xcoldricex
06-06-2012, 06:49 PM
well, i started tinkering with cars after being over in japan for a few months. I picked up a 07 mazdaspeed3 (Ill3st haha) and learned everything on that (starting from changing the oil!). I picked up this car last fall - previously owned by a grandma who gave it to her kid to spend a bunch of money on. He got a fully built FM motor, had Full Race build a custom turbo kit, and riced up the interior. Maybe he was military since it seemed to have sat for a long time. Picked it up and started to work...
I'm going to take some posts I made on another forum and put them all here for posterity. enjoy!
http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/15/93/29/92/p6190710.jpghttp://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/49628/1525555680083057625S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1525555680083057625cKumhY)
http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/47176/1525555242083057625S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1525555242083057625omykMl)
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/49616/1525557101083057625S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1525557101083057625ZynZeJ)
Initial mod list:
Fully built motor by Flying Miata
*Wiseco forged Pistons 9:1, 1mm overbore
*Pauter forged rods
*HKS 264 cams, 9.5 lift
*ARP Main cap studs
*FM Adjustable cam gears
*Port and polished cylinder head
*FM Upgraded valves springs with titanium retainers
*Port-match intake and jet clean
*Unshrouded valves
*Polished valve cover
*Intake catch can
Fueling
*Walbro 255
*SX FPR
*740cc injectors
Turbo system
* Custom Full-Race T3 tubular manifold.
* Full-Race T3/T61 turbocharger.
* Tial 44mm wastegate with dump pipe
* Tial 50mm bov.
* PWR 918 Civic half radiator '92-'99 42mm
* Custom 20x3x11 in. dual backdoor FMIC
* 2.5 in. Aluminum charge piping.
* Stainless Steel 3.0 in. v-band downpipe
* Stainless Steel 3.0 in. v-band exhaust.
Rear
* GURU Torsen differential (1.8 rear end)
* Cryo treated internals
* Stage 4 clutch and lightened flywheel
Suspension
* Eibach sways
* Tokico shocks
Exterior
* Cloth top with glass window
* Brainstorm Low Profile headlights
* Chrome Roll Hoop
ECU
* LINK ECU with keypad
Plans for the car are to get this turbo system dialed in with a smaller turbo (currently a full race t3/t61 which is ~gt35 sized). I'm thinking a GT2871 with a large exhaust side since I should be able to rev to around 8500 with all the headwork and upgraded springs/valves/etc. The HKS cams will also give me some power at the top end, where the stock ones usually drop off at 8k. AEM EMS needs to be installed with GM sensors, LSx truck coils. Currently has an old Link ECU (FM's ECU solution of choice before they made the Hydra). Probably upgrade to ID 1000cc injectors and run E85 after I get all that other stuff done. There's some other stuff I should probably do like ATI damper and a coolant reroute too.
Interior was all color matched to the body. it was an eyesore, so i'm going through and toning it down. Painted a bunch of the panels with plastidip for now. I'm going to go the retro roadster route in the future.
Did a bunch of maintenance fluids:
Rotella T6 5w40 in the engine, Motorcraft XT-M5-QS trans fluid, and Redline 75w90 in the diff.
Also threw in a set of fresh NGK 4644 spark plugs in.
Also replacing the front suspension control arms - got a hold of some V8Roadster LCA's for cheap, my UCA's need replacing since the ball joints are crusty and the boots are gone. Also going to depowered a PS rack and get the pinion welded to reduce slop.
----------------------------------
So I've been working in the cold on the Miata quite a bit. I can't really take good pictures in the badly lit garage, so these will have to do for now.
I decided I'm going the retro themed - lots of chrome. The interior was so bad when I bought it, it was getting to me... so I ended up getting a bunch of interior parts. Here's a taste of what it was like:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tMYWOUvR2wA/TxjBpExgj_I/AAAAAAAACqI/iYyF9jEtgDk/s1024/P6190762.JPG
so embarrasing - everything from the air vents, door handles, center console, etc. were painted to match the exterior color. Blue streetglows under the dash LOL.
