Flyin 92's "Modern-Classic" build thread

[Flyin 92]

Apparently I didn't update my last build thread enough so it go deleted lol I'll try not to let it happen again. I'm sure a lot of you have seen my "build" on CR, but for those of you who haven't..... you haven't missed much. I'll give the nitty gritty condensed version. Let's get this show on the road. A few of the pics aren't going to be in order, but they do do a better job at representing the changes.

Here's a little background on my '92 Crystal White B-package. Her name is Kimi, which in Japanese means "She who is without equal". Thought it was a neat name as I don't feel I'll ever have an attachment to another car like I do with her. She's my first and only car that I've owned since I was 16. She was the first car I ever drove. No sooner did I turn 14 did my dad take me to the HS parking lot to teach me how to drive a manual. After that it was only a matter of time until I could driver on public roads. She remained stock as a rock until I could find I job that would pay me enough to start adding mods and whatnot.

Fast forward to 2009 and this is how she sat. Cheap wheels in both cost (free) and quality, TSIs (sold), 1028 mirrors (sold), F/R R-pkg lips, Carbing vertical tow hook and few miscellaneous interior bits.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5390895313_543fbdc4e1_z.jpg

Jump ahead to 2011. Most of the mods were the same with the addition of Runabout S800 mirrors and shory mud flaps. This is one of the last pics I took before I went to AF basic training in August of 2011.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5802019919_e2e73c9d03_b.jpg

After basic I spent a few months at Keesler AFB, MS for tech school. I went home for a few days over Christmas break and installed Revlimiter's Revolver gauges and a KGW cluster. Then I was off to the Azores, Portugal for my first duty location. Came home in August of '12 for some R&R and installed a few goodies I ordered and take a first look at the ones that were installed before I got home. One of my favorite additions to this day are the 14x6.5 et 14.5 Mag Wats I picked up from Kung Fu Jesus. I also had my HDHCDDHT installed.

Wats still in the box.... yeah...... I creamed myself
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/6885535070_9de717d2e7_c.jpg

On the car.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8423/7839779356_ba437fd18c_b.jpg

Here's a shot of the Revlimiter HVAC panel, Rspeed vent rings (brushed), RS Products toggle switches and my awesome VooDoo knob.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7863034358_241fa341a6_c.jpg

The gauges and KGW panel. I will admit I stole that combo from Sharka.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7280/7863008998_ff0b08ef0d_c.jpg

And one final shot of the car with my brother's Leggy 5-spd GT before I headed back to Europe.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7863008022_43df907bb9_c.jpg

And that's where the picture taking and fun ends :(

Here's a list and few pics of the parts I've acquired since August.

Dope JDM floor (http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/attachments/sale-trade/28830d1358088144-black-roadster-mats-roadster-black-mats.jpg) mats (http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/attachments/sale-trade/28831d1358088144-black-roadster-mats-roadster-black-mats-logo.jpg) to replace my worn out stock shizz, Runabout Type-1 fuel lid and a virtually brand new Nardi Classic wheel with black spokes. I haven't seen the floor mats or fuel lid installed. I'll install the Nardi when I get home. My brother is supposed to send pics sometime soon so I can see and whore out the new steeze.

The next big ticket item I'm going to install when I get home are the FCM coils I ordered yesterday. After talking with Shaikh we settled on 500/350 lb springs (9k/6k). I'm going to pair them with a tubular RB front sway and decide whether or not to keep the rear.

I'm hoping my next update will have pics of the new stuff. Like I said, it will be the first time I've seen them on the car. Until then I'll be continuing to the pass the time getting everything in order so I can get ready to leave. I'm headed to Hurlburt Field after this so if any of you 850 guys are in the area hit me up. I would be nice to meet some new miata people and go to meets and whatnot.

[Johnnie]

Nice! Loving the RS Watanabes and the gauge faces. Classic!

[Ktdubya]

Cool build! You have got some nice quality parts on your car boss! Be safe in Europe and thank you for serving!

[iamdallas]

Your car is very similar to mine!

I'm loving those Wats!

[Flyin 92]

Thanks for the kind words everyone :) I'm getting ever closer to reuniting with the car and making this thread worth reading with picture updates instead of lame paragraphs lol

[Flyin 92]

Ok ya'll need a little input. I'm considering selling/trading the Wats for something that flow better with the car. I love the Wats, but I feel like the dark color clashes with the rest of the car. Out of the following list, which wheels do you think would be a good fit. I really want to keep with the retro theme so please no Rota, XXR, etc. I'd love authentic JDM Y0 wheelzzzzz, but if I find something else that works then I might consider them.

Here's what I have so far in no particular order:

Aluminum Wats with polished lip (same style different color) in either 15" or 14".
BBS RS in a 15x7-8 +25 (or slightly higher)
Enkei 92 in silver
Star Sharks/Techno Phantoms (assuming I can find a set in decent condition)
SSR MKII maybe MKIII

I know it's a short list with some super hard to find wheels, but it's not going to happen right this minute. I'll pursue it further once I get to Florida.

[Martin]

I'd keep the Wats. I love dark wheels on a white car.

[Flyin 92]

I've neglected this thread for too long. One of these days I'll leave this island and share some real updates and by “real” I mean updated pictures of parts and the car. Until then, the lackluster updates will continue :fp:

A few weeks ago I scored a RS Factory exhaust, which is chilling in my garage and thanks to DK Wolf I have a Maxim Works header on the way.
I've tried bidding on a couple ARC chambers, but have yet to win a bid. I'm also in the hunt for an RB intake to complete the i/h/e combo. I'm debating on whether or not to get a 1.8 version in anticipation of going the way of the MSPNP sometime in the future.

[atank]

Very Nice!

[Flyin 92]

I'm in need of someone's dope photoshop skills. I want to see what these Wats (http://www.garage5.cz/blog/wp-content/uploads/p1-381.jpg) look like on my car (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8423/7839779356_ba437fd18c_b.jpg) at stock height and with a slight drop (dropped thread material). Feel free to play with spoke color as well. I'd prefer gunmetal, dark silver or a light bronze/gold. If anyone would be willing to do that I would greatly appreciate it :cheers:

[etikoner]

I'd love those damn magnesium watts. I personally don't understand how you would wanna change those for anything else. Btype wattanabes goes perfectly on NAs lol.

I'm excited for your fcm suspension. I'm sure it'll be awesome.

If I were you I'd consider looking into swift springs as a replacement for whatever springs he includes.

[Flyin 92]

I'd love those damn magnesium watts. I personally don't understand how you would wanna change those for anything else. Btype wattanabes goes perfectly on NAs lol.

I'm excited for your fcm suspension. I'm sure it'll be awesome.

If I were you I'd consider looking into swift springs as a replacement for whatever springs he includes.

The "new" wheels would be B-Types... just silver instead of turd brown lol

I've heard good things about Swift springs, but honestly couldn't tell you if they ride better than the standard springs he includes. Of course that all depends on if I ever get the coilovers in the mail. I ordered back in mid February and they still haven't arrived. 5-7 weeks my ass. Oh well. They'd still be sitting in the box till I got home anyway lol

[etikoner]

The "new" wheels would be B-Types... just silver instead of turd brown lol

I've heard good things about Swift springs, but honestly couldn't tell you if they ride better than the standard springs he includes. Of course that all depends on if I ever get the coilovers in the mail. I ordered back in mid February and they still haven't arrived. 5-7 weeks my ass. Oh well. They'd still be sitting in the box till I got home anyway lol

Haha I hear you on that. I just think the fact that they're magnesium makes em way cooler lmao.

Also I'd venture to say that they'll definitely be an improvement over the heavy springs he sources. Just an idea though lol.

[Flyin 92]

Haha I hear you on that. I just think the fact that they're magnesium makes em way cooler lmao.

Also I'd venture to say that they'll definitely be an improvement over the heavy springs he sources. Just an idea though lol.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE the mag wheels, but I can't help but feel that the silver/polished look would be better suited to my build. I have a friend who is an avid track driver and I'd love to see these wheels on his miata track car.

[riefdaddy]

Have you made it to 1st SOW yet, or still stuck in the Azores? I spent a number of years in AFSOC at Hurlburt and Eglin. Good assignment to come back to the states with. Your car looks great and I am sure you will get your mods done asap.

[Flyin 92]

Have you made it to 1st SOW yet, or still stuck in the Azores? I spent a number of years in AFSOC at Hurlburt and Eglin. Good assignment to come back to the states with. Your car looks great and I am sure you will get your mods done asap.

Unfortunately I'm not going to Hurlburt anymore :( I'm stuck in the Azores until the med board clears me to leave. I was looking forward to it like you couldn't believe. Working at A6 was a dream come true compared to working in fixed comm.

[riefdaddy]

Ugh, med boards. I got out in 2000 and they told be I couldn't get out until I was cleared by a med board. I hope you clear the boards soon. Maybe when you get cleared you will have even better options.

