Richard's NC3

[richardnau]

Hello all,

Well, my mid-life crisis has arrived - and what better way to celebrate it than with an MX5.

My eldest daughter is getting married on election day (she loves that the papers are counting down to her wedding day), and so the need for a family car diminishes. My wife's Corolla can fill that role.

I spent some time reading the forum and watching CarSales before I found a candidate: a 2013 NC with just under 20,000km on the clock. It's a Sports (?) model, with BBS wheels and Recaro seats. I flew up to Brisbane to complete the purchase and drove back to Sydney.

I won't say that I got a GREAT deal - I probably paid a fair price for a car in basically good condition, but with some superficial issues caused by lack of owner care and attention (scratches, scrapes, etc.). I've spend the last few weeks getting to know the car and (after some initial buyer's remorse) to love it.

I have a list of projects to complete, and parts are winging in from around the world. Maybe some will be interested in the progress of a few of these.

COMPLETED:

* fix gutter rash on all four wheels


THE LIST:

* fix two scratches on windscreen
* repair damaged front bar and repaint
* magic Motorcraft transmission fluid
* get a good polish to see how many of the scratches can be eliminated
* attend to other scratches (and a dent) according to economic sensibility
* repair some abrasion on driver's seat
* remove factory head unit and replace with something that includes navigation, working Bluetooth, etc.
* new tyres
* tyre pressure monitoring system (to use the display on the new head unit)
* TapTurn indicator relay (three blinks with a short tap)
* SmartTop (allows PRHT to be raised/lowered at low speed)
* RX8 variable intermittent wiper stalk
* upgraded headlamp bulbs (more efficient halogens - not some ricey HID kit)
* DRLs
* Nautilus horn
* and, maybe one day (I need to save up and to hear an example), a complete Goodwin exhaust setup (header/Helmholtz mid pipe, muffler).

I'll try to remember to post a few pics and write a few notes on each of these. Should be fun.

Richard.

[smy0003]

Pictures!
The BBS wheels and recaros are definitely worth seeking out one of those models.

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[richardnau]

So the women of the house were all out tonight buying stuff for the Kitchen Tea.

I followed these instructions (adjusting for RHD): http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=416777&page=2...

... and did this:



15 minutes. It works.

[joshuam]

Getting into some mods already!

We do want pics though!

[JBT]

I've just fitted a Good-win super Q muffler to otherwise standard drive train - you'll love it.

[richardnau]

OK, some updates.

Been busy with a few things, and here's the state of the list:

COMPLETED:

* fix gutter rash on all four wheels (done by a wheel repair company)
* fix two scratches on windscreen (bought a small kit from a company called Glass Polish)
* new tyres (Michelin PS3 215/45R17 - very nice)
* TapTurn indicator relay (three blinks with a short tap)
* SmartTop (allows PRHT to be raised/lowered at low speed)
* RX8 variable intermittent wiper stalk

THE LIST:

* repair damaged front bar and repaint
* magic Motorcraft transmission fluid
* get a good polish to see how many of the scratches can be eliminated
* attend to other scratches (and a dent) according to economic sensibility
* repair some abrasion on driver's seat
* remove factory head unit and replace with something that includes navigation, working Bluetooth, etc.
* tyre pressure monitoring system (to use the display on the new head unit)
* upgraded headlamp bulbs (more efficient halogens - not some ricey HID kit)
* DRLs
* Nautilus horn
* and, maybe one day (I need to save up and to hear an example), a complete Goodwin exhaust setup (header/Helmholtz mid pipe, muffler).


TAPTURN

Haven't seen much discussion of this item here. It's a cheap and easy mod.

The device is a revised indicator relay. Looks like this:



To install, you just unplug the existing indicator relay (behind the dash, just above the bonnet and boot releases), and plug this in. There's also a single wire to run across to the fuse box near the passenger's feet.

The device provides:

* three flashes (you can change the setting) with a tap on the indicator stalk (I really missed this from other cars)
* 'wig wag' hazard lights while engine running (only really for display use)
* 'coming home' illumination (using indicators)
* one side indicators on when parked (as clearance light - the Euro cars do this with one brake light and one parking light).

Available here: http://www.autowindow.com/. The guy is very friendly. Ask for a long wire for Australian installation (in USA, the fuse box is very close to the relay).


SMARTTOP

I think most people know what this is by now: a device that defeats the 'you must be stationary with handbrake on' rule for opening and closing the PRHT. It looks like this:



and is a bit expensive. But it's really nice to close the PRHT as I drive into my parking space at work. Lots of feedback and installation hints on the USA forums about this. Manufacturer's site is here: http://www.modsforcars.com. I bought from a crowd called Bumper Plugs.


OTHER

While messing around with things electrical, I now have an all LED back end.

Indicators:



Brake/tail lights:



Reverse:



They all offer a (small) improvement over standard without sacrificing visibility.


NEXT

Car goes in for front bumper repair tomorrow, and if a cable arrives for the radio soon, maybe that will be the next thing. Watch this space.

(And yes, photos soon...)

[Regie]

I've been looking at those replacement flashers on the big forum.

I see you are now running LED indicator bulbs, does the flasher eliminate the need to run resistors on the LED's themselves to shop the fast blink?

[richardnau]

Yes, the TapTurn works fine with all incandescent, all LED or any combination. Flash frequency is done with electronics and doesn't require precise load on the circuit.

[cookie]

Wonder if this would work on an NA....

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[richardnau]

Wonder if this would work on an NA....

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Manufacturer's info:

[richardnau]

A curious diversion...

While cleaning up and working on the car I have found a few things under seats and carpet:

Previous owner's credit card (no, I have not and will not use it!):



Fuzzy spectacles case (the case is fuzzy, no idea as to the quality of the specs formerly contained therein):



But this one really has me puzzled:



Former owner was definitely NOT a dentist!

[Rob]

Here's a wild thought on the dental pick... he collects ancient coins.

When I was into the hobby some years back, dental picks (and similar), were one part of the arsenal of cleaning up old coins in certain circumstances.



Congrats on the purchase, too

[richardnau]

Been a while. Time for an update.

COMPLETED:

* fix gutter rash on all four wheels (done by a wheel repair company) (today I figured out the best tool for cleaning these puppies - finger wrapped in microfibre...)
* fix two scratches on windscreen (bought a small kit from a company called Glass Polish)
* new tyres (Michelin PS3 215/45R17 - very nice)
* TapTurn indicator relay (three blinks with a short tap)
* SmartTop (allows PRHT to be raised/lowered at low speed)
* RX8 variable intermittent wiper stalk
* repair damaged front bar and repaint
* repair some abrasion on driver's seat
* remove factory head unit and replace with something that includes navigation, working Bluetooth, etc.
* tyre pressure monitoring system (to use the display on the new head unit)
* upgraded headlamp bulbs (more efficient halogens - not some ricey HID kit)
* installed MeisterR CRD coilovers (this was the biggest mechanical project I've ever undertaken - and may retain that crown... I learned a lot, but it was a long, slow job)
* rather than fixing scratched mirrors, I added some Guardian Designs carbon fibre mirror caps - I think they look nice.

THE TO DO LIST:

* magic Motorcraft transmission fluid
* get a good polish to see how many of the scratches can be eliminated
* attend to other scratches (and a dent) according to economic sensibility
* DRLs
* Nautilus horn.


It's going for a service and a few other things on Thu/Fri next week:

* Motorcraft trannie fluid (obtained on Amazon!)
* full service
* fix a few little things
* full Goodwin exhaust.

I've been asked for pix. Here are a few. Proof that it's all real.

[smy0003]

Very practical mods.
Car is looking schmick!

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