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Thread: The French Racing Blue Roadster

  1. #1
    Idling - Listen to it purr... thatbluena6's Avatar
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    The French Racing Blue Roadster

    Hey guys, my name is Nate. I live in Adelaide, Australia. After spending countless hours looking through build threads the past few years, I thought it would be a great time to finally start a build thread of my own. I'm not sure how active I'll be on here yet, so feel free to follow me on Instagram - @thatbluena6

    Apologies in advance, this might be a big first post but we'll see how we go. This will hopefully give you some context as to how I came about the car and the reason I have chosen the path I've gone down with my build. I'll try to cut it down as best as I can.

    Going way back to 2009-2010, I was in my final years of high school. I don't specifically remember what the spark was, but it was around this time, I fell in love with the NA Roadster. I've always been a huge Japanese car fan and this may have been contributed by my friends (one of which had an R34 GTST Skyline) I always lusted for a JDM car, I got very close to purchasing both an R32 and 180sx. But at the time things just didn't work out or I backed out of the deal. I think my decision making was influenced heavily by my parents at the time. They would always tell me to work hard, save my money for a house first and then look at treating myself to a sports car. Looking back now, I cant thank them enough as this is exactly what I did. Yes I missed out on some really cool cars but in the end they really showed me the way to set myself up for life. I still had fun with less expensive cars, which in turn actually taught me a lot of what I know today, servicing, general maintenance, audio/electrical modifications etc. My previous cars aren't much to talk about but my current daily is a 2009 Mazda 6 Sports/Luxury package, so the Roadster isn't my first or only Mazda in my stable. Throughout the years between 2010-2017, everytime I got into an NA MX-5 for test drive it reminded me just how special this car was to me. I found myself smiling the whole time driving it and loved its natural ability on the mountain roads. I had to do something about it.

    The story continues......

    After what felt like an eternity, we now we arrive to late December 2017. The itch to get into an NA MX-5 never left, I would always be looking online daily in the year or two leading up to 2017. I test drove a couple but never got a deal done, most of the time due to the owner wanting too much for a flogged car. That was until one day in December 2017, I came across an ad for a 1990 Mariner Blue NA6 which only had 114,00kms (~70K miles). The owner, who was an older gentleman wasn't asking much for it. I messaged him straight away, got the address and drove down in a flash. Upon arrival was a nice Mariner Blue NA6 with the top down sitting in the drive way. The owner was selling it due to old age, he had actually planned on keeping it and had it stored away for the past couple of years but decided it was time to part with it.

    It was defiantly needing some love. The interior was very dusty and had some broken parts like the tombstone, the soft top rear plastic window was also completely shot and it did have some battle scars. The headrest speakers and power windows also weren't working and the car did have some kind of oil leak. But the car had good bones. At the time, I didn't know how much it was going to cost to get it up to spec but figured, this will be my weekend project car and will always been a weekender so time was on my side. My wife (fiancι at the time) actually came down with me to look at the car. I told her all the faults the car had, her response was - if it doesn't bother you it doesn't matter, this is a car you have wanted for so long, if you're happy, I'm happy.

    That's all I needed to hear, so with that I was happy to look past its faults and accept I'd have to put in time and money to get it where I would like but being that I ended up getting it for cheap it was a steal and a deal I couldn't look past. I ended up collecting the car a few days before Christmas 2017. What a Christmas it was!

    So the car is now with its 3rd owner, me. I still have the original documents and also the original owners paperwork for purchasing the car back in 1990. The Mariner Blue paintwork is in ok condition for its age but with the dents/scratches etc, the paint will defiantly need a respray in the future. The car had absolutely zero modifications done to the car, even has the factory fitted CD player that connects to the original tape deck headunit! This was awesome as it gives me a completely blank canvas to work with. The car is a base model with Air conditioning and power windows, no power steering but I prefer this.

    Here's a photo of the day I got it:



    ok, I think that's enough for now. More to come.....
    Last edited by thatbluena6; 06-11-2020 at 03:09 AM.

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  3. #2
    Idling - Listen to it purr... thatbluena6's Avatar
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    Current Parts List - *Last Updated 11/06/2020*


    Interior

    Nakamae Quilted Sidestep (TAN)
    Nakamae Quilted Transmission Tunnel Cover (TAN)
    Nakamae Quilted Leather Door Trim (TAN)
    Nakamae Quilted Beltline Trim (TAN)
    Nakamae Quilted Lower Package Tray Trim (TAN)
    Nakamae Quilted Upper Package Tray (TAN)
    Nakamae Quilted Hardtop Headliner (TAN) - *Waiting on delivery*

    RevLimiter KG Works Vintage Horn Button Repoduction
    RevLimiter Sharka's Vent Rings
    RevLimiter KG Works Vintage Horn Button
    RevLimiter Retro Shift Plate

