mrpham's summer build

Postby **mrpham** » Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:44 pm

For shiny =D

It was $40 to get it sand blasted and costed, primer and paint is nearly that much alone.

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Tue Dec 09, 2014 8:17 pm

Fair enough - if it only costs that much. Sounds too cheap though!?

Postby **mrpham** » Tue Dec 09, 2014 11:07 pm

gslender wrote:Fair enough - if it only costs that much. Sounds too cheap though!?

Yeah very cheap, I had my valve cover powder coated for $20-$30 from memory. I just told them to chuck it in with someone else's job that used the same colour (black is quite common).

I've used both Global Powder Coating and Evolution, they both seem to price about the same but Global has faster turn around in my experience.

Postby **mrpham** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:47 am

http://omgpham.com/the-new-daily

So I bought myself a daily!

Will be good not being defected by the police (for now).

It's a 1994 EG5 with a D16Y, so SOHC VTEC 1.6L. It's got an automatic transmission, full electrics, AC, PS and sunroof. Paint isn't the greatest but the body and chassis are straight. It'll serve as my daily while the MX-5 goes under the knife again, swapping the bottom end, engine bay respray etc...

Once the MX-5 is back on the road I'll set up a spray booth at home, this will give me a chance to learn how to surface prep and respray on the Civic. If I get that down pat, the MX-5 will get a respray

And after all that, I'll be doing a K24 K-Swap into the Civic! So that's why I don't care about it currently being an automatic D16

Pretty isn't she?

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:22 am

...once you have the k swap in this down pat, it is only logical to put a k in the 5.... :mrgreen:

Postby **mrpham** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 4:27 pm

Wiper Cowl Panel - http://omgpham.com/wiper-cowl-panel

Hey all.

Small update before the MX-5 goes off the road for some changes

I present to you the Jass Performance Wiper Cowl Panel! (Now available in our store.)

It's an amazing looking pieces of gear, CNC laser cut from stainless steel and available in brushed or polished finishes. It features vents in the centre and both sides to keep a constant flow of fresh air to your interior. The kit comes with all stainless hardware and maintains the factory rubber seal.

First part is to assemble the panel, the panel is a 2-piece design. Use the four stainless cap head bolts and nuts to do this.

When you've removed the factory rubber seal, it's time to replace those plastic clips with the supplied stainless steel M3 bolts.

Next up, place the assembled panel into the car. The passenger side bolt needs a spacer.

And done!

Postby **mrpham** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:19 pm

Last couple of months have been absolutely crazy... house renovations, work, business, etc... But will post some updates tonight

Postby **mrpham** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:52 pm

Head Unit Relocation IR Repeater - http://omgpham.com/head-unit-relocation-ir-repeater
Quick update! - http://omgpham.com/head-unit-relocation-update
2nd Update! - http://omgpham.com/head-unit-relocation-2nd-update

Moshi moshi.

I decided I didn't really enjoy the tablet install, so this will now be the 3rd revision of the MX-5's audio setup.

Goal was to create an even simpler interior, might even delete the AFR gauge, by relocating the head unit into the boot/trunk. I still wanted to retain full audio controls as well as Bluetooth and USB connectivity. My old audio setup worked well but the sound wasn't the greatest, probably from the lack of pre-amp/equiliser control.

Although I planned to mount the head unit in the boot, I still wanted full control of the unit, this was achieved using an IR repeater. Normally used in home theatre setups. Simply have the repeater eye in the cabin, and the repeater transmitter in the boot with the head unit.

First thing was to make up an extension harness that goes from behind the tombstone and into the boot. I used roughly 5 meters worth, and I went with something more flexible, conductor is 38/0.15 strands. And I've just terminated the ends with connectors.

Connectors....

Pictured below is the IR receiver unit, I've mounted this just above the rear view mirror. The harness was plugged up, and you can also see the little USB power adapter that's powering the IR Repeater.

This is where the head unit will be mounted in the boot. I've made a cardboard template for that little spot and will make it out of marine plywood and covered in automotive carpeting. You can also see the IR transmitter double sided tape right in front of the head unit's IR receiver, and the right angle USB extension cable.

The completed setup, showing how much simpler it is now. The other end of the USB extension sits in between the driver and passenger seat, and the remote control has some double sided velcro to keep it easily accessible.

The new setup was having a few issues with the Bluetooth signal strength, I guess being behind all that metal doesn't help. So I cracked it open to see what could be done!

This is the Bluetooth module, and I found the built in antenna.

I sanded back the antenna trace and soldered a 30cm wire to it. This has greatly improved the range, I can now have the phone a couple meters away from the car. I also don't have any more stutter issues!

Received some feedback and discussion on my head-unit relocation last week, and as I often find, I decided to change it up to the better option.

Below are photos of where the head-unit was mounted, I made a custom MDF piece for that spot too.

But it was obvious that the better position would be in the other corner of the boot, and mounted from above. Overall it looks a lot cleaner and more out of the way.

Started off by half removing some of the rear carpet, I than removed the bottom four bolts of the rear parcel shelf cover. Made it a lot easier to run the harness.

Harness fed through and the head-unit case mounted up!

Everything mounted and connected, works just as well as before.

Postby **mrpham** » Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:58 pm

Car is also getting stripped and a full re-spray is booked for the 1st of August. Staying the factory Crystal White, and engine bay will be Battleship Grey

speed · Postby **speed** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 10:20 am

So much cleanliness and attention to detail. Well done!

Postby **mrpham** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:23 pm

Installed some new LED interior lights, wired straight to the factory courtesy lights. They mount up to the visor spots.

http://omgpham.com/jass-performance-interior-light-install

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 9:45 pm

Always a neat job.

Postby **mrpham** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:37 pm

Respray Preparations - http://omgpham.com/respray-preparations

As some of you may know, the MX-5 is booked in for a re-spray and engine bay colour change. Body will be painted factory Crystal White and the engine bay will be Battleship Grey. Now the stripping and preparations begin!

Seats were removed to make it easier to pull the dash out. Dash came out so I could pull the wiring harness completely back in to the cabin.

Rest of the parts being stored away. The ARP CF mirrors getting sanded back and a new coat of clear too.

Pop-up headlight assemblies will be disassembled and sand blasted, they'll be painted same colour as the engine bay.

Part way through the long and slow process of removing everything from the engine bay.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 4:15 pm

Really admire your attention to detail. It's stuff I would like to do but just don't have the patience.

Postby **mrpham** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 7:08 pm

More Stripping - http://omgpham.com/more-stripping

OK another small update before everything is ready to be towed off to the panel/paint shop.

Fuel lines were disconnected and capped off, fuel rail was also removed. Wiring was also pulled back into the cabin. Engine bay starting to look really bare. Next will be engine, brake booster, clutch master and all the hard lines.

Since I was sending out the headlight assemblies out for blasting and powder coating, I removed the sway bar mounts to get them done too. Involved drilled out a few spot wells but whatever. They'll be powder coated black with the other bits.

Door handles, window seals and antenna were removed. Still have to remove the seals around the front windscreen, and all the trims/seals on the hardtop.

Front and rear bars off, rear garnish and rear tail lights out too. Forgot to remove the third brake light.

My Nardi 330mm Deep Corn wheel arrived, also ordered an awesome wireless dongle so I can have remote boot release. I love the remote so much! Has fake wood grain, a red button and a telescopic antenna! I may ditch this kit and go with a 3/4-way kit so I can have keyless entry too.