[freedomgli]

Well, after reading a classified ad where people with good intentions violated netiquette by talking about the availability of alternative valve covers to swap onto your Miata, I decided I would create a new thread. Feel free to add pics and discussion of non-Miata valve covers used in Miata applications.

US based RJDM enthusiasts will find the following list to be helpful. It is an adaptation of Randy Stocker's list from Solomiata.com. I'll save discussion of the Ford Laser and other similar, badge-engineered FoMoCo/Mazda products not marketed in the US for another day but if you live in Asia, South America, or Africa there may be even more vehicles from which one could possibly scavenge parts.

DOHC B6P: '88-'89 323 GTX, '90-'93 Miata, '91-'94 Mercury Capri, '94-'95 MX-3

DOHC BP: '90-98 Protege, '91-'96 Ford Escort GT/LX-E and Mercury Tracer LTS, '94-'01 Miata, '94-'97 Kia Sephia GS

My understanding is that SOHC valve covers will not work with DOHC heads.

 

[jesseclee]

I believe the MX3 cover has the distributor hole on the wrong side.

 

[the blue potato]

Well, after reading a classified ad where people with good intentions violated netiquette by talking about the availability of alternative valve covers to swap onto your Miata...

Huh?

'Violated netiquette' - did I miss someting?

 

[freedomgli]

http://roadsterjdm.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=292

Well, after reading a classified ad where people with good intentions violated netiquette by talking about the availability of alternative valve covers to swap onto your Miata...

I didn't mean that statement to be a big deal and I'm not leveling accusations at any particular members. However, since this forum is kind enough to offer a section for classified ads (something many of us are not used to coming from Miata.net with its archaic system) I might as well make an attempt to offer some guidance with the hope that it improves the experience for both buyers and sellers.

Basic netiquette dictates that if someone starts a thread offering something for sale, do not jump in and say you can get the same thing somewhere else for the same price or for less. If you have something for sale, start your own thread. People on this board are generally bright enough to do their own research, if they choose to do so. If they choose to buy something from another member without first doing some research on prices, etc, so be it. Nothing discourages a member from trying to sell something more, particularly if that member has spent some substantial time doing research on a product that is difficult to find. Given the age of our cars, we need those people finding those products and making them available to us. *

If you see an item you're interested in, or even one you're NOT interested in, and you think the price is a little high, DON'T post something like "$225 is a little high for those, isn't it?" That falls into the rule quoted above. If you have a problem with a price and you'd like to make an offer, PM the guy or email him or whatever. If you have a problem with the price and that's all you want to say, say it out loud and don't post it. It kinda torpedoes the guy's sale, ya know? *

 

[the blue potato]

http://roadsterjdm.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=292

Well, after reading a classified ad where people with good intentions violated netiquette by talking about the availability of alternative valve covers to swap onto your Miata...

I didn't mean that statement to be a big deal and I'm not leveling accusations at any particular members. However, since this forum is kind enough to offer a section for classified ads (something many of us are not used to coming from Miata.net with its archaic system) I might as well make an attempt to offer some guidance with the hope that it improves the experience for both buyers and sellers.

Basic netiquette dictates that if someone starts a thread offering something for sale, do not jump in and say you can get the same thing somewhere else for the same price or for less. ....DON'T post something like "$225 is a little high for those, isn't it?" That falls into the rule quoted above. If you have a problem with a price and you'd like to make an offer, PM the guy or email him or whatever. If you have a problem with the price and that's all you want to say, say it out loud and don't post it. It kinda torpedoes the guy's sale, ya know?

I think you are compleley off base here - especially with a statement like I *violated* rules and regs - and I am not going to carry on with an argument with you on this subject. The forums are free to post what you want - and if there are any guidelines that need to be met, the moderators will guide what can and cannot be done. What I said was a simple offer of advice - you can look all over this forum and see that we are all giving advice. My advice was not meant to shoot down a sale - it was simply another option out there. I know Hyper and I think we knows my intentions were not in that manner.

You may have taken in completely out of context, but I understand what you are saying. Lets just move on and I will get with Bill on where we go with the classifides.

