So i came across this miata posting on my areas craigslist for $2600, it has A new top, new timing belt, new shifter bushings, new plugs and wire, new fuel pump and all fluids have been changed and 155k original miles. At least thats what the advert says. I went to go see the car and asked about the famous crankshaft key way failure. He told me the crank pulley was wobbling and that it needed the harmonic dampener, BUT the timing gear behind that assembly had been WELDED to the crank its self after changing the main seal. And the wobbling issue would go away after changing the pulley/dampener assembly. Im just looking for some input as to if this information is valid, and if i can actually make this driveable. When i test drove it i could already tell the car was off timing, so I let the owner know and he did minor adjustments and the car drove fine...up until i got to the end of the block and the tensioner had come loose and the belts started squealing like mad and i turned it off. Does this sound like a lost case, should i abandon and look for something else?


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Sorry for the double post! New to the land of forums and have no idea how to delete the other

 

I know about the crank wobble not sure about the welding part on it
I would sure wait until someone else answers that is little more familair with this problem before buy it.
See if the top lowers down correctly with the roll bar in it some won't
You could offer him a few bucks less for it and then find a 1.8 and install it

 

plenty of miata's out there, If i was in ur shoes looking at that car, i would keep looking.. and i would also go after the 1.8 engine..... not saying i have the answer... but this is wot i did

 

Run AWAY!

 

If you could get it for $500, it might be worth it. You'll have to put a motor in it though...

 

+1, take it for $500 or expect a motor swap down the road if you decide to pick this one up. The wide racing stripe and steelies is a dead give away for a beaten car.

no wobble problems ever go away...