I'm OFF!

No, I haven't lost it yet (although my exwife will argue that) I mean I'm leaving. The Miata and I are off to California tomorrow AM to see my sister. Her birthday is March 17th and she's going to be 18 (again, she's been 18 several times before!).

The Miata is loaded with

  1. Her new (I just built it from all used parts!) computer to replace the one she seems to have fried along with all the necessary software, etc.,

  1. A bunch of CDs because the twisties on CA-74 from Palm Desert to Aguanga require that Wagner's Die Walküre be blasting from the speakers and Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company for the straight stretches,

  2. A bottle of SPF 8,000,000 sunblock because I plan on having the top down,

Oh, yeah, I'm planning on maybe tossing in a change of underwear and socks also...

Wish me luck, I hope I don't need it but it's 726 miles round trip in a car with 134,000 miles on it.

I should be back this weekend if all goes well, however, in view of other threads here I might be back before I leave as the Miata is WHITE*! BTW, will a black tonneau cover slow it down? ;-)

*Leon said: "(White) is the preferred color everywhere. It looks better, is easier to maintain, and goes faster because of less photon drag and improved aerodynamics."
Reply to
XS11E
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"....because of less photon drag and improved aerodynamics."

LMAO!! Mine's white. Yipee! Good luck on the trip -- sounds like fun.

~Anthony

Reply to
Anthony

All the best mate, you'll have a blast.

Reply to
gixer

Not really. It mainly provides additional down force on the rear wheels. Just like a wing, but without looking like a Mitsubishi.

I am glad to see that you are paying careful attention to what I say. That is important.

Leon

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

You won't need it, my 90b with 255,000 got 36mpg on my 700 mile (one way) trip from MS to NC last week... Of course, that was mostly on boring interstates.

-alex-

Reply to
Alex M. Postpischil

Let us know how things went.

Reply to
Kumo '96M

And I thought I was the only one to play Wagner's Die Walküre at high volume (on my Alpine stereo and Boston speakers) when driving on twisty roads with the Miata's top down! It's nice to see another fan.

Have a great trip.

XS11E wrote:

Reply to
Dick Eastman

I'm back, none the worse for wear.

I'd like to write a really exciting report on my trip but I can't because it was pretty much uneventful and I'm happy it was!

I started late Tuesday, March 15th, because of traffic reports for I-10 West so I didn't set out until around 9am and traffic was clear by then.

The weather was fine, a bit overcast and fairly cool. I had the top down, by Indio I was ready to shed my jacket but didn't as I knew it would get cooler as I climbed up 374 and dropped down the other side of the pass. The Miata handled the turns as they do.

Thursday, my sister and I visited the San Diego zoo and were able to park for several hours on I-15 south, later we were able to park for several more hours on I-15 north. By careful planning we were fortunate enough to join the morning go to work traffic jam and the evening go home from work traffic jam. I can't imagine people actually living in that mess but obviously thousands do and they were all on the freeway!

Coming home the top was up due to weather worries. It didn't rain but it threatened all the way. I hit multiple traffic jams on I-10 and had stop and go traffic for maybe 50 miles or so. Maybe Phoenix isn't any better now than southern California?

Bad news, I paid as high as $2.44 for gas (in Indio).

More bad news, I have an oil leak, not too bad but it seems to drip on the exhaust so the car smokes when stopping after high speed running. I can't see where it is so I'll have to get it looked at Monday. I'm sure whatever the problem is it will be something very simple and easy to fix, costing no more than the annual profits of Walmart and Microsoft combined....

Comfort item, I used instructions from the "cheap tricks" section of miata.net

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to make a lumbar support, I made it very thin and adjusted it several times as I drove. I finally removed it and found the seat was more comfortable w/o it.

Reply to
XS11E

My 1996 leaks oil at the cam angle sensor between engine and firewall.

Leon

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

Leon, get that fixed soon. If the drip finds the heater hoses, your problems grow exponentially.

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

rammm@REMOVE_THIS_TAGdommelen.net (Leon van Dommelen) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Thanks, I'll check there but I don't know if that could get to the exhaust?

I did look a little bit today while removing my bug collection from the front end and it appears I have a power steering leak or maybe an engine leak AND a power steering leak.

I'm thinking that oil drips from lots of different areas will accumulate on the plastic underpan in front of the engine and be blown back onto the exhaust pipe maybe?

I plan on making an attempt to get under the critter tomorrow and we shall see what we shall see.

Why am I thinking this is going to be very expensive?

Reply to
XS11E

I assume it already did. My heater hose blew on the way back from a track day at Barber Motorsport Park. The pre-event tech inspection I had done mentioned the oil leak and heater hose. But who knows that a "heater hose" is a *coolant* line?

Leon :)

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

You mean, who knew that coolant is a fluid with dynamics? Beats me... :-)

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

I replaced the O-ring on the cam angle sensor on Friday night with help from miata.net. First time I've been under the hood of a car in roughly 20 years. If I can do it, anyone can!

Reply to
The Millers

"The Millers" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@rcn.net:

Mine isn't leaking but I read through the proceedure on miata.net and found it very complete and easy to follow. I've used miata.net for several things and found it a very valuable resource (even though they still have no article on installing a Viper V-10).

Reply to
XS11E

with help from

roughly 20

Someone's been bitten by the DIY bug. ;-D Next thing you know, he'll be on the track at Pocono.

Hi Fred!

Iva & Belle.) '90B Classic Red.) #3 winkin' Miata Who's going back to Pocono herself this year!

Reply to
Iva

I have to have the temp heater hose replaced anyway, so it seems easiest to have the shop do it all.

Leon :)

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

rammm@REMOVE_THIS_TAGdommelen.net (Leon van Dommelen) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

I'm headed to Mike's Place in the AM, I'll pay someone to do the work now, I earned that handicap plate fair and square and I'm not gonna lay myself up for a week trying to do what I know I can't do anymore.

It used to really frustrate me, a couple of years ago I spent 4 days changing an AC compressor on my Jeep, after that I realized I'd rather spend the money than deal with the pain.... sold my last service center and finally retired fully.

Reply to
XS11E

The process is simplified by buying a complete Viper, and driving it.

Dana

Reply to
Dana H. Myers

Probably less expensive, too. :-)

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

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