Diaries of the Noob Mechanic: Fuzzydunlop's '85 MR2

[FuzzyDunlop]

Wow! I love this car. Just coming in from a three hour jaunt around town. SO much fun to drive. Corners like like like... i dunno waht like but it corners.

All that and it also provided a new challange for me tonight.
Speedometer cable is broken... cue trumput Waaa waaaaaa!

I noticed the needle was fluttering a bit, and was going to post a short video online to find out why... lol... but I found out before I could do that.

Way deep down on top the tranny

I dont have clue how to fix this. Yet.
If nothing else, its an excuse to clean up this part of the engine bay! lol! Im in such a good mood after driving the car! haha, usually I'd be pissed about this!

 

[ballmode]

wow that looks like a doozy

 

[JCH13]

Should be a simple R&R I think...

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Should be a simple R&R I think...

yeah, it is. Just annoying because I cant drive the car until I find a replacement.

 

[JCH13]

yeah, it is. Just annoying because I cant drive the car until I find a replacement.

Why not? You could just use a cheep-o GPS for speed.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Why not? You could just use a cheep-o GPS for speed.

??
Thats possible?
Do tell!

 

[NutBucket]

Uh, every GPS unit had a speed readout. And why can't you drive it? Just keep your speed similar to other cars and you'll be fine.

 

[JCH13]

??
Thats possible?
Do tell!

Something like this from Amazon will get you going.

Note the speed readout in the bottom right.

Edit: a more expensive unit will even tell you what the speed limit is on the road you're driving down.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Uh, every GPS unit had a speed readout. And why can't you drive it? Just keep your speed similar to other cars and you'll be fine.

Ive never used a GPS unit before. Never had the need. I also will be taking the car out on rural roads this weekend where there are almost NO other cars... which would mean no way of telling how fast Im really going lol!

Ya, ill just go pick up an e-cheapo GPS unit until my new brake cable is delivered. im inpatient like that.

 

[NutBucket]

You may also be able to use your smartphone.

 

[JCH13]

Ive never used a GPS unit before. Never had the need. I also will be taking the car out on rural roads this weekend where there are almost NO other cars... which would mean no way of telling how fast Im really going lol!

Ya, ill just go pick up an e-cheapo GPS unit until my new brake cable is delivered. im inpatient like that.

Also might want a radar detector :whiste:

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Bought a Garmin Nuvi 255 for sale $50. Hard wired it to the battery. Works like a charm. just need to remember to shut it off when I turn the car off lol!

 

[Howard]

Bought a Garmin Nuvi 255 for sale $50. Hard wired it to the battery. Works like a charm. just need to remember to shut it off when I turn the car off lol!

You can buy two lantern batteries and install a DC toggle switch on one of the lines and avoid wiring to the battery.

 

[JCH13]

Bought a Garmin Nuvi 255 for sale $50. Hard wired it to the battery. Works like a charm. just need to remember to shut it off when I turn the car off lol!

Get in the habit of unplugging it and locking it the console or glove box. Otherwise you may wind up with a smashed window and a stolen GPS.

Otherwise, enjoy!

 

[SuperSix]

Found this for OP : http://forums.bcmr2.com/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=9837

Why would someone get an engine torn down that much and NOT replace the bearings/rings?


From last page:
My engine does not need a rebuild at 140kms. This is not a rebuilt project. I was a head gasket change. Aperently You did miss something ...and that's my first post of this project...

 

[Aikouka]

Uh, every GPS unit had a speed readout. And why can't you drive it? Just keep your speed similar to other cars and you'll be fine.

I'd be a bit wary of trusting something that has to be based on delta_location / delta_time, but it usually seems to be correct :|.

As an aside, I actually wish my built-in GPS had a feature that my mom's has... speed limits being displayed. It's annoying when they don't place speed limit signs soon after an on-ramp.

 

[Eli]

GPS speed data is far more accurate than most speedometers, as long as you have a good fix.

