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PostPosted: April 4, 2021, 6:34 pm 
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Location: Port Orchard, WA
And in the "good news/bad news" department... my master cylinders were delivered today.

Unfortunately, my radiator was also delivered... to somewhere in Mount Vernon, Indiana. I live in Western Washington state. Good ol' Fedex, not sure how they stay in business.

At least I can show off the master cylinders. I'm used to the usual Tilton 74/AP/Girling cylinders used on vintage cars (see the pic from my first build above, those are Tilton 74's). The 75's are about half the length with a 1.1" stroke... so I better hope I got the cylinder bore sizes correct. :D

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PostPosted: April 5, 2021, 7:15 pm 
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Rennkafer wrote:

So in order:
1) I've decided on the changes I'm going to make to the basics that I bought. Fab lower control arms., possibly modify the uppers. They're Kinetic arms, and no disrespect to Jack at all but the lowers are kinda ugly. Completely functional I am certain but after working on vintage F1 and such I just can't leave those. The uppers are ok and I may leave them alone but I'm not fond of the single tab for the rear link. The only other change I plan to make is to clean up the chassis a bit where it was notched to get the engine set back. I like the bracing, not fond of the finishing, and I recognize the original builder wasn't finished with it.

2) Yes, get back to your Locost Spitfire... and I need to get back on the Beetle, as soon as I can lift stuff. It needs to go outside on sawhorses to build the cage while the Locost comes in and sits on the chassis table. Either that or I need to build a second chassis table. Can't do any of it until I can lift stuff without hurting myself.

3) We've been up to Skagit a few times for the Tulip Festival... she tried those early on, but our local deer are realllllllly fond of them and we don't (yet) have 8' fences. They mostly leave the dahlias alone.

4) She has more sources for plants than I know... but I'll give her the info. Other than occasionally building stuff the plants are all her gig.

5) Ya, the boxes are just regular 2x12 untreated which will go bad in a couple years. I explained that, and got told the treated stuff "cost too much". She's an accountant for her day job and it's just generally best to stop arguing and let her learn from experience. I grew up in construction (parents owned a residential construction business I worked for through HS and college), so I agree with you, it should have been pressure treated or stained. I couldn't even get her to wait until I could stain them before she filled them up (yesterday). Telling Filipinas what to do is dangerous business... I try to avoid it. I have to sleep sometime. :shock: :D :D


Thanks for sharing the cmc pics. They built the one for the magazine with Jack McCornack and the diff breaking not far from me.

You are a lucky man. I don't remember the last time I had lumpia. I really enjoyed the area and ferries but too far from home. You know, used engine oil makes a fantastic wood preservative and the smell goes away after a while or could be I'm just used to it. It's a mech thing I guess, kinda like having the understanding and ability to drive death traps.

Yeah, the spit is on the short list.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


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PostPosted: April 5, 2021, 9:27 pm 
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Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
Thanks for sharing the cmc pics. They built the one for the magazine with Jack McCornack and the diff breaking not far from me.

You are a lucky man. I don't remember the last time I had lumpia. I really enjoyed the area and ferries but too far from home. You know, used engine oil makes a fantastic wood preservative and the smell goes away after a while or could be I'm just used to it. It's a mech thing I guess, kinda like having the understanding and ability to drive death traps.

Yeah, the spit is on the short list.


Ya the CMC was a mixed blessing. It took me months and threats of legal action to get the parts I'd paid for. And after seeing how much grief Keith went to fettling his CMC Miata chassis I was glad I turned CMC down on that.

I am indeed lucky, nothing quite like having homemade lumpia, adobo, and Filipino BBQ all summer.

The oil is a great idea which hadn't occurred to me... and the van is due for an oil change after the trip to pick up the Locost.

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PostPosted: April 9, 2021, 10:25 pm 
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Well, more "good news/bad news"... and I reteach myself a lesson in verifying things. I had used a Griffin radiator in my previous build and decided to go with one again. Can't for the life of me find out which part number I used so did some searching here... and found a thread from '05 that showed what looked to be the same radiator in someone else's book build. They even handily included the Griffin part number. I ordered one... and didn't check the dimensions against my nosecone.

Wrong move bucko... it alllllllllllmost fits. Which means it doesn't. Just goes to show even experienced folks mess up once in a while.

Oh well... guess I'll just order up the usual Honda Civic unit and know it fits.


And the good news part... I didn't have a radiator for the mid-engine Beetle yet. It DOES fit in there no problem.

Bill J... wearing my "measure twice, cut once" dunce cap for today

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PostPosted: April 11, 2021, 10:24 am 
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Happens to everyone, no doubt.

Although not so much Low-Cost, this one fits under a Kinetic standard nosecone...

https://www.coolexperts.co.uk/product/l ... -radiator/

Unfortunately they don't give sizes or locations for inlet/outlet (off the shelf is 1.25" for both), but I *think* they'll put them where you want if requested. We had a little trouble communicating with my emails ending up in their spam box and vice versa. So if you don't hear from them it may warrant a phone call.

