**Update June 28 2008**
<>I decided against paying someone else to do the hatch. I manned up and just did it. It creased in a few spots but overall it's acceptable. It's the kinda job where you look at it 10 feet away and it looks professionally done lol.
<>Still waiting on rear struts to come in from Carquest. I can't wait to fix the excessive bouncing and creaking coming from the rear end.

**Update June 13 2008**
<>I've done quite a bit of work this past week. Figured out that I hooked up 2 vacuum lines reversed and so it was causing my idle to be erratic.
<>Did a complete overhaul of the brakes. Replaced shoes, turned drums and rotors and freed up my e-brake!
<>Fixed oil leak as well. It was coming from 2 bolt threads as well as the mating point between the block and the pan where it curves for the crankshaft. Nothing a little RTV gasket maker can't fix!
<>Decided to experiment with DIY window tint. Didn't do too badly for my very first time. I only did the rear 2 side windows. There's no bubbles but I did a garbage job of trimming the edges. For $12 a roll I can't really complain. It's sticks to the window and it filters the sun. I'll be paying someone to do the hatch since I know I won't be able to make the lines match lol.

**Update June 6 2008**
<>Micra is still running strong! I rebuilt my front suspension and installed it. Much more solid going around corners now.

<>Ordered the rear struts and the rear brake assembly since the shoes are completely worn thanks to my sticking e-brake problem. Hopefully I can fix the e-brake problem when I overhaul the brakes!

**Update May 30 2008**
<>Got it back today. $185 later and one unhappy camper (me!). They claimed they fixed it. Yes, they got it to pass the e-test but the 1.4 hours of labour was mearly shoving a ball-bearing into a vacuum line. I looked at the manual and found that the hose he plugged was leading to the wrong place anyways! So I got rid of the ball-bearing and hooked up the lines the way they're supposed to be and it runs just the same if not better. Lesson learned I guess..

**Update May 29 2008**
<>Lots has happened. Unfortunately I need the E-Test to get my sticker. I brought it into the facility again and it failed. HARD. So I brought it to the school, we hooked it up to our machine (E-test simulator) and we adjusted the carb to respectable numbers. Took it back, passed the idle test but it failed the load test. Of course I was far from pleased. Sadly, they didn't advise me what to do next nor did they even BEGIN to diagnose the problem. They said sorry, you failed. Good luck next time!
<>So I went back today with my dad and asked why they didn't even diagnose what was wrong, they just let me go for that 3rd test. At first the story was "We don't know where to begin on a Micra" then it went to "Bring it in first thing tomorrow and we'll check it out." *sigh*
<>Playing with the idea of custom bumpers because the stock ones look the car look kinda stupid. Basically we're going to use the bumpers, but take off the plastic and styrofoam and weld on metal and form it to the body! Pictures to come as it develops

**Update May 23 2008**
<>Got it back into the school and ended up ripping off the carb. Took out idle-up solenoid and cleaned it out, took out idle mixture screw and cleaned that out then bolted up the carb again. Started it up and again we had the same problem, it wouldn't idle. Since it was the end of the day I just took it home. On the way home I let 'er have it! W.O.T all the way home. When I got home it was able to idle properly! It was high because I adjusted the idle speed screw. So I took it out for some more beatings and so far it seems to be working properly! I adjusted it so that it idles around 950rpm confidently. I guess there was something stuck and when I gave it hell it pushed it through? Either way I'm pleased that it's working again haha.
<>Didn't spend any time on anything else so the minor oil leak still barely exists. I'll probably look at it tomorrow after work.

**Update May 22 2008**
<>Got it into my school today. Adjusted float in carb, adjusted timing and adjusted idle. I had it running mint so I decided to get my e-test done and over with. I got to the place, pull it in and shut it down while they got the info and when they went to start it up the car wouldn't idle!! Needless to say I was far from pleased. The stupid part is, it runs well past 1200rpm but if you let it go below it won't sustain itself.
<>I've figured it out. It's something to do with the automatic choke. The plate is opening too soon and so there's too much air going in. I got my dad to hold the plate with a screwdriver and it idled quite happily *sigh*.
<>Next steps: Fix choke, fix minor oil leak on lower timing belt side, clean up body (minor rust), undercoat.

