Mike's 68 SPL311-17219

[damarble]

Great car, I look forward to seeing it progress! I may have an answer to your fuel tank conundrum. I recently purchased a 70 which was in the process of an Ecoboost conversion. The PO had the tank cleaned up and had started modifying the bottom in order to accept the sending unit which is a bit taller than the roadster from what I understand. I have the tank and the modified bottom piece which I can weld together. If you are interested I'll let it go for a fair price. I have attached a couple of photos so that you get a sense of what I'm speaking about.
I also have a ton of other electronics, ecu, body control module etc that may be helpful.
Cheers,
David

Thanks David. I think I'll have everything I need now but if not I will get a hold of you.

[damarble]

I'm locked out of the trunk now. The key turns over completely but it won't release. I made the wire as described in the wiki and it actuates the lever but still won't let go.

My lid is pretty rusty so I'll be looking for a new one anyway, so I may just cut my way in.

[damarble]

The cylinder is kind of loose in the hole and moves up and down.

[damarble]

The motor mounts are free, after much protest and breaking the bolts off the driver side. I had to remove much more than the engine removal wiki suggested to have any hope of getting to the bolts and getting any torque on them.

[damarble]

Engine is out.


find duplicate lines in text file online

[greydog]

Nice going Mike.. engine compartment doesnt look too bad.
Dan

[spl310]

Late to the dance here. If you have a motor mount like the driver's side that refuses to let go, there are a couple of options - unbolt the mount from the engine block usually works. If you can't get to the bolts - and the mounts are junk anyway - get some tension on the mount with the hoist and start to cut the rubber with a utility knife - the tension will do the rest in many cases.

[damarble]

Late to the dance here. If you have a motor mount like the driver's side that refuses to let go, there are a couple of options - unbolt the mount from the engine block usually works. If you can't get to the bolts - and the mounts are junk anyway - get some tension on the mount with the hoist and start to cut the rubber with a utility knife - the tension will do the rest in many cases.

Thanks. As you can see I snapped the studs off the motor mount and just little nubs are left. It worked out in the end.


Ordered an oem Miata flywheel and clutch just now. It will probably not like 300+ torque but I'll be traction limited for the first stage of the build anyway. I don't want to do everything all at once (fender flares, wider rubber, new axle, LSD, etc) because I found biting off too much at once is a good way to turn this into a decade long project that never drives.

[theunz]

biting off too much at once is a good way to turn this into a decade long project that never drives.

Truer words were never spoken!

Anyone contemplating a restoration or restomod should head this warning.

[damarble]

Spent a little time tonight cleaning up the engine bay and tearing into the dash. I need to pull the heater assembly, does the whole dash have to come out?

[damarble]

Chipped away a little more today. At first glance it probably doesn't look any different but I cut out the motor mounts and smoothed a few things on the body and frame. Pulled the heater box and firewall "cardboard".

Transmission should come in tomorrow, and the first mock up should tell me quickly how much of the X brace is in the way.

[damarble]

Since the drivetrain fit up has slowed due to no engine being present yet, I moved on to brakes tonight.

I must admit, the one thing I wished the Spriso brake kit did was use slip on rotors. But after pulling the hubs, I can see it's completely unnecessary, because they were the easiest hubs I've ever pulled.

The grease was clean and soft, the bearings turns smoothly with no play.


image upload

[damarble]

Ordered the rotors to match the Spriso kit and got nailed for $264 + shipping. Ouch.

[Alvin]

Ordered the rotors to match the Spriso kit and got nailed for $264 + shipping. Ouch.

Is this a complaint? Unexpected?
?

[spl310]

Speed costs, how fast do you want to go?