Automotive Addicts Lounge V4 - Lube my pistons, baby - General

My search for an older Rolls Royce has been an utter failure thus far. So many of these older Royce cars are treated like total shit by their owners who can't provide service records and most don't even know the car they are trying to sell. I'm thinking I'll keep saving my money for now and look at the 90's.

[QUOTE=NO ONE;49782556]Shit, this carbon fiber hardtop is really turning in to a completely emotion-based purchase and venture....some used side latches and softtop window seals fetched about $200. At the last minute while at the atm, my dad and I decided we should just use the softtop windshield latches that we already have with the car and save $200. Next step is get the damn lexan window installed...hell, might be talked in to making it a DIY job the way my dad and the used dealer I got the car/parts from try and persuade me. I just really don't wanna fuck it up. Installing latches and seals is one thing, installing a window is another. But isn't the biggest cost in window installs the window itself? In researching other people's experiences with similar lexan windows, they had very affordable installs done. One guy even claimed his window guy did it for $40! Also, I'm eyeing these [url=http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Direzza+DZ102&partnum=95VR5DZ102&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Mazda&autoYear=1990&autoModel=Miata&autoModClar=]Dunlop Direzza DZ102s[/url] since they are on the cheaps, are a performance summer tire, and should in theory produce a noticeable improvement in handling while also making for a great daily driving tire. Am I right in this thinking here? I'm thinking of getting extra rims, especially since I'm pretty sure I can't mount those on the OEM 14"s anyway. I'm aiming for those famed OEM BBS rims, as the Miata dealer guys have a set or two, although at least one set is being [del]repaired[/del] refurbished I should say, so I'm not jumping the gun yet.[/QUOTE] Yeah those won't mount to the 14" BBS (although you know there was an OEM 15" BBS that would do perfectly fine). With a treadwear rating of 460—as well as that price tag—I'm a little skeptical about those being true 'ultra high performance' summer tires; my allseasons are 480. If you haven't done so already, it would be a really good idea to see what miata.net thinks about that tire.

[QUOTE=ColdWave;49783265]My search for an older Rolls Royce has been an utter failure thus far. So many of these older Royce cars are treated like total shit by their owners who can't provide service records and most don't even know the car they are trying to sell. I'm thinking I'll keep saving my money for now and look at the 90's.[/QUOTE] ask around restoration/servicing specialty places, that's how i ended up with the XJ and it was a brilliant deal. Luxury cars do not hold their value at all, as far as i know a Rolls isn't different

Anyone know of a good website to get rims for run-flat tyres? The damn things are nearly impossible to find.

I had DZ101's which I describe them as extremely average. There's nothing wrong with them, if you want some really cheap ass abusable summer style rubber they exactly fit the bill and for that price they're honestly really hard to pass up. They're predictable and grip decently in the dry as you'd expect from a summer tire. While I haven't had some really nice proper summer rubber under my car before, those were nicer in the dry than my current no season Goodyear Eagle Sports. Wet performance though, it's fucking garbage. Do not expect a all season labeled as a summer at all, those should do a little better than the DZ101's which I though weren't amazing. I spun my car on them and a buddy put his 4dr integra into a guardrail(crash #5 on that chassis, it's a 300k mile champ) shortly after I sold him them when they were still 80% tread. I also killed 2 sets on my car in less than 30k, but those were the DZ101's still. I wouldn't go for the 195/50/15 though, 205/50/15 is far more common and I think is the recommended stock size for Miatas with 15's.

Is my Australian-weathered floor pan bad enough to join the club? :v: [t]http://i.imgur.com/L1dncjC.jpg[/t] (there is a hole just a few cm right of the black cable)

[QUOTE=slayer3032;49784096]I wouldn't go for the 195/50/15 though, 205/50/15 is far more common and I think is the recommended stock size for Miatas with 15's.[/QUOTE] 195/50 is actually stock size for NAs with 15s. 205/50 is however a pretty common upgrade and yeah, it has an insane selection

My dad took it upon himself to finish rebuilding my floor while i was away this weekend. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/6bUb0qs.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/o4zhXuF.jpg[/IMG] Turned out better than if i would have done it.