[Flyin 92]

I’d love to stay in because it’s the first steady paying job that I’ve had. The extra pay benefits are also nice (BAS, BAH, COLA, etc.) and makes it easy to budget my expenses every month.
The only reason I'd opt out of fighting to stay in would be if the VA offered 50-60% disability. I know that’s a long shot, but a guy can hope lol Making half or more of what I make now would cover the cost of rent in most places in the Portland metro area. Finding a decent paying job wouldn't be too hard since I still have connections back home.

[Flyin 92]

First time I've "seen" her since August.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/8999763411_6506d2e8cd_o.jpg

Words can't express how much I miss her :(

[etikoner]

Looks good. Love those wheels..

[revlimiter]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm wheels.

[Flyin 92]

Looks good. Love those wheels..

Thanks man :)

I've been staring at that pic for at least 15 minutes and keep picturing GV tails.


Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm wheels.

I'll trade you straight up for the Sharks ;)

[I<3flippyheadlights]

When do you get to drive her again?

[Flyin 92]

Not sure. It could be a couple weeks or it could be a couple months. I'm hoping for the former.

[Flyin 92]

Freshly installed. I let my brother install it because.... well.... he loves the miata as much as I do. I figured I'd let him turn a few wrenches and get his hands dirty.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUG4YT3RcY8

and I did jizz my pants. Such an improvement over stock. Kimi has a nice bark now :mrgreen:

[I<3flippyheadlights]

That sounds like SEX. What kind of exhaust is it?

[Flyin 92]

RS Factory Stage. I won it off Yahoo Japan through Rod. I didn't want anything too aggressive (read: corksport, buddy club, RSR, etc) and this fit the bill nicely. It shouldn't draw too much attention on the street.

[Flyin 92]

Keeping with the theme of pictureless updates; I picked up a few items over the past week.

I finally won an ARC chamber and picked up a set if mint M2 mirrors, both for a very good price. I'll eventually start putting stuff up for sale to try and recover some of the money I've spent.

Right now the list has:

1. S800s in good shape. Could use a polish.
2. RS Products Type-1 HVAC panel
3. Revlimiter Gauge: Type Revolver (MPH/KPH) with amber lighting.
4. Carbing Tow Hook - Tentative
5. Any random shizz that's still in my garage.

[Flyin 92]

**disclaimer** - These are pics my buddy sent me last night after he detailed the car. Not a fan of the filters and some are blurry, but it's better than nothing.

Now onto the pics :)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/10490051194_2e0a650147_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/10490045966_64fd9fe8a7_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5503/10490230133_7ff0872199_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/10490039315_3a7a68850e_b.jpg

If someone has #helladope photoshop skills and wants to touch up the pics, feel free to do so.

[Ihatecars]

INSTAGRAM FILTERS!!!
I would have rathered nothing. :scream:

No, but really. Your car is gorgeous. I aspire to have a roadster as amazing as your someday.

[Flyin 92]

Thanks, man. That means a lot.

I can't wait to get home and do a proper photoshoot. No filters, no instafag, no nothing.

[Malibu Q]

+1 vote for the Watanabe wheels. If you want to bling it up a bit , consider a red Eunos stripe on the bottom of the door.

[atank]

Love that exhaust!!!!!!!

[Flyin 92]

Small update. Received a couple of photoshop renderings with what I have envisioned the car looking like once I'm closer to "done". After looking at the pics I can't wait to get the FCM coils on and get the stance right. Such a dramatic change over stock.

http://imageshack.us/a/img812/3595/9t5n.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img42/7981/6zmr.jpg

HUGE thanks to Jimmy Vee for helping put my ideas on paper as it were.

[Demon I Am]

I don't see lotus seats poking up...

[Flyin 92]

Those were made with an old photo I took last year. The Elise seats are bundled up in the garage patiently awaiting brackets.

[theothersawyer]

Mmmm.....Wats would look great!

[Flyin 92]

Well you're in luck. Those Wats have been on the car for a while now. I wanted to see what the car could look like once I toss my coils on.

[Flyin 92]

Employed the help of JimmyVee once again.

Before
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/8999763411_6506d2e8cd_o.jpg

After
http://imageshack.com/a/img32/7168/dcjy.jpg

Looks like GV Tails could be on the horizon.

[Martin]

Looks like GV Tails could be on the horizon.

Do it!

[Flyin 92]

Do it!

My finger is on the trigger. I'm just waiting for the wind to be right before I pull the trigger :P

[The Driver]

^ Where do you get your avatars?

[Dandy]

Jimmy Vee is awesome and so are those GV tails on your car!

[theothersawyer]

Get the GV tails! They would look awesome on your car! DDDOO IIIITTT!!!!!

[Flyin 92]

^ Where do you get your avatars?

It's a secret :ninja:

[Flyin 92]

UPDATE!!!

I didn't want to waste any sunlight and spend my birthday inside, sooooooo.... I took the car for a much needed romp around the mountain roads. I can tell she missed it as much as I did. She was more than happy to let loose :D The RS Factory Stage sounds soooooooooooooooooooo good at WOT. It also pops and gurgles on downshifts :mrgreen:

Chilling at one of my favorite spots.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2151/13115647623_0af92ec173_c.jpg

One of my favorite gauge shots ever. EVER.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/13115759715_d5e0b11be3_c.jpg

The scenery around here never gets old.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/13115907564_bb4546c1da_c.jpg

I'm sure a few of you may say, "Cool pics are cool, but where teh doep shizz?"

Well...

Most everything is still sitting in boxes in the garages. I did install the RB intake, which may have added a touch of oomph, but without a dyno to prove otherwise I'll assume it did something positive.

I also attempted to install the Nardi wheel, but the hub is for a non-airbag car and I didn't feel like ripping out the wiring from the steering column to make it work. I'm hoping my Daikei hub shows up this week so I can install it. I'll be sure to take plenty of pics because lord knows this thread needs them :P

The Maxim and ARC chamber will go on when I visit Corksport and see what numbers I put down after installing each one. I'm curious to see what - if any - gains are made hp/tq wise. I'm guessing 7-9 at the wheels combined with the exhaust.

The GarageStar fender braces will go on probably the same time the FCMs do. I still need to buy a front sway bar and endlinks before any of that happens. I'm going to post up a lot of stuff for sale in the near future to recoup some of the money I've spent. It'll be mostly stock stuff, save the Nardi hub.

Right now... I'm just going to enjoy the next day of sunny weather and driving the car.

[WASABI]

Nice! No one's gonna argue with you wanting to get out and drive your car. I can't wait for Winter to leave so I can too!

[Flyin 92]

I'll upload GoPro video tomorrow or Friday. I'm curious what the exhaust sounds like to everyone not in the car.

[Flyin 92]

Video as promised.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or1mrBduZGw

[JamieH]

Man, that sounds good.

[Flyin 92]

Man, that sounds good.

Thanks! I wasn't at WOT in that video. There was about 200ft of plateau before it dropped off to tight switch backs, so I couldn't get a good head of steam going. I'll try again this weekend.

[Flyin 92]

After a little deliberating I decided to install the ARC chamber I scored off of Yahoo Japan.

My brother took it out of it's box, but left the mad tyte JDM plastic cover on it. It was then stored on a shelf until I got home. When I picked it up I was surprised at how light it was. I didn't think to weigh it, but my guess would be ~5lbs. It didn't seem any heavier than the stock bits, which was a nice surprise.

Now, on to the pics!!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/13153417573_e9563d9f51_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/13153578974_e018478f7f_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/13153578974_e018478f7f_c.jpg

It's not in perfect shape, but it's not dented, gouged or beat up by any means like others I've seen. I little time and elbow grease would get rid of a lot of the dirt and grime. That said, I love the worn in look. It looks like it's been in my engine bay for a while and I love that.

After a bit of finagling I was able to remove the stock crossover piping. The section that connects to the AFM was the easiest to remove. The part that attaches to the throttle body gave me a fair bit of trouble, but I eventually worked it free.

Once that was over I took the ARC and maneuvered it into place. Fitment was about 85% perfect. It fit over the throttle body, fans and around the thermostat housing just fine. The issue came when noticed it was about an inch off center of the AFM. My first thought was, "Oh great..."

After consulting with my brother - who has become pretty proficient when it comes to working on cars - we realized we could undo one of the bolts that hold the AFM bracket (I have an RB elbow) and reposition the AFM just enough to get the ARC to line up.

Once again, it took a little persuasion and four hands to hold everything in place and once we tightened everything down it worked and looked just fine. I did have to re-route my cruise control vacuum line to run down the firewall, but that's small fries.

Here's the end result:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/13153288095_3cb181381f_c.jpg

It looks right at home doesn't it? I couldn't be happier :mrgreen:

You might be saying, "It looks good and wasn't too hard to install, but what about MOAR POWAHHH?!?!?!?!?!?"

Fear not.

