Oy! The plastic melted! (Miata maintenance): Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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July 6, 2010 6:55 p.m. P71 SuperDork

Had to stop ignoring the Miata's protests if I wanted to keep racing, so I had to order a clutch kit today. I still haven't done that timing belt job either, so I also got a water pump (which means coolant and a thermostat). Have to change the oil while doing the timing belt, so I got some Royal Purple and a K&N filter (I love the nut they put on the end, so much easier!). Grabbed new v-belts too, because they squeal. Got a clutch master and slave and the FM SS clutch line, plus new inner and outer boots for the shifter.

Ouch

That shopping trip is going to hurt. I still need trans fluid though. Royal Purple SynchroMax or ATF or what? Anything else I'm forgetting "while I'm in there". CAS and o-ring have already been changed, as have the plugs and wires.

Oh, I almost forgot, I also bought Koni STR.T's last week.

Stupid cone addiction!

(Makes life worth living though cause you can't take it ($) with you)
July 6, 2010 7:06 p.m. Marty! Dork

Redline MT-90 for the trans. Don't forget the turret also. Then you can see how bad your shifter bushings and boots are.
July 6, 2010 7:08 p.m. Marty! Dork

Marty! wrote:

Redline MT-90 for the trans. Don't forget the turret also. Then you can see how bad your shifter bushings and boots are.

Doh! edit: I just saw that you got the boots for the shifter.

Double edit!: Make sure you get the trans fill plug loosened before you loosen and drain the fluid. Many a weekends have been ruined by people who drained the fluid only to find they couldn't get the fill plug loose.
July 6, 2010 7:21 p.m. pigeon HalfDork

+1 on the Redline MT-90
July 6, 2010 7:31 p.m. P71 SuperDork

Redline MT90 it is. I'm sure the local speed shop has some. How many bottles do I need?

Am I forgetting anything? Also, I did order the crank holder tool from FM. I know how much of a pain it can be to keep the engine still on timing belt changes, at least on TBird Turbos and 944's.
July 7, 2010 12:54 a.m. mistanfo SuperDork

You can likely get away with one, you may need two. If you need two, it'll be the smallest amount into the turret. I have wondered in the past, could I just throw some 10W30 in there, since it cannot join the fluid in the tranny itself (at least, not in a five speed). Would save opening the second bottle.
July 7, 2010 1:29 a.m. Marty! Dork

It takes every bit of two bottles to fill the trans with the turret needing another 4 oz or so. If you want to fill the turret with the same oil as the trans (which personally I would) you will need three bottles.
July 7, 2010 8:26 a.m. mistanfo SuperDork

Marty- thanks, my bad. The diff takes one bottle, the trans two and a bit. Still curious if you could use plain old 10W30 in the turret though. Other than heat, it sees no stress. Certainly doesn't have to deal with shearing, foaming, etc (unless you row the gears REAL HARD).
July 7, 2010 8:34 a.m. ZOO Dork

If you do the clutch, be really careful when you re-torque the lower right bellhousing bolt. The torque spec calls for between 47 and 60 foot/lbs. Sadly, I snapped one at less than 50 ft.lbs yesterday on my friend's car. In retrospect, I remember doing the same thing a few years ago on my own car.
July 7, 2010 10:08 a.m. P71 SuperDork

Thanks for the tip ZOO.
July 8, 2010 7:24 p.m. P71 SuperDork

Well, the clutch is out. That took all stinking day! There were 3 cross-threaded bolts and the lower exhaust manifold wouldn't come off (though I got it loose, so I was able to move it out of the way).

Turns out the clutch was replaced (probably my Magilla the Guerrilla) and was a very cheap Valeo unit. There was meat left on the disc, but the pressure plate fingers are nearly flat (and they're pressed, not riveted, WTF!??). The flywheel had some bad discoloration so I called it a day so I can have it turned first thing in the morning.

The Flyin Miata box won't make it until Monday, so I'll wait to do the clutch master/slave/line. To be fair, the current slave doesn't leak. I did break something on the back of the head though, looks like a coolant temperature sender? Hopefully I can get one of those tomorrow as well.

If everything goes right I can have the car back together (with the new clutch at least) for the Packwood double regional autocross this weekend. It's 150 miles from the house, so the clutch should be broken in by the time I get there. (The RX-7's clutch only had 40 miles from here to Portland before it was autocrossed! )

Oy, I hurt though. I'm too old for this!