The Green Mile went Home

[Steve Wood]

My son drove it home Tuesday. It was running good and we had driven it a 100 miles round trip to San Angelo prior.

The 2500 rpm converter is more like 1700 rpm which means it is fighting against the engine at idle. Engine needs to be around 850-900 in gear which translates to about 1050-1100 in Park. The tight converter kills the vacuum and it has a little cough when the pedal is mashed from a stop. After all the hassle we had before we found the flex plate was out of spec, neither one of us wanted to drop the tranny for about the fifth time. That thing made me old.

It ran good til he was half way home. That was about 75 miles after a gas stop.  It got worse and worse until it stopped running about 15 miles from his home.

No fuel in the front bowl and not much in the rear. He has had no time to look at due to the end of daylight savings time. I am guessing brust in the tank but it might have been bad gas at the last stop, or the new fuel pump started going out.  We shall see.  I was afraid it was my HEI ignition system that had angered the Mopar gods but the further he drove, the less it seemed like ignition and the more it was the fuel side.

It gets a lot of attention when going down the road. That's for sure.   I'll link a video in a little bit.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fd22SduJgz9Qij9x9

[nocooler]

What are you going to do now that you have room in your shop?

[Steve Wood]

First thing I am going to do is move some stuff around inside so I have more usable space.

My Challenger has been mostly outside for two years so it can go in, or my GN can come out from under the carport and into the shop and the Challenger can go there.

I think I bent a control arm on the Miata.  After Taylor and I installed the new set of coilovers On Labor Day, we noticed that we had to hold a little left in the steering wheel.  I had not noticed it before or after the latest install, but Taylor noticed as soon as he drove it.  I was fixing to do a string alignment on it to see if I could get it to zero toe without having to change the control arm.  Right front has some definite toe out.  I need to do that.  Car is on my four post lift waiting on me.  Fixing to be too cold for the summer ultraperforman ce tires.

Both Buicks need some attention.  Both need AC work and the T needs a new oil pan gasket while the GN has a new alky kit to install.

Then my gokart has not been touched since I bought the engine rebuild kit.

My biggest problem is that my motivation is almost zero when I am by myself.  My back gets tired standing up so I either lay on the floor to work or sit in the chair and tell Taylor how to do something when he is here. LOL

[gnonyx]

First thing I am going to do is move some stuff around inside so I have more usable space.

My Challenger has been mostly outside for two years so it can go in, or my GN can come out from under the carport and into the shop and the Challenger can go there.

I think I bent a control arm on the Miata.  After Taylor and I installed the new set of coilovers On Labor Day, we noticed that we had to hold a little left in the steering wheel.  I had not noticed it before or after the latest install, but Taylor noticed as soon as he drove it.  I was fixing to do a string alignment on it to see if I could get it to zero toe without having to change the control arm.  Right front has some definite toe out.  I need to do that.  Car is on my four post lift waiting on me.  Fixing to be too cold for the summer ultraperforman ce tires.

Both Buicks need some attention.  Both need AC work and the T needs a new oil pan gasket while the GN has a new alky kit to install.

Then my gokart has not been touched since I bought the engine rebuild kit.

My biggest problem is that my motivation is almost zero when I am by myself.  My back gets tired standing up so I either lay on the floor to work or sit in the chair and tell Taylor how to do something when he is here. LOL

Hi Steve, What year is the Miata? and is it possible to post some pictures?
Hate to bear more bad news, but the motivation gets worst when winter sets in.
I know since this winter I'll be in the garage block sanding and trying to keep warm.

[Steve Wood]

I don't gave anything that shows it really clean.  By the time I drive it down the 1/4 caliche road to my house, it is basically gray from the dust.   Here is a couple.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/18CqUkLocjawUw3X6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XRG77Hmd1pj48uut8

Mine is a 97 which is the last year of the first generation NA's with pop up headlights.  My son had a 96 but he forgot he did not have four wheel drive like his subie and lost it in the rain going around a corner.  Hit a tree.  He bought a 95 with an automatic that ran very poorly.  Pulled his drivetrain and all the harnesses, dash, etc. and put it in the '95.  Was not an easy job and he ended up with an OBDI by texas law with and OBDII drivetrain.  It is a pretty merlot color.  I gave him the soft top off mine when I installed the hard top and his has both soft and hard tops now.

Miatas are like super go karts with air conditioning.  I have done a lot of suspension work and braces on mine along with some good coil overs.  I love blasting down a curvy road in it.  I never take the hard top off because it's pretty heavy for a codger to handle.  One day I will build a hoist for it.

