charli_darling New-tral | Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Grants Pass,OR Posts: 13 |
charli_darling
New-tral
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Grants Pass,OR
Posts: 13
Hey, you know, I really appreciate your thorough feedback. Its hard for me to accept the fate of this car, and the reality Im facing. A little bit of tough love has been sobering.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RegularJeff
Welp, I'm gonna have to say it. I think you made a mistake. That miata is absolutely trashed. It's gonna need a very thorough look through and systematic repair process before you have any hopes of getting it back on the road in a condition I would consider safe and that is fun in a miata. I don't say that to be rude. I say that to be upfront and honest in order so you know what's ahead of you. Immediately pictures of that engine bring red flag after red flag. And then seeing pictures of the exterior is another red flag. You have a long road ahead of you, and definitely are gonna be spending some money to get it road worthy.
This, helps a lot. I keep hearing it from other people in my life but I keep pushing it off. I keep telling myself, they dont know great this car really is! However, hearing it from experienced enthusiasts after seeing a few photos, sort of really lets it sink in for me: that this thing is a piece of ****. And the repairs are quite thoroughly and completely over my head, although sometimes I surprise myself with what Im capable of. But it would take me months and months to learn even the basics and require tools I just dont have. I keep trying to tell myself - the cars not all that bad, but it is. I really actually dont think Id be safe driving it. And realistically, as tragic as it is, I might not ever get to drive this car, even once. It seems like it needs an outrageous amount of work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RegularJeff
However, there's a silver lining. Miata's are easy to work on. It's like a civic with the engine the right way around and the diff at the back. It's good you're learning on a miata and not a nissan 300zx.
I would recommend posting detailed pictures of the engine bay as well. This will help us identify more red flags. Try to get one of the underbody as well, you'll need a jack and jackstands in order to work on the diff and remove it comfortably. Get it up on jackstands safely and take some pictures of the rear end and entire underbody. Once it is up, put the car in neutral and try to spin the driveshaft. See what you feel and hear and try to isolate the sound.
Im happy to hear that they are on par with civics as far as difficulty. I love working on Hondas, and learning new things such as how to work on bigger tasks such as a diff swap is exciting to me. I was able to find a cheap Vlsd with axles and a driveshaft and poly bushings nearby, but it all feels so futile now. Its like I found what I want, but its not what I need, which is sad. Im having to be realistic about my skill level, though. Just trying to jack up the car on the dirt driveway with the Miata being so low turned out to be something I gave up on, which sucks. I want to be able to surprise myself with working slowly on teaching myself how to do these fixes, and basic car maintenance, but its somewhat discouraging to realize: it might not be worth all the effort with this particular vehicle. Id be happy to take photos and delve deep with each component of the car, but I have to do some hard thinking first.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RegularJeff
What year? How many miles? Clean title? Does it run?
If it runs, you can feel relieved. It might just run enough in order to get you to your new property once you fix the diff. If it didn't run I would expect to spend several months in order to restore this car to road worthy condition, not including the body panels and tires. Trying to Un-f**k that mess of an engine bay for someone who is new to miatas is definitely going to take longer than a month.
Yeah, its a hot mess... and time is not on my side. It does start up and run but because of the bad diff I havent driven it. I was living in the city for about a year, at a nice place that actually had this beautiful shed with a concrete floor and was literally perfect for working on the car. But, things have changed and I had to move out of the place after the shutdowns. Im a tattoo apprentice and after a whirlwind of shutdowns and loosing the minuscule amount of money I was making managing the shop I just couldnt ****ing hang, I couldnt even afford rent, which is sad but. It is what it is. I have all the skill in the world to be a tattooer but the timing just isnt right. This car is like the same kind of shadowy reminder of how I quite honestly cant afford even the most modest of projects right now. Maybe when I was waiting tables, but now now unfortunately. With a month to move the car, its like I want to rush to go out to the house and work on the car every day to at least learn a tiny bit every day and resuscitate something that is quite obviously, already cold and nearly lifeless. Ive got a big heart and just wanted to save this damn car you know?
