Prepping The car part 1

I’ve finally started the process of replacing/refreshing many essential parts in the Miata, and I found some nice little surprises! Here I will detail some of the changes that had to be done to make this car as safe and reliable as possible for a 9k mile (14.5k km) trip.

ENGINE PREP

I knew if I really wanted to go over every nut and bolt and fix anything that could potentially cause issues, it was best to remove the engine and transmission together.

I started by disconnecting all the hoses/electrical connectors etc. Once that was finished I hoisted the pair out of the car to get a better look at things. As you can see I had to remove the front bumper because the engine hoist that I had was pressing against it. I needed the extra clearance.

This is the second time I have removed this engine and one thing that I’ll never get tired of complaining about is rust! The amount of bolts on this car that have broken off or been rounded out and had to be re-tapped or just left there is probably close to 15. But the more I work on it, the more character it gains. Luckily none of the bolts are major ones such as sub frame bolts.

On the flip side there was a lot of grease under there. I’m not surprised but I am at the same time. I’ve changed the gaskets and seals on this many times, and I must have made a goof installing the oil pan because there seemed to still be a leak down there. The sub frame had a nice chocolatey layer on it.

Anyone that has oil leaks knows that there is a funny silver lining about them. Whatever it leaks on it preserves! A nice bonus on an old car.

Hoisting the engine

Once the engine was pulled there were a few things I noticed, some of which I was already aware of. My alternator was definitely bad, the bearings were worn out, and when I grabbed the pulley I could rattle it quite a bit, car nuts call this “shaft play”. Definitely time for a new one.

This engine & transmission has about 365k original miles. Even though the clutch has been replaced once, and all the rubber has gone through an overhaul at some point in the past, the outer casing showed its age. Which makes me happy it’s lasted this long.

One thing I noticed as I scanned over everything is the Camshaft Angle Sensor. If you dont know cars it is a critical sensor at the back of the engine that if it fails, you aren’t going anywhere. The connector on it partially broke off. But it still works. So I decided to leave it as-is. I will also need to replace some more sensors on top of the transmission since one of the wires broke off when I removed it. Not a huge deal. But lots of sensors!

When I separated the engine from the trans, I found a surprise that took me back to a memory I had back in 2022. It was from a long road trip to Maine. My clutch was making some horrible squeaking noises when I pressed the clutch pedal and I was worried I would be stranded, but for some reason the squeaking got better and eventually went away! It’s nice when a car “heals” itself. I would soon realize that was definitely not the case!

Staring at me clear as day was the reason it stopped squeaking, it’s because something called the pilot bearing disintegrated! The bearings were bone dry and barely held in place. If you don’t know what this is, usually if this fails the whole clutch might fail and shatter into chunks and you are again, not going anywhere.

My flywheel and clutch plate also had hot spots all over them. Which I knew about because I tried to resolve this with a resurface at a machine shop. But no matter how gentle I was it came back. This all stemmed from one time I accelerated hard and popped the clutch at about 2500 RPMs when the clutch was not warm. I guess this was its undoing because ever since then I had a shudder when accelerating from a stop. I’ve never had issues with any clutches in the past so I guess I rolled a bad pair of dice that one time.

If you don’t know what you are seeing here, look at the thing in the middle of the big circle, there are tiny little balls visible ( I know that sounds bad). You aren’t supposed to see those at all, they should be completely sealed in.

Dead Pilot Bearing ( see the bearings laying around and some are missing)

The transmission revealed a bad oil leak. Which wasn’t the rear main seal, it must have been the oil pan gasket, which annoyed me because I thought I did this right about 2 years ago, but I guess it’s time to re-do it!

Note for non car folks, all that black grease should not be there. It should be clean aluminum. So I had an oil leak.

Dirty transmission ( with rusty input shaft)

The rust covered input shaft was my first clue something was up with the pilot bearing. This will be getting new oil seals & upper and lower shift boots. Those seem to last maybe 5 years if you drive as much as I do ( 15-20k a year).

That’s where I stopped today. I have a list of new parts I am going to add to my existing items after I inspected everything today.

These include:

Rear main seal

New Clutch

New Shift Boots

New Air conditioning compressor

Crank and Cam seals

Timing Belt

Drive belts

Its comical to me just how many times I have taken this car apart thinking its going to be the last time for a while lol. Hopefully this time it will be in good shape for a long time!

trip #1 Alaska

Alaskas Dalton Highway

Alaska stands as the quintessential embodiment of my spirit

—where the raw, hypnotizing wilderness of North America converges with the lifelines of the nation’s economy through its controversial northern slope oil fields. This is a land revered for its rugged inhabitants, perilous wildlife, and harsh climates, where mankind may posture as sovereign, yet nature delivers the ultimate decree.

The state presents a profound dichotomy: it is abundant with pristine, ancient landscapes, yet beneath its surface lie coveted resources—gold, oil, timber, fish, and more. This wealth ignites a confluence of natives, environmentalists, and pioneers, each advocating for their vision of Alaska’s future.

My own dichotomy mirrors that of Alaska. A passionate car enthusiast with a deep reverence for nature, I am as comfortable discussing gardening with eco-conscious elders as I am talking shop with youthful car buffs over beers.

Thus, Alaska is my chosen destination for a journey of discovery, one I will embark on from Kentucky. The round trip spans approximately 9,000 miles—a testament to the extensive preparations already underway and those still needed. My checklist includes essential vehicle upgrades and maintenance: new General Altimax all-season tires to cushion against rough terrains, a new alternator, a complete engine gasket set, 2 full spares, and a suite of camping and emergency supplies to sustain the journey.

The adventure will take me along the storied Dalton Highway, known as the "haul road," a vital artery for workers and suppliers supporting the oil fields. This rugged route, part dirt and gravel, may challenge my preparations with potential hazards like muddy conditions and a likely cracked windshield from flying rocks kicked up by semi trucks—a prospect for which I am already equipped.

With preparations including readying the cars soon to be removed engine that will get refreshed with new gaskets & seals, I aim to be fully equipped by mid-June. There is still lots to do, and as I make progress I’ll document every step leading up to the big day. This journey is not just a test of endurance for my vehicle, but a pilgrimage to the heart of what defines both Alaska and myself. Freedom, as cliche and American as that sounds maybe that is what cars and unspoiled nature have in common., and maybe that is why I love them both. As I document this journey, from engine overhaul to the echoing wilderness, I embark on a path that is as much about exploring internal landscapes as it is about traversing external ones.