**Update May 20 2008 (Night)**
<>It's all reassembled, except the driver side mirror. Took it for a spin down the street and it handles very well!
<>Next step is to fine tune the carb so it doesn't idle at 1500rpm after warm-up haha. It's very rich and so of course I advanced the timing to take advantage of it hehe :)

**Update May 20 2008 (Wee hours of the morning)**
<>HUGE updates.. Many things went wrong but I was able to solve them all with little trouble. SO, I fixed that coolant problem once and for all. So I'm warming it up to double check that it can handle the pressure and I hear a noise like something bouncing around and the Micra stalled. Of course my heart dropped and I thought the worst had happened (aka the piston punched a couple valves). Everytime I tried to crank it it would backfire to the EXTREME out the carb (refer to video). We took out all the plugs and put them in the wires to observe as the engine cranked. Only one plug sparked and there wasn't a pattern. I called it a night after that(May 17th). I thought about the noise that it made and figured I'd check out the dizzy. Sure enough I found the screw that secures the rotor not where it should be! It had loosened itself and bounced around inside the case (the noise I heard!!) and so the rotor stopped spinning. Screwed it in the rotor and started it up no problems (yay!)
<>Since I got the engine running it was time to get the body reassembled. Got the splash guards off the parts car and plugged it onto the Micra. Got the fenders mounted as well with no problems.
<>Reassembled brakes, ball-joints and tie-rods with no problems
<>Torqued on wheels and took her for a spin in the field out back of the shop! (Refer to second video)
<>I'm very pleased that I polished the exhaust ports. I definitely notice a difference in the responsiveness.


**Update May 16 2008**
<>Spent some more time today. Found out that I didn't assemble the fuel pump properly haha. It's mechanical and I forgot to put in the drive-shaft for it. Easy fix though.
<>Got the Micra running!! It now maintains itself happily although it's idling fairly high. I'm not worried though, I'll save the fine tuning for later.
<>Minor problem with the coolant, same spot as where I ghetto-rigged it yesterday only it wasn't the idea that failed it was the part that I used. Apparently there's a hole in the hose *sigh* No biggie, I know how to fix it at least.
<>My to-do list: Install rear glass and doors, fix small coolant hose, secure battery, tighten ball joints and tie-rods, reassemble front brakes, torque wheels on, put front body panels on, bolt on front bumper and that's more or less it! Tune it up and enjoy :)

**Update May 15 2008**
<>Spent a solid 8+ hours today. Got the interior assembled - put in carpet from parts car, bolted/plugged in dash, bolted seats in

<>Ran into a real piss off of a problem. I began to fill the engine with fluids (tranny fluid, engine oil, and coolant) I got the tranny and engine oil in successfully but when I put in the coolant I had a leak from somewhere!! I located it to be in the back of the intake manifold. When I went to take the coolant line off to inspect the metal outlet snapped off! It had rusted out :( Needless to say I had a 5 minute episode of cursing like a sailor. I HAD to take off the intake manifold - much to my disliking. Fortunately it came off fairly easily and it didn't mess any of the gaskets up. The only thing I could do was ghetto-rig it. So I fit the coolant line OVER the broken fitting and clamped it down. I crossed my fingers, bolted everything up and continued to fill up the coolant. Success!! That was almost 2 hours of my time.

<>Since I got the fluid problem fixed I figured I might as well just get it over with and see if I had spark (the main reason why I pulled it off the road) and yep, one massive muscle spasm said yes. No, I'm not going to tell you how I pulled it off because it was sheer stupidity. Lets just say external coil, lead wire to body got knocked off, I readjusted it while STILL cranking the engine.. Then of course the "oops" came along. It was only 20,000 volts.. Pfft :P Good thing it's the amps that kill. Still a good poke haha.
<>It started! Poured gas down the throat and it ran for about a second! Next step is to keep giving it gas down the throat until it sucks the gas through the lines to maintain itself.

**Update May 14 2008**
<>Been hauling ass! Been too busy to update the page haha. Engine is in the bay!!! Everything is connected except the battery and the radiator
<>Used the part car's axles, hubs and suspension until I rebuild the other hubs (new bearings/seals) and paint the springs.
<>Need to replace lower ball-joint on driver side and unfortunately I have to replace the whole control arm (not cheap) so I'm hoping I can modify the control arm so I can make JUST the ball joint replaceable.
<>Next steps: Bolt in radiator, put on upper/lower rad hose, install battery, fill everything with the proper fluids and then start it up!! I will worry about the ball-joint after I get the engine running well.
<>Pictures will come soon!!

**Update May 1 2008**
<>The picture from my last update has the auto tranny dust shield on it (DOH!) so I swapped it with the proper one.. No biggie, just had to pull the flywheel off >_>
<>Going to plop the assembly into the engine bay this weekend regardless of everything else still needing to be done.
<>Things to be done: cover up/repair wiring harness, repair/swap knuckle assembly, fix upper strut mount, sandblast and paint springs.

