Senior Projekt... 56K WARNING

well guys, sorry i havent been around in a while, i have been really busy with school and stuff to post on here. but anyways, im here now and i will try to post as regularly as i can.

well, on with the topic. my mazda is now a project for now until i get it done. as you all know, im pushing almost 256k miles and the truck needs work badly, and this thread is for my mazda project. all this week has been like christmas for me because since wednesday, everytime i get home there are new parts awaiting my arrival when i walk up to my front door.

Wednesday- inner and outter tie rods, upper and lower ball joints
Thursday- Slave cylinder and clutch master cylinder
Friday (today)- Exedy Pro Clutch Kit

tomarrow i will start working on the truck and i will take many pictures as updates to this thread. right now its the same as always has been except for a few minor changes. my buddy matt is going to come by and help me out with it.

Last Staurday, me and my dad went out to the local U-Pull and Save Junkyard and made out pretty good. i got a new shifter as mine had been broken off, and now i have a new used one that actually works (you wouldnt believe how much of a difference a shifter makes until you replace a busted one), i also got some interior parts: a new speaker for the dash, speaker covers, new tailgate handle, chrome interior door handles, door vents, shiter knob, camo steering wheel cover, and a few other parts. all of it costs us 42 bucks and change.

yesterday, i brought my truck to the auto shop at my school and i did the oil change and oil filter, as well as new tag lights, and i put in my new tailgate handle so it actually works.

today, my buddy gave me a set of fog lights for it for free, brand new, those will be installed prolly next wednesday when i have it back in the shop.

thats all for now guys, pics will be up prolly tomarrow or sunday of the progress.

some pics of the progress today.

Whoa. Looks like she is really coming along nicely Eric. Thanks for the update and pictures. Keep us posted on how it turns out.

not nicely enough. shes gonna be resting in pieces until i can get her back together. me and my dad have been working on the truck all day, and we found a few things that need attention. setback #1, as i was putting on the new clutch cover, i used the impact to tighten the bolts. bad move, i busted one of them so now i need to get another bolt. setback #2, as we were taking a break we looked at the driveshaft and turns out i need all new u-joints and a new center bearing. #3, we tried pulling out the pilot bearing and the puller just wont pull the darn thing out so i guess now i have to live with the old pilot bearing, of course we got it all packed and its much more tight now but it wasnt before.

I know it sucks now, but just take it one thing at a time and slowly but surely you will get there.

If you lived closer I'd let you borrow my grease push tool....you stuff it in tight, pump grease in, and with hydraulic type pressure, the pilot bearing comes right out.......

i have one of them i think.. its shaped like a cone and has a nipple on one end to pump with a grease gun.. never used it before because i didnt know what it was for but now that you say that it makes sense.. i just pack bearings the old fashion way.. rubber gloves and grease in the palm.. lol

well, we dont use rubber gloves, bare hands and a palm full of grease, lol, but anyways.

when i was putting the new clutch in, i was a dumb butt and busted a bolt to the clutch cover so i was unable to put it back in, and we pulled apart the driveshaft and are going to replace the center bearing and u-joints. i think tomarrow while im waiting on parts (STILL) im gonna go ahead and get the ball joints and tie rods done on it that way i wont have to worry about it later. the wheels are already off so ill just go ahead and knock that out.

ok guys, the project is finally over. we have finished everything as of today, we just got done. the last few things that were done was a brand new thermostat and a new fuel filter along with an complete radiator flush and tie rod adjustment. i just got done taking her for a test drive and i can actually go above 40 mph now! and it drives straight! im so happy the madness is over. special thanks to my dad, not only for buying the parts but also being a great mentor and helped me put them in even when i wanted to burn the truck. also thanks to all you guys at the source for taking an interest and bring good friends.