I can't get enough of this car man. It's would be right at home in a Road&Ster magazine from 20 years ago.
Zoom wing looked good from the beginning, but it just gets better and better.
Agent☣Orange (05-18-2020),MaRcOp01o (05-13-2020)
Smog tests are an every 2 year right of passage in California and it was again Benny’s turn. I’ve never had a car that’s failed but the potential of not passing always stresses me out. This was my first since Flyin Miata installed the turbo kit so I had a bit more anxiety than usual. They opened the hood and immediately protested the fact it wasn’t remotely stock and asked how I thought this was going to pass. I pointed to the Carb sticker on the fire wall. They paused. And said, ok – go sit over there…
The cars that arrived at the same time as mine had been long gone as had the group that followed them. The third set were finishing up their tests and stress was mounting. They called me over... Ugh. “How do you open the fuel lid so I can inspect the cap?” Phew.
The tester then backed out of the bay (all other cars are pulled forward) and signaled me over again. He said “you passed. Didn’t want to scrap the lip you know?” “So you do it yourself? Well that’s a profession job right there. Whoever did it has brains!”. He admitted part of the reason he took so long was there was so many details he couldn’t help checking out. I wasn’t even miffed. Flattered and relieved. I wasn’t ever doubting FM but left feeling even more appreciation for their work
Agent☣Orange (05-18-2020),druz (05-18-2020),Greasemonkey2000 (05-18-2020),HarryB (05-19-2020),JamieH (05-19-2020),MaRcOp01o (05-19-2020),Martin (05-19-2020),MiataQuest (05-19-2020),newoldm (05-19-2020),Roadster7 (05-18-2020),speedypenguin (05-18-2020),tsingson (05-19-2020),ueru (05-18-2020)
I have an appointment with the BAR referee tomorrow on my engine swap. If it goes well, I can finally install the FM turbo I bought almost 2 years ago.
Wish I had the patience to document my builds like you have. I really like reading about what you are doing with your cars.
I’ve been concerned about COVID’s impact on some of the people that have taken care of us for years and was thinking how I could help. Business had really slowed at Integrated Performance so on top of an oil change I wanted to think of some extra work I could send their way.
Eldest son followed me for the drop off, a fuel up en route and taxiing me back home.
I remembered a couple things I hadn’t taken care of that they would be happy to tackle. Hard wiring my radar detector would remove the unsightly dangling cable plugged into the lighter + I’d already ordered the wire kit from Escort. And… FRAME RAILS! The GS rails that had sat in my garage for four years. The procrastination I’d been shamed about a few posts earlier ;). I know I’d have felt better about doing it myself but I wanted to give them some more business. And they have a lift!!
The impact was felt immediately. They scrape badly on the driveway but atleast its a smooth kind of scrape! Can’t believe I left this so long. On the drive home, Berg’s passenger window went down. Clunk sound. And then wouldn’t go back up. Seems I wouldn’t have to try particularly hard to find things to keep IP busy…
Greasemonkey2000 (05-20-2020),Ihatecars (05-20-2020),JamieH (05-19-2020),MiataQuest (05-19-2020),MLambert19 (05-20-2020),speedypenguin (05-19-2020),tsingson (05-19-2020)
Dropped the green car off and got a call a couple hours later. Window sorted. As we were pulling up I noticed a clean looking red NA in the bay just behind…
There was a very much loved Roadster I’d never seen before. Reportedly owned by a Dr. in Beverly Hills. Great attention to detail. The vented hood looked fantastic and the tan leather roll bar cover matched the rest of the interior…
Didn’t recognize these seats but looked like they sat nice and low with solid side support
A lot of carbon and Snoopy red baron. And just when you think you’re done the work on your car, you spot a leather covered gauge hood and you start thinking…
Cermivelli (05-20-2020),CLZinn2 (12-11-2021),Greasemonkey2000 (05-20-2020),HarryB (05-19-2020),MiataQuest (05-19-2020),speedypenguin (05-19-2020),tsingson (05-19-2020),ueru (05-18-2020)
Friday night I drove out to Hermes to see Louis, pick up some more parts from paint and chat with a fellow car nut. Had to fill up en route which gave me pause to realise how utterly happy I am with a completely color matched car.
Left for home in time to join the weekly KINOD zoom call which again carried on until late. Shelter in place has certainly highlighted the importance of connecting with people so was really appreciating these opportunities.