 

[Aikouka]

GPS speed data is far more accurate than most speedometers, as long as you have a good fix.

Really? That's interesting to hear! I didn't think the GPS-provided position would be nearly as accurate to provide good data (time delta shouldn't be an issue though). I wouldn't have considered it an issue on military GPS given the much higher precision.

 

[Eli]

It can certainly mess up, but yeah.. as long as you have a good fix, it's very accurate. I once had it say my top speed during a trip was 218MPH.. I was like.. I wish! lol.. Basically it lost me, then found me again and didn't realize the mistake. So it thought I had traveled 218mph..

Most car's speedometers are off by 1-2MPH. I'm only going 55MPH when my speedometer says 57MPH.

This can be verified by cruising past one of those photo radar things that show you your speed. The sign always agrees with the GPS, while my speedo is off.

 

[jlee]

Really? That's interesting to hear! I didn't think the GPS-provided position would be nearly as accurate to provide good data (time delta shouldn't be an issue though). I wouldn't have considered it an issue on military GPS given the much higher precision.

I've matched my Garmin (C530, I think) to radar +/- 1mph (which is the tolerance of the radar unit, incidentally). It may vary a little in corners/etc, but overall they should be quite accurate.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Might as well throw this up in here as well.
From this thread.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2171556

This is where I am at currently.

I have no clue what Im doing other than from reading the boxes that came with the products Im using and a few youtube videos. Right now its smooth as a babys bottom, but Ive most likely done it all completely wrong and will have to start from bare metal again.

What Ive done so far is
1.Washed the panel with dawn dishsoap to get rid of heavy dirt and grime.
2. Wiped it down with Wax and greaser remover.
3. Sanded it down to bare metal (which took a LONG time because there was already a ton of bondo on it).
4. Cut out the rusted areas and welded in a new pieces.
5. Scuffed with brillo pad.
6. wax and grease remover again.
7. Rubbing alcohol to get rid of organic material (finger oil, etc)
8. Bondo onto the bare metal (the white)
9. Sanded with 80, 180, 400
10. Sandable primer (the dark grey)
11. Spot and glazing putty to fill in minor scratches and pin holes. (the red stuff).
12. Wet sanded with 400, 800
13. Sandable Primer again (light grey)
14. Let that dry, and then was able to see all my imperfections, so I did 6-13 on a few spots over again.
Now its hanging in my garage with more sandable primer on it.

Whether these steps are done correctly, or in the correct order, Im not %100 certain. Im just having fun figuring it out!

 

[JCH13]

I don't know much about bodywork, but I do know a bit about epoxy, the adhesive family that is in bondo and such. Alcohol is a decent prep solvent, but acetone is better. MEK is probably the best, but it's also pretty damn dangerous.

 

[Pulsar]

I don't know much about bodywork, but I do know a bit about epoxy, the adhesive family that is in bondo and such. Alcohol is a decent prep solvent, but acetone is better. MEK is probably the best, but it's also pretty damn dangerous.

Actually, acetone is a lousy solvent when you're wiping something down. It evaporates so quickly it leaves deposits on what you're trying to wipe.

3M general purpose adhesive remover is far better. It's not as volatile so it doesn't evaporate as quickly.

Denatured alcohol or laquer thinner are excellent as well.

 

[JCH13]

Actually, acetone is a lousy solvent when you're wiping something down. It evaporates so quickly it leaves deposits on what you're trying to wipe.

3M general purpose adhesive remover is far better. It's not as volatile so it doesn't evaporate as quickly.

Denatured alcohol or laquer thinner are excellent as well.

I think you mean to say that it can be annoying to use. It is in fact a great solvent.

 

[Pulsar]

I think you mean to say that it can be annoying to use. It is in fact a great solvent.

If you are putting something in an acetone bath to clean it, then yes it's an excellent solvent.

If you are wiping something down with the intent of removing grease, oils, and other chemicals that might effect painting, you are far better off using one of the less volatile chemicals I mentioned.