I plastidipped most of the parts, but I'm replacing most of the stuff anyway.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dKEApPh5dnk/TxeIEzsMisI/AAAAAAAAEyk/4c8UcBBDvOk/s1152/IMAG0222.jpg
Hard dog M1 HCDD Chrome Rollbar
This is finally installed, took me FOREVER to do in a cold ass garage by myself. Looking back, I should've bought a unibit, I would've been done in less than half the time.
http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/3305/1721/8260860137_large.jpg
Installed some aerodramatics door handles
http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1458/3121/3644060083_large.jpg
Installed these Runabout M2 mirrors
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FaFjI0V3204/TxeQ7aRXDYI/AAAAAAAAEy0/cglHKwQp0lU/s800/IMAG0229.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5F7IJ8jNAus/TxeIWaaWZRI/AAAAAAAAEsg/xBi-OtEAqSk/s800/IMAG0230.jpg
Zoom leather console
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TToWUVVHbR4/TxeHSDdydMI/AAAAAAAAEro/nCWD5mzzI-Y/s1152/IMAG0218.jpg
Stack Wideband, Boost, Oil Pressure gauges.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bxnI1RoNLOk/TyB5bnjqPvI/AAAAAAAACtA/FCgNzWMmHJQ/s1152/DSC01254.JPG
Customized retro gauge faces. Vintage Mazda logo, and adjusted redlines a bit.
And test fitting LE door panels to see how it'd look in a mariner blue car...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1PzWYRfqka0/TyB5cd7XiSI/AAAAAAAACtY/J8BMXdWnWPI/s1152/DSC01257.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wbZSKmo8NHc/TyB5cEvgdEI/AAAAAAAACtQ/PxtNbVCjNyU/s1152/DSC01256.JPG
----------------------------------
depowered my steering rack by removing all the seals on the rack
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q80iksspl4w/TzAolOgUXvI/AAAAAAAACvo/q0QB1uIyQTI/s800/IMAG0306.jpg
Got the spool welded by ARtech to eliminate slop in the steering:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iHjgphgZtT4/TzAoY7ak7AI/AAAAAAAACvg/-YCuARfBBFg/s800/IMAG0305.jpg
Got new tie rods - these are secret element rods that are supposedly stronger than stock and give a bit more steering angle. Also got supernow rod ends "overnighted from japan" so i won't have to deal with bumpsteer.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y4B_u-Zg5dY/TzAozuHm2DI/AAAAAAAACv4/s5fiXxodUg8/s800/IMAG0315.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BuzvUoMJeRM/TzAo6eIuWfI/AAAAAAAACwA/Jp3g4JVc4hQ/s800/IMAG0316.jpg
gt2871. wanted to get a tial 0.64 exhaust housing but the way full race built the manifold (top mounted) there's no room for it since i'd have to raise the turbo to taper the collector for the v-band. so it looks like a t3 0.64 housing for me. I'm going to sort out all the suspension and brakes before I get to sorting out the turbo/tune though.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b2uPRHiwhk8/T0WPOv_yFaI/AAAAAAAACxc/AXdfz7VyIJo/s640/IMAG0330.jpg
----------------------------------
uca's replaced. braces fitted and holes drilled/undercoated. going to probably bolt them on today.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ax-sMsemN6I/T4nLueHWjJI/AAAAAAAAC7A/7CxURwvqAvA/s720/IMAG0438.jpg
stripped down the koni paint cause they were a bit beat up and showing some rust. debating on painting them retro koni red or just koni yellow
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sj6zNzsuPT4/T4nLkUl0bVI/AAAAAAAAC6g/BxKPFzb7dXk/s720/IMAG0433.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-06eNEic4amk/T4nLmX9-w9I/AAAAAAAAC6o/v4CtvrRYsPs/s720/IMAG0434.jpg
pretty sure i'm doing a two tone. i put some red on the dash to keep it consistent with the door panel, red package tray carpet... and leaving the bottom of the dash and carpet black. got a zoom center to put my gauges in and got all those chrome vent rings on.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/p480x480/553717_573386097542_4100401_31423469_1740240161_n. jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nE3xPh6Lmrg/T4nLgw3rwMI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/mxqSg2y8t3I/s640/IMAG0430.jpg
oh and a zoom lotus elan style gas cap, which needs to be polished up.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8caQ_fGyJqc/T4nLdqhb3yI/AAAAAAAAC6A/2FGNF56Nj7Q/s640/IMAG0412.jpg
most of the coilover bits i need should be coming in this week, so after i get those repainted should be ready to throw on! trying to get all the suspension stuff on so i just have to get it aligned once.