[QUOTE=danjee;49784807]195/50 is actually stock size for NAs with 15s. 205/50 is however a pretty common upgrade and yeah, it has an insane selection[/QUOTE] Really strange, Integra/EK/Si(?) Civic stock sizes are 185/65/14 and 195/55/15. Wouldn't a 195/50/15 be smaller than a 195/60/14? Or is 195/60/14 not stock either :v:

[QUOTE=slayer3032;49787547]Really strange, Integra/EK/Si(?) Civic stock sizes are 185/65/14 and 195/55/15. Wouldn't a 195/50/15 be smaller than a 195/60/14? Or is 195/60/14 not stock either :v:[/QUOTE] 195/50/15 would be smaller than 195/60/14—the latter wasn't stock, 185/60/14 was. It sounds like OEM Miata diameter was a touch smaller than Honda

[url=http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/5423472798.html]just found this beauty on craigslist[/url] [img]http://images.craigslist.org/01111_bqe7peSGf4A_600x450.jpg[/img] [img]http://images.craigslist.org/00Z0Z_lNW9lWfaRJF_600x450.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=TonyTheBean;49787737][url=http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/5423472798.html]just found this beauty on craigslist[/url] [img]http://images.craigslist.org/01111_bqe7peSGf4A_600x450.jpg[/img] [img]http://images.craigslist.org/00Z0Z_lNW9lWfaRJF_600x450.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] [quote]Speedometer works when it wants to. Does take a good Rev to engage into drive. Tranny slipping might need replacment. Does run but sometimes tranny starts slipping[/quote] or it could be low fluid, but likely you're going to need a new transmission. For $2k I still wouldnt buy it

[QUOTE=Code3Response;49787751]or it could be low fluid, but likely you're going to need a new transmission. For $2k I still wouldnt buy it[/QUOTE] definitely not gonna buy it, but still funny to see something like that with nos in the trunk.

[QUOTE=danjee;49783459]Yeah those won't mount to the 14" BBS (although you know there was an OEM 15" BBS that would do perfectly fine). With a treadwear rating of 460—as well as that price tag—I'm a little skeptical about those being true 'ultra high performance' summer tires; my allseasons are 480. If you haven't done so already, it would be a really good idea to see what miata.net thinks about that tire.[/QUOTE] With Miata.net, someone is bound to bitch at you that [I]we already have a thread on that[/I] from 5-10 years ago, which may or may not come up in searches with the phrasing you have in mind. It's a catch 22 in that it has 95% of all the info you need, but 90% of the time it's all over the place or buried in the thread. Plenty of threads with conflicting answers too unfortunately. [QUOTE=slayer3032;49784096]I had DZ101's which I describe them as extremely average. There's nothing wrong with them, if you want some really cheap ass abusable summer style rubber they exactly fit the bill and for that price they're honestly really hard to pass up. They're predictable and grip decently in the dry as you'd expect from a summer tire. While I haven't had some really nice proper summer rubber under my car before, those were nicer in the dry than my current no season Goodyear Eagle Sports. Wet performance though, it's fucking garbage. Do not expect a all season labeled as a summer at all, those should do a little better than the DZ101's which I though weren't amazing. I spun my car on them and a buddy put his 4dr integra into a guardrail(crash #5 on that chassis, it's a 300k mile champ) shortly after I sold him them when they were still 80% tread. I also killed 2 sets on my car in less than 30k, but those were the DZ101's still. I wouldn't go for the 195/50/15 though, 205/50/15 is far more common and I think is the recommended stock size for Miatas with 15's.[/QUOTE] Well, Tirerack has [I]5[/I] categories for summer tires, and [I]Ultra High Performance[/I] are only the middle/3rd of the 5. Star Specs and Toyo Proxies are at the top in [I]Extreme Performance[/I], with no real [I]Max Performance[/I] tires available at the moment. [url=http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?autoYear=1990&autoMake=Mazda&autoModel=Miata&autoModClar=&width=195%2F&ratio=50&diameter=15&minSpeedRating=H&sortCode=37900]Also on the list are Yokohama's, and BFGoodrich's, with 300 and 340 treadwear respectively[/url]. I bought the car with Kumho Powermax 769s, with 340 treadwear and A traction/temp. I don't think the tires are bad, it's just there are better ones out there. I think they should be rebalanced too, since a month or two ago I read the the "65mph shimmy" is a thing and isn't just a normal thing when driving the car at highway speed. It seemed to have a varying effect depending on the road surface, and seemingly got a little better actually going faster, closer to 75-85mph :v:. Still, it should be taken care of for the sake of comfort (doesn't bother me too much really) and wear on the suspension. Also, have made some progress fitting the hardtop latches. My dad was kind enough to cut the spaces for the side latch striker plates. We got some extra soft top window seals, but the "retainer" brackets don't align perfectly wit the supplied holes. So the question remains to go with one of three-four options; make both the seals and seal retainers from the softtop work, use just the softtop retainers and buy hardtop seals ($$$...or vice versa in using hardtop retainers with softtop seals), or go all out and buy hardtop retainers and seals. Oh, and I'll probably need to buy the seal that goes on the underneath area that meets with the car and is essentially below the window and behind the frankenstein bolts. That's like $70 as well. Haven't even gotten to the lexan winow yet. Will need to call around for quotes to see if that's a big money job as well. The things we do for carbon fiber!

