Getting burned out on cars.

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 06/29/2016 at 09:15 • Filed to: rant

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If I’m lucky I’ll just need bearings and rods for the Nissan. Except I’m not just going to get bearings and rods, because doing the rods requires removing the head to get to the crank pins, and if I take off the head and remove the pistons I might as well do piston rings, head gasket, clean the valves, etc. etc. etc. and a $60 bearing replacement becomes a several hundred dollar engine refresh. And then there’s the Miata, which I’m building into a turbo racecar that will be completely useless because it will require E85 which is only sold at three local stations and will get complete shit fuel economy. Once I get it turbo’d and running I might just try to trade it for an NA8. All of this custom fab bullshit is far too much fiddly crap and I just want a car that works. Meanwhile the Buick runs great but I still worry about the transmission, which still shifts hard at max line pressure and continues to make all kinds of odd grinding noises at medium load.

Pic related. 1996 Miata M edition. In blue. #goals

Sam > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 09:21

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I don’t quite get it. You’ve decided to do a turbo Miata on E85, but are complaining that you aren’t going to like the results? Why not just, I dunno, do something different?

Your boy, BJR > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 09:22

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You should try saving up and getting one decent car instead of buying worn out shitboxes every other week.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Your boy, BJR 06/29/2016 at 09:26

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I’m waiting for him to have five worn out shitboxes so they can combine into one huge and classy giant shitbox like Voltron.

TysMagic > Sam 06/29/2016 at 09:30

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slow down with your thinking sir. That’s enough braining today.

DasWauto > Your boy, BJR 06/29/2016 at 09:32

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A Chevy Cruze, for example?

Reece-Current Stinger GT owner > Sam 06/29/2016 at 09:32

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Chants *LS SWAP* from the back

Pixel > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 09:36

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You remind me a lot of me when I was younger, so I’ll give you the advice I wish I’d gotten then( and still struggle to follow now ). Stop spreading yourself so thin. Narrow your focus and get rid of a couple cars. Figure out what you want most right now & what suits your life right now and do that.

The more projects you have the less you ever get done(or feel like you get done) because you’re trying to do everything at once.

Jcarr > Your boy, BJR 06/29/2016 at 09:36

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Yep. Hard to feel any sympathy when you just keep blowing money on heaps of junk.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Reece-Current Stinger GT owner 06/29/2016 at 09:38

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No. PRV with turbo

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Sam 06/29/2016 at 09:38

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I wanted to turbo the miata, and a friend offered to do it for me if I paid him. Then I ended up doing most of the work with him helping and offering invaluable advice, and then he moved the goalposts AGAIN and is telling me I have to run E85 in order for this to ever be workable. All I wanted was a 5-7psi pump-gas cheapo build but now I’m too far in to turn around and there’s an assload of work to do (tap oil pan, get a new dipstick tube, new injectors, new fuel pump, all sorts of silicone couplers and bullshit, intercooler, etc.)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Your boy, BJR 06/29/2016 at 09:40

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Right now I have my Riviera, which is a great car, my Nissan which was a dollar, and my Miata I traded a Civic and insurance payout for. My problem is maintenance, but that’s a possible issue on ANY used car.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > DasWauto 06/29/2016 at 09:40

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Ew. Fuck that.

Reece-Current Stinger GT owner > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 06/29/2016 at 09:40

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V10 viper swap.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Pixel 06/29/2016 at 09:43

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Right now I just have the Buick, Nissan, and Miata. The Nissan was a dollar, the Buick was $650, and the Miata was half of an insurance payout and a beat up Civic. The Nissan is the quickest of the three, the Miata was a project that I really need to get rid of but goddammit I love the seating position of an actual sports car (and, well, having an actual sports car), and the Buick is a solid-ass daily driver. The only car I could consolidate all three to is a C5 Corvette, but then insurance would bend me over in *all* of the positions.

Pixel > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 09:47

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I’m not saying get rid of all of them(I also thought you still had the mustang), just figure out what your priorities are and focus on that.

Your boy, BJR > DasWauto 06/29/2016 at 09:48

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No that's also a fucking terrible car. Although terrible for different reasons.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 09:52

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Is there a legit reasoning behind only running E85 on that setup? Seems like they’ve been adding turbos to motors for a long time without it being a requirement.

fourvalleys > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 09:55

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That ‘96M though...

Here’s a picture of mine before I started making it worse:

Miss ya, buddy!

BigBlock440 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/29/2016 at 09:58

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Probably trying to run the turbo without lowering the compression ratio.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BigBlock440 06/29/2016 at 10:00

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Turbo’s are silly things

BigBlock440 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 10:08

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E85 technically is pump gas, so goal met.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 10:11

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I tell you the truth, the C5 Corvette I owned was one of the most friendly cars on insurance that I ever had. My 3.6l CTS SportWagon was more expensive on insurance. Check it out before you proclaim defeat, because they aren't bad at all. Most of the cost of insurance on a car comes from the replacement parts, and Corvette's are ridiculously cheap in that respect.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 10:15

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There are, quite literally, hundred if not thousands of pump gas turbo Miatas. I throw the bullshit flag!

Also, sell everything, buy a MazdaSpeed Miata, problem solved.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DasWauto 06/29/2016 at 10:16

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A fate worse than life.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 10:18

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Wipe the slate clean. Acquire a reliable vehicle, and have a project vehicle on the side. You need like an Echo or Corolla or something.

