What have you done to your car today?

[Keef]

EDIT: How does your already bent shifter end up being too far away? Mine was completely straight and I have absolutely no problem reaching it and shifting, neither does my buddy and he's only 5ft 4in or so.

Keef - Is the feeling while changing gear much different, or just the travel itself? Is it harder to shift, does it vibrate more?

The travel with the stock knob is much shorter than the stock shifter. The reason I wanted a short-throw was to get my stock-shifter-plus-extension semi-truck throw down to normal. The only problem is that the knob ended up being a lot further forward than I want. In fact, when in neutral the stick actually leans forward--it stands straight up in fourth gear. Thus getting it red hot with the torch and bending the bottom bend--the one that leans backwards--further towards me.

It's not harder for me to shift, but it is harder for the transmission to shift. The shorter throws put a ton more stress on the synchros, asking them to do the same task in half the time. With an extension that stress would go down to normal because my throw would be back to normal. But with the added benefit of being much taller and easier to reach.

And yes, actually, it does vibrate in 1st, 3rd, and 5th gears. I'm pretty sure it's not the knob because I've tried a stock snob also, which has a plastic hole that the shifter self-threads into. I'll have a chance to inspect that once I take it all apart tomorrow.

Speaking of knobs, we had an unfortunate happening today, involving my cousin losing his aluminum extension and me losing my custom knob. Apparently was goes in mustn't necessarily come out...

Pics in my car thread tonight. But not of that--it's just too horrible.

 

[McLaren]

That would be cool. The only shame is that one you've spent two days detailing them, some other lucky git gets to drive it home...

Well, you may not be driving Enzos, but the man from the first link did have a F430 Spyder & now has a 997 GT2 & something else, so the money is good.

 

[homeforsummer]

Well, you may not be driving Enzos, but the man from the first link did have a F430 Spyder & now has a 997 GT2 & something else, so the money is good.

I think I could just about cope with that

 

[Perfect Balance]

It's not harder for me to shift, but it is harder for the transmission to shift. The shorter throws put a ton more stress on the synchros, asking them to do the same task in half the time. With an extension that stress would go down to normal because my throw would be back to normal. But with the added benefit of being much taller and easier to reach.

Seriously Keef, how in the hell do you always manage to come up with some stupid crap like this time after time again?

It's only half the time if you shift just as quickly as you did before. Obviously all you need to do to "reduce the extreme stress on your synchros" is to simply move your hand slower while shifting. In any case, you should only shift as quick as it takes to get to the next gear by the time the engine rpms drop enough to match that gear. This will always be true regardless of your shifter combination.

And yes, actually, it does vibrate in 1st, 3rd, and 5th gears. I'm pretty sure it's not the knob because I've tried a stock snob also, which has a plastic hole that the shifter self-threads into. I'll have a chance to inspect that once I take it all apart tomorrow.

Don't bother inspecting it. The reason it does this is because your stock shifter had a worn out rubber bushing in it, while your new one had a metal ball bearing. Also, did you forget the time you overpaid for shifter bushings from Password JDM?

This is what they do, you just couldn't feel it before because your shifter was messed up. Try changing your tranny fluid to some fresh honda MTF. It really helps to smooth things out.👍

In other news, I got my seat today. It's nice, but I'm too fat for it, so it's REALLY tight on me.

At least I have some motivation to lose weight now.👍

 

[Keef]

Don't bother inspecting it. The reason it does this is because your stock shifter had a worn out rubber bushing in it, while your new one had a metal ball bearing.

After some though I figured it was probably the bearing. Guess I'll have to get used to it.

 

[Slicks]

I washed and waxed my car today, finally.

Took me.... About 2.5 hours.

Mog, question.
When I was waxing (on the hood, in particular), I found it quite difficult to get clean removal of the wax I'm using. I could see a little bit of the application pattern in the wax after I'd removed and buffed the hood (Think slight light/dark patterns in the same pattern of the applicaion). I was able to get most of if off correctly, but I can't help but wonder what caused it. The whole car was clean, although the surface was cold. Perhaps the wax didn't cure properly before I removed it? Iono, it was coming off properly using a smudge test.

Thoughts?

And I really want to switch away from the liquid wax I've been using... I'd like either some P21S, or Poorboys Petes '53 Black.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Spent the weekend trying to get my car back on the road. Unfortunately a cracked pintle tip on an injector has delayed start up until later this week.

 

[nk4e]

Putting my car back on the insurance to get it smog. Then I am planning to have it officially checked out by a ASE mechanic at the command at my brother.

 

[lmracer]

Whoa. That is a beautiful engine straight outta' the Flyin' Miata catalog. Awesome. I love My MX-5. Maybe someday I can come close to making as much power as your car is going to. That thing is gorgeous. Big $$$ right there for sure. is it a stroker?

 

[CodeRedR51]

LOL no...

Stock internal 1.6 liter with a basic FM Voodoo turbo kit. Although I have just upgraded the turbo and engine management, it's pretty much stock. I probably have around $7k into the car, not including what I paid for the car itself.

 

[Azuremen]

Blew up my Civic's transmission.

Yup.

 

[nk4e]

No story to tell Azure?

 

[BayConRong]

He was drag racing a Dodge Viper down interstate 101 and as they were neck and neck he heard a loud explosion and a sudden jerk. He swore as the Viper sped past, eyes squinted in anger and envy as the man driving the viper laughed. He pulled to the side of the road to see what happened. As he viewed the carnage he fell to his knees crying in pain and sorrow.

Good story, huh?

Don't feel too bad, my car's tranny is SOL except that it can still kinda move around in reverse and first gear.

