MX5 - Weekender & Slight Stance build

[thelaughingman]

Hey CT,

So i just purchased my first MX5 i've pretty much owned as many cars as I've had birthdays (the MX5 is #26) basically over the years I've been trying to learn more about cars and find what suits me best. I ahd never dríven one before and after taking one for a spin with a CAI, extractors, Full exhaust system and coil-overs i was hooked. However im terrible with body work so i wanted to find the one with the best paint that i could. Coming from a Honda background i was steering clear from red cars as i believe the reds used in the 90's Japanese cars just end up fading and i already will be driving a MX5 so no need to have a pink one too.

i had a look at some more cars but they were either badly maintained or the body work wasn't up to par or the seller wanted too much.

i eventually came across a 1990 NA6 in Mariner Blue.

Pros:
- Rego until April '14
- Full service history since 1990
- New tyres
- New soft top
- Complete Momo steering wheel with crash pad
- Stock intake, exhaust, suspension etc..

Cons:
- RHF guard is dented
- Bonnet has light hail damage
- Boot lid slightly different colour (hail damage again)
- LHS Window reg stuck
- Noisey gearbox bearings
- RHR caliper leaks (seal kit was done 4 months ago so taking back to mechanic to get replaced under warrenty)
- RHR wheel bearing nosiey
- RHF tie rod end cracked

Needless to say after the first drive i wanted this car even stock it handled so well so i made an offer on the spot and 4 days later took it home.

Pictures and more updates to follow shortly

[meanmx]

Awesome. You should think about coming to one of our Thursday night meets. Check in the vic section for up to date info.

[M1474]

Congratulations!

Mazda red paint is the best red paint I've come across. (Not that that matters fir you.)

Sounds like a re spray of bonnet, boot and fender unless you can learn to live with it as is.
Although f you do your body work on a 40deg day in the sun you can sometimes knock out dents without cracking paint.

A mate has hail damage we are going to try to repair with a refrigeration vac pump, I'll let you know if it works.

[16bit]

[thelaughingman]

Awesome. You should think about coming to one of our Thursday night meets. Check in the vic section for up to date info.

Ah cheers i'll keep that in mind thanks!

Congratulations!

Mazda red paint is the best red paint I've come across. (Not that that matters fir you.)

Sounds like a re spray of bonnet, boot and fender unless you can learn to live with it as is.
Although f you do your body work on a 40deg day in the sun you can sometimes knock out dents without cracking paint.

A mate has hail damage we are going to try to repair with a refrigeration vac pump, I'll let you know if it works.

The boot and bonnet im thinking maybe ill go carbon so i'll live with it for the moment, the guard really annoys me so i'll take it to a couple panel shops and see what the cost will be to repair it.

Wow the troll is strong with this one

[16bit]

haha, yes.

any plans for first mods or you going to just live with it for a while and decide?

[thelaughingman]

haha, yes.

any plans for first mods or you going to just live with it for a while and decide?

Yep already have added some stuff to it.

Mods So far:
- ARC Intake Chamber
- KG Works Type I Roll Bar & Harness Bar
- MK2R 14x6 Wheels - waiting on tyres (I have them for sale but if they dont sell will be my every day wheels)

Ordered:
- TSI's (thanks to a MX5CT Group buy)
- Alloy Radiator
- 3pt Front Strut Brace With BMS
- BC BR Coilovers
- Fujtisubo 4-1 Extractors

Plans:

Interior:
- Fixed seats
- Different gear knob
- Better head unit & Speakers
- Oil temp, Oil Pressure & Water Temp gauges
I aslo have a wideband LC-1 Gauge but dont think thee is any point in fitting it.

Engine:
- High flow cat
- Cat back exhaust (hoping to get a fujitsubo to match the headers)
- CAI
- Silicone hoses
- Oil filter relocation & maybe oil cooler (but i don't think its needed unless i hit the track)
- alloy overflow tank & washer tank
- Carbon Bits
- Plug leads (mine need doing anyway)
then a general tidy and replace things as required

Exterior:
- Carbon front lip
- Carbon bonnet
- Carbon headlamp covers (Lh vented Rh not)
- Carbon bood lid with tail
- Carbon hardtop (i can dream cant i haha)
- Carbon side skirts
- Benen tow hooks
- Sleepy eye conversion with square headlamps and HIDs
- offset number plate


Suspension & Drive line & Brakes
- Rear strut brace
- Front and rear swaybars
- Adjustable camber arms
- LCA brace
- LSD (unsure what though)
- Better rotors & pads

Wheels:
- Work Miester SP1s 14x7.5 & 14x8.5
Im sure this will change constantly



Thats off the top of my head

[M1474]

Exterior:
- Carbon front lip

Buy them in bulk, they will splinter into little peices.

I'm not even low and my lip scrapes the ground on the daily.

[thelaughingman]

Exterior:
- Carbon front lip

Buy them in bulk, they will splinter into little peices.

I'm not even low and my lip scrapes the ground on the daily.

really how bad? (link to a pic if possible)

[M1474]

Honestly I've never had a cf front lip before but I have plenty of smashed cf model helicopter parts. Pics of my front lip touching the ground? I'll see what I can do.

[thelaughingman]

UPDATED:

So I got a couple new parts on the weekend.

- 3pt Mazdaspeed front strut brace with BMS
- Custom Side exit exhaust
- BC BR Coilovers

So Saturday was productive, i went to work and replaced the Oil, Oil filter, Rocker cover gasket, Spark plus and rear wheel bearing and i also installed the front strutbrace, i've yet to install the plate the joins it to the upper scuttle panel but that will get done this week when i get a drill.

Sunday however was not as productive as i had hop[ed it would be, I attempted to install the side exit exhaust had the old exhaust removed and when i went to fit it i noticed the flange to join my exhaust to the side pipe is different and so it couldn't' be installed and as there was no exhaust shops open i gave up and put the stock exhaust back on.

This week the plan is to get my coilovers in, tie rod ends replaced, wheels and tyres fitted (MK2R's) Alignment and maybe buy some more parts.

But most importantly take some good photos!