Miata Mailing List: June 1994, Message #51
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   From: Ken Warren 
Subject: Re: spark plugs, etc
   Date: Sun, 5 Jun 1994 10:35:54 -0400

On Sat, 4 Jun 1994, Alex M. Postpischil wrote:

> Hi Folks,
> 	I know mention has been made on the list before about taking care to 
> make sure the spark plug socket and extension were secured together. Knowing
> this, I taped the pieces together and promptly found out that a 1/2" drive
> 5/8" deep socket is too big to get to the plug. Unfortunately, I found this 
> out as the motor was cooling and constricting around the socket! After a while 
> of struggling with the socket (after it separated from the tape) I decided to 
> try warming the engine again (i.e., running it for a few minutes) - five minutes
> of running and three turns I had my socket out. I have 3/8" drive sockets, but
> opted for the larger because my torque wrench is 1/2" drive (no adapter to fit
> the smaller sockets). Live and learn.

Alex, I have to ask: why are you using a torque wrench on your plugs? the
torque specification is only 11-17 ft-lbs, which is *slightly* more than
finger tight, really.  If they made nut drivers with spark plug sockets,
you could use a nut driver. :) Tighten a plug with a torque wrench once,
sure, just to find out what 11-17 ft-lbs feels like, but then after that
I'd just stick with "feeling" the torque. 

> 	I've devised a mounting rig for a video camera using the center two
> dash vents and mounting holes (for the tonneau cover). It's pretty sturdy. The
> camera does shake a bit over big bumps, but that is because of the single 
> mounting screw on the camera. The picture looks pretty good. The problem I am 
> having is with a microphone picking up the exhaust note. Using either the built
> in mic (which works pretty good) or a remote mic, I get audio dropout above
> thoughts on how to cure the problem?

I'm slightly concerned about your decision to use the tonneau cover 
attachment points, Alex. Any screws you install there are going to be 
going into plastic, and not all that thick, either. I think you're 
letting yourself in for a durability problem. Of course, I've had a 
tonneau cover for a couple of years now, and I've never had a problem 
with the tenax studs (I had a snap body come apart once, but they go 
together in a *very* logical way). I'll be interested to see how durable 
the mount is. And if it's *very* durable, I might build me a similar 
mount for a CCD camera and remote recorder, for auto-xing. I won't be 
able to watch my foot- and hand-work, but I'll see and hear what's going 
on around me.

WRT the mic dropout, it's probably due to road noise, as you surmised. I 
think most of the camcorder mics tend to evaluate ambient noise, and 
adjust sound levels based on that.

--
Ken
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           Ken Warren               E-Mail: kenw@netaxs.com
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Finger me for the current Philadelphia Region SCCA Solo II schedule...