Its a 1991 na, the ad said 173,000 miles which the dash reflects, however the engine was rebuilt and had a head gasket job at one point. There was a gasket legit in an opened cardboard box in the trunk. Oil looks like a milkshake first time I checked it when I towed it home. For some weird reason after letting the car sit for a few weeks the oil cleared up. But Id be extremely hesitant to say this engine is viable or actually has 170k, who knows the history.
As far as the title goes, I made the biggest mistake I think Ive ever made regarding a vehicle. I signed my title over without getting one from him. As my hand shook as I signed my name to give my baby away, I asked if he had a clean title. He handed me an envelope and said, yep! Everything is here in the envelope! My biggest mistake was not opening up that envelope right there and realizing it was just a crumpled title transfer receipt from the last registered owner. I didnt realize this until I came home and opened the envelope. Stupidest thing Ive ever done, I even tear up a little thinking about it. If I had realized he didnt have a title I would have stopped dead in my tracks, gotten in my car and driven the **** away. I traded my Honda for his pos car and he promised to pay me $300 on top. Even had him sign that. He tried to wire me the money but got my name wrong and it was invalid. He blocked me and I couldnt get a hold of him from there, and I gave up.
Who knows if its a clean title... I had to call the last registered owner and he was kind enough to drive 100 miles to meet me halfway and sign over a title transfer form. I waited 7 weeks to get a dmv appointment just to find out I needed a bill of sale from HIM, not the guy who actually did the trade with me. Stupid, because all the dmv phones are down and if I had known that and had been able to acquire that information it would have saved me from an enormous headache. So here I am 5 months down the road still having to wait for another dmv appointment now that I have a bill of sale. I feel like a dog chasing my own tail. Titling my Honda was sh*tty because I had to get a lien release but it was absolutely not as horrific as this ordeal.
Anyways...
Quote:
Originally Posted by RegularJeff
That slave cylinder looks extremely rusted, so rusted I'm surprised if it even works. They good news is new slave and clutch master cylinders are cheap and easy to replace online. I hope your new property isn't far. If I were you, I would focus on making the car at least able to move under it's own power so you can take it to your property. From there, I would set it up in more long term storage so you can work on it, as it looks like it needs some serious work in order to be safely road worthy. Get some tarps or a cover if it will be outside so it doesn't rot and rust in the rain while it's being fixed, walmart sells them dirt cheap. Harbor Freight is the budget mechanic's literal life saver. But don't use their jackstands.
Ah, sh*tty... thanks for the insight on the cylinders... v important. feels like a laundry list of items before I can get it drivable. You should see the brakes dude... no pad left on any of them. Straight up basically caliper on rotor, all the way around. Just rusty scraping metal. I dont even think it has an e brake, it has a hydro brake setup but the actual emergency brake handle is gone and I dont feel safe driving it without that you know? I keep trying to tell myself if it can just make it *Home* but, my new place is an hour away and the landlord has explicitly told me I cant have any non running vehicles. Just feels like the nail to the coffin you know? But Ill keep my head up.
As far as the ******* who sold me the car, everyone told me to call the police for him trying to float the title. I cant believe he fooled me so hard. I had to come back the next day to actually tow the vehicle and when I arrived I should have just looked him in the eye and threatened to call if he didnt hand over my title. The night before I told him I wanted to go back on the deal and needed my Honda back. He said a deal is a deal. I should have said not if youre committing a felony, ****er!
But all I did was sit on the curb and think I dont want him to hurt me if I get in the Honda and just leave. I should have but I was afraid. I took my losses and called a friend for a tow. It was quite a sad day. I am still very much interested in litigating and at least getting my money back. In an ideal world Id do anything to get my Honda back...... that car was my everything..
Anyway thank you for the wishes of good luck. Im sure Ill need it. The feedback Ive been getting from this forum is awesome.
~ Charlie Darling