    OEM Mazda LE Roadster Chrome Speaker Covers
    OEM factory NA Shift Pattern Sticker
    OEM Mazda V-Special Rear Upper Desk Carpet
    OEM Mazda V-Special Rear Lower Desk Carpet
    OEM Mazda V-Special Main Carpet
    OEM Mazda V-Special Tan Dash - *Pending install*
    OEM Mazda V-Special Seatbelts
    OEM Mazda V-Special Upper Door Crash pads - *Pending install*
    OEM Mazda V-Special Seat Tower Covers
    OEM Mazda V-Special Floor Mats - *Waiting on delivery*

    Retrim Stock NA Seats to NA TAN Leather
    Tan NA Roadster Leather Gear Gaiter & Handbrake Cover

    Jass Performance Side Hardtop Brackets
    Jass Performance Aluminum Needle Caps
    Jass Performance A/C Knobs

    RS Refine Deep Gauge Rings
    RetroModernUSA Eunos Edition Door Pulls
    I.L Motorsport Retro Rear View Mirror
    Maruha Japan Fast Power Window Kit
    JoyFast Long Gearknob
    Zoom Engineering Push Starter Button - Rewired to fit into under radio panel
    Momo Grand Prix Steering Wheel
    Tuckin99 Tan NA Floor Mats
    REV9 OE-Style 1002 Pedals
    Arrive Mahogany Handbrake Handle
    JoyFast Handbrake Button
    Zeromotive Ventilation Knob Caps

    DIY NA Retro Hazard Switch
    DIY NA Retro Power Window Switch
    DIY Starter Panel with Toggle Switches


    Exterior

    R-Package Front Lip
    R-Package Rear Lip
    Runabout M2 Mirrors
    Factory Replacement Softop Roof
    Zoom Engineering Fuel Cap
    Zoom Engineering Side Indicators
    OEM Mazda Factory Hardtop
    BeatRush Radiator Cooling Panel
    KG Works Rear Spoiler - *Pending install, not sure if I'll use yet*
    KG Works Spray Washer Nozzles
    KG Works Vintage Badge (Rev Limiter Reproduction)
    Eunos Aluminium Tyre Valve Caps
    OEM Mazda Rear Red Roadster Badge
    OEM Mazda Eunos Roadster Fog Lights - *Pending install*
    Garage Vary Headlight Intake Lid Type 3 - *Pending install*
    Vented Quarter Window Kit [Pop-Out Air Vent]
    Standard Position Number Plate Bracket - *Pending install*


    Engine/Performance

    Advanced Cam Timing +14 Degrees
    NGK Iridium Spark Plugs
    Painted Mazda Rocker Cover (Wrinkle Black)
    Mx5 Mania Radiator 40mm
    Mx5 Mania Short Shifter Kit
    Cobalt Dual Exit Cat-Back Exhaust
    1.6 ARC Super Intake Chamber
    OEM Mazda 3.9 Torsen 2 LSD - *Pending install*


    Suspension/Handeling

    OEM NA BBS 14x6 +45
    BeatRush Rear Front Strut Bar
    AutoMotive Plus Dual Hoop Roll Bar (Powdercoated Black)
    SuperMiata Sway Bar End Links
    Ken Auto 'Taikan' Solid Door Bushes
    Tein Flex Z Coilovers
    Whiteline 24mm Adjustable Front Sway Bar
    Whiteline 16mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar
    Jass Performance Reinforced Frame Rails - *Pending install*


    Maintenance Parts

    OEM Mazda Upper Shift Boot Rubber
    OEM Mazda Lower Shift Boot Rubber
    OEM Mazda Shifter Slide Bush
    OEM Mazda Rear Main Seal
    OEM Mazda OEM Coolant Hoses
    OEM Mazda Fuel Filter
    OEM Mazda CAS O Ring
    OEM Mazda Factory Clutch
    OEM Mazda Exhaust Hangers (x5)
    OEM Mazda Camshaft Oil Seal (Long Nose)
    OEM Mazda Crankshaft Oil Seal (Long Nose)
    OEM Mazda Tensioner Spring
    OEM Mazda Rocker Cover Gasket
    OEM Mazda Woodruff Key
    OEM Mazda Oil Filter
    OEM Mazda Sump Plug
    OEM Mazda Waterpump Gaskets
    OEM Mazda Waterpump O-Ring
    OEM Mazda Thermostat O-Ring
    OEM Mazda AC Belt

    GMB Tensioner Pulley (d/s)
    GMB Idler Pulley (p/s)
    GMB Waterpump
    Gates Timing Belt

