I was running out of time to work on the RX7 before a Spec Miata rolled into the shop for a cage. So, I decided to toss everything back in the car and push the project off a couple of months (sigh). While reinstalling the Kevlar clutch and pressure plate, I had some problems getting two shouldered bolts (Mazda has a special name for them) to fit in their holes. Hmmm... someone on a rotary discussion board had mentioned this problem before and it happens when the pressure plate has been installed incorrectly. The bolts fit all of the holes but the ones they specifically were supposed to be in. Hmmmm. A small amount of rat-tail file and they fit.
Once everything was re-aligned and reinstalled (for what.... the 4th or 5th time in 2 months?), it was time to get the car back on the trailer as the Miata was coming later that afternoon. On a whim, I decided to see if the motor still had the shakes and fired it off. To my amazement, the full blown earthquake is now a minor tremble. Who'd have thunk that the pressure plate being off would have that much to do with the balance of the motor. Not I or any of the online rotary guru's that attempted to help me troubleshoot the problem. I'll toss some new mounts under the motor and tranny (tranny mount is now on it's last leg after so many in/out sessions), and hopefully make the July event at Gateway, or maybe make a road trip to Hallett on July 4th weekend.
Some new toys at the shop: 1.75”x 6” radius die set for the Bender. New Hobart Ironman 210 MIG. Aluminum Spoolgun on the way. The die set is something I've needed for a while, but I've got a Formula Drift RX7 coming sometime in the next couple of months after Steve Kahn gets done tuning up the motor, and we're going to toss in some 1 3/4 DOM in it.