I went to the Aloha Grill meet and didn't notice much difference at first. I was also concerned after I noticed my idle was sitting at 1,700 rpm :eek: After messing with the ICV I brought it back down to about 850. Cold idle this morning wasn't much above 1,200 and after messing with it some more I came to the conclusion the chamber might cause it to idle lower when it's cold. I'm not overly concerned since the car runs just fine. It would be nice to get MS and get a good tune to lean out the fuel ratio a bit and regain a few MPGs.

This morning I was running around and doing a couple solid take-offs to see if I could notice a difference. Throttle response feels smoother as the revs climb. It almost had 1.8 qualities. The car felt a little gruntier and less peaky, which might take some getting used to. I also noticed a different tone with the intake as well. Can't really describe it, but there is a small change.

In conclusion:

Does the chamber look good? Yes. Very much yes!!
Does it weigh a lot? Not really. It is a hollow piece of aluminum after all.
Does it give MAX POWAHHH? I can't say for sure, but it does seem to be noticeably smoother to redline.

And the the question you've all been waiting for...

Is it worth the money? I'll reserve judgement until I get on some back roads and really open it up. So far it seems to work as advertised.

And on that bombshell... it's time to end. Thank you and good night :cheers:

[Flyin 92]

I stopped by my parents house over the weekend around lunch as I normally do and decided to check on a couple things I had ordered. Low and behold they were already at my doorstep :)

The smaller of the two had this little guy in it

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/13154646685_dc8d0644f6_c.jpg

I ordered a Retro Antenna so I could get reception again. I didn't take any pics after I installed it because.... well... it's hidden behind the carpet panel opposite the finish panel. So far it seems to work as advertised. The selling point was the hide-a-bility factor. The brick/receiver part is small enough it can be attached just about anywhere. It also came with more than enough cable to move it about the trunk and run it under/behind the carpet.

I'll edit with install pics either today or tomorrow.

.................................................. ..

The next package was a tad larger and my first thought was, "What the hell is this?" I didn't recognize the sender's name at first. Then it donned on me and realized I had went full derp.

On to the unboxing:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2776/13154776603_f61b38cde7_c.jpg



Hmmmm..... what could it be?



A SUPERHELLADOPEJDMBRO MiataRoadster license plate frame!!!!! +1000000 RICE POWAHHHHH!!!!!!

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/13227460535_33708c6833_c.jpg

Eli approved and I rejoiced.













And wouldn't ya know it... Bill was nice enough to include a free SS Kit :mrgreen:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2065/13154644965_62d1ab7cfd_c.jpg

Stay tuned for a write up on the install and review.

[Flyin 92]

What's a good build thread with at least one #instaphag picture?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7231/13317997554_8a05dc10e1_z.jpg

I'm loving muh new Nardi :mrgreen: It really ties the interior together and the wheel/hub combo weighs less than stock so I achieved the ever elusive form=function. #ballin #retro #update #hashtagsr4phags

[JamieH]

That is looking proper.

[WASABI]

Sexy wheel right there! That looks so nice! How does she feel, grip wise?

[Flyin 92]

She feels like holding on to a beautiful curvy woman with soft supple skin who also just happens to love leather :mrgreen:

[Ihatecars]

She feels like holding on to a beautiful curvy woman with soft supple skin who also just happens to love leather :mrgreen:

I'm going to sell my steering wheel now. :lol:

[Flyin 92]

Finally installed the RB hollow today. I once again enlisted my brother's help in hopes it would makes things easier. And wouldn't ya know it... it took a lot longer than expected :fp: the biggest headache were the A/C lines. They interfered with the removal of the stock bar and the install of the RB. At any rate on to the (iPhone) pics.

Car lifted and awaiting stock bar removal
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/13682403834_660a9fb159_c.jpg

Stock vs RB
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/13682463064_05d73955d1_c.jpg

My brother's jaw dropped when he saw them next to each other :woolery:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5236/13682511734_33a4571bde_c.jpg

....And all buttoned up with 949 endlinks :mrgreen:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7038/13682437914_d4e9dd8c7d_c.jpg

..........

I think I have the bar preloaded correctly. According to 949's instructions the bar should sit at ~90º. It's close, but because this is my first time installing a sway bar with adjustable end links I'm going to have AR Auto give it a once over to make sure I did everything correctly. Once they give the car the car an "A-OK" I'll take it for a spirited drive. I left the rear bar in 1) Because I was too tired and lazy to remove it 2) I'm curious how the car will handle with the larger front sway and stock rear.

..........

Subject matter #2.

I checked over the Wats today while they were off and one of the wheels is cracked all the way through :cry2: On the bright side I did replace the massive 21mm lug nuts with the uber cool 19mm open ended lugs I bought off greeeenteeeeee.

That brings me to my next topic. I'm on the fence as to what wheels I want to replace them with (if one can replace Wats that is). The local Les Schwab can get me 14x7 +19 RPF1s for $130 wheel. I love me some RPF1s, but I feel like I'm "settling" until I can find Star Sharks, Hayashi Streets, SSR Mk2s, BBS RSs or another set of Wats. Yes, the RPF1s look amazing, but I can't bring myself to like them enough to put on the car. The #hellaswagdopejdm wheels just look soooooooo much better :rice:


Long story short... #firstworldcarproblems

[JamieH]

Maybe contact Watanabe? See if they have anything to offer? Long shot, but no harm in contacting them.

[Ihatecars]

Buy the Enkeis, wait for dream wheels, then sell the Enkeis.
With the awesome price you've been offered, you won't lose nearly as much when you sell them later.

[Flyin 92]

Found a set of cherry 15x7 +25 BBS RS for an AWESOME price, but of course they're the wrong PCD (4x98). Seeing how RS001s always fetch a premium - regardless of when Race Wars is - I'm considering jumping on these. Obviously they'd have to be re-drilled to fit 4x100, but I feel like the wheels would be more prone to cracking/failing after having them re-drilled.

I read a few articles about having the wheels "filled and drilled", which seems safer than just drilling new holes. I'm hoping when it's all said and done that it will still cost less than buying 001s outright.

If any of you have any insight please feel free to share.

[Flyin 92]

Kimi's new shoes came in yesterday :smileybounce: Dey aint no J's, but still look amazing. Price wasn't too far off a pair of J's either :teehee:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/13894318711_dfa3a77147_c.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3669/13917869894_9dc3aabb90_c.jpg

Pardon the crappy iPhone pics. Weather hasn't been the greatest the last few days. I'll try and do a proper photoshoot this weekend if the sun sticks around.

I was sad to see the Wats boxed up and put away in our shed, but I can rest easy knowing they lived a good life. The Enkeis look good don't get me wrong, but there's something about those turd brown banana spokes that set her apart from the rest. I'm still in the hunt for another set, but in aluminum and in a size similar to the Enkeis.

..............

Next order of business to find time to install the header, MR SS kit and GarageStar fender braces. The Elise seats are still in their box awaiting PCI to finish their mount. Not sure when that will be, but I hope it's before June 14th.

Why June 14th you ask? Well, that's the date the Cruisin' Sherwood Classic Car Show falls on this year. I registered Kimi some time last week in the "Tuner" category only because I'd have stiff competition if I ran against Mustangs, Camaros, Chevelles, Novas, Chargers, etc.

It's been a dream of mine to show her off once she reached a point of no longer looking like an average Miata. I'm beyond excited and curious if she'll make a strong enough showing to take home a ribbon... at least in her category.

...............

Last order of business and this isn't car related. I applied to Golfsmith today and I'm hoping to hear back some time next week. I talked with the GM this morning when I went with my brother-in-law and he seemed very interested in hiring me as a stock room guy. I'd be taking care of merchandise and inventory for the whole store and making orders when needed. It's not a far cry from what I did in the AF in my last year. I'm crossing my fingers I get the job 1) because I need one 2) discounts of golf stuff is always a good thing :mrgreen:

And on that bombshell... it's time to end.

[Demon I Am]

Look, son, if them lotus seats are gonna stay in the box, you can just ship them back to NC! :teehee:

That's a good looking car

[riefdaddy]

What did you do your last year in the AF? Run CTK?

[Flyin 92]

Look, son, if them lotus seats are gonna stay in the box, you can just ship them back to NC! :teehee:

That's a good looking car

You can have them for $2,000 shipped :P

Trust me when I say I'm as disappointed as you are. I buy the seats hoping to install them only to find out everyone stopped making brackets. I keep asking for updates from what's-his-bucket over on CR, but have yet to see anything.


What did you do your last year in the AF? Run CTK?

I worked in Quality Assurance and did a touch of logistical work.

[etikoner]

I got my ryokurob bracket by pming him, and he had project g ship them out to me.

[Flyin 92]

I was talking about the KazeSpec guy. He's been working with PCI to get seat brackets made and it's taking forever. I don't think Rob has any brackets that fit Elise seats at the moment.