----------------------------------
I'm going to take some posts I made on another forum and put them all here for posterity. enjoy!
http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/15/93/29/92/p6190710.jpghttp://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/49628/1525555680083057625S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1525555680083057625cKumhY)
http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/47176/1525555242083057625S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1525555242083057625omykMl)
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/49616/1525557101083057625S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1525557101083057625ZynZeJ)
Initial mod list:
Fully built motor by Flying Miata
*Wiseco forged Pistons 9:1, 1mm overbore
*Pauter forged rods
*HKS 264 cams, 9.5 lift
*ARP Main cap studs
*FM Adjustable cam gears
*Port and polished cylinder head
*FM Upgraded valves springs with titanium retainers
*Port-match intake and jet clean
*Unshrouded valves
*Polished valve cover
*Intake catch can
Fueling
*Walbro 255
*SX FPR
*740cc injectors
Turbo system
* Custom Full-Race T3 tubular manifold.
* Full-Race T3/T61 turbocharger.
* Tial 44mm wastegate with dump pipe
* Tial 50mm bov.
* PWR 918 Civic half radiator '92-'99 42mm
* Custom 20x3x11 in. dual backdoor FMIC
* 2.5 in. Aluminum charge piping.
* Stainless Steel 3.0 in. v-band downpipe
* Stainless Steel 3.0 in. v-band exhaust.
Rear
* GURU Torsen differential (1.8 rear end)
* Cryo treated internals
* Stage 4 clutch and lightened flywheel
Suspension
* Eibach sways
* Tokico shocks
Exterior
* Cloth top with glass window
* Brainstorm Low Profile headlights
* Chrome Roll Hoop
ECU
* LINK ECU with keypad
Plans for the car are to get this turbo system dialed in with a smaller turbo (currently a full race t3/t61 which is ~gt35 sized). I'm thinking a GT2871 with a large exhaust side since I should be able to rev to around 8500 with all the headwork and upgraded springs/valves/etc. The HKS cams will also give me some power at the top end, where the stock ones usually drop off at 8k. AEM EMS needs to be installed with GM sensors, LSx truck coils. Currently has an old Link ECU (FM's ECU solution of choice before they made the Hydra). Probably upgrade to ID 1000cc injectors and run E85 after I get all that other stuff done. There's some other stuff I should probably do like ATI damper and a coolant reroute too.
Interior was all color matched to the body. it was an eyesore, so i'm going through and toning it down. Painted a bunch of the panels with plastidip for now. I'm going to go the retro roadster route in the future.
Did a bunch of maintenance fluids:
Rotella T6 5w40 in the engine, Motorcraft XT-M5-QS trans fluid, and Redline 75w90 in the diff.
Also threw in a set of fresh NGK 4644 spark plugs in.
Also replacing the front suspension control arms - got a hold of some V8Roadster LCA's for cheap, my UCA's need replacing since the ball joints are crusty and the boots are gone. Also going to depowered a PS rack and get the pinion welded to reduce slop.
----------------------------------
So I've been working in the cold on the Miata quite a bit. I can't really take good pictures in the badly lit garage, so these will have to do for now.
I decided I'm going the retro themed - lots of chrome. The interior was so bad when I bought it, it was getting to me... so I ended up getting a bunch of interior parts. Here's a taste of what it was like:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tMYWOUvR2wA/TxjBpExgj_I/AAAAAAAACqI/iYyF9jEtgDk/s1024/P6190762.JPG
so embarrasing - everything from the air vents, door handles, center console, etc. were painted to match the exterior color. Blue streetglows under the dash LOL.
