Quick question for you Kev; when replacing your VCG, would you use a bit of silicone sealant at the corners, or would you install dry? The instructions for this particular gasket said to seat it dry, with no adhesives or sealants, but I have read conflicting opinions on this around the interwebz. I'd like to hear yours.
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Thymighty's '97 Protege LX 5-speed
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Installed the Corksport brass shifter bushings this morning. Shift feel is majorly improved, but I was only able to use two of the four bushings. The bolt at the transmission end was too large to use with the new bushings, but it was also large enough that there wasn't much play there to begin with.
I also found that I'm not just missing my clutch fork dust boot, but I'm missing one of the five bolts that holds the casing together.
This guy:
Bolt, Flange. BRACKETPULLEY, PIPING, MISSION. 1997 Mazda Protege. Genuine Mazda Part - 997961035 (9979-61-035, ). Ships from Jim Ellis Mazda Parts, Marietta GA
It just isn't there. It looks like someone changed the clutch, but only put four of the bolts back in.
There is also a fluid leak of unknown origin. It is either brake fluid, or motor oil. It's hard to tell at this point because it's very gradual, and most of it burns off on the exhaust. The underside of the car has an oily film from it burning off, and it is coating pretty much everything from the bellhousing, back to the shifter.
All fluid levels appear to be normal as of right now, but were all changed and/or topped up in the last week.
I'll keep a close eye on it and see which fluid starts to get low.
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Swapped in a steering wheel from a '97 626. I had to do some slight modification to get it to fit.
-I kept the cruise control from the 626 wheel, but swapped plugs with the cruise form the Protege. Both are two pin plugs, but the one form the 626 had a dummy slot on it.
-There are two nubs on either side of the aluminum frame in the 626 wheel. I had to use side-cuts to trim those off because they interfered with the mounting brackets on the protege air bag.
-I thought the air bag plugs would be the same size, and thus fit inside the steering wheel housing. Not so. the male plug on the Protege is much larger than on the 626, even though both use the same connectors. I ended up having to trim a small piece of plastic out of the housing, around the square hole in the back side. I needed that extra space to jam the air bag plugs into the small space behind the air bag itself.
All in all, it's major improvement.
Before:
After:
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Originally posted by Ace View PostLooks like you're giving this thing some good TLC! Keep it up. What are you eventual goals for it?
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Originally posted by irishkev90 View PostWith something as clean as that, I wouldn't go too far with it. My car, on the other hand, is a rusted, creaking, clunking pos so I don't mind having to cut it apart and whatever else when I finally start what I want to do.
At first glance, it looks pretty plain. But I've actually got a ton of mods in this car. I just prefer a clean, simple, functional, OEM style.
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I took the Protege for 500 mile round trip this weekend with zero issues. Everything went better than expected, and I averaged around 38 miles per gallon. When I got back home, I decided I'd do some more intensive cleaning. I pulled the back seat out and vacuumed out some of the accumulated trash. Here is what was waiting for me:
I found a ton of change under there:
On my trip I discovered that the courtesy light and one of the map lights was non-op.
I had some spare amber LED's I decided to use for the map lights, and a super white for the courtesy lamp.
I also bent back the bracket that holds the center console in place and found some new screws to fasten it together. The PO apparently ripped it out without removing the screws on either side first.
Oh, and I have two new axles on the way.
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Spent some time this weekend repairing the one spot of rust on the car. I stripped, sanded, primed, and painted about an eight inch by two inch section on the lower right rear fender. It doesn't look too bad, considering this is only my second or third time ever delving into body work.
I had some paint left over, so I touched up the sad looking wiper arms too.
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