Update
 

So I replaced all the bushings in the back with polyurethane. Car feels good... more responsive and planted. My worry that poly in the rear would make the car feel twitchy or oversteer-happy appears to have been exaggerated. However it does make it more obvious the car is screaming for brake and tire upgrades. I'll try and address those issues before the long trip to so cal next month for Sevenstock.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/1...9726c58c_o.jpg

Won't start?
 

So earlier today the FB wouldn't start. Originally I thought it was flooded, and upon removal of the plugs this is what they looked like, after about 1,000 miles on the new rebuild.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/1...c15f231f_b.jpg

Trailing
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/1...ae55b7c3_b.jpg

Leading
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3727/1...ee69b9dc_b.jpg

I replaced them with brand new FC plugs instead, I figure they should hold up a little better than that. However, replacing the plugs didn't solve the no-start issue, and than I realized I wasn't hearing or smelling any signs of fuel being burnt. So I think the issue is probably lack of fuel.

I'm gonna check the fuel filter but I may be facing a bad fuel pump :( I'll update again after I get a chance to remove things and take a look...

Won't start cont.
 

Won't start cont...

So after tapping on the fuel pump (its externally mounted not in-tank) the car starts up proving that the pump
is failing.

I've ordered another pump but it's not an OEM replacement (they want $340 for those) so there's no guarantee it'll fit and/or work properly. We'll see... *crosses fingers*

Won't start? Cont...
 

Ok so here is a pic of the fuel pump I ordered off of Ebay (On the bottom). You can see that its inlet pipe on the right side is bigger in diameter than the Mazda pump (On the top). The outlet fittings on the left also have totally different threads. Both of these issues make the Ebay pump incompatible with my car without a lot of extra work to adapt it.

I have no idea how they can say that pump is a direct replacement for the Mazda pump... but that's what their add said. They even listed the Mazda pump part number. Regardless, I noticed the Ebay pump leaks around the seam where the casing is crimped around the cap making it totally useless. Good thing it was cheap so I didn't get ripped off too badly.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/1...57de1e67_c.jpg

However it is not all bad news. I found this in the inlet hose from the fuel tank to the pump this evening. As you can see it is a tiny inline mesh fuel filter. It looks partially clogged in this pic, but it was worse when I removed it. I think this little guy might have been the problem all along?!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3822/1...d099f4ab_c.jpg

I won't know for sure until a couple days go buy without any starting issues. But after I put the original pump back in and adapted a brand new FC fuel filter in place of the old FB fuel filter it fired right up. :)

It's always the little things that seem to bite one on the a**. :lol:

Brake Upgrade Time!
 

Gonna put all this on the FB today:)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/1...3a62e0a5_c.jpg

very nice!! she's getting a footwork makeover :D

Fuel Pump Woes Cont...
 

So after driving around merrily these last few days, my engine suddenly decided to cut out on the freeway in a construction zone where there are concrete barriers blocking both shoulders.

I had no choice but to flip up my hazards and coast to a stop blocking the entire right lane. I called 911 of course, and they sent out a patrol car and a tow truck. However because of all the traffic it took them a good 20 minutes to arrive.

In the meantime, I lost my faith in the patience and good will of humanity as people cursed and honked a storm at me as they roared past. Others not able to see much past their own noses nearly rear-ended me, or swerved into other traffic at the last second trying to avoid getting caught behind me.

And perhaps most amusingly, the same tow truck driver that towed me back over a week ago when my pump first died out happened to be the one to show up. His first words to me were... "Hey I thought you fixed that fuel pump?" To which I naturally replied. "So did I!" lol

Kind of a scary experience. I'm definately gonna have to find a decent aftermarket external pump.

Take a page from NASA. Get two or three with switches to enable critical system back ups. ;) I have toyed with the thought of going to a belt driven external pump. I've had my share of problems with electric pumps as well.

Fuel Pump Woes Cont...
 

Hmm an on board backup pump? Not a bad idea... I may do this later on.

Fuel Pump Woes Cont...
 

I just pulled out the fuel pump assembly again, here's a pic to show you what I'm working with... This whole thing bolts up under the car in front of the fuel tank and rear axle.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/1...2ccb223b_c.jpg

I'm headed over to a local speed shop this afternoon to see if they might have a fuel pump in stock that I can use. If not, I'll wait and order one online. The trouble is I've noticed that most aftermarket fuel pumps use the same size fittings for inlet/outlet. I have to make sure I can get one that has fittings for a 1/2" inlet and 5/16" outlet.

Fuel Pump Woes Solved
 

So I got a new fuel pump installed today, it's a Carter.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/1...daed313d_c.jpg

Nice go drive!

That's the idea... all the way to Sevenstock :hurray:

Got Rear Ended :(
 

So on my way to pick up some used wheels/tires this evening in the FB some punk in a Honda Civic rear ended me. I was waiting in traffic to go through a toll booth before I got unto the bay bridge. There was no warning at all, no squealing tires or brake noise, just a thump completely by surprise.

It was a dark colored little EG hatch driven by a young male asian driver. No front plate. I flipped on my hazards but there was no where to pull over and traffic was thick so I was going to wait till after the toll booth to find a shoulder assuming this guy was gonna follow me.

However, he started falling back letting people merge in between us and when I got through the toll and got to a shoulder he was gone. I reported a hit-and-run over the phone, my neck hurts a bit, but thankfully the FB isn't damaged. It was just the right speed too not hurt the car but hurt me.