Emily's 04 VR SE

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:52 pm

NitroDann wrote:Goes around in mx5 like a cruise to the shops on a sunday arvo

It was a day about driving safely so I didn't mention that, but that was exactly what I was thinking :lol:

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 2:53 pm

Shift boot replacement

The gear changes have always been abit notchy, mostly when cold, but recently I noticed a lot of heat coming up from the gearstick, and the gear changes felt abit sloppy.
Cause? virtually non existent shift boots...

old vs. new upper

fairly torn lower

old vs. new lower

This concerned me abit, the model numbers were different and the old one had a much larger metal base.
Apparently the new one is a better design from the newer NA's, it fits fine so meh.

I used a syringe to suck the old oil that was in the turret.
No joke it was actually mud :shock:

I flushed it by putting in new oil then putting the gearstick back in and moving through all the gears, then sucking the oil out again. It took 3 goes before the oil came out clean :roll:

The kit came with a new nylon bush. The old one easily popped off, but the new one was much harder to get back on.
old vs. new

The difference is hugely noticeable, I have a new car :mrgreen:

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:27 pm

Well done you, the glass ceiling is really a dance floor.
Greg.

dazzvazz · Postby **dazzvazz** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 8:56 pm

I will be doing this soon as my parts come in. Mine doesn't even have an upper boot... :shock:

Has your exhaust quietened down yet? Normally it takes a while for it to carbonate.

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:30 pm

dazzvazz wrote:I will be doing this soon as my parts come in. Mine doesn't even have an upper boot... .

The upper boot is more for keeping out heat and road noise, it's the lower one that is the problem, like letting so much dirt into the turret it turns to mud :lol:

dazzvazz wrote:Has your exhaust quietened down yet? Normally it takes a while for it to carbonate.

Hmmm, its deffinately changed, but its more raspy/tinny now, which i don't really like, it was much more rumbly and low when I first put it on

I am saving up for headers and a high flow cat, and will get it all custom done with 2.25" piping, but the rs*r is the same size as stock piping, so I'm not quite sure whether to keep it at this point.

Ziggy is currently off the road atm :cry:

Should be fixed by the end of the weekend though

Postby **NitroDann** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:34 pm

My advice is drop the rs*r and get a full custom setup. If you want the look of the rs*r thats easy

Dann

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:23 pm

New Tail Light Gaskets
22 year old rubber, nuff said.

New 3rd Brake Light Gasket
I also sanded back the letters, looks nice and clean now

old vs. new

SSB Battery Replacement
When I was doing the amp install a couple of months ago, I noticed that my battery didn't have the plastic tray, wasn't vented (explains the smell) and was held in place via cable ties :roll:

It took nearly 5 months for me to receive this battery lol.
old vs. new

all secured and vented as it should be

Boot release
Having to use the key to open the boot is a hassle, so I thought this would be a good idea.
It has a kill switch in the boot, cutting power so it won't open, which I do if I am parking in a dodgy place.
I drilled into one of the blanking sockets to mount the button.

I tapped the power from the aftermarket alarm wires for the button, then ran the line to the solenoid mounted in the boot. When you press the button, it completes the circuit, causing the solenoid to retract its cable, which it attached to the boot rod, thus opens the boot lid! It works very well and is super convenient.

Nopro Bottle
This is very nice

I needed to relocate my washer bottle because I have a CAI coming very soon, and it was in the way.
My original bottle never stayed full, and water would only ever dribble out of the nozzles.
detached gasket and massive hole in washer connecter would explain that :roll:

I got a new one, aaand new silicon tubing for only $2 :lol:

Was a very easy installation,
crimp/solder connections

insert into plug, pull wires through grommet in the firewall.

The bottle screws into the car by oem holes in the firewall.
The bonnet conveniently has all the holes to mirror the tubing, presumably for the American Miatas, so I just reversed all the clips and now it looks very neat :mrgreen:

Rear Tow Hook
All the cool mx5's have tow hooks and I was jealous lol.
However the one I bought only fitted on the drivers side... and it looked really stupid.
After like an hour of drilling and grinding, it fits on the passenger side, oh and I also painted it red

(see next pic)

Reversing Lights
I found the reversing lights to be quite pathetic, so I connected up some white T10 globes that came with my clear reflectors. They come on when the car is in reverse, and they are really effective.

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:01 pm

Reversing lights, a great use for the clear reflectors. Bet nobody else has thought of that!.

Also surprised that you could still get rear light gaskets after all these years. Good one.

luist · Postby **luist** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:54 pm

epic work that your doing there em. car is looking pretty sweet. i want you to come do that release button on mine.....pleasssseee!!also you mounted that nopro awesomely! very impressing!!! all you need now is jdm wheels!

evil_weevil · Postby **evil_weevil** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:10 am

I want your exhaust.

swapsies? hehe

that is one sexy exhaust and would love to hear it compared to my nugget one.

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:28 pm

luist wrote:all you need now is jdm wheels!

don't even tempt me you know exactly what I am thinking hahaa

evil_weevil wrote:I want your exhaust.
swapsies? hehe
that is one sexy exhaust and would love to hear it compared to my nugget one.

haha thanks, it looks pretty boss but its a tad loud, so I might put it up for sale soon.

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:29 pm

OEM Tan Tonneau Cover
I have been looking out for one of these since I got the car, only because it originally had one, and I thought it would be nice to have its special stock parts. It is abit fiddly so I doubt I will use it much, but it looks really good and adds a nice classic/vintage look.