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Thread: Grumpy's Roadster Evolution

  1. #1
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Grumpy's Avatar
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    Grumpy's Roadster Evolution

    Bought the car in spring of 2008. Stock with just about every option but automatic, and seat heaters. no shots of the car when I picked it up, other than an interior shot:



    The first few things I did were, remove rear badges and take it for a drive:



    I also replaced the horn with a Nautilus, and had a custom badge made for the car:



    Loving the British roadsters of the past, and already having some wood accents, I added a wood shift knob with a Grumpy likeness that I drew, and chrome mirror covers, and antenna.



    I wanted to listen to my own tunes ad free, so I added a Grom ipod kit, and ran it out through the center console.



    So endeth the first year and a half of ownership.

  2. #2
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch Cny's Avatar
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    God NC's are growing on me!
    S/C'd 93 1.6......my other wife, the Old love
    00 1.8............the current sammich maker


    Quote Originally Posted by adamvanxxx View Post
    Hang out with CNY, by far the COOLEST dude I have ever met off of the internet.

    Cause he didn't rape me.

  3. #3
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Grumpy's Avatar
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    The next 2 items I added were a luggage rack for trips (not on all the time) and a chrome bar grille to further the retro look mods:



    I'd been considering different wheels, and finally managed to find a set that I liked, and were lighter than the stock 17's.

    A staggered set of Motegi Traklites 17x7 +42, and 17x8+45. $350 for the set used instead of $1000+ new, assuming you could find a place that had em. They had a bit of curb rash So I knew they'd need to be repainted. After some deliberation I came up with a 2 tone scheme



    Other changes were red footwell lights/dome light LED, Trunk LED, DRL LEDs, changing the center console to black, adding another badge, Color in the engine bay and color matching the badges to the wheels.



    I finally decided to to a performance mod, and swapped out the puny stock sways to RX8 yellow dot bars. Just a small difference, both visually, and performance wise ;)



    The last couple mods required a bit more work than most of the others. I got sick of unlocking the rear cubby to access the gas release cable, so I decided to relocate it to somewhere much more accessible: the doorjamb, just above the arm rest. I could recess it, but as the seat is forward anyway, I don't notice or catch it in any way when getting in and out:



    I just replaced the head unit and the Grom, which was acting up, with a JVC KD-X50BT media player. Have nothing but good things to say, works great, and cost very little for all its features! ($120)

    Last edited by Grumpy; 01-06-2012 at 12:38 AM.

  4. #4
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Grumpy's Avatar
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    At this point in time, I don't have the money to take my car where I want it, so mods will be few and far between for a while.
    Mods planned:

    JIC Magic Coilovers
    Nardi 330 wood classico w/ nrg short hub and quick release
    Goodwin dual hoop rollbar or BFW custom rollbar
    Roadster side stripes in vinyl to color match the wheels
    Cruiser Dual exhaust
    AWD gauges/panel/everything! (Gotta have a pic!)



    Dream mod, but which will probably never happen: supercharger
    Grumpy's Roadster ATM:


  5. #5
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Grumpy's Avatar
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    So I decided to do something not on the list above today
    So after hearing all about This stuff called Plasti-dip, i dove in head first. I did test first on the cover piece of the center console. After 2 weeks, the plastidip was removed with no trace. So I gave my friend Jim a call.
    We started with this (not my pic, and the center console on mine has been replaced with the black one):



    After removing some screws and a bit of pulling we had this:



    After some masking and spraying a few coats we were here:



    After spraying a couple more coats, drying time, and removing the masking, we had this!:




    Total time from start to finish was about 4 hours due to drying time between plasti-dip coats. The masking tape didn't want to stick real well to the plastic, so the small speaker grills are a little rough, and I need to touch up a few other edges, but overall I'm very happy with the result. I like the color combo of the green/tan (pumpkin orange) but there was just soo much orange, I wanted to break up the sea of it in the interior.
    Thanks again Jim!

    Ps, almost forgot--- we broke 0, thats zero, clips when removing the doors! (is that a record? ;-D)

  6. #6
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Grumpy's Avatar
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    Was able to get a really good deal on them, so they happened earlier than expected!


  7. #7
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Grumpy's Avatar
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    part way through Mazdaspeed spring swap!

    pretty colors!


    Thanks to lots of help from the KINOD crew, I'm lower!

  8. #8
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power morr's Avatar
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    Nice progress, Grumpy! The relocation of the gas cap release is a cool idea. Keep up the good work
    RoadsterLife<3

  9. #9
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! CeeJaayDM's Avatar
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    one of my favorite NC's
    instagram >>> @cmxciii

    no moar miata. i just lurk & stuff now.

  10. #10
    Ninja Messiah kung fu jesus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grumpy View Post

    Quote Originally Posted by Grumpy View Post

    before/after

  11. #11
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Grumpy's Avatar
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    Thanks guys! KFJ, I didn't even think of doing a comparo like that, thanks!

  12. #12
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift I<3flippyheadlights's Avatar
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    NC's are really growing on me, and I have to say I love yours
    1990 Miata, she was red but now she is Spirit Green!

    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....d-a-love-story <--- build thread!

    Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IHeartFlippyHeadlights !!! Its a facebook page dedicated to the awesomeness which is flippyheadlights! Not me, but the actual headlights! High time someone noticed how awesome these things are; check it out!

  13. #13
    Idling - Listen to it purr...
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    I agree, You made what I thought to be an ugly car look awesome.
    Great job, keep it up.

  14. #14
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Andy's Avatar
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    nice. I like the nc more now.

  15. #15
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here!
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    Quote Originally Posted by SlowMiata View Post
    I agree, You made what I thought to be an ugly car look awesome.
    Great job, keep it up.
    ouch...

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