Chasis 138 checking in from Alberta, Canada.

[Trenon]

If you use it a decent amount swag off-road makes all kinds of mods for it to make it better, including a replacement shaft and bearings.

[Trenon]

Finished up the center tubing:


also finished the filler neck. 

Just need a windshield and headlights and I should meet the minimum for inspection. 

[Trenon]

So either my exhaust cam gear or my exhaust cam is bent.

I took a video

Any idea on how much wobble is OK. I really don't feel like tearing into the engine right now. I have my inspection scheduled for Friday.

[zeitgeist]

Trenon are you able to set up a dial indicator to get the runout on the exhaust cam sprocket? It looks like a fair amount but may not be as bad as it looks. I also would guess it is the cam sprocket not the cam as the cam would need to be bent on just the nose or the front cam bearing would have been killed after start up. ALso you may try just pulling the cam sprocket and check for a burr or uneven face to the cam or back of sprocket.

[Trenon]

I put an indicator on it, it's out 50 thousandths.

[zeitgeist]

That is a decent amount. I take it the 50 thou is measured off the edge of the sprocket? Can you get a measurement closer to the center to determine if it is the sprocket or the cam nose? Regardless I would do something to correct that amount. Change cam sprockets or if you end up pulling the belt swap intake to exhaust and see if the runout is the pulley or the cam.

[Trenon]

Is it possible to replace the cam gear without pulling the valve cover since I have the cut valve cover?

I have the fm ninja cam tool which I can use to lock the cam gear while tightening.

Any advice?

[zeitgeist]

Sorry that is beyond my knowledge and experience with Miatas. Hopefully Gwnwar or maybe post on Grassroots Motorsports forum and Kieth Tanner will likely reply with advice or many other Miata guys. The best way is probably to pull the cam cover, lock the cams and replace the pulley then check the timing belt and make sure all the marks line up then put the cam cover back on but there may be an easier way I just can't say for sure.

[gwnwar]

Looks like the gear not the cam.. I think I would check for a gear not seated flush to the cam face.. Put ninja tool in place back the bolt out a turn or two so you have about an 1/8" space between the bolt and gear.. Wiggle gear some, put large socket like for rear axle nuts over bolt and tap to seat gear, tight all up and run to check..

[Trenon]

This was not my previous engine, this engine has been shipped around a fair bit and not run since it was shipped. There are some marks on the can gear. I'm thinking it might have got hit on something when it was being shipped.

gwnnwar it is possible to change the gear without removing the valve cover when you have a cut cover right? I can't think of anything that would stop me. All the covers have been removed so I should just be able to remove the accessory pulley and take off the timing belt and then change out the pulley. Once I have the gear out I'll load it in my mill and check it all around, and if necessary see if I can "adjust" it back into place using my precision BFH.

[Trenon]

Also I forgot to mention that I went through the fuel gage wiring last night grounding it out at various points to see if it would move. Nothing made it move until i grounded out the screw on the back of the gage cluster. Then I put it all back together and now it works. Must have been a loose connection somewhere.

[gwnwar]

To remove the gear I would remove the cam cover just so i would be able to hold the cams in place with wrenches and vice grips. If you find the gear bent just replace it don't try to straighten it you might weaken the metal..Cam gears are interchangeable..Are you sure the gear is not cocked on cam? Remember to do the rotating of the crank after new belt on to set belt and tensioner load.. good news on fuel gauge working..

[Trenon]

Day 1 of being temporarily street legal. Many vibrations and buzzing at different RPM. Have you guys succeeded in finding all the things that vibrate and get rid of them or is it something you live with?

[jwagner]

They're not Lexuses.  Finding the rattles and buzzes has been like a game of Whack a Mole.  The hood was loose and spacers made from big vacuum hose on the mounts fixed that.  The exhaust hits the tunnel on hard corners - not going to do anything about that.  

Try walking around the car and tapping on panels or anything that looks like it might vibrate.  If it does, you have found a potential problem.

[Trenon]

So mostly you just live with it then? Just deciding how anal I want to be about the miscellaneous sounds.