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Luna: The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems


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The 240sx unit is something I was going to suggest!

 

While the initial cost of machining the bell housing seems like it would make this an expensive option, the low cost and ease of finding the KA-5 speed easily offsets the difference.

 

I've literally had someone deliver a KA transmission to my door for $50. Supposed to have 65k on it if I recall correctly? Doesn't really matter when I can replace a gearbox for under $100 whenever it goes bad :).

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Thanks guys,

 

                  Yeah I had considered the KA swap, and if a nice transmission popped up I probably would have jumped on it, but I'm going to pull the trigger on Pcakes55 rebuilt 83 n/a 5 speed.

 

This way it works out well so I can swap the transmission with ease, and I can focus big time on Megasquirt. Who knows? Maybe this thing will actually be running sooner than I think!

 

Also, I'm definitely going to pick up an Eastwood Hot Coat Powdercoating kit, and I'll do my intercooler pipes myself. I'm pretty excited to try it out. Just need to source out a junk oven to stick in my basement. :)

 

So, in the meantime, while I wait for parts, I have been adjusting the fitment of my intercooler piping.

 

It had to be shortened quite a bit. It's pretty close now, but I still have another inch or so of adjustment to play with. I just need to wait for my radiator to arrive before I make the final fitment. Then I fab the intercooler mounting brackets.

 

Other than that, not much to report.

 

Here are a couple of pictures of the shortened and adjusted piping. Note the improved fitment. (ignore the ugly blue couplers)

 

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Edited by OldAndyAndTheSea
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Transmission!!!

 

1983 N/A 5 speed courtesy of Pat, (pcakes55) here on Hybrid. Thanks again, Buddy!

 

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Primed and Painted my transmission mount

 

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Throw out bearing install:

 

Since I am running a 240 mm flywheel this is the combination of parts I am using with my ACT clutch kit.

-240mm 2+2 flywheel

-280zx turbo/2+2 throw out bearing collar (see picture for product number)

-ACT clutch disc

-ACT Heavy duty Pressure plate

-ACT Throw out bearing

-73 N/A clutch fork

 

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Then I swapped the reverse sensor, and made sure the fill plug opens easily. Now she's ready to go back in the car.

 

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Edited by OldAndyAndTheSea
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Transmission installed. Solo I might add.

 

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Also have been playing around with the first gen Mazda Miata/MX-5 A pillar 2 gauge pod. Figuring out what will need to be cut.

 

NOTE: I dropped my damn boost gauge (like 4 months ago) about 30 seconds after taking it out of the box. Darn thing popped right out of its carboard holder, and flew about 5 feet away on solid cement. So I think she may be beat, as indicated by the 4 pounds of perpetual boost I'm running. I thought about trying it anyway, and maybe it'll reset with some vacuum run through it, but I'm not going to waste the time. I'm probably just going to replace it, and call it done.

 

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Cleaning up lots of odds and ends today.

Nothing glamorous, but progress nonetheless.

-Finished plumbing up my PCV system (since I relocated my vavle forward on the intake, I had to shorten and adapt the 280z OEM PCV hose)
-Fit up the exhaust and began taking measurements for hanger locations
-Began figuring out where I want my blow off valve to be, along with my GM IAT sensor

Oh, and some better pictures of the Miata gauge pod, and where it will be.I can't wait until I'm surrounded by all those gauges lit up!

 

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I'm getting pretty excited.

Edited by OldAndyAndTheSea
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  • 2 weeks later...

Okay so as I once again wait on some parts in the mail (electric cooling fan, and some other misc goodies)

 

I got a new toy to play with!  (Be proud Ryan)

 

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My first project is powdercoating my intercooler pipes.

 

And I finished my exhaust (minus paint). Tucked up there nicely.

 

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Real understated, I like it.

Edited by OldAndyAndTheSea
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Nothing major, as I am once again waiting for parts.

Here are some small things that I've wrapped up in the interim.

Coolant line leading to throttle body- Made and installed

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Remade both of my hard lines for the injectors because before the fuel filter was touching the coolant feed to the heater core. Hahaha!!!

So needless to say, after some attention, the fitment is much better now.

Also had to slightly modify the front line to not touch the top radiator hose, although it doesn't matter as much as the other line, because it's just going to return to the fuel tank and be cooled anyway. But it looked bad before in my opinion.

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More small details...

Intercooler brackets, roughed out. Not bolted on, just in place.

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Throttle linkage- and pedal adjusted. So the throttle body now opens 100% at WOT.


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Another couple shots of the current state of the motor and assembly.

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Things to do this week. (parts permitting)

-Tap my thermostat housing for 3/8 NPT (when the tap arrives this week)

-Mock install of electric radiator fan and thermostat placement (when it arrives this week)

-Powdercoat majority of intercooler pipes (when powder arrives this week, and when I get a toaster oven)


More surely to come.....

 

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Electric cooling fan arrived today.

 

Derale 14" Tornado electric cooling fan (with thermostat package)

 

1350 CFM 10.5 amp draw

 

I had to trim the bottom of the fan shroud ever so slightly to get it to fit on my radiator. It's a nice snug fit now.

 

I had originally opted to make some sort of bracket for it, but after seeing the clearances with the 3 row and the water pump, I think that's going to be something for another day.

 

Until I figure that out, I'll just run it with the cheap plastic mounting tabs, which I'll note, that I am quite surprised with their strength thus far. We'll see......

 

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Edited by OldAndyAndTheSea
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Okay so I picked up a large toaster oven, and since my 'wrinkle' powder isn't expected at the post office until tomorrow, I took today to experiment with the machine, and began figure out the powder coating process.

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First impression:

LOOOOOOVE IT!

So much fun, INSTANTLY rewarding and very gratifying.

Also, not too hard.....can be sort of messy though...

Here are some of my first experiments.

First was a skeleton key a friend wanted me to try to coat red.

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Then I coated my fuel return line brackets 'machine grey'. A small detail, that perhaps will go unnoticed, but I like it. And at least now, they are protected, before they were just bare metal.


Before

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After: some blemishes, but I put VERY little prep into these.

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Tomorrow I do my intercooler pipes. Er....at least start them.

 

Wish me luck!

 

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Aside from having to order more powder, which I am blaming partially on my inexperience. That, and having ordered a small amount just in case I royally screwed things up, or if this turned out to be a failure.

 

Got 2 of the pieces done. I really like how it looks. The color is "wrinkle" black.

 

I'm certainly enjoying myself.

 

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Comparison

 

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It's the little things that count.

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Okay, so today I.....

 

 

 

-Tapped thermostat housing to accept all my various sensors.

 

Top left is Autometer coolant temp gauge sensor.

Bottom Left (now tapped 3/8NPT) is for GM Coolant temp sensor.

Top right is plugged, obviously.

Bottom right is also tapped 3/8NPT for the sender on my cooling fan. (set to kick on at 180 degrees and kick off at 170)

 

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Now I need the gaskets, and a fresh 160 degree thermostat, then I can bolt that in place for good.

 

Another thing down.

 

Ordering an oil cooler tomorrow or the next day.

Edited by OldAndyAndTheSea
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  • 2 weeks later...

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