could try a replacement set. A coil on its way out? Need to look up how to test. Fouled injector - could put the originals back in to see if solves the problem. Compression test - no real signs of this being the problem but never know.


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[greenMachine]

Cam sensor - throw another one on, just for sh1ts and giggles, its my go-to remedy for anything from a rod through the block to a leaking softtop ...

[KevGoat]

I did actually have that thought earlier when I was fiddling with all the electrical wires and plugs

Come to think of it, I have a feeling I’ve seen one in my shed. No idea which car it came from though


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[93_Clubman]

Running rough under load makes me think spark plug lead or coilpack, of which I believe there are two with the SE's coil on plug arrangement. But what you believe is a low vaccum reading is fairly compelling. Perhaps when under load on road and warm is allowing something to open up slightly causing a vaccum leak, which when stationary and not warmed up isn't flexing and leaking.