Cermivelli (05-20-2020),HarryB (05-19-2020),JamieH (05-19-2020),MiataQuest (05-19-2020),MLambert19 (05-20-2020),speedypenguin (05-19-2020),tsingson (05-19-2020),ueru (05-18-2020)
Feeling good about tackling things I’d put off, I decided there was something else I needed to stop procrastinating about. In all the years I’ve been going to KINOD there has been a distinct lack of merch. The OG come weekly with their hoodies and tshirts from eons ago but nothing new had been made forever. So I got the KINOD logo laid out and Marco’s Boyfriends against cancer tribute logo over to an embroidery shop. I wanted a hat. Minimum order was 12 so I picked a few styles and pulled the trigger. I wanted it to be a surprise but I also had been warned about the potential headaches of trying to please everyone’s tastes. If there was enough interest I could always do another run but this avoided trying to get everyone happy with a couple hat choices.
Hands went up quick and the first run were gone so I decided that Sunday morning I could get out for a drive, do some deliveries and have some brief visits (at a safe distance) with some of the KINOD folks I’m used to seeing weekly.
First stop was David Vu and then on to David Inge’s where I parked up next to his stunning 93LE while his 30AE was parked out front.
Then to Bill Wilner’s (no pics). In fact, the only other pic I remembered to take was Justin’s Smurf and his newly acquired 240SX time capsule.
Then to Matthew’s before ending up at MJ’s to meet Nam and Rick who had both driven up the 30 or so miles to collect their hats and Jon B who joined to make it feel a bit more like a mini KINOD. All done in time to head home and only about an hour late for lunch.
Sunday? Sunday was a very great day.
Antonio (05-19-2020),Cermivelli (05-20-2020),Greasemonkey2000 (05-20-2020),HarryB (05-19-2020),Ihatecars (05-20-2020),JamieH (05-19-2020),MiataQuest (05-19-2020),speedypenguin (05-19-2020),tsingson (05-19-2020),ueru (05-18-2020)
Laughed a lot with the "opening scene" of your inspection! And once more, thanks for taking us with you on the journey!
those tan leather seats in that red miata are actually nakamae, just a now discontinued model
The final thing I stopped procrastinating on recently was finally following Adam’s exceptional tutorial on how to refinish a steering wheel. The leather on the top of the Falcon had become sticky. And very cracked. I’d put it off worrying I’d mess up. Pretty much the same as all the projects I let languish. Since my wheels had come in I had to get this done to bring the RS Watanabe team back together. An extra-large bottle of Acetone was secured along with the recommended dye and top coat (though neither of those would come in to play for a loooooooong time). No exaggeration about the many gloves, much paper towel and copious amounts of Acetone. I went through 1.5 liters of the stuff. Garage door was open the whole time but still needed to take breaks to fully breath in pure fresh air. Adam quoted 3 hours. It took me closer to 4. I didn’t take any pictures of before but trust me, it didn’t feel good at all and looked kinda rough. Here it was in its raw state…
I ended up sanding with 2000 grit in the final pass. Since some of the texture came to the surface again after dying I also did a light sanding afterwards. Before another top up of dye I decided I should clean the leather from any leather dust I may have created. Guess what? When you wipe down a freshly dyed wheel with Isopropyl alcohol the dye comes off just like the old dye. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh. I couldn’t even imagine 3-4 more hours work. What had I done?!?!?!?! Well, the good news is that fresh dye comes off really easily and there’s no hard candy coating to deal with so quick work and back to our previously scheduled dye and top coat.
Thrilled with how it turned out. It’s such rich and smooth and fantastic. I don’t think I’d save time if I were to do it again (except for the mishap) but definitely an incredibly satisfying project.
It feels like a new wheel. It looks fantastic. I’m now convinced that 340mm is the perfect size wheel for me. I love the pd wheel for all the sentimental reason and will keep it and swap around for a change of scenery. That said, I have noticed that it’s 30+ year old leather is also looking a bit faded. Hmmmm….
PS: As an aside, I had absolutely no idea that since getting the Wats that the wheelcaps and sticker would have so many random people asking about the Star Wars references. Thankfully haven’t had any run ins with any Imperials yet.. this Rebel scum is probably best served keeping a low profile…
Cermivelli (05-20-2020),Greasemonkey2000 (05-19-2020),HarryB (05-20-2020),JamieH (05-19-2020),MiataQuest (05-19-2020),Roadster7 (05-19-2020),Satisaii (05-20-2020),speedypenguin (05-19-2020),tsingson (05-19-2020),ueru (05-20-2020),vote4pedro (05-19-2020)