The Slow Pursuit of Vintage.

[— Madaboutmx5s —]

Good work Jamie. I have the chassis frame rails fitted to 3 of my roadsters. I've been impressed with them like you are. Good feedback on the fender braces as something I've always considered.

[JamieH]

It has been quite a while since I updated this thread. But parts have started to trickle in and by the middle to the end of April, Betty should be sitting far, far prettier.

Fist to come in were the upper ball joints from Rock Auto. Went with the Moog K500210. Read a lot of good about them and they seem to be the best replacement.

And today the majority of my order from Bill at MiataRoadster came in.



Here's the full order list from Bill.

MZ-NA01-R1-311 Mazda cushion cap for tip of convertible top latch
MZ-N021-32-280A-2 Mazda steering tie rod ends from 1993 LE/1994-1995 R package w/
MZ-9992-41-201 castle nuts, cotter pins, and M12x1.25 jam nuts PAIR
MZ-NAY9-28-6AZ-8 Mazda camber adjustment sets of bolts/cams/nuts for lower control arms SET OF 8
MZ-N076-39-040-2 Mazda motor mounts PAIR (2004-2005 MSM)
MZ-NA01-34-550B-2 Mazda ball joint front lower w/ complimentary castle nuts, cotter pins PAIR

I was hoping to save some money on the lower ball joints. But from what I found and read, the Moog lowers aren't really Moog. They're cheap Chinese parts in a Moog box. So, OEM it is. Plus, getting everything but the upper ball joints from Bill made ordering easier. He sells them in pairs and includes new castle nuts and cotter pins, unlike some places. His prices are perfectly reasonable and his shipping cost was steller. For example, everyone else wanted $20 something just to ship out some mounts. Bill though? $15 for everything I ordered. To say I would buy from him again is an understatement.

Now I'm just waiting on the motor mounts...







and sway bar...







and endlinks...







and Xidas.

Yep, finally ordered suspension for my girl. No more riding around on the worn out GR2s the previous owner installed new. No more 177k miles stock springs. No more whimpy stock front sway. No more "too tall for a Miata" ride height.

I went with the 550/350 rates, now called the Touring rates on 949's site. Along with the 54102 Racing Beat solid front bar. Keeping the stock rear, both are getting 949 endlinks.

So, beyond new bushings, she's getting a pretty major suspension refresh.

And to cap this post off, here she is after getting washed off yesterday.

[— freedomgli —]

Good call on the Xidas. I'm planning to do the same rates.

[JamieH]

Got a package today.



Front sway and endlinks.



That is all.

[JamieH]

And now I have the MazdaSpeed motor mounts.



Choose the MazdaSpeed mounts over the comp mounts since the comp mounts have just enough NVH for a couple of things to be ever so slightly noticeable at idle that I rather not deal with.

[JamieH]

Plan to eventually do a black wrinkle finish on the valve cover. But before I do, I want to have everything needed to complete the look. Already have a mostly complete set of chrome acorn bolts (need the two shorties for up front), the chrome breather tube, and now, the oil cap.



Also in the pic is the RM cigarette plug. It'll do for now, hope to eventually find a wooden one I like. The one thing no one says about the RM plug is the weight. It's small and made of aluminum, but has just enough weight to have a sense of heft. Which is nice.

Still waiting on Xidas. Taking longer than I expected, but, they are being made, so they will be as fresh as possible. Should have them by next month. Then I can get to work on installing all the suspension goodies Betty has deserved for a long time.

[—tsingson—]

Nice man. I plan on getting mine ordered at the end of the year. I am most likely going with the same rates. Did you decide on those rates or did Emilio help you decide?

[JamieH]

Nice man. I plan on getting mine ordered at the end of the year. I am most likely going with the same rates. Did you decide on those rates or did Emilio help you decide?

I had been leaning towards the 550/350 combo for the longest. I emailed Emilio asking what rates would be best. Gave'em a small paragraph of what I have and my intended use, his reply was short and direct.

In the long run, if I want stiffer, I can swap out the springs in the future. But I doubt it. I've ridden and driven Zach's 10AE (previously Steven's (KFJ)) which has softer rates than the 550/350 Xidas and that felt pretty good to me as far as bodyroll and overall handling. And I've seen what that car can do on some old RE-11s.

Chances are I'm going to notice the difference immediately. It's pretty much going to be a night and day difference. I mean, going from worn out stock replacement shocks and OEM springs to Xidas, a coilover that is highly regarded as one of the best upper level coilover options for the Miata, is going to be a hell of an experience I figure.

Honestly, if the Xidas are everything I've heard and read about, I've got a lot of learning to do as far as my driving ability. As is, I can't push any harder on the stock worn out junk on Betty unless I had stickier tires. Which I'm a little worried the Xidas will be everything their reputation says they are, and the limit will be that much higher. Right now, I'm just an idiot riding on the bumpstops beating the hell out of the BFG Sport Comp 2s.

[— kung fu jesus —]

What you may notice is being able to feel what each wheel is doing. It builds a bit of confidence.

[BRGNA8]

And now I have the MazdaSpeed motor mounts.



Choose the MazdaSpeed mounts over the comp mounts since the comp mounts have just enough NVH for a couple of things to be ever so slightly noticeable at idle that I rather not deal with.

Hey Jamie! Would you happen to have the part number for the Mazdaspeed motor mounts? I"m wanting to upgrade them along with Mazdaspeed bushings in the future. Was wondering if you had a part number so I can write it down for future reference?

Also, excuse my ignorance but what is XIDAS and what does it do for our cars?

[HarryB]

XIDAS are one of the best coilover solutions out there for Miatas; also something you won't need with your Ohlins (I believe).

[JamieH]

Hey Jamie! Would you happen to have the part number for the Mazdaspeed motor mounts? I"m wanting to upgrade them along with Mazdaspeed bushings in the future. Was wondering if you had a part number so I can write it down for future reference?

Also, excuse my ignorance but what is XIDAS and what does it do for our cars?

MZ-N076-39-040-2

I suggest you get them from Bill at MiataRoadster. http://miataroadster.com/mazda/mazda.../i-465886.aspx

Like Harry said, Xidas are one of the best coilover options for the Miata. But if you have/are going with Ohlins, another one of the best coilover options, you don't need Xidas.

[BRGNA8]

MZ-N076-39-040-2

I suggest you get them from Bill at MiataRoadster. http://miataroadster.com/mazda/mazda.../i-465886.aspx

Like Harry said, Xidas are one of the best coilover options for the Miata. But if you have/are going with Ohlins, another one of the best coilover options, you don't need Xidas.

Ah awesome! Cheers mate much appreciated!

[JamieH]

For whatever reason, the pic of the RM oil cap and cig plug disapearred off imgur. And the edit button isn't available for the post it was in. So, here it is again.

[—tsingson—]

Classy.