[Flyin 92]

Snapped a few pics on my way home from lunch with my buddy.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/13962162234_00e99a6b04_c.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/13958497982_18420bf3f3_c.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/13961453205_8c76d51b01_c.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/13981427353_6c825b2dda_c.jpg

I removed the Carbing tow hook some time last week and I'm loving the cleaner look. I'm considering selling it if anyone is interested. Not really sure what it's worth though.

[atxsbigwalt]

from the looks of project G's instagram, they are working with a weld shop called nitradyne that is making more ryokurob lotus brackets. Havent seen any details, but here are some pics.

http://www.enjoygram.com/tag/nitradyne

[Flyin 92]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep them in mind.

[Ihatecars]

The RPF1s look great.

And good luck with the job!

[Andy]

Man do I love the look of a white miata with chrome mirrors.

[Flyin 92]

The RPF1s look great.

And good luck with the job!

I got a call Saturday barely two hours after my interview saying I got the job and I start tomorrow :)


Man do I love the look of a white miata with chrome mirrors.

Me too. White and chrome are a great combo.

[WASABI]

I got a call Saturday barely two hours after my interview saying I got the job and I start tomorrow :)

Congratulations!!!!! Your car looks great! Digging the wheels and hard top too!

[Flyin 92]

Thanks!

It's hard to roll topless because it looks so good with the hardtop. I'll eventually put another soft top on so I can feel better about rolling around topless.

[Grip Driver]

Wats or no wats, car looks great!

[atank]

Looking Good, and Love those Shoes!!!!!!!!:mrgreen:

[Ihatecars]

I got a call Saturday barely two hours after my interview saying I got the job and I start tomorrow :)

Freaking awesome. Congradulations!

[Flyin 92]

It's been waaaaaayyyyyyyy too long since I've updated this thread (no internet at the house).

Some of you may have seen this on CR, but for those that haven't keep reading.

Classic Miata tail light deserved one final close up
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5574/15076596206_ed1c53c9a5_c.jpg

After a bit of fiddling and a steady hand...

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/15099584055_27492f9920_c.jpg

She came free. No cracks or broken anything. I was shocked.

"What replaced it?" some of you are asking. If you're not, then oh well. You must not like surprises.

*insert drum roll*
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TA DAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3925/15076588626_7429c342ff_c.jpg

I'm so JDM it hurts. Hurts so good that is :bow:

I'm beyond excited to finally have GV tails. I've wanted them for years and now I have them. Build quality is top notch. It feels much sturdier than the stock finish panel.

And the functional-ish bit I mentioned earlier?

Well here it is...

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/15099576545_58420ec947_c.jpg

Fitment was good. Price wasn't bad either. Needs a little massaging to get it to fit right, but overall I'm pleased. For those that have a short memory... I do have an RB elbow and now the filter gets a direct shot of cold air.

Does it look good? Yes.
Does it lower intake temps? 95% sure.
How much? No idea. A few degrees I imagine.

[Flyin 92]

Next order of business was taking care of the tired stock shifter boots.

The lever had all but separated from the boot. When I removed the boot it ended up as seen below:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3904/14912907829_4779e479b6_c.jpg

After removing the stock assembly I noticed everything else seemed to be in good working order. The stock bushing looked good enough to re-use, which I ended up doing.

Step two was to remove the old, dirty fluid. Buuuutttttt, there wasn't any :shock: No matter, a quick top off and all was well.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/15099239892_b878b30e3e_c.jpg

After a quick intermission (I had a quick bite to eat)...

I installed the new MiataRoadster SS kit I bought during the group buy.

Compared to stock:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3847/14913047797_307ce0a8ca_c.jpg

With its new boot:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/14912962140_452128b469_c.jpg

Test fit:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5579/14912973720_1e862eaba0_c.jpg

All buttoned up:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5579/14912918679_44bdbb5dfe_c.jpg

Looks good, eh? I think so. It has the brushed finish, which adds a nice touch. It also sits an 1 1/2" higher than stock.

On to the review.

Right after I installed it - minus the console - I took the car for a quick spin to break in the new steez. Once I got to the highway I noticed immediately the throw wasn't only shorter (30-40% would be a safe bet) they felt 1000000x smoother as well. Shifting was effortless. As in, it took 70-80% less effort to knock the lever around the gate. I also liked the fact the knob sat higher, thus making reaching for the gear leaver easier. A quick flick of the wrist and I was on to the next gear. It was like a hot knife through butter.

Down shifting was also easier. Darting into a corner and dropping down a gear or two felt quicker, smoother, better. It required at least 60% less effort, which in my book is a big difference.

Overall I'm extremely impressed with it. All the reviews I read that raved about it where spot on.

I'll finish with a Revlimiter-esk overall rating:

Quality: A+
-It's sturdy. Very sturdy.
Looks: A-/B+
-It's a shame only a small part of the lever is seen because it does look quite nice.
Functionality: A
-Shifting is easier, smoother and feels soooo much better than stock.
Install: A
-It was pretty straight forward. Except for the shifter bushing, which was for an NB. You'll need to swap over the stock/replacement.

Overall: A

I highly recommend this kit for anyone looking for an upgrade. It's well worth the money. Even more so if Bill does another group buy.
......................

Off topic. I'm hoping I can talk my roommates into getting internet so I can post more.

[Flyin 92]

Made a small update to the gauge cluster this past weekend.

Before:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/15025113229_56f95461af_c.jpg

After:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/15025210540_bf18e0f8a4_c.jpg

Not a big change (that'll come later), but just enough to add a touch of "bling". They're old BSP pieces Bo took off his red M.Net car. They're brushed aluminum and glue onto the stock needles. Their subtlety was a big reason I bought them. They don't detract from the overall combo either. In fact, I think it ties everything together perfectly.

………………………………

With that small detail finished up I can move onto the next items on my "To-Do" list for the interior.

The only big projects left are (in no particular order):
-Working with PCI to prototype Lotus seat mounts
-Installing the Redline Goods leather interior. Yes, the entire interior. Save for the armrests and seatbelt stalks.
-Fixing and installing the J-Limited II door cards w/ Nakamae door pulls.
-Buy and install Revlimiter window switches.

Somewhere in there I'll remove the airbag stuff and install my Nardi hub and sell the Daikei to whomever is in need of one.

[atxsbigwalt]

loving the headlight lid, I need to get me one.

[Flyin 92]

loving the headlight lid, I need to get me one.

It was a good buy for the money. Can't remember for the life of me who made it.

[Dandy]

Those BSP gauge needle buttons are a nice touch. I had them on my '92. I also like that they are subtle. I was hoping another vendor would produce them again but it hasn't happened.

[atank]

Ohoooooo, Yeah NICEeeee!!!!!!!

[Flyin 92]

I forgot to mention I ordered disabled veteran plate, which are permanent here in the state of Oregon. That means no more registration and no more DEQ!!! Test pipe, here I come!!!! :fab:

[revlimiter]

Brainstorm needle buttons? Anyone have more photos? Those are GORGEOUS.

Also, lovely shifter. I'm waiting for the mail to deliver mine. Quite excite.

[Flyin 92]

Brainstorm needle buttons? Anyone have more photos? Those are GORGEOUS.

Also, lovely shifter. I'm waiting for the mail to deliver mine. Quite excite.

I wish I took photos of them before I installed them, but I was really eager to get them on. Plus, it was like 95* in my parents garage.

They aren't very thick. Maybe a mm or two, with a slight convex shape. They fit on the flat part of the needle beautifully, thus leaving even spacing on the beveled part.

As for the shifter. It's easily in my top 5 favorite functional mods. Shifting is effortless and smooth. I'm hoping you got an extended lever to add more of a vintage feel. I need to get a spherical shift knob and ditch the voodoo. The neck makes it look odd with the extended lever.

[revlimiter]

Ahhhh, I see how it goes. The bevel on the plastic needle center is still visible. VERY interesting.

I've been thinking of making something like this for months. Just had no idea how it might look. And now I can see!

[bogaut]

http://i.imgur.com/5uDzJRa.jpg

Here's a pic of them by themselves

[revlimiter]

Nice shot! Thanks.

[Flyin 92]

I'm really kicking myself for not taking more detailed pictures. I had no idea they'd be such a big hit. Lesson learned.

[bogaut]

thinkin maybe i shouldda charged more :whistle: jk haha

[Flyin 92]

Too late, brotato.

I'll wait and sell them for a premium right before race wars.

[Phatmiata]

Lots of great updates!!!!!

GV Lights always look so good!!

The Brainstorm Needle buttons look good too, I had a set of these, just make sure not to use the adhesive supplied, (looked like non-skinning butyl) and it tends to let go over time. Or maybe it was just from the heat here in Florida, a couple of mine fell off so I reattached them with some Ruscoe Permanent Clear Sealer. Not soon after that I replaced the whole setup for ArtWorks Dewa needle caps (when he was still around).

[Flyin 92]

I used gorilla glue, which should be more than adequate.

