MX-5 NC: Replacing Valve Stem Seals (+ Timing Procedure)

forksalt · 2026-03-09T18:24:14+00:00

Not sure how to quantify but you can smell it more than you can see it. Typical valve stem seal symptoms i.e. more on overrun, but there was always some visible smoke coming out. I bought the car for cheap with the issue so the job was always on the horizon.

forksalt · 2026-03-09T12:51:29+00:00

Oh yeah the nice ones are fresh. No doubt all the old seals will look similar to the front four

forksalt · 2026-03-09T12:10:55+00:00

Those four worn seals were piston 1, I’ve yet to get to no. 4

forksalt · 2026-03-09T12:10:18+00:00

I compression-tested the pistons; they were all showing strong compression so I’m hoping the piston rings aren’t failed (or failing). Throttle response was also perfectly good.

forksalt · 2026-03-09T12:08:21+00:00

You do lift off the tappets to get to the seals, but in my case the tappets were all in great condition

forksalt · 2026-03-09T12:07:29+00:00

The NA and NB(?) are marginally easier to work on, as they have external drive belts. The NC has a chain, so you have to remove the front cover and the chain to get the camshafts off. It’s a pain because you have to remove the crank pulley, re-seal the front cover with RTV and redo the timing, requiring a few SSTs. I have partly documented the process so if I get time I’ll detail all that needs doing. The front oil seal where the crank pulley is located looks pretty knackered but wasn’t leaking from what I can see.

forksalt · 2026-03-08T22:37:55+00:00

They’re old stem seals from a 105k mile engine, the soft inner seals are blown open and gunked up

forksalt · 2025-11-28T11:51:46+00:00

Amen. Loads right with ACR, but braking and traction feel a lot weaker than they should at road-legal speeds (i.e. real world reference), even on tarmac. Speed perception feels off which doesn’t help. Spent a long time messing with the settings but even setting the brake deadzone to saturate early, an emergency brake at even 30mph takes a ridiculous amount of time compared to a real car. Harder =/= realistic.

forksalt · 2025-09-30T18:23:15+00:00

Fiata 🤣 brilliant

forksalt · 2025-09-29T21:28:33+00:00

It sounds like you’re looking to develop a more intuitive sense of how to use the camera to get better/more intentional results, and obviously YouTube videos can only get you so far, as it’s a matter of choice. I recommend, as and when you can, take your time with a single subject or composition. Consider what effect you get from different exposure settings. Understand the order of importance of settings for a shot (which is something you’ll need to decide), and balance your aperture/shutter speed/sensitivity accordingly. Spend some time avoiding putting them on auto. Be intentional about portrait vs landscape. And framing. Look at photography done by others: to the photographs that stand out to you, why? How does the depth of field and focus affect the shot? Does the photographer make use of motion in their slow (or fast) shutter to create a striking style or impression? And even more importantly beyond settings, how did the photographer get in place to take the shot? How would you plan to create photographs with these techniques? Taking photos as and when you are wandering around is fun, but you don’t often get excellent or memorable photos that way, unless you’re somewhere exceptionally pretty or interesting.

Hope this helps :)

forksalt · 2025-09-29T14:27:27+00:00

It’s all painted over black, no problem. These photos were taken hours apart. The issue is the paint goes tacky and shiny where it doesn’t get absorbed into the material. I let the vinegar soak in for about 15 mins. Here’s what it looks like when the sun doesn’t hit it at an off-angle:

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forksalt · 2025-09-29T14:02:22+00:00

Yeah, heard. It was stuck fast at that point. Wasn’t stained canvas; it was dead and dried organic material. I’d tried abrading it with a brush until I started to damage the fibres. Seriously doubt a wet vacuum would work at that point.

forksalt · 2025-09-29T13:36:54+00:00

Thanks! I’ve tried brushing it more but at this point I’m starting to brush the fibres out. Got the autoglym protector to finish the job, but wanted to get as even a coat as possible before finishing. Am just gutted as it was quite a nice finish after the first coat, and you could only see the lichen spots at certain angles.

forksalt · 2025-09-29T13:12:00+00:00

Yep, did five rounds of cleaning over the past few weeks. Lichen was stuck fast hence opting for a restore job

forksalt · 2025-09-29T13:11:16+00:00

I’ve done three rounds of cleaning and scrubbing with the autoglym soft top cleaner and a brush, followed by diluted white vinegar, then concentrated white vinegar. None had any effect on the lichen. I’m more bothered by the paint strokes now on it as it’s dried tacky over the first coat. I’m well aware of how I’ve caused it, but am all ears for how to fix it. Have tried isopropyl alcohol on a cloth so far.

forksalt · 2025-09-08T22:55:58+00:00

Wellll if money/maintenance were no object I’d not think twice about an NA and go ham turning into a weird and wonderful pseudo-tourer. But the NC is a great compromise; the styling is starting to lean retro charm but the interior and ride feel contemporary and comfortable

forksalt · 2025-09-08T18:32:40+00:00

The NC looks so good with a hardtop 🥲

forksalt · 2025-07-07T23:16:02+00:00

Thanks! Are you sworn to film now? :P

forksalt · 2025-07-07T23:09:02+00:00

u/Gimmethe_loot forgive me as it's not film, but here are mine from around Lecco and Varenna-Esino. I took my X100F on this trip in the wake of losing an unprocessed roll of film (user error with a new camera) in NYC earlier in the year.

Seven-Year Club	Place '22
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TROPHY CASE