I have been quiet for a long time. This is because a few months shy of a year ago I moved 3000 miles away from Phatmiata's lap to the cradle of tech civilization. My new home is the San Francisco Bay Area, where I am making enough money to finally do what I really want to (evidenced by what I have already done before typing this book out). Unfortunately, my car could not come with me right away. I left mazdaroadster ( I didn't want to, but not having my car and being on a miata forum kinda really sucked. I really care about you guys, but not having Nikaime was painful haha ) and stuck to some Facebook groups in the area. I really have had a blast taking public transit everywhere (:roll:), but it was finally time to drop the dough to get her shipped out.
Tonight, she was unloaded from the truck with my tool bags and teins in the trunk (being installed someday, I can't work on her in my complex's parking lot). I raced to the gas station, dumped in a full tank of premium and put another 3 or 4 miles on her right away. Even my wife was practically pissing herself.
http://i.imgur.com/9q9AYgO.jpg
I was finally inside of her again...
http://i.imgur.com/uKehq2T.jpg
I am sure some of you can understand the calm and content joy I felt right then. Then came denial, everything about her felt wrong. The clutch was off, the shifting too buttery, the steering wrong. But after a few miles during my reunion circuit I fell back into old habits. The downshifts were coming naturally, I completely forgot she was non-power steering, I didn't even mind that she was entirely coated with dust from the open-carrier trip.
http://i.imgur.com/ark7hzm.jpg
Now, she does have some problems that need addressed. I moved right after installing my front lip, so one bolt is missing and one corner drags on the drivers side tire. Her oil is ancient and probably really bad, oil pressure hovering below 25 at idle. She misses slightly at low rpms under load/acceleration. All things that a little TLC and time this weekend will resolve.
Now, for what you really want to see. I had been stockpiling parts in my closet since I moved (never stopped buying!). I knew I couldn't let her sit her first night in CA without SOMETHING new on her... sooooo.....
http://i.imgur.com/syeUnVZ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8ZtzasZ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/GIs3QWN.jpg
I picked these autoblaze mirrors up from a clubroadster dude named Bo Gaut, who is seriously my favorite parts supplier.
I also have a Zoom fuel lid going on this weekend!
Nikaime lives again, and this thread will begin frequent updates once more. My love goes out to all you guys, Phat for the forums and welcoming me so warmly to the tampa crowd while I was there. This is the next chapter tho.
Wow guys, it's been 5 years. 3 years here on MR alone.