[Flyin 92]

After a quick run to the storage unit I knoticed the distinct ticking my car has had for a week or so is getting worse. It not lifter tick, but closer to an exhaust leak or quite possibly a bad injector. I can't pinpoint it, but sounds like it's coming from nearish the of the engine.

If it is indeed a faulty injector any recommendations on replacements other than OEM?

[riefdaddy]

How's your engine timing? Do you think it could be a detonation issue with cylinder 3 or 4?

[Flyin 92]

It's set at 14* and I've had zero issues in the 6-7+ years I've had it set that way.

[Flyin 92]

This past weekend gave me an excuse to take a couple close-ups of the needle buttons.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/15313923686_605913fe1a_c.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3891/15313923926_a98c8244e8_c.jpg
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And here's why I had an excuse to take close-ups

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/15150372598_d29c2a85c5_c.jpg

Version: Alpha with a few design tweaks. They have a similar look and feel to the Revolvers, but also add a different dimension. I haven't had a chance to see them at night (or much at all for that matter). I chose the white/clear lighting option to stick with the old school feel.

[revlimiter]

Those gauges look fantastic. They feel very "Revolver-y" to me.

And thanks for sending me those needle button pix!

[Flyin 92]

That fact they feel revolver-y might be why I was slightly underwhelmed in a way. I guess I was expecting a more drastic change.

I hope those pics work well enough for you to get a prototype drawn up.

[Mindsucker]

WOW those Alphas turned out great!

[Flyin 92]

I finally got to see them at night and GOOD GOD do they look good!! The gauges glow a soft white/yellow and are very easy on the eyes. I almost like looking at them lit up as opposed to not. Almost.

I took this pic with my iPhone and did a quick edit to get the color somewhat right.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/15210173799_cce2b10c21_c.jpg

I can't say enough about adam's work. Next step is to match the hvac panel lettering to the gauges. I'm hoping its an easy job (removing bulb condoms) and doesn't require me removing the entire hvac unit.

[Flyin 92]

Lots of fun stuff happening this weekend. I'll start with a few iPhone pics I took at Cars and Coffee.

Two of these beauties showed up

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/15264733340_bddc837d19_c.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/15451149622_c2fbd81352_c.jpg
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15451501535_d0e35996f1_c.jpg
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRGE5v9GwGtMVJrf8hljRHlY535v__1B LHExhos-kT-eZEFYPhC7p5Rhg

Saw this US-Spec Turbo 2 pre-wrap at PDX Wraps and then post-wrap at C&C with a lovely Group B livery wrap.
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/15448303111_be361c10be_c.jpg
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2941/15451132292_7b57a4829c_c.jpg

Gorgeous E-Type
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/15265055818_f658b3b2e6_c.jpg

Lastly, my personal favorite from the weekend.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/15264702169_809c56b0f9_c.jpg
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15264745279_2dc5d4b0c3_c.jpg

I absolutely LOVE EVERYTHING about the F355. In any configuration. They have timeless looks and a V8 soundtrack that will make any car nut cream their pants. It's my dream Ferrari!! I'd have one in every configuration if I could. Spyder, Berlinetta, GTS and Challenge. All in yellow. I blame the movie "The Rock" for that. Ever since I saw and heard the yellow Spyder in that movie I knew I had to have one some day.

[Flyin 92]

Now, on to Miata related content.

Finally installed my J-Limited II door cars. I felt bad leaving them in storage.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/15265074047_b9390624bb_c.jpg

After installing them I realized as my interior moves rapidly to vintage, my radio begins to become more of an eyesore. So, I decided to do some browsing and consulting with Revlimiter about his radio. I eventually came across this little gem

http://www.retrosound.com/v/vspfiles/photos/M2-MAL-2.jpg

It will be while before I buy one, but it's nice knowing I have a stylish way of keeping modern radio features with a not-so-modern look.

And to cap off a sunny weekend, I removed my injectors. The #4 injector was on its last leg and was only a matter of time before something bad happened. I have no idea if they've ever been replaced so, I'm sending them all off to be cleaned and flow tested at Witch Hunter Performance up in Washington. They've received great reviews and pricing was good as well.

They had a good run. Now it's time for a little R&R at the injector spa for some much needed pampering.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/15451090642_a7afa6d221_c.jpg

[Flyin 92]

After replacing my injectors with less used ones (thanks to oregonmon) I fired up the car to make sure fuel didn't come spraying out all over the place and immediately noticed another odd ticking *sigh*. I checked the plug wires and #3 was rattling. I checked the plug and it looked fine. I decided to pull the rest and proceeded to clean and re-gap them. Once I put them back in the rattle was gone. I assume it had worked itself loose one way or another.

After I buttoned everything up, I went for a drive to check for odd noises, smells and engine behavior. Everything was smooth as a swatch watch. On my way home I stopped by a nearby park to snap a couple quick iPhone pics.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/15334456177_f1f422016f_c.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/15334168619_663b9ea715_c.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/15521071895_d38db00a6d_c.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/15517908001_c0563b0a51_c.jpg

Next step is to toss in Curly's old MS and run a proper tune and get all my engine mods to work in harmony.

[rstaylor25]

Damn this is an interesting build! By far "Seeing how RS001s always fetch a premium - regardless of when Race Wars is" is the best F&F reference I've heard haha!

[Flyin 92]

Took a trip up to CSTG in hopes of removing stuff I don't need or want on the car. After seeing Ryan's engine bay, I decided it was time to do something with mine. Unfortunately, I have ABS, which has a rather unsightly wiring harness and module that can't be hidden/removed. On a positive note, Curly was able to remove the rat's nest that was an aftermarket alarm the PO added on sometime during it's early years. He also removed the airbag computers from under the dash and the charcoal canister.

Obligatory pic of the rat's nest
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15073177874_f0159422c2_c.jpg

My plan this week is to install the Garage Star fender braces and do what I can with a mild wire tuck. I'll eventually have the R12 removed from the A/C and then remove all of that nonsense.

[Flyin 92]

After a much needed couple days off, I finally decided to install the GarageStar fender braces. It also gave me a reason to tear out more airbag stuff. Please forgive the iPhone pics. I didn't think to grab a real camera. (read: lazy).

First thing's first. Here's the brace in all it's glory. It's pretty light as well which is always a plus. IIRC, Ken claims they weigh like 4 pounds a piece, which seemed pretty accurate. Much lighter than the Boss Frog according to some.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15117450763_d1dfcedf22_c.jpg

Next, it was time to remove the fender. Not an impossible task, but it did give me some headache. That little nut inside the fender and behind the bumper suck.

No matter. A few explicatives later it came off.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/15734916341_10d0a913eb_c.jpg

There was a good bit of dirt trapped under the fender, which came as no surprise, but it was still nice to get it out of there.

Once that was done, I took to removing the airbag harness and sensors. Again, not a difficult task. The lack of room behind the fuse boxes made it tough unplugging the connectors. One of the few times I wish I didn't have ABS or CC.

I was surprised to see the sensors weigh a couple pounds each. Not a significant savings by any stretch, but it's gone and I'm much excite.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/15551670427_b93dc03412_c.jpg

Somewhere along the line I decided to remove the bumper. One, it made getting to sensors easier and it allowed me to try and realign it and get rid of that nasty fitment.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/15713120656_19a093a6d7_c.jpg

And the part you've all been (potentially) waiting for!! The piece - err rather pieces - of resistance.

A bit of drilling, some finagling and viola!

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/15552006560_76bebaf805_c.jpg

Ken supplies all the hardware needed for install.

Overall, I'm pleased. I haven't gone a proper drive to see if they make any difference, but that doesn't mean they don't work as advertised.

Review:

Build quality: A
-They feel VERY sturdy both off and on the car.
Looks: A-/B+
-On the bright side, they're a simple design. No bright colors. No frills. All function. On the down side, they won't be seen.
Fitment: B+
-The ONLY reason I don't give it a higher grade is simply because the lack of adjustment in the middle two bolt holes. If they were helical, it would allow the brace to slide into the harness hole without having to force it in there while someone starts the bolts. I literally bent the brace to get it to fit properly. Not sure if that's supposed to happen, but it did.
Functionality: N/A
- Like I said above, I haven't gone on a proper drive to really "test" them out. I am going to C&C tomorrow morning, which will give me a chance to see if highway speed cowl shake is minimized.
Price: A
-I bought them during a group buy, which saved me a few bucks. He just recently dropped his price for those of you who want a set.

Overall: A-
-Everything with smoothly (minus the fitment issue).Ken does good work and I won't hold my minor issue against hime. Everything I've bought from him is top notch. He's a super cool guy and a pleasure to deal with. I would very much recommend him as a vendor.

[Ihatecars]

Great wrote up!
I've been considering some sort of fender bracing for my roadster. Good to know Kenjo's product meets the standard of the GarageStar name.

[Flyin 92]

Great wrote up!
I've been considering some sort of fender bracing for my roadster. Good to know Kenjo's product meets the standard of the GarageStar name.

There was a noticeable difference in front end stiffness, especially when going over bumps or RR tracks.