Got up on a rock to take a pic of my new jeep, what do you guys think? [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/G91bt2Z.jpg[/IMG]

If my math is correct, and no unexpected bills pop up, I can afford a 2016 Miata in 6 and a half months. Or I can wait until January and get it for the same monthly payment I'm putting down on my current car.

[QUOTE=Tmaxx;49789563]Got up on a rock to take a pic of my new jeep, what do you guys think? [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/G91bt2Z.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] It's either a small model, or you got some huge fucking leaves and grass around where you live.

[QUOTE=Tmaxx;49789563]Got up on a rock to take a pic of my new jeep, what do you guys think? [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/G91bt2Z.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Sweet 4-foot leaves, bro

Sweet rc

I like the sound of mud terrains fighting for grip in the rain. Makes me fell warm and tinggly inside.

I'm thinking of buying an actual Mercedes to compliment my fake Mercedes. Is it safe to assume a $3200 1970 220 is probably going to be more trouble than its worth?

[QUOTE=mastermaul;49791804]I'm thinking of buying an actual Mercedes to compliment my fake Mercedes. Is it safe to assume a $3200 1970 220 is probably going to be more trouble than its worth?[/QUOTE] If it's diesel and not rusty, then it's gonna last for infinity

[QUOTE=Del91;49790267]Sweet rc[/QUOTE] What no I live in the jurassic era, don't you see the massive leaves? Send help there's no gas here.

[QUOTE=Ldesu;49792107]If it's diesel and not rusty, then it's gonna last for infinity[/QUOTE] It is a diesel. Ad makes no mention of rust, only the tires and a supposed crack in the windshield. Says it runs but needs "some TLC". [img]http://imgkk.com/i/ya_v.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=mastermaul;49792234]It is a diesel. Ad makes no mention of rust, only the tires and a supposed crack in the windshield. [B]Says it runs but needs "some TLC"[/B]. [img]http://imgkk.com/i/ya_v.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] So the tranny's junk then, needs new tires, brakes are probably junk too.

[QUOTE=Tmaxx;49792138]Send help there's no gas here.[/QUOTE] That's because the dinos haven't died yet and turned into fossil fuels

I'll send you a manual 4 spd out of my 220d if that automatic is junk. Just pay freight...... Don't let slithers see this.

I think I'm going to be patient and see if an early 80s 300D pops up for a decent price one of these years.

[QUOTE=DPKiller;49792672]I'll send you a manual 4 spd out of my 220d if that automatic is junk. Just pay freight...... Don't let slithers see this.[/QUOTE] Too late. Anyway, the transmissions in those (automatics included) generally last forever. That car is not worth $3200 in that condition though. Car like that are $1500 cars at most if it just needs brakes, fluid flushes, a valve adjustment, and an injection pump retime. But it looks to have been sitting, so it needs tires, shocks, and possibly ball joints. With all that being said, it's just a no-go unless if you want a real project. You're better off finding a car that doesn't have any kind of broken glass and isn't missing stuff like the hubcaps. Also, service records are king. No service records, no buy. Stuff: MB 200T - Be Just Like Jackpody Edition [url]http://newlondon.craigslist.org/cto/5459495238.html[/url] 190b [url]http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/5452061136.html[/url]

I swear, 240Ds with stickshifts are abundant on my CL, and they're all sub 2k. Temptation is present.