I plastidipped most of the parts, but I'm replacing most of the stuff anyway.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dKEApPh5dnk/TxeIEzsMisI/AAAAAAAAEyk/4c8UcBBDvOk/s1152/IMAG0222.jpg
Hard dog M1 HCDD Chrome Rollbar
This is finally installed, took me FOREVER to do in a cold ass garage by myself. Looking back, I should've bought a unibit, I would've been done in less than half the time.
http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/3305/1721/8260860137_large.jpg
Installed some aerodramatics door handles
http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1458/3121/3644060083_large.jpg
Installed these Runabout M2 mirrors
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FaFjI0V3204/TxeQ7aRXDYI/AAAAAAAAEy0/cglHKwQp0lU/s800/IMAG0229.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5F7IJ8jNAus/TxeIWaaWZRI/AAAAAAAAEsg/xBi-OtEAqSk/s800/IMAG0230.jpg
Zoom leather console
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TToWUVVHbR4/TxeHSDdydMI/AAAAAAAAEro/nCWD5mzzI-Y/s1152/IMAG0218.jpg
Stack Wideband, Boost, Oil Pressure gauges.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bxnI1RoNLOk/TyB5bnjqPvI/AAAAAAAACtA/FCgNzWMmHJQ/s1152/DSC01254.JPG
Customized retro gauge faces. Vintage Mazda logo, and adjusted redlines a bit.
And test fitting LE door panels to see how it'd look in a mariner blue car...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1PzWYRfqka0/TyB5cd7XiSI/AAAAAAAACtY/J8BMXdWnWPI/s1152/DSC01257.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wbZSKmo8NHc/TyB5cEvgdEI/AAAAAAAACtQ/PxtNbVCjNyU/s1152/DSC01256.JPG
----------------------------------
depowered my steering rack by removing all the seals on the rack
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q80iksspl4w/TzAolOgUXvI/AAAAAAAACvo/q0QB1uIyQTI/s800/IMAG0306.jpg
Got the spool welded by ARtech to eliminate slop in the steering:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iHjgphgZtT4/TzAoY7ak7AI/AAAAAAAACvg/-YCuARfBBFg/s800/IMAG0305.jpg
Got new tie rods - these are secret element rods that are supposedly stronger than stock and give a bit more steering angle. Also got supernow rod ends "overnighted from japan" so i won't have to deal with bumpsteer.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y4B_u-Zg5dY/TzAozuHm2DI/AAAAAAAACv4/s5fiXxodUg8/s800/IMAG0315.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BuzvUoMJeRM/TzAo6eIuWfI/AAAAAAAACwA/Jp3g4JVc4hQ/s800/IMAG0316.jpg
gt2871. wanted to get a tial 0.64 exhaust housing but the way full race built the manifold (top mounted) there's no room for it since i'd have to raise the turbo to taper the collector for the v-band. so it looks like a t3 0.64 housing for me. I'm going to sort out all the suspension and brakes before I get to sorting out the turbo/tune though.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b2uPRHiwhk8/T0WPOv_yFaI/AAAAAAAACxc/AXdfz7VyIJo/s640/IMAG0330.jpg
----------------------------------
uca's replaced. braces fitted and holes drilled/undercoated. going to probably bolt them on today.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ax-sMsemN6I/T4nLueHWjJI/AAAAAAAAC7A/7CxURwvqAvA/s720/IMAG0438.jpg
stripped down the koni paint cause they were a bit beat up and showing some rust. debating on painting them retro koni red or just koni yellow
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sj6zNzsuPT4/T4nLkUl0bVI/AAAAAAAAC6g/BxKPFzb7dXk/s720/IMAG0433.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-06eNEic4amk/T4nLmX9-w9I/AAAAAAAAC6o/v4CtvrRYsPs/s720/IMAG0434.jpg
pretty sure i'm doing a two tone. i put some red on the dash to keep it consistent with the door panel, red package tray carpet... and leaving the bottom of the dash and carpet black. got a zoom center to put my gauges in and got all those chrome vent rings on.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/p480x480/553717_573386097542_4100401_31423469_1740240161_n. jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nE3xPh6Lmrg/T4nLgw3rwMI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/mxqSg2y8t3I/s640/IMAG0430.jpg
oh and a zoom lotus elan style gas cap, which needs to be polished up.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8caQ_fGyJqc/T4nLdqhb3yI/AAAAAAAAC6A/2FGNF56Nj7Q/s640/IMAG0412.jpg
most of the coilover bits i need should be coming in this week, so after i get those repainted should be ready to throw on! trying to get all the suspension stuff on so i just have to get it aligned once.
----------------------------------