[Flyin 92]

Went to C&C yesterday. It was a little cold and foggy, but still a good turnout.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/15742041221_0b0394060e_c.jpg

Saab Sonnet III. It's cool, quirky and I really like it.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7534/15743948055_9544e43549_c.jpg

1.7 litres of V4 fury

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7471/15558522928_be8bf3d50d_c.jpg

Porsche 550 Spyder cockpit is a thing of beauty. Simple and elegant. I love the cluster as well.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7470/15745484472_ebfa277059_c.jpg

What are the odds Kimi's stable mate would be an Italian Stallion? Looks like a match made in heaven :mrgreen:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7556/15123996384_7834960033_c.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7507/15558771017_4606168d99_c.jpg

After I got home I installed my Nakamae door handles. I'm temped to polish the trim ring on the tweeter, but I'll hold off for now.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8130/15743937715_90d48306c3_c.jpg

[Phatmiata]

Really love the door panels, wish I had not sold mine.

[Imontalto]

If it's the stock trim rings on the tweeter, they are made of plastic. Or at least mine were. I tried to polish mine and the silver came off :/

[Phatmiata]

Yep they are plastic. Maybe we can ask Ken at RetroModern to make use some replacement metal versions??

[Imontalto]

Yep they are plastic. Maybe we can ask Ken at RetroModern to make use some replacement metal versions??

I would be all over those! Especially if there was some way to make them compatible with aftermarket tweeters.

[Flyin 92]

I'll check next time I mess with the car. Might be just the trick to add that last missing "something" from the door.

[etikoner]

Your car is looking awesome man. Loving those door cards, looks great.
This car is really coming together nicely.

[Flyin 92]

Your car is looking awesome man. Loving those door cards, looks great.
This car is really coming together nicely.

Thanks, buddy :)

Still a lot left to do, but she's getting there. Still on the hunt for more airbag stuff I can remove. I still need to ditch AC, add MS, install Maxim header and lotus seats (after I get brackets).

[Flyin 92]

Finally pulled out the Lotus seats from their box after a damn near two year hiatus and mounted them on the Flipside brackets I picked up from forum member one two. SUPER good guy and a great seller. He threw in factory rails and 94+ seatbelt receivers as well.

The entire combo weighed quite a few pounds less than stock. No surprise there. Since I had an extra set of rails I instantly thought, "This shouldn't take more than hour or so tops." Of course that never really works out and the eight of these little bastards contributed to the frustration.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/16327888104_5416d9e409_b.jpg

EVERY. SINGLE. BOLT. looked just like the one above after we (my bro and I) removed them. Thankfully, no heads snapped off or rounded off to the point where a drill would have been the only solution.

After a LOT of swearing and knuckle busting, we finally removed the stock seats.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8724/16924320896_af3352ca66_b.jpg

side-by-side of the driver seats.

Some more fiddling and tightening the adjustable bits, we finally got the seats in. Don't they look glorious? I think so. They really do complete the interior and are the perfect complement. All that's left is to replace that old iPod deck for something a little more "Sharka-ish".

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7591/16327888134_8dca90fc14_b.jpg

And now for a breakdown *insert sick beat*

Brackets:

Build quality: A+
-They're well built and light to boot. Form = function.
Looks: A
-They're black, stealthy and look fantastic. Very minimalist. Me likey.
Functionality: A-
-They mount directly to the stock sliders without modification. The only issue is I've lost a good 3-4" on seat travel on the back end (closest to the parcel shelf). Not a HUGE deal since I fit with plenty of room. Anyone 6'1 and taller might be a tad cramped in the drivers seat. My brother is 6'4 and he barely fit. So a word of warning to the giraffes out there.
Overall: A
-Light, stylish and work as advertised. Having the sliders included was also a HUGE plus.

Seats:
Build quality: A
-They're fiberglass seats with minimal padding. On the plus side, they're STUPID light on their own.
Looks: A+
-Elise seats look great. Period. A great compromise between stock and a real race seat. Key word being compromise.
Functionality: A
-They sit a couple inches lower than stock. Good. They're lighter than stock. Better. Finally, they hold me better than stock seats. Best. They're also incredibly easy to get out of compared to a race seat.

Overall: A

So there you have it. If you want good seats, but don't want a full on bucket, then these might be the seat for you. Even more so if you can spring for the probax. Ever so slightly more comfortable, but they do lack the penisss…… err…… lumbar pump.





*Disclaimer - In no way are these the best seat out there. If you want uncompromising support, I'd suggest you buy a real bucket like a Recaro SPG or something. The Elise seats are good for DD, canyon carving and the casual autoexer.

[Flyin 92]

Second update:

"Operation: Spring Clean" was green-lighted once I knew we'd have a couple 70* days and they just so happened to be my two days off this week. Sooooo… I decided to give Kimi a much needed bath.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/16948877432_0b574dbf19_b.jpg

After I was done…

https://38.media.tumblr.com/35fc307d2bc70394c8be604ccceb321c/tumblr_mi4pvvD1yF1qihx7io1_400.gif

During bath time I decided that I'd freshen up her tired looking wiper arms. It's a project I've been wanting to do for a while, but I've been lazy. Today, however, was not that day. I sprung to action and pulled off the arms.

Old and faded. If you look closely, you'll see what I mean. The driver's side wasn't much better.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8717/16327782924_11a8a98154_b.jpg

Driver's side after a little scuffing action. Paint came off surprisingly easy.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7612/16924211546_6f055fd159_b.jpg

Same went for the wingy thing. It's all nakey.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/16949207421_de1b724523_b.jpg

A little self-etching primer and a steady hand does wonders. I set it in the sun to dry and bake.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8727/16950163955_8981a5d3b1_b.jpg

A few coats of semi-gloss paint later and viola!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/16763941129_01984ecd99_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7641/16949208741_024e65b696_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8723/16762476798_4f0aa2d751_b.jpg

I can't tell you how happy I am that they turned out as nice as they did. It really classes up the cowl area. The next piece is the cowl piece itself. Just as nasty and faded. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to do it with the wiper arms. But rest assured it will be done before the annual Cruisin' Sherwood Classic Car show in June. 500 cars and over 20,000 people come every year. In addition to the local populous. I entered Kimi last year and nearly won a prize in the import category. I'm hoping for a better result this year. It's little details like the wiper arms that go a long way.

A few more items are still on the list for completion. Namely getting a new soft top. I might break down and buy one in the next couple weeks. But who knows. For now, I'm going to enjoy the new seats and clean wiper arms.

And on that bombshell… it's time to end. Thank you! Goodnoight!

[Travyss]

I've repainted my wiper arms so many times! I need to find a good uv protective paint.

[Phatmiata]

that interior looks great!! nice work on the wipers, I have had to do that on pretty much every miata I have owned.

[Flyin 92]

I've repainted my wiper arms so many times! I need to find a good uv protective paint.

I used Duplicilor Trim Paint. It holds up pretty well. Used it to paint my mud guards a while back and they haven't faded or chipped yet.


that interior looks great!! nice work on the wipers, I have had to do that on pretty much every miata I have owned.

It's been a nagging issue for as long as I can remember. Just never did anything about it until now.

[Demon I Am]

You finally got the seats in! Awesome! I was almost ready to try to buy them back from you

[modernbeat]

You rated the seats and the seat parts highly, but how do you like the seating position? I'm tall (6'3") and fit in my foamectomy seats just fine, but wanted a little more headroom so I could wear a helmet with the hardtop on. I found that any position that gave me more headroom also moved my hips forward and my knees up around the steering wheel. That was fine for short drives or autocrossing, but for some of the longer drives I do, it sucked. I could easily do a 12 hour stint in the modified stock seats, but the Exige seats had me out of the car every two hours and by the end of the day, my legs were killing me. It was bad enough I eventually sold them and put the stockers back in the car.

http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/aaa-111/blackcubed/2011-05-17125726.jpg

[Flyin 92]

The seating position is great. It's not uncomfortable by any means. Could have a touch more rearward rake though. Still, its a lot better than I expected.

[Flyin 92]

Quick update.

After driving the car to various meets and things, I've come to the conclusion that the lumbar pump for the driver's seat needs fixing asap. My back was killing me after about 10 minutes because of the faulty lumbar pump. The passenger seat works great and feels perfect with the bladder inflated. The alternative would be to go to the local fabric store, buy padding and do a custom "probax" seat. I'd remove the driver's side seat bladder all together and replace it with nice foam, which would be a more permanent solution. It shouldn't be too hard since the seat inserts are designed to be removed relatively easily.

If anyone has suggestions (aside from buying a probax seat) I'm all ears.

[Phatmiata]

sending some car parts your way today, tracking number sent to your buzzhead email address. :whistle:

[Willywongka]

The seating position is great. It's not uncomfortable by any means. Could have a touch more rearward rake though. Still, its a lot better than I expected.