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PostPosted: April 11, 2021, 10:59 am 
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Rennkafer wrote:

Oh well... guess I'll just order up the usual Honda Civic unit and know it fits.


viewtopic.php?f=27&t=20540&p=255167&hilit=scion#p255167

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


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PostPosted: April 12, 2021, 1:06 am 
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Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
Rennkafer wrote:

Oh well... guess I'll just order up the usual Honda Civic unit and know it fits.


https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewto ... on#p255167


I'd seen that when looking around but the upper hose outlet placement isn't great for a Miata engine, particularly with a coolant reroute which I intend to do. I was also unable to find one in what I consider a reputable brand. Some of the imported "performance" radiators are worse than a stock one, both for build quality and cooling.

I ordered a Mishimoto 2" 2 row... should be more than adequate.

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'12 GTI - Daily
'01 Chevy Cargo Van - Workhorse parts hauler


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PostPosted: April 27, 2021, 11:29 am 
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Managed to get another chassis table built, this will be for outdoor use when I'm welding on the Beetle or Locost. Still need to do some tweaking and get it painted, but the hard part is done.

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PostPosted: May 25, 2021, 10:40 pm 
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So I've gotten a few more things done since the last post. I've been building adjustable height standoffs for the rolling cart, yarded the engine/trans out of my van finally, cleaned the engine and transmission up (a full day and a half that took, man was it oily) and tonight I did some component weighing.

Bunch of pics as usual...

Before

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Attachment:
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After

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Attachment:
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Weights of various parts...
this is a '94 Miata 1.8L/5 speed gearbox.
Longblock - 206.76lb
Transmission without shifter - 79.78lb
Stock flywheel - 19.62lb
Stock clutch - 11.60lb
Starter - 9.88lb
Alternator - 11.38lb
Front belt pulley - 4.1lb
Stock exhaust header w/heat shield - 11.84lb
Stock intake w/throttle body, injectors, fuel rail - 23.88lb

Total engine/trans weight - 378.86lb


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PostPosted: May 26, 2021, 11:51 am 
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Very clean. What is your process? I see the PW but what did you soak it in?

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


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PostPosted: May 26, 2021, 12:34 pm 
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Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
Very clean. What is your process? I see the PW but what did you soak it in?


Anything I thought might work, this stuff was really tough to remove particularly inside the bellhousing. Tried carb cleaner which was ok but I ran out, went to Griots engine cleaner which is usually pretty good but barely made a dent in it, then went to the "Oil Eater" that I use on the shop floor (diluted) straight up, no dilution. That worked the best. Still a ton of scrubbing with brushes, scraping with a putty knife and a pick and many passes with the PW.

I hate working on greasy, nasty cars.

Next up I'll clean all the ancillaries, and paint the block. Have to get it on an engine stand though first and I found I don't have the right size bolts, ordered those from McMaster last night. It's tough to get 12mm-1.5 bolts in the length I needed... everyone carries 12-1.25 or 12-1.75.

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'12 GTI - Daily
'01 Chevy Cargo Van - Workhorse parts hauler


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PostPosted: May 27, 2021, 8:14 am 
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I was hoping you would have a magic wand. Abra-ka-po-kis!

Try clothes washing powders with a little water and a small stiff bristle brush; old tooth brush in a pinch.

Don't tell wife.

It's nice having a local McMaster for will call. I remember when they would only sell to businesses.

Sometimes you can find set of fasteners on ebay by looking for the pitch. I used ford v10 metric exhaust manifold studs on my 2.8 v6 in the spit for about a 1/3 of the price.

_________________
Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12


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PostPosted: May 27, 2021, 9:32 am 
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Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
I was hoping you would have a magic wand. Abra-ka-po-kis!

Try clothes washing powders with a little water and a small stiff bristle brush; old tooth brush in a pinch.

Don't tell wife.

It's nice having a local McMaster for will call. I remember when they would only sell to businesses.

Sometimes you can find set of fasteners on ebay by looking for the pitch. I used ford v10 metric exhaust manifold studs on my 2.8 v6 in the spit for about a 1/3 of the price.


Lol, no magic wand, just a bunch of slogging through it. I'll give the laundry soap a try. Might also steal the "Dawn" from up at the kitchen sink next time (and there will be a "next time" as I was given another Miata 5 speed in similarly disgusting state). I do have a fair selection of stiff bristled brushes that were in play.

I only wish we had a McMaster nearby... this was an online order, should be here Friday (tomorrow). The race shop I worked for pretty much lived on McMaster orders, the array of things you can get from them is staggering. I actually looked on Ebay/Amazon etc before ordering from McMaster, I could find 12-1.5 bolts but nothing in the grip length range I was looking for. Thought about modifying the engine stand to fit what I could get then came to my senses and just ordered the right bolts.

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PostPosted: May 28, 2021, 12:43 am 
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I use two Purple Power for really aggressive cleaning and Simple Green for when a milder solution is prudent.

PP will degrease stuff but not kill your lawn

I use Purple Power in the laundry also for spot treating shop stains.

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PostPosted: May 28, 2021, 2:45 pm 
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For fasteners and a lot of other things, you might check out Allensfasteners.com

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