 

[nk4e]

Yeah...though that sucks...Sorry Azure.

 

[Azuremen]

Story? I backed out of a parking spot, had to slip the clutch and rock the car a bit to get it off some ice, drove a block, came to stop. Put it in first gear, went to go, and things just didn't work. Walked behind car to find said parts.

/story

 

[Keef]

Not a clue what to tell you Cody. B-series transmissions are rock solid. Something must have been compromised to being with. Either that or you just gave it some weirdo shocks from rocking it.

Either way I sooo found you an ITR S80/LSD. Like I said earlier, mention the B20 and offer him like $800 for it. He'll be eager to get it out the door. It's not often a B20/VTEC comes knocking at your door.

 

[stumpydino]

ouch!

recently on mine, originally thought i just had to replace the manifold gaskets...should have realised it wouldnt be that simple by the stories the previous owner told of the cowboy mechanics he took it to before i got it. i presume they had tried to sort out the gaskets before but gave up, out of 6 studs on one side, the manifold was held on by three, and another that was a bolt too long and spaced out with washers, the missing studs were broken off in the block, hurrah!
gaskets looked like this: naw i was hoping for all six but four will do..

took out the radiator, spotted a leak in the side so knew i had to get that sorted, then discovered on all pipes someone had used wire clamp thingos that had cut the pipe at each point and the bodgers had taped up. got the hose off the expansion tank and no water came out...took it off and shoved it up a tap and discovered the bodgers had used bar's leak instead of fixing the holes and thus it had all plugged up the smallest point. stuck a hose in the coolant system and washed out all the brown water and black/brown lumps of crap
so now iv started, might as well have a poke and a clean up all around, and a bit of a scrub with a wire brush and some paint, just so i can be sure the bodgers havnt messed anything else up, id hook up the cruise control that they had 'accidentally' cut but thats for another day
now fun part of phoning around for someone to import bits for me!

 

[Barracuda]

My friend did the most random thing today, he bought a van. Not just a van, but a literal hippie van with hippie stickers and all. He was driving back to his house and he saw it on the street for sale for $300. Turns out the couple that owned it had been living in it for the past two weeks, but for $300 it's a steal.

The underside of it is immaculate, with the only mechanical issues being an anti-freeze leak and the air con doesn't work. Its also missing its rear and middle seats, and the carpet definately needs some cleaning. The body is where the major problems are though because the rear doors are dented in (must have backed into something with the spare on), the rear bumper is slightly bent, and the front bumper is slightly bent. The paint is also all scratched up and faded but what do you expect.

Today my friend and I cleaned and vacuumed it out, worked on trying to fix the rear doors, then started to take the front bumper off. Whenever he can hes gunna shampoo the carpets and seats so that it is bearable to work on inside, and maybe even dye the carpet while hes already shampooing it. There's lots of things that need to be done, but it gives us something to do, and in the end he can sell it for a profit.

 

[Keef]

shampoo the carpets

Cleaning carpets is awesome. I did it the spring after I got my car. I removed the seats and trim and everything, got down and dirty with the Hoover, and the water it sucked up was BLACK. It was absolutely disgusting how dirty the carpet was, but it felt and smelled so much better afterwards.

 

[BayConRong]

Keef, you are the only man that I know that gets turned on by cleaning out his car. What perfume are you using this time around?

I went drifting around corners in my neighbor hood because it was snowing and no one ever drives around here anyways.

 

[Slicks]

Blew up my Civic's transmission.

Yup.

Hehee... Looks like an excuse to upgrade, to me.

At least you've got the Merdeux to drive in the meantime.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Its also missing its rear and middle seats, and the carpet definately needs some cleaning.

Am I the only one that found this strange?

 

[homeforsummer]

Am I the only one that found this strange?

What... as in, both imply the van's seen some luvvin'? If a couple has been living in it for the past two weeks that's probably inevitable...

 

[Jay]

Blew up my Civic's transmission.

Yup.

Ahh a spider

 

[stumpydino]

well maybe they were just sleeping in it!

Turns out the couple that owned it had been living in it for the past two weeks

so they are homeless now?

 

[Barracuda]

so they are homeless now?

Pretty much, yea.

My friend told me they said they were originally from Virginia but came down here to live at one of their parents houses for a bit. I don't know how they originally bought it or why they were around here but the guy said they couldn't afford it anymore and decided to sell it and just walk.

As for the seats they said they left them somewhere in daytona, but from the visible condition of the interior and exterior I'm kind of glad they're not. We're hoping to find another similar van in a junk yard to pull parts off of. It would be amazing if we could find one with the same color interior but if not we're just gunna leave it.

 

[Prosthetic]

Gave it a 10 min run to keep the battery good. Can't wait till my license :S Attempting for my permit today.

 

[Slick Rick]

I got a kickass racing stripe for my car. Will hopefully see gains of 30bhp at the wheels when I get it dyno'd.
Installation was going pretty well but then my hayfever kicked in and i kept sneezing and it went a bit bent yo, also didnt have any scissors so I had to go back on myself by the rear light.

 

[Perfect Balance]

That should be easy to get off.

 

[Eric.]

Changed my oil today, which requires more contortion than it should. Switched out the dino juice for Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W-30 and changed the OEM Honda oil filter to a K&N one (which will be so much easier to remove thanks to the 1" nut on the end...). Also rotated the tires.

This was taken laying on the ground behind my passenger front wheel (which has to be removed to get access). The filter is the blue part (which is now a white/orange part )


On the bright side, the Civic is very easy to jack up. Its got a nice spot in the front-center and when lifting the sides it lifts very evenly. Stiff chassis FTW.