I had the same seat setup as you not long ago (but no lumbar pump). You could easily add some washers to the flipside brackets to get you some of that rearward rake you are talking about. At least I was able to with mine. Keep up the good work man!

As for adding comfort to your seats... its gonna require a bit of tinkering especially when adding foam/cushion to it. I remember stumbling upon a a thread on the lotus talk (http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f92/seat-rebuild-kemmler-air2gel-foam-25711/) forum that talked about modifying your seats to make them more comfortable.

Though I was successful in making my seats more comfortable, I wasn't 100% satisfied with the results. But definitely worth it if you are planning on keeping the seats. Good luck!

Hit me up if you got any questions regarding the seats, I might be able to help.

[Flyin 92]

sending some car parts your way today, tracking number sent to your buzzhead email address. :whistle:

Thanks, Randy. I saw the email. I'll try and get your stuff shipped out this week.


I had the same seat setup as you not long ago (but no lumbar pump). You could easily add some washers to the flipside brackets to get you some of that rearward rake you are talking about. At least I was able to with mine. Keep up the good work man!

As for adding comfort to your seats... its gonna require a bit of tinkering especially when adding foam/cushion to it. I remember stumbling upon a a thread on the lotus talk (http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f92/seat-rebuild-kemmler-air2gel-foam-25711/) forum that talked about modifying your seats to make them more comfortable.

Though I was successful in making my seats more comfortable, I wasn't 100% satisfied with the results. But definitely worth it if you are planning on keeping the seats. Good luck!

Hit me up if you got any questions regarding the seats, I might be able to help.

Will do. I'm happy with the seats overall. I inherited my dad's lower back issue where I need extra lumbar support. especially on long drives.

I read that the probax seats aren't all that much different outside of the extra padding. I'm sure it won't take much fiddling to get a piece of foam to fit under the cushion.

[Willywongka]

It won't take long to put it in... but to get it to where you are comfortable will take some time.

[Flyin 92]

Received a small package from Mr. Revlimiter yesterday. Apparently, my brother took it upon himself to open it before I got home from work. After I got home I looked through the packing peanuts to find exactly what I hoped to find…

A diecast FC RX7!!! :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7656/17037505898_ef68b11562_b.jpg

Adam was also nice enough to throw in a free set of his new flush mount window switches.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8770/16605068683_43c9b58963_b.jpg

Fun Dact o' the Day: These are the second set to ever grace the inside of a roadster. That's right. Number two. Numero Dos. El Segundo. They are also famous. They are the ones that graced his latest blog post. I'm a proud papa.

I've always thought it was neat how he throws in extra goodies. Class act that guy.

While both items are very well made, I wasn't too keen on removing the FC from the package so I decided to inspect the switches instead.

Again, they seem VERY well made. They're pretty hefty despite their small size.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7593/17225276535_f33845ce8d_b.jpg

The connections are as robust as I've ever seen. Like, it would take all of Thor's hammer lifting power to rip these things out.

As good as they look on my kitchen table I knew they's look much better in the roadster. I could tell Kimi was excited as soon as I stepped foot in the garage. She loves getting presents and loves Adam's the most. Not an ounce of fuss out of her. She knows his parts will fit with no issue.

Goodbye JDM switches. While you looked cool, you just didn't tantalize my fingers the way I hoped you would. I think Kimi was pleased as well. She let them go without a second thought.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7610/17224713841_a2ef2da08c_b.jpg

So much better!! Kimi and I couldn't be happier :mrgreen:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8718/17037507288_16555ba53f_b.jpg

They look right at home in Kimi's interior. They match the RS hazard switches damn near perfectly. A nice symmetry along the center of the car.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7695/17037738220_00295ba5ed_b.jpg

I gave the windows a quick up and down to test out the switches. No problems there, but I knew there wouldn't be.

Now for a quick review.

Build Quality: A++
-These are, by a long way, the most robust set of switches I've ever held. Hell, they're one of the most robust, non-engine related, pieces I've put on the car.

Looks: A+
-Yeah. They look perfect. Perfect complement to the car and dare I say a complement to life in general. They are THAT well executed.

Performace: A
-Pretty simple. They move the windows up. They move the windows down. They are a tad stiff to move up and down, but that comes with using industrial grade switches. In no way is it a bad thing.

Overall: A+
-What more can I say? It's a Revlimiter product. It's damn near flawless like everything else he makes. If you want to update those old stock units you won't be disappointed.

Final Thoughts:

I always wanted a set of his window switches, but I couldn't bring myself to buy them. Until now. They earlier versions, while sexy, they just never did it for me. Once I found out Adam has revised them so they sit flush all that negativity went straight out the window. I knew I had to have them. They looked perfect. The new flush mount made everything about these great switches even better. I couldn't be happier. Really. One more small detail that has a large impact on the interior styling. I'm not a flashy guy and I think these fit my style and Kimi's perfectly.





Speaking of flashy, time to do something about that radio……

[Flyin 92]

Apologies for the inconsistent updates. Not much has happened the past few weeks. A box was dropped off on my doorstep earlier this week though. As always, I was excited to see what was inside.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7669/17249315580_5d784b1906_c.jpg

After delicately tearing the box to pieces I found some interesting things inside.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/16816601113_095937d8fb_c.jpg

There were many cables... that do many things. Not sure what things they do, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7769/17250626569_43af3d2970_c.jpg

Some books with words and pictures. I can only assume they tell me what the cables are for.

Then, came this odd gauge.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8769/17434897852_4b5fb17d56_c.jpg

It says "Air/Fuel Ratio", which can only mean that it does something rather specific. Damned if I know what it is. The boffins at AEM must have created it for a reason.

Last, but certainly not last was this curious little box.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/17249297720_fc07c115fc_c.jpg

It's pretty unassuming and rather light. The internet claims it replaces the stock computer and gives me the option of removing the AFM, which is always a good thing. I'm interested to see what else it can do.

Stay tuned!!!

[Flyin 92]

7 months since my last update. Goes to show how uneventful this build is. Oh well :dunno:

For those that are still following... I have a few new updates. A week or so ago I was looking at the car and started putting a list together of things I want to do over the coming months. Starting least expensive/time consuming and going from there.

For starters, I decided the interior needed a few things to continue to tie everything together. After all, it's all in the details, right?

Well, much to my surprise a box was sitting on the counter when I came out from my room. I figured it was for my brother since USPS said I wouldn't be expecting my package till Saturday. Low and behold, it was for me and it was from the one and only Revlimiter!! :bouncing:

I've heard stories about his new packaging and gift wrapping and needless to say was very impressed. No surprise there really.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5636/23319722074_305990a50a_c.jpg

He was kind enough to leave a "Thank You" note as well.

So, what's inside?

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5635/23947935515_7d5b234aef_c.jpg

Yep. That's right. Swiss Miss hot chocolate and mint Musketeers. The Beetle is also pretty sweet. The hot chocolate will come in handy. It's a balmy 37* here in The People's Republic of Eugene.

Next, was a cool, little velvet drawstring bag. It's a very Crown Royal-esk purple and I figured it would go with the hot chocolate. Turns out I was way off.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1655/23921872056_ce5a88cc2c_c.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1692/23947935525_6c129922ee_c.jpg

It's a ring! I guess Adam liked it so much he wanted to lock it down :phillyb:

After coming to sad realization that it wasn't a proposal-by-mail, I thought it had to go to something. Well, it did...

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5672/23947935415_2d391c6143_c.jpg

The HVAC plate. The ring fits it better than my dainty little finger anyway.

Lastly, was a bright, silver drawstring bag. I knew it could only be one thing.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5693/23921872236_3f087a882a_c.jpg

A VINTAGE HORN BUTTON!!!!!

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5806/23652291390_6f4c4d1f32_c.jpg

It's exactly what my Nardi needed. The metal Nardi horn button is nice, but this... this puts it to shame. It looks so much more at home in the car. I asked Adam to swap out the font for the retro "Mazda" font to match the gauges.

Before:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5648/23948368935_a20f5de864_c.jpg

After:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5693/23320153694_b69f3b6aca_c.jpg

The one, teensy, tiny gripe is that I can't use the beauty ring without taking some material of it or the horn button. Neither I care to do, but it did give me an opportunity to change out the not-so-countersunk flat head allen head screws for those cool dimple head bolts. I found them by accident in my spare flat-head screw baggie. I thought they looked pretty cool and decided to give them a try. I was not disappointed. It gives the wheel a very cool look.

Now, onto the review. I'll do the horn button now. I haven't installed the HVAC plate/ring combo because I can't find my silicone/superglue.

Build quality: A
I read Adam's blog about these long before I bought one. I know he doesn't go halfway with anything. He made the right choice. Light and seemingly well made.

Looks: A++
It's fantastic. It's retro. It's exactly what I was looking for. Simple, yet effective. I wanted a factory look and feel and I got it. I'm very pleased.

