Szemen's NA8

Szemen · Postby **Szemen** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:24 pm

Hi all! Got this car December 08. Had about 185,000 on the clock. Not bad for a 14 year old car!

I'll use this thread to track my car and inform all of whats been put in the car =D When I got it, it was stock, except for a few things such as thicker rear sway bar, Sony HU, Pioneer speakers (No amp, thank god! Save weight!

), shitty Auscar rims with stock NA8 rims as well and most important, A LSD!!!! :O

For those who don't get the Mia and Tia, its a reference to Pixar's Cars and the 2 Miatas that were in it. I think its a cute and obscure reference :p

Now, for what I have done to it to date!

1. I changed the rocker cover gasket the weekend I got it, as I changed the spark plugs, the 4th cylinder's spark plug was filled with engine oil. So wen to get a new gasket. Changed Transmission oil, diff and engine oi and coolant! (This turned out to be the most headache inducing event I had, explained later!)

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

Szemen · Postby **Szemen** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:25 pm

2. Now, I changed the gearknob from the stock one with a Skunk2 knob. This thing is heavier than stock but very meaty shift feel. Turns out it goes FREAKIN hot during direct sun...and now I'm discovering that its like holding onto a iceblock in the mornings. I also went to Mazda spares (whom I've made great acquaintances >.< and Kudos to them for being extremely nice to deal with! Rockdale Mazda Spares FTW!) to grab a new leather shift boot, upper and lower shift boots as well.

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

3. This was the first major drama with the car. Coolant leak. Learnt the hard way that when there are potential leaks in ANY hose, fixing one will create high enough pressure to make the next one in the link go pop!

So it was first on the outlet flange of the engine. Second one was on the inlet of the oil cooler. The picture is just of the first leak.

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

Szemen · Postby **Szemen** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:25 pm

4. Next came to BD bar, I got it off the mx5cartalk forums.

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

5. Then the floor mats. Great change to the interior! I got this, installed teh BD bar as well as get ALL the remaining hoses changed over, just incase I get any more coolant leaks

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

6. Time for a bit of bling! I saw this going on ebay for quite cheap, so I thought what the hell! Might as well!, Arrived a far bit later, (I did get this car during nearing Christmas, so alot of things were delayed due to nothing being open) They look great! THey are actually made out of metal, and with the black door, it really stands out!

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

7. Probably my fav part of the car right now. The Autokenxxion CF boot. This thing is insanely light. I had to take out the tension springs to prevent it from shooting up when I open it! Again, I got it off the forums. Here it is with the BD bar as well.

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

8. Next came the offset bracket. This is the baller of offset brackets xD Its made by Beatrush, and looks awesome. Problem is as you can see from the photos, the original bracket made these ugly ass dents in the bumper. But nevermind! I need to repsray my bumper anyway!

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

Szemen · Postby **Szemen** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:26 pm

9. Next came the clear indicators and reflectors. I'm still up in the air about this. I like the general whiteness of the car, but Ive seen some great USDM ones with orange reflectors. O well! Its not permanent! Just a few screws away ;)

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-29

10. Next, I've been waiting for these on ebay for a while. It finally arrived! The OEM JDM Door Sills! They look excellent. They weren't brand new which is actually a good thing as they blend in with the overall age of the car as well! VERY NICE!

By szemen, shot with K850i at 2009-04-29

12. Yea I skipped a few numbers, but I'm going by the folder number in my computer

So don't be confused.

I got these Tein Superstreets. 3/4 are awesome...the 4th one is stuck in the LCA.

In a G4 coilover box..hmm..I wonder why :S Old school phone FTW!

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-30

Me preparing my battle with the LCA

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-30

After about 30 minutes with the LCA.

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-04-30

DAMMIT! This thing is giving me the shits! Ive reach the bolt! but not the nut, I might try again from the top, and shave off the top of the bolt and go from there...

Szemen · Postby **Szemen** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:27 pm

About an hour into my battle with the LCA, I come out victorious! Now all 4! I sprayed the thread with WD40, cleaned them abit, wound them up a bit to loosen it up ready to be installed.

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-05-14

Yea...Up to this, it was just a copy pasta job from my other thread on JDMST

CheyneX5 · Postby **CheyneX5** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:28 pm

Coming along nicely mate, you need a front lip to really top it off

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:44 pm

Does the boot fit OK?

Sasso · Postby **Sasso** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:01 pm

Szemen wrote:About an hour into my battle with the LCA, I come out victorious! Now all 4! I sprayed the thread with WD40, cleaned them abit, wound them up a bit to loosen it up ready to be installed.

By szemen, shot with Canon DIGITAL IXUS 700 at 2009-05-14

Yea...Up to this, it was just a copy pasta job from my other thread on JDMST

Nice car =)

Aren't the bottom collars supposed to be locked into the top collar that the spring sits on so they dont move? there's no point having it at the bottom is there?

Szemen · Postby **Szemen** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:50 pm

CheyneX5 wrote:Coming along nicely mate, you need a front lip to really top it off

yea, I can't wait for the lip! Hopefully should arrive during my holidays

bruce wrote:Does the boot fit OK?

Boot fits pretty good. Not perfect. I've taken the tension springs out as the CF flexs a bit, it creates a finger gap. So I've taken the spring out and it fits nearly flush.

Sasso wrote:Nice car =)

Aren't the bottom collars supposed to be locked into the top collar that the spring sits on so they dont move? there's no point having it at the bottom is there?

yea it is, the bottom collar is pretty hard to turn, so I intend to put it in the car first, with everything bolted to place, it should give me some leverage to turn the bottom one up.

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Mon May 25, 2009 3:59 pm

you need the ratsback intake cover!!

philz · Postby **philz** » Mon May 25, 2009 4:12 pm

What you need are some tight rims, and slam it on the floor.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Mon May 25, 2009 4:16 pm

I'm a fan

So spewing I didn't get that boot.

Szemen · Postby **Szemen** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:05 pm

philz wrote:What you need are some tight rims, and slam it on the floor.

Slamming it is the job of the Superstreets. =D soooOON!!! Rims...still lookin at choice. Hard to find one thats the perfect meld of both modern and classic looks, except for the Work Equips!