    Penrite Engine Oil (Penrite 10Tenths 5W-50)
    Penrite Transmission Oil (Penrite 75W-85 GL4)
    Penrite Diff Oil (Penrite 75W-85 GL4)

    NGK Spark Plugs (Blue)
    Tridon Hi-Flow Themostat w/Gasket
    Radiator Hose Clamp Kits
    Ryco Air Filter
    Nulon Coolant
    Windscreen Washer Joints (Y-Piece)
    Replacement 1.6 Tailshaft/Universal Joints


    Other

    OEM Eunos Roadster Key (Silver)
    CarMakeCorns Keyring
    Maruha Radiator Cap 1.3Bar (Blue)
    Vintage Mazda Licence Plate
    Last edited by thatbluena6; 06-11-2020 at 08:19 PM.

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  5. #3
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift HarryB's Avatar
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    New build thread, yay!

  6. #4
    Idling - Listen to it purr... thatbluena6's Avatar
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    Unfortunately I didn't take too many pictures of the car in its first state. I was just so focused on getting it clean and fixing it up. Below is a picture of how the interior was. It doesn't really show how bad the interior was, it needed a deep clean badly. The steering wheel was one of the worst parts, the leather wrapping was completely gone. I still have the wheel to this day, but at the time I wanted something else rather than getting it re-trimmed.



    Last edited by thatbluena6; 06-11-2020 at 06:58 PM.

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  8. #5
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift oldgrayleather's Avatar
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    Have been following on IG but your posts prove out why build threads are so fantastic! Context of the journey and all the details you just can't relay in pictures. After an impressive two and a half years and that list of parts and work you've done, hope you're wife is still glad she encouraged you to get your MX5!

    Looking forward to future updates!

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  10. #6
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! MaRcOp01o's Avatar
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    Same as Pete I have been following you as well. You and Pete are tied as my favorite mariner builds!
    Follow the Builds
    1993 Eunos Roadster B-spec by Mazdaspeed
    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....819#post222819
    1993 Mazda Miata LE
    https://mazdaroadster.net/showthread...233#post244233

  11. #7
    Idling - Listen to it purr... thatbluena6's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldgrayleather View Post
    Have been following on IG but your posts prove out why build threads are so fantastic! Context of the journey and all the details you just can't relay in pictures. After an impressive two and a half years and that list of parts and work you've done, hope you're wife is still glad she encouraged you to get your MX5!

    Looking forward to future updates!
    Thanks Pete, its been a fun couple of years so far. I think she is, she's now wanting us to get a sunburst NA


    Quote Originally Posted by MaRcOp01o View Post
    Same as Pete I have been following you as well. You and Pete are tied as my favorite mariner builds!
    Thanks Marco, its means a lot to be compared to Pete's amazing Roadster.

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  13. #8
    Idling - Listen to it purr... thatbluena6's Avatar
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    One of the first things I fixed on the car was the broken RHS indicator light. Ended up getting a fresh set from Mazda. I think I replaced the tombstone around the same time, but didnt take any photos of this.

    Nice new set:


    The engine bay was also looking in need a of clean. A bit of elbow grease later and it came up pretty good.


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  15. #9
    Idling - Listen to it purr... thatbluena6's Avatar
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    I believe the first "mod" I ever did to the car was the JoyFast gearknob (Long Version). After seeing it on @96BRG's car, I had a chat with him. He said it was a great product compared to the OEM shifter if you like weighted knobs. I went along with his recommendation and couldn't be more happy. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a heavier shift.


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  17. #10
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! Greasemonkey2000's Avatar
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    Nice work, Nate! Had a tall Joyfast knob before and really liked it combined with the MiataRoadster tall angled sts. Looking forward to seeing your progress!
    '01 NB2 aka MisF1re: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....218#post207218
    '97 M aka Warbird, gone but not forgotten: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....B&goto=newpost
    Instagram: @greasemonkey2000

  18. #11
    Idling - Listen to it purr... thatbluena6's Avatar
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    One of the first mountain "hills" drives I took the car on. It was a super fun time. Completely stock NA and it still felt amazing. Also added an R Package front and rear lip. I was always fond of the Garage Vary Lip but feel it wasn't going to match my theme of the car.





    My family love ride alongs in the Roadster


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  20. #12
    Idling - Listen to it purr... thatbluena6's Avatar
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    Shortly after ordering the JoyFast Gear Knob, I had to order some RevLimiter goodies. RevLimiter parts were always going to be apart of this build. I absolutely love the work Adam does.

    I ended up ordering a set of Sharka's vent rings, Vintage Mazda horn button and front nose badge (same style the KG Works made a while back)


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  22. #13
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power BRGNA8's Avatar
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    Great to see your build thread on here mate!

    You know how much I love your Mariner Blue

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