MX-Brad

Getting there. You'll be on the road any day by the sounds of it.
Did you take pics of your shifter hole cover? Always interesting to see how folks address this.

jrmotorsports55

Took it apart to make a quick change so I took pics:

MX-Brad

Looks nice. Thanks for posting.
Gauges look right at home there too. Nice

Castillo817

Looks very nice! What shifter do you have?

jrmotorsports55

Thanks. The shifter is the SVE one from late model restoration. It's cheap and does the job.

jrmotorsports55

Not much to update, wiring in the relay and the starter switch is now functional. Was nice to hear her breathe again.

MX-Brad

Can't be much left to do.

jrmotorsports55

Still have a long list, but mostly little things. Biggest hitters are clutch hydraulics and exhaust.

jrmotorsports55

I swear, this car is going to be the death of me. Spent the afternoon yesterday doing little "to do" items, and one of those was getting the cooling system back in the car (had to re-seal the water pump and replace one of the heater lines). Got it all buttoned up and full of coolant and got to run it for the first time for an extended period since re-sealing the oil pan for the 4th time and fixing the coolant leaks. Good news is that I am pretty sure the coolant leaks are under control, bad news is that it dripped 4 drops of oil from the front hump while running 10 mins or so. That is A LOT better than it was, but still not acceptable. No oil leaked from the rear at all. So, I'm going to keep tackling other items on my list, and will eventually be pulling the k member/oil pan back out for the 5th time to replace the pan. I am really thinking it has to do with the type of paint that was used on the oil pan as it is seeping between the oil pan and gasket, not the gasket and timing cover. I may try to re-torque the bolts first, but I doubt that will fix it. I'm planning using a wire wheel to remove all paint on the flange of the pan, and hoping it will put some light grooves in the metal to give the seal something to bite in to. Hoping the 5th time will be the charm as this is getting old.

V8MiataMike

I may have asked this already... Do you have those steel "plates" that go on each side of the oil pan that provide more even clamping force down each side? The pan bolts will start dimpling in the pan bolt hole areas without the plates creating less clamping on the spaces between the bolt holes.

jrmotorsports55

Yep, have the side rails. Sides don't leak, it's the front and rear bumps that are causing problems.

jrmotorsports55

Not too much to update. The clutch hydraulics are in and bled. I still need to adjust the slave pushrod (already adjusted the pedal rod for max stroke) as the fork seems to be pretty preloaded at rest (I had to really fight to get the slave installed).

jrmotorsports55

Quick update as it has been a month. Have not been able to work on this car too much, had a family vaca, and other cars that needed attention. Finally got back to this one yesterday and have almost finished the x pipe. Should finish it this coming weekend, then will order the parts to finish the exhaust. I may actually get this car on the road before winter. Fingers crossed!

jrmotorsports55

Quick update as it has been a while. Still working on the x pipe, a little at a time, as I have been really busy. I have it tacked together and like all of the gaps, just need to finish up the welds (although I am a little worried about how low it is where it goes under the crossmember). Slowly but surely it's coming along. Many busy weekends this summer, so car has kinda been on the side.

MX-Brad

I don't how close is "too close" for that pretzel bend, but I know on mine it looks like the pipe could be another inch closer to the subframe, and I rarely make ground contact on a lowered car. I scrape on speedbumps.
I did have issues on the rear half, but had it redone by another shop. Someday I'll get the whole damn thing redone in stainless.

jrmotorsports55

Good to know. I used 2.25 pipe and am roughly 1" from the crossmember where it goes through the cutouts.

MX-Brad

2.25" here too. Someone mentioned to me that I could flatten the pipes in areas that I need more clearance. I guess i would mark the pipe, remove it, and flatten in a vice- possibly with some heat. It works ok as is for now.

jrmotorsports55

Yeah, we'll see. If too low, they'll mark themselves and I'll find a solution. Also plan on building a shield for the oil pan as that is pretty low as well.

jrmotorsports55

Checking in. Not much to update, had projects with other vehicles that have been taking up time. The x is finished, and I have all parts to complete the exhaust. I bought a stainless axleback for a GT500 and will be able to modify it to make it work and save a little time/fab work.

jrmotorsports55

It's been a while, so I thought I'd give a quick update. Have not had much time to work on it. I have the exhaust tacked up all the way back to just in front of the diff, and today I got the pass side done to the tip (although I think it will end up being a little low under the diff and need a bit of tweaking). Need to do the driver side next, then will go back and fix the pass side. More to come. I think I'll have some time to work next weekend, and might have all of the tack work done by the end of the next weekend.

jrmotorsports55

Finished the exhaust yesterday. I need to make a few adjustments, and add the O2 bungs, then I'll put the car on the ground to check clearance as I am a little worried in a few spots. Once good, will pull it off, grind the welds and paint it up (I have a crappy flux core mig, not the prettiest welds). That will be a big step off the list.

Ford5.0

Does yours have that U shaped brace that attaches to the rear subframe and the body? If so, were you able to run the exhaust through it? Hopefully you can posts some pics of your work.

jrmotorsports55

Yes, have the u and ran exhaust through it. Used 2.5" and am a little worried about ground clearance as it is roughly 1.5" lower than diff bottom. Will measure once car is on ground. Pics to come.

jrmotorsports55

Here are some pics of the exhaust as it sits now. I know the welds look like crap, all I have is a cheap 110 wire feed flux core set up. I plan on grinding everything down and cleaning it up. I still have to get the car on the ground and see if I like the clearance.

V8MiataMike

I have mine routed like yours as well and it was tricky getting them by the diff and that loop stiffing bar. Mine sit about 1 inch below the diff cover an I have zero problems with ground clearance and the car is lower than stock.

It is the front area where I tried to keep it as high and tight as I could where it goes under the K member. That area is the perfect spot for when you come off a speed bump and the car bounces slightly and hammers the pipes... My front end is lower as well but since I went to a 16 inch tire I have had zero problems there now as well.

Your system looks good and probably sounds good too!