**Update April 29 2008**
<>Installed clean flywheel, clutch plate and pressure plate to engine
<>Cleaned up transmission housing with parts cleaner and connected it to the engine!
<>Hoping by the end of this weekend I will have a happily running Micra!

**Update April 21 2008**
<>Got the engine bay painted (yay)I did 95% of the surface. You can see in the one picture where it's still blue, but I kinda ran out of paint plus there was no rust there so I wasn't overly worried about it.
<>Also sprayed the wheel wells and the inside of the front panels with some asphalt undercoating.. Looks decent considering I used a spray bomb!

**Update April 6 2008**
<>Worked on the Micra, well Micras. Pulled out the carpet out of the 4dr since it's in mint condition and I like the colour. It'll go into the 2dr. Found some awesome holes in the floor on the 4dr. The frame was starting to rot away as well. Worked on the engine bay for the 2dr. Just hit the bad spots with a wire brush. Wire brushed the areas around it, got rid of the dirt etc and primed it! Didn't get the entire bay done today, but lots of progress.

**Update March 25 2008**
<>Got the parts car chuggin' away!! Did an oil change, had to prime the crap out of the fuel pump to get it going.. had to pour bits of fuel down the carb throat to keep it alive, and finally it sucked the fuel through the lines to maintain itself!
<>Tested all my extra distributors, coils and relays.. All good to go!
<>Unfortunately the parts car isn't safe to drive (I was itching to take it for a 30 second boot).. One of the brake lines has a lovely hole in it :(
<>I plan on keeping this one together while I reassemble my 2dr. If I need a part off of the parts car I can rob it as I go!

**Update March 22 2008**

<>The newest addition, another parts car!! 80k on the clock.. Hasn't run in 3 years.. Looking forward to strip her down!!

**Update March 16 2008**
<>Been a while.. Been crazy busy with full-time school and full-time work.. I got the flywheel resurfaced, almost everything out of the engine bay, and most of the body taken apart (doors, hood, front panels, windows)

More pictures to come!

**Update February 6 2008**

A preview of the final product!

**Update February 5 2008**
<>Got the broken tap out!! Had to create my own tool that would sit in the slots of the tap.. Once I got it out, I bought a 1/4" extension that was smaller than the one that we had and used that to get the tap right to the bottom.. No welding required, therefore no risk of snapping..

This was the tool that I fabricated out of 1/2" brake line!

<>Head is now fastened to the block! I just need to torque the drive gear for the oil pump, install the timing belt and it'll be ready to go back into the Micra!!

**Update February 4 2008**
<>Worked on the engine last thursday.. Was cleaning the threads for the head bolts.. We had to extend the tap, so we welded on an extension.. Got through the 5 holes on the exhaust side flawlessly.. Got the the first intake hole and the bastard snapped off an inch under the surface!! I will be going later today to try and fish it out.. As soon as I clean out the holes, the head goes on and the lump is finished (Hooray!)

IF ANYBODY CAN FIND ME A MICRA PARTS CAR IN OR AROUND ONTARIO LEMME KNOW!!! bburfoot@gmail.com

**Update January 29, 2008**

New eye candy!

**Update January 26, 2008**
<>Bottom end reassembled! Painted oil pan, block, head, and valve cover with the help of a buddy.. Monday the entire thing should be reassembled :)

Garbage pic of the block cause it's got the old oil pan on it, but you get the idea.. I'll get finalized pics Monday

**Update January 20, 2008**
<>So I've finally got my ass in gear and I've almost got the bottom end reassembled.. Of course the full gasket kit I bought doesn't have the correctly sized gasket for my oil pump *sigh* but otherwise progress is going well! It should only be a couple more days of solid work and I'll have it reassembled and ready to go! Pictures soon to come.

So for $120 I got my head and block skimmed, tanked/cleaned, tested for consistency, and painted!

By the way, everything has 300,000 km on it.. There was only one piston ring out of spec!

I decided that I would pull out the engine that I JUST put into the Micra and strip it down the same way I did the first.. And BOY was I glad I did!! I more or less got a brand new set of pistons and rings.. They have ~140k on them, but the measurements show that they are flawless! No out of round or taper, no marks on the pistons from overheating (the first set of pistons I pulled out were subjected to extreme heat from when the rad hose seperated)

My teacher ground the valves and seats to 44 degrees (with much cursing because the stone kept picking up aluminum) and after he was done I decided to polish the exhaust outlets (just for fun)

On top of all this I learned how to hone cylinders! Messy, but fun.