E90M3 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 10:27

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Remember this vile thing? Well it had the 3800 engine it in, and I’m not really sure but I’d assume so cause GM that is had probably an identical drivetrain to your Buick. Funny you should mention transmission issues, it started to go on my dad and he said enough with it and traded it on a Hyundai.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 06/29/2016 at 10:27

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“A reliable vehicle, and have a project vehicle on the side”. So, replace the trans in the Buick, and keep the Nissan or Miata? Shit, with teh bearings fixed the Nissan is likely to be stupid-reliable because SR20.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001 06/29/2016 at 10:28

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Yeah but I’m non-intercooled currently without a megasquirt. E85 vastly reduces chances of predet, has an insane cooling factor on the intake charge (equivalent of a mild water/meth system), and will get me moar powers.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001 06/29/2016 at 10:29

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Yeah but right now I’m paying $100 a month for three cars. Only corvette I’ve really got a quote for was an ‘08, though, so a ‘99 would probably be far easier on the wallet.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > BigBlock440 06/29/2016 at 10:29

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This is true.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > fourvalleys 06/29/2016 at 10:30

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mmmmmmmmm

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 06/29/2016 at 10:30

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Reduced chance of knock, massive latent cooling ability, etc.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Pixel 06/29/2016 at 10:31

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Nah. Got rid of the Mustang to the tune of $300 less money per month spend on insurance and payments.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > E90M3 06/29/2016 at 10:33

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Similar but not quite. My car has a beefier trans than that, and a different subframe design as well as a larger platform. Because they’re Buicks and they’re owned by old people they tend to not get the trans service they require and crap clogs up the solenoids and makes all sorts of horribleness happen.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Reece-Current Stinger GT owner 06/29/2016 at 10:38

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M-B OM617 TD5.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 11:01

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Answer is to add a water meth injection kit and run pump, WAY easier

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 11:02

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Crap, man, I paid $100 a month for the CTS AND the 02 Z06. Check it out!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 11:09

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Get rid of your fleet and start anew. If your heart is not in a project, it’s over.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 06/29/2016 at 11:31

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My heart isn’t in waking up in the morning. I’m sure the first sign of progress in the Miata will get me right back into the swing of things. Once I extend the MAF wiring harness and order one more silicone coupler and a metal joiner the car should be drivable again and I can see where it stands. Still gotta put on the new top... that won’t be fun.

Spridget > Sam 06/29/2016 at 11:32

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Prius body swap, Citroen 2CV Engine

Spridget > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 06/29/2016 at 11:34

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Or a Celica

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001 06/29/2016 at 11:35

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$200 a month for a ‘99 Corvette with a $500 collision deductible and $1000 comprehensive deductible. Yikes.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 13:10

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You should pay an upholstery shop to put that top on, and write them the check with a smile on your face for any amount less than a grand. I put a new robbins top on my old NB, and what my friend who owned the local miata shop told me was correct: There is no special magic in putting a top on a miata, but it is a long, long tedious job. No part of the job is particularly pleasant, and getting the new top/rain rail into place correctly is a deed from Satan himself. The local miata shop actually farmed out top replacements to an upholsterer who was a friend on theirs, and thus did miata top replacements all the time. He used to charge the shop about $400 (for a robbins top with a new rainrail attached from the factory, more if someone bought a lesser top, and a lot more if an idiot bought a top without a new rain rail already attached), and the shop usually charged the owner around $500 in labor. It is worth every penny to pay someone else to do that job. Give me timing belt jobs on transverse mounted V-6 cars, give boat repairs when leaning upside down on my head inside a storage compartment that is inside another storage compartment with one arm working through an access hole to the lower part of the bilge or BMW repairs all day long, but I will never do a miata top replacement again.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 06/29/2016 at 14:24

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Prepare to hate me, cuz I have a $160 ebay top with no new rain rail since the cheapest rain rail I could find was $200. I tried contacting local upholstery shops but none of them will even respond.

wantafuncar > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 14:59

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1.Sell ebay top

2. Acquire new top with rain rail

3. Find shop to install.

4. ???

5. Profit

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > wantafuncar 06/29/2016 at 15:52

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Yeah, not spending four digits putting a top on a piece of shit Miata. This top (actually I just remembered I got it from Amazon from the same company I got my seat upholstery from) has been used to decent success by people on “the forums” (cr.net, m.net, etc) but dear lord this looks tedious.

Die-Trying > wantafuncar 06/29/2016 at 17:15

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or i guess you could cut out patches from the cheap ebay top, and sew them over the bad spots......

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/29/2016 at 18:41

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You’ll want to find a new rain rail. On my low-mileage, garage queen 99 the rail it was still intact on the car, but it cracked and crumbled at even the slightest touch. Removing the old top from the first stud cracked the rail, and it deteriorated from there with every touch (at one point, I swear it cracked just from me looking at it). At the age of these cars, I can not imagine it still being possible to remove a factory a top from the car and transfer the rail to a new top without without it falling apart. I suppose a new top without a rain rail would keep the rain off of your head, but it would end up collecting on the rear shelf. running down the interior and pooling floor and trunk instead. Also, if the rain rail isn’t seated correctly you’ll get a lot more wind noise at interstate speeds, in addition to water pooling problems.

brianbrannon > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/30/2016 at 20:15

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If you are taking the head off to change rod bearings then you are doing it backwards

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > brianbrannon 06/30/2016 at 20:26

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“doing the rods requires removing the head” as in replacing the rod itself in case it’s damaged (which is likely with these)

brianbrannon > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 07/01/2016 at 14:03

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Changing rods yes, rod bearings no. If a rod was damaged then the crank would most likely need repairs as well

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > brianbrannon 07/01/2016 at 14:45

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In these cars any play in the bearings will make the round bearing race in the rod become ever so slightly egg shaped, even in mild cases. Crank could still be fine, but oil won’t flow over the bearing right anymore and it’ll spin shortly after being replaced.