Last week I brought the MSM out of mothballs. I did a complete service, washed, polished and waxed it, cleaned and polished the wheels and cleaned and dressed the tires. The interior did not need a lot of work.

Today we are packing up and taking a road trip. No hurries, no worries for the next week.

I just got my MSM back yesterday. A bout two months ago the upgraded oil pump relief valve stuck, causing the oil to NOT be pumped! That cost me a few bearings in the lower end of the engine, and a few DOLLARS!


Happily, the engine is now running fine, literally better than it has in my memory, very smooth idle at 850, about 16-18 psi at idle and 50 to 60 psi on the highway - aftermarket oil pressure gauge. Water temp is running about 180 F highway with oil temp about 20 to 30 degrees higher, again, aftermarket gauges.


While I just put the summer wheels and tires on today, it was great to drive it to work yesterday, even if it had the blizzaks on.


Tomorrow, I may take it to the Vanilla Bean Cafe, in Pomfret. It's a reasonably close (1/2 hour drive) hang out for sports cars and bikes.


Enjoy.

I gave the MSM a bath. Then my wife and I went to Sonic for a cheeseburger.

Temperature in the 90s. Bright sunny day. Top down. Good times.

MSM Wheel Bearings
 

Finally got a good diagnosis of the noise coming from the rear of the car. It was loud enough that I had taken to wearing ear plugs while driving!!


After the engine reinstall, I thought something must be loose at the rear of the car, likely a brace or the exhaust, since there had been considerable work done.


After I tried pushing and pulling on everything I could find underneath - while on jackstands - unsuccessfully. :confused:


I took the car back to my mechanic. He did similar checks on the same things I pulled on....just much harder!! Finally he pulled on the right rear wheel and swore!! Rather uncommon for him - at least in my experience. He said that the wheel bearing was gone and that the wheel was being held on by the caliper! We ordered a replacement bearing, and installed it.


The car is now much quieter, and my first full tank of gas showed a mileage improvement from 26 to 28 mpg!


Since I'm over 200K miles, I'll likely replace the remainder of the bearings later this summer. Unfortunately, the multiple engine rebuilds and reinstalls have depleted both my funds AND my wifes patience. :ohnoes:


Yes.... I know......I'm a henpecked Wuss. Deal. :D

Just an Oil Change, but Meaningful after a Rebuild!
 

Did a 7,000 mile oil change, checking the magnetic drain plug and taking a sample for Blackstone Labs. No metal on the drain plug:):):) Sample still to be mailed.


Oil (Shell T6) was a light brown. If I hadn't wanted to verify the engine condition after the recent rebuild, I'd still be running that oil. Only thing I don't like about the T6 is the inability to see the fluid level in the gallon jug. Perhaps my age, but I didn't have that problem with Mobil 1!


Using the Mobil 1 M- 110 filter on the engine. They're on the expensive side, but also are well rated, and easily available in my area.


The LED bargraph fuel gauge is in the dash, mounted just below the audio unit, in the empty space intended for a cassette player. If I have the time next weekend, I'll finally install the oil pressure gauge (glowshift) in the instrument cluster, in place of the Mazda fuel level gauge.

Drove by the future (possibly completed next month) home of the first In N Out burger joint in the state. At least MFR will be temporarily famous.

Ah..... Medford Oregon!!! :sign0184:


My rather infantile mind came up with several other definitions, including one from the urban dictionary that nicely (or not so nicely) described my opinion of one who would use such an obscure acronym!! :D

^Yeah, I didn't get the reference, either.

Dateline, last Saturday:

The inside door handle was broken, so I decided to open up the door and address any and all problems. I took this as an opportunity to replace the driver's side mirror (which had some broken SMC), install a Moss Miata Delrin window bushing and to clean up the door panel.

As is turns out, I was not the first person to work on the door and whoever was before me made one hell of a mess.

https://www.miataforumz.com/attachme...ine=1444416418

To top it off, this chimpanzee posing as a mechanic was too lazy to reinstall the clips for the power door lock switch and, instead, borrowed some adhesive from the dust/water shield and glued it back in place. The mazing thing is that the clips were still present and took about 30 seconds to reinstall . . . after spending a lot of time cleaning adhesive from the switch. I don't know what "repair facility" did this, but I hope that they have gotten their act together since then

Synchro:


What did you use to clean the black gunk off the switch? That stuff is seriously sticky and gets everywhere.