Completed:
Engine/Drivetrain
-Mazdaspeed Front Strut Bar
-BeatRush Rear Strut Bar
-Mazdaspeed Oil Filler Cap (Gold)
-DDM Works Cruise Control Relocation Kit
-Mazdaspeed Airbox Powdercoated High Heat Flat Black
-Retro Modern Spark Plug Cover
-NGK Spark Plug Change
-Koyorad 36mm Hyper V-Core Aluminum
-Upgraded Maruha Radiator Hoses
-DaveFab LHD Washer Bottle Relocation Kit
-OEM 1.8L Valve Cover Powdercoated Flat Black
Exterior
-Moss Miata Turn Signal Intakes
-Front and Rear Tie-down "Baby Teeth" Removal
-OEM Eunos Yellow Lens Fog Lights
-OEM-style R-Package Front Lip
-OEM-style R-Package Rear Lip
-Retro-style Luggage Rack
-Robbins Factory-Style Top w/ Defroster Glass (Zipperless & NA Tan)
Interior
-Hard Dog M2 Sport Black Powdercoat w/ Double Diagonal
-OEM Dual Defroster/Fog Light Switch
-Revlimiter Sharka's Vent Rings Polished Aluminum
-Revlimiter F1 Stage 2 Gauges
-Revlimiter Center Indicator Panel
-Revlimiter Retro Window Switches (Black)
Suspension
-Feal Suspension 441 Monotube Coilovers
-RS Watanabe Type B wheels 14x6.5 +15 w/ 5mm Spacers
-Watanabe Center Caps Type 1
-ARP Extended Wheel Studs
Misc
-Rear Bumper Cover Refinished
-New Rear Wheel Hubs
-New Rear Wheel Bearings
-Time Buzzer Relay
------ Big Update Time ------
New year, new wheels and suspension for the Miata! After literally a year and a half at this point, I was finally able to get the Watanabes onto the Miata. The main hold up was me not wanting to have 14s on stock suspension but that required me to get coilovers, spacers, extended wheel studs, and finally lug nuts.
I had originally planned to go big and get Ohlins as the coilovers for the Miata since I've heard nothing but rave reviews on their products. Between stocking issues and the fact that on top of the Ohlins, I'd likely need to get the extended top hats for the rear, the price of everything was not only out of my budget, but also didn't seem to make too much sense at the end of the day. I landed on the Feal suspension 441s mainly because they seemed like a decent middle ground between cheap $600 coilovers and the $2000+ that were Ohlins. The fact that the Feals were produced in SoCal and came with the extended top hats was also a plus to me.
The hardest part of this entire process handsdown, was finding the front extended wheel studs. I had originally gotten a set from Fab9Tuning and thought nothing of it when they arrived, but only once the Miata was in the shop did my mechanic inform me that the ones they sent me were not correct and I needed to source new ones. I went on a wild goose chase calling shops all over the country (and Fab9 themselves) inquiring about where I could get some, but everyone was sold out. In a last ditch effort, I miraculously found two sets on eBay from a seller in Texas and got those to my shop immediately so the work could continue.
All in all, I'm super pleased with how the Miata looks and while I haven't driven it much, I can already feel (feal?) a difference in the way the car responds to bumps and turns. One thing I have immediately noticed is an increase in the 65 mph cowl shake, so fender braces have moved into top spot for next major upgrade.
6LOSPC1.jpg
But for now, time to drive and enjoy the Miata...and wash it when I get the chance.
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