The second picture is the most recent.  I think I had just raised it a bit by adjusting the coil overs. It was starting to hit stuff in the road.

[nocooler]

I figured you had no shortage of stuff to work on! I've been buried here. This week I harvested 7 plants - and I'm waist deep in medicine. I really expanded my grow operations - I'd share pics but I don't want to upset anyone or get Mark in trouble lol.
My father has decided to sell his 1-acre "man land" property - it has a 30x40 barn, 2-car garage, a small shop, and a newer 10x30 shed. I've spent the last week helping him go through shit and sort the scrap from the trash. Unfortunately, he has been little help due to his mental health. He had a traumatic brain injury 25 years ago and I don't know if it's that, but he's showing signs of dementia. It's getting to the point that he struggled to sort trash and scrap. I had a 5 gallon bucket for trash and a 40 gallon tote for the metal scrap - he couldn't keep them straight. It sucks that I'm probably going to have to be the adult and have a talk with him. At this point, he thinks the doctor is full of shit because he can remember all the stuff from the good old days, but that doesn't matter if he can't find something he just sat down 5 minutes ago....
 

[gnonyx]

I don't gave anything that shows it really clean.  By the time I drive it down the 1/4 caliche road to my house, it is basically gray from the dust.   Here is a couple.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/18CqUkLocjawUw3X6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XRG77Hmd1pj48uut8

Mine is a 97 which is the last year of the first generation NA's with pop up headlights.  My son had a 96 but he forgot he did not have four wheel drive like his subie and lost it in the rain going around a corner.  Hit a tree.  He bought a 95 with an automatic that ran very poorly.  Pulled his drivetrain and all the harnesses, dash, etc. and put it in the '95.  Was not an easy job and he ended up with an OBDI by texas law with and OBDII drivetrain.  It is a pretty merlot color.  I gave him the soft top off mine when I installed the hard top and his has both soft and hard tops now.

Miatas are like super go karts with air conditioning.  I have done a lot of suspension work and braces on mine along with some good coil overs.  I love blasting down a curvy road in it.  I never take the hard top off because it's pretty heavy for a codger to handle.  One day I will build a hoist for it.

The second picture is the most recent.  I think I had just raised it a bit by adjusting the coil overs. It was starting to hit stuff in the road.

Your Miata looks really nice, and I while ago I did mention to you I had a 1993 Mercury Capri.
I believe both powertrains are the same, just differents body style.

[nocooler]

Miata is rear wheel drive where as the capri is front drive, but yes they share the same 1.6L engine

[Steve Wood]

In '94, Mazda went to 1.8.  Many actually like the 1.6 as it revs a bit quicker...migh t be because one has to downshift more often.  I put a header and free flowing exhaust on mine.  Might have 2-3 more hp but it sounds good!

Jeremy, I hate to hear the news about your Dad.  Mine had a very severe stroke in the mid seventies and lived til 1999 but he could not speak well, refused therapy and was mean.  He was always trying to marry someone half his age and making all kinds of promises to them.  Had to establish a guardianship over him and my brother was nearby and I was not so my brother was in charge.  That made it worse because they did not get along at all.  It was not a fun time.  Hopefully, you don't have that kind of problem.

As far as throwing stuff away.  I swear as soon as I throw something away, I end up needing it and buying it again.  SMH.  My short term memory is  flaky.  I remember putting something up so I can find it but I don't remember where the heck I put it.  Does not help that I have too much stuff for too many cars.  My long term memory is good but that is not unusual.  I am lucky because I am reasonably healthy as far as I know and I can do  most things I want to and I can still be nice to those that help me LOL

I turned 82 today and am still having fun but my motivation is not always there if I am alone which I normally am.  They had real, original fritos at the store today and I bought some and took them across the street to the cafe and told them to make me some frito pie for my birthday.  I will probably be asleep pretty soon because they made enuf for four people!

[xracerx13]

Hi Steve
I turned 82 today and am still having fun..........


Happy birthday.

Today's my son's birthday too.

[Steve Wood]

Wow that is neat ! Happy birthday, Joe! My dad's was yesterday. I was born too late but 4 hours

[Steve Wood]

The news on the Green Mile is that sock inside the tank decided to disintegrate and plug the filter.  That's better than rust.

[gnonyx]

HAPPY BIRTHAY STEVE
Being your age and having fun is a blessing in the sky, just getting up in the morning like you do is a challenge for me being at the age of 71 we all have that type motivation of feeling great and days of just relaxing.
Wishing many more healthy years to come

[Steve Wood]

Thanks Julio! I hope so 👍

[nocooler]

At least the filter caught it! Hopefully Taylor and family can enjoy cruising in the Green Mile