Fit and feel: A
Loosen a few nuts, remove a wheel, toss on a trim ring, reattach wheel and pop in the horn button. Pretty simple stuff. Took all of 10 minutes, which included getting the lettering to look level. Pressed it a few times and the horn sounded. Something the Nardi button failed to do.

Overall: A+
It's a great addition to any interior. And since he makes so many designs, it would be hard for anyone not to find one they like. It really does change the look of the steering wheel for the better. I loved the simplicity of the Mod 80 design and I think it fits my interior perfectly.

Another big thanks to Adam for always over delivering. Can't wait to install the HVAC panel next. I have a feeling it's going to look just as good.

[Greasemonkey2000]

Some very nice additions! I wonder if this is Adam's permanent packaging or just for the holidays? Either way, classy sir! :drinkto:

[Flyin 92]

I need Adam's radio panel ensemble. My chunky deck really detracts from the interior.

[Flyin 92]

Part 2 of my Revlimiter box-o-goodies. Retro HVAC Plate w/ Trim Ring. It looked great in Sharka and if it looked great in that car, then it could only improve mine. That's how it's supposed to work, right?

Install is pretty easy:

1) Remove faceplate
2) Clean with alcohol wipe
3) Remove tape backing
4) Apply HVAC plate.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1476/23424525244_22343b7d8f_c.jpg

It's hard to tell from that picture, but the HVAC panel was starting to come unglued. The edges were starting to peel away and it really started look tatty. So, I figured the plate would help secure it AND look great doing it. I had an RS Products plate many moons ago, but it wasn't all that great. It looked good during the day, but created a black hole of sorts in the dash at night. It was a solid piece that didn't let any light through save for a few pin holes at the bottom for the air direction knob (feet, defrost, cabin).

I will admit it was pretty sturdy and well made (like anything from RSP), but it never really quite looked right. Thankfully, Adam decided to make his and well... the rest is history.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1551/23425973503_b83a275b87_c.jpg

Like I said earlier. Installation is pretty straight forward. A little fidgeting to get it centered, but other than that it was easy as pie.

Here it is with the trim ring just placed on it. I can't find my tube of super glue or silicone so it will have to wait. As soon as I find it I'll toss the whole thing back in the car.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1564/23970180941_def566ef04_c.jpg

Now... onto the review.

Build quality: A
Both the plate and ring are solid. The finish on the plate seems pretty durable as well.

Looks: B
Plate: Yes, it looks good. Yes, it covers up the peeling panel. Yes, it adds a touch of flair to the radio surround. My biggest gripe is being able to see the brush marks under the finish. Is it a big deal? No. But, I was expecting it to be a smooth finish with no visible marks. So, it's a bit of a letdown there.

Ring: It matches my tri-bevel vent rings, which is pretty sweet.

Fit and feel: A
Simple install. Nuff said. I'm not too worried about dash fitment.

Overall: A-
It's a neat piece. It's going to do what I need it to do. I wouldn't call it a "must have", but if you're having an issue with your panel peeling and are too lazy to re-glue it and want a bit of dress up, then yes, I would recommend it.

Final thoughts:

I'm looking forward to seeing it all buttoned up. It'll make the radio surround a bit less of an "eye-sore".

[Greasemonkey2000]

Where you been miata brother? :|

[Bryan]

Last I heard, job stuff. Also, I think he got his pilot's license.

[Flyin 92]

3 years later and the "Chosen One" has returned...... with not much new going on, but Ill recap anyway.

As Bryan pointed out I did go to school to pursue a career as a pilot. While I was able to get my license, I wasn't able to finish due to the VA pulling funding. I considered taking out a loan, but at $12k for a single term, I decided against it. After that shit went waaaaayyyyyyy south. Career wise, health (physical and mental), relationship and so on. Because I was jobless, broke and in a bad way mentally, the Miata became an unfortunate victim. She sat outside for roughly two years virtually untouched and undriven for a majority of that time.

Fast forward a couple years to today, I'm currently employed full time with the VA and recently moved back into a place with a garage. Over the last 3-4 months I've been able to play catch up on a LOT of stuff I had neglected, plus make a few upgrades here and there. I'll post what pics I do have in the next couple days.

In the meantime, I'll give a brief list of things I've done (in no real order) since having her back in shape.

New battery
Fluid change
Koyo rad
Replaced tail light seals in hopes of fixing the leaky trunk issue
Removed 75% of the AC system (compressor and dash bits are next)
Added a few dress up pieces to the interior
Sanded letters off of the bumper lenses, tail light covers and turn signals

Current projects:
Install new component speakers to replace the 10 year old Rockfords (up for sale soon).
Install new radio to the the 10 year old Alpine (also up for sale soon)
Upgrade the door cards with more better ones
Remove the old tape around the GV tails and replace with new tape

Future projects:
Build the spare head I have with HKS cams/gears. Mild port and polish. Coolant reroute.
Clean up and finally install the Maxim Works header I've had lying around since I was stationed in Portugal...... 5 years ago :fp:
Re-install soft top with new Robbins cloth top
Install sound deadening to lessen the road noise



tl;dr

Shit hit the fan. Shit has been cleaned up. Life back on track. Miata getting TLC.

[Greasemonkey2000]

Really sorry to hear about all the ups and downs, I certainly can relate. Glad to see you are doing better and looking forward to seeing updates!:popcorn:

[Flyin 92]

Thanks, man. Life has a funny way of hoofing you right in the bait and tackle, then helping you up and pushing you forward and on to better things.


On another note, I'll post a few pics from the lens "project", which was more out of boredom than anything.

Before
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After a 400 grit and 2000 grit wet sanding
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Final product after hand polishing
21346

Soooo.... they turned out ok.... just.... ok. Not bad, but could be better.

Enter the new Dremel and Meguairs plastic cleaner/polish. I used the same stuff when I hand-buffed a week earlier, but power tools make better use of it.

21347

See that cloudiness? Es no bueno. I took extra care not to go overboard with the turn signals since they're hell JDM and rare as a carton of eggs.

21348

Left is un-Dremeled. Right is Dremeled. Night and day difference.

21349

GV lights. Top: hand-polished. Bottom: post-Dremel.

21350

Not really earth shattering stuff, but it adds a nice touch. Like I said earlier, it was more a project of boredom than anything. Between the two rounds of sanding and polishing, I'd say it only took a little over an hour to do everything.


Obligatory pic of the Koyo. This was after I had just dropped it in.
21351


So, that's it for now. I might post up pics of the speaker stuff. Again, not exciting, but at least it'll keep the thread moving.

[Bryan]

Welcome back!

[Flyin 92]

Received a flat package today

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Inside it was thin stack of flat things

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The J2-Limited door panels I bought a few years ago are in desperate need of a refinishing. Or at least the backing is. I opted to add the foam and vinyl and just replace them all together. This solves a few things I've been wanting to address:

1) The warped, water-logged fiberboard will be replaced with 1/8" ABS plastic.
2) I never really cared for the door pocket.
3) The lack of a door pocket will add a much cleaner look.

With that comes a couple new issues that will need addressed:
1) The speaker panels didn't have a backing, thus won't be a direct transfer. The new panel has provisions to mount them, but without the factory backing or they won't mount properly.
2) The spacers near the speakers will need to be drilled out and transferred over (riveted to the old panel).

Overall, I'm impressed with the quality of all the pieces. Should look great when they're all put together. The extra triangle bit was a "gift" and replaces the jack cover bit in the trunk. If anyone is interested, PM Primer3D on Etsy. Really nice guy and provides excellent customer service. Shipping was quick and easy too.

PS

If anyone has the upper door pads in good shape and with non-broken mounting posts/pegs (not sure what they're called) let me know. The ones I currently have were held on with like two of the posts/pegs.

I'll be selling the old door pieces after the new bits are installed, sans speaker covers.

[tsingson]

Thanks, man. Life has a funny way of hoofing you right in the bait and tackle, them helping you up and pushing you forward and on to better things.

Sounds like a Sour Patch Kids commercial.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRUwf17WNyRW3NZlGPUSIYDsGfpLOGvT d4c9PoPKwVPPeYeZbYMqg&s

Glad to see everything is going well for you now. Definitely looking forward to your progress!

[Flyin 92]

Not much to update today. Waiting for the weekend to get started on the door panels. I'm half tempted to drop them off at a local upholstery shop and have the foam/vinyl professionally applied.

Also, I'm in the works with someone to make backing plates for the LE speaker covers. It will allow me properly mount them to the new panels and give me a place to mount the metal grilles I popped off the NA6 speaker covers I picked up yesterday.

I'm still in the hunt for the upper door pads. If anyone knows of any in good shape shoot me an PM.

[Flyin 92]

Test fit the door cards today. Popping out the provisions for door pulls and what not was pretty easy. One of the holes for the door pull will need tidied up with a file, but otherwise went smoothly. Still need to pop out everything for the LE speaker covers and speaker hole itself and swap over the panel spacers around the speaker.

21399

It'll look much nicer once they're covered in the new vinyl and have all the kit installed, but for now I can live with it as is.