 

[freedomgli]

I didn't mean rule as in "forum rule" since obviously this forum has none (yet) and may never if things continue to be largely self-regulating. I meant it more like "rule of thumb." As I said, I'm not levelling any accusations here. Why so defensive? No worries, man.

Back to discussions about Protege and GTX valve covers....

 

[Greg G]

Where is the JDM love? :?: :?

My 2 cents:
I didn't think there was anything objectionable int the classifieds...

:-#

 

[modernbeat]

As a buyer and seller of car parts on other forums I have NO problems with others pointing out the fact that I may be out of line price wise or description wise.

If a seller is too expensive and there are other alternatives, I say let readers know. If a seller thinks the market price is moving up and there are no alternatives, don't post BS "that's too high" posts.

 

[LagunaMiata]

Now let's not get pointy fingers in here!!

I know I did jack the for sale thread... sorry....

 

[96rdstr]

I have a powder coated black and polished GTX cam cover on my 96. I absolutely love it. I had a powder coated regular cam cover that was shaved to expose the cam gears before the GTX. I liked both, but the GTX is more streamline and sleeker looking.

 

[LagunaMiata]

So is the shorty one with stock cam gears too rice?

 

[freedomgli]

Just tell people your adjustable cam gears haven't arrived from Japan yet but when they do you'll be ready.

 

[LagunaMiata]

I threw a bid on the Mazda one on eBay... we'll see in a few days.

 

[96rdstr]

I threw a bid on the Mazda one on eBay... we'll see in a few days.

Laguna talk to phatty, he got me mine. I still have the stock cam gears on, only because I will change them when I need to do my cam belt. :wink:

see the pic here

http://roadsterjdm.net/forum/garage.php?mode=view_vehicle&CID=36

 

[LagunaMiata]

Looks snazzy...

So what do you do about the line that goes across the front of the stock cam cover to the intake? Just throw on a breather and roll?

 

[freedomgli]

Not all Miatas have the chrome pipe. You could leave just enough meat on the front of the valve cover to allow it to still be bolted on. Either keep the existing mounting holes and only cutaway just enough of the front portion of the cam cover to get a wrench onto the cam gears or you could leave a flange running all the way along the top of the cam gears (creating somewhat of a shield) and drill and tap new mounting holes in that. Or you can just take an appropriately sized silicone hose and run it however looks best over to the intake. I see that you're in NC, but for others remember from the police training video that if you live anywhere in California where law enforcement likes to single out import cars to inspect for CARB violations the police will ticket you for blue silicone hoses if you have a breather filter attached.

 

[96rdstr]

Looks snazzy...

So what do you do about the line that goes across the front of the stock cam cover to the intake? Just throw on a breather and roll?

Well on the GTX cover, the lines are moved to the rear and the left side, looking at the cam cover from the front. The front is the PCV valve, and the rear goes to the throttle body, I think. So you dont have to worry about the line across the front. When I had the shaved valve cover, I used zip ties to secure the line to the JRCAI.

 

[LagunaMiata]

NC has done away with emission testing on any non-OBD-II car... so my 94 is only a safety inspection. They don't even open the hood any longer. So I'm pretty much free to do whatever.

Losing the line across the front will leave an open hole into the intake. I'll have to do something, even if its just attaching a breather.

Maybe time to get one of the oil catch cans and run a line to it then to the intake.

 

[Bryan]

The breather still has to be dealt with on most of the distributor equipped applications. I've seen some interesting ways of dealing with it.

Can't wait till I buy my Protege VC later this month!

 

[speedworks]

touching base with this thread. as for the mx3 valve cover. it can't be used by itself on the miata. you can do a complete head swap though and then you would have the nicer valve cover on a 1.6 with raised lettering. the only problem with swapping over the entire head is that you end up with worse cams then what come in the miata. the fix for that is easy though. what you do is get yourself a set of aftermarket performance cams, but they have to have matching lift and duration for both intake and exhaust because since you are buying miata cams, you are going to have to swap sides with the cams to get them to work in the mx3 head. the cas should just bolt right up in place of the mx3's distributor.

any questions?

Alex