The journey to Apu

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:42 pm

Thanks Cameron! Good to meet you too! Hopefully we'll see you at a track day or drive soon!

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Sun May 06, 2012 8:40 pm

So quite a few things happened over the past month - got Apu back for one! And added clear repeaters and reflectors. Apu is now monochromatic!

Finished, with clear repeaters.JPG

And whilst you probably can't quite see it here, the interior trim had some chips and scratches. I considered a number of options - pulling the trim out and respraying, getting Carbon Demon to do it (they were quite busy and I didn't want to wait) so I figured I'd give it a go myself...and many lessons / tricks learnt!

You can see a couple of nicks here:

Boots.JPG

First step was of course to pull everything apart, and yes, Google (and YouTube) is very useful in situations like these. I used my old driver licence and healthcare card, slipped it behind the ring and started to wiggle it around the vent. You'll hear two distinct clicks at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions where the card will release the catches, and the vents will pop out.

CF vinyle vent rings.JPG

Next out was the centre console:

CF vinyl centre console.JPG

I couldn't get the switches out...partly because I didn't want to disconnect the HU and a whole bunch of other wires. So after 3 tries, I finally managed to get the vinyl on without exposing any of the old silver trim. Up until this point, I didn't use the heat gun which I now regret - it just made a bit easier and would have allowed for a much neater fit where I could have stretched the vinyl that tiny bit more.

Anyway, the completed install:

CF vinyl installed.JPG

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun May 06, 2012 8:49 pm

Your car looks really nice.

Shame it has windows. :mrgreen:

Dann

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:32 am

Just got my car back from Mania yesterday - fitted a new clutch and lightweight flywheel! The old clutch was worn and just starting to slip a little, but the catalyst was a leak from the rear main seal. What better excuse to get the job done!

Stalled the car right away, but that was more due to the very short takeup of the new clutch. Love the lightened flywheel though! Car is really revvy and its really easy to get into the powerband of course! Now to get one for the Integra!

Should have had some pics taken :oops:

I'm sure a few people are thinking about price, and Mania have it listed on their site. I did get the setup through the Flyin' Miata group buy and honestly, it wasn't a huge price difference and for a complete picture I got a quote from a couple of mechanics and it ranged from $600 to $1000+! So the numbers speak for themselves, and if I were to do it again, I'd just go to Mania.

Silvia · Postby **Silvia** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:44 am

Lookin' noice Apu...

ATM I'm thinking the "classic" look for mine, so I'm keeping everything visible original.
tomorrow....who knows?

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:02 pm

Well, that's how it started off but as I enjoyed track days...

Silvia · Postby **Silvia** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:01 pm

One thing that really helped was I started to get sore on the left elbow from resting on the storage box lid, so I got a bit of sticky back foam from Clark's and cut it to fit the lid(s) neatly....bliss :roll:

You probably won't want to cover your CF though.....

Aussie Stig · Postby **Aussie Stig** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:41 pm

The CF vinyl install looks very good, almost OEM.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 1:52 pm

Thanks! Unfortunately I can see where I went wrong...and would like to re-do it at some point - alignment of the grain, small crease here and there (didn't use heat gun in all areas...silly!).

evil_weevil · Postby **evil_weevil** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:03 pm

do you have a red type R? were you at mania last saturday?

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:38 pm

That was me! You were hanging around the red NA?

evil_weevil · Postby **evil_weevil** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 10:00 pm

yep - that was my red one getting the exhaust done (Pic in my thread)
sorry mate if I put 2 and 2 together I would have said a proper gidday!

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 10:24 pm

I should have said hello too! Was in a rush though - needed to talk to Ajay about the Works Engineering stuff. I really wanted to have a closer look at your car but my son was in my car waiting.

niiko101 · Postby **niiko101** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:26 am

good having a chat with you at mx5 mania yesterday

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:05 am

Hey Nick, good to meet you to!

On another note, here's something else I did:

can.JPG

I haven't fitted the tubes from the rocker cover the can and so on just yet. You can see more pics of the catch can kit here http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=53360&hilit=catch+can+group+buy

The filter isn't fitted but will be doing so as it will allow the vapours to vent.

The issue here is the vapours lower the octane level of the petrol so whilst I was thinking of being a bit environmentally conscious but who am I kidding? I drive just for the fun of it and release plenty of unpleasant gases into the air anyway...even when I'm not driving.

Next thing to do is to clean the grimey layer off the throttle plate, MAF sensor(?) and also from the intake tubing.