Ed's '98 NB8A

[pley3r]

Hey people

Owned my Mx5 for ~4yrs now, bought it off the original owner dead stock. No pictures but i'm sure you all know what a stock miata looks like
Drove it like that for about a year, but like usual couldn't help myself and started changing things. Since I'll be leaving to go on a nice roadtrip East ( from Perth) in a few weeks and have been doing a lot of bits and pieces to it I have some pics

The first pic is after adding Blitz coilovers (much too low ride height to begin with) and a hardtop. The original rag top's glass rear window decided to fall out on the way back from Kalgoolie, so I found a hardtop off gumtree. I have completely removed the soft top frame as I don't particularly care much for it and didn't want to waste the money on a new roof. Gives me a nice shelf behind the seats to ;)
Flipped the number plate back around as it was blocking the radiator.
Had tint fitted



Found the stock increased under body bracing from a newer model on Gumtree, so that's all under the car.
Cusco Strut brace


Had to fit a new radiator as I was having overheating issues. Picked this dual core one up from Justjap


Next to come were some new wheels. Rota Rb in 16x7 +35
Also raised the suspension a bit as it was way too low


Moved the number plate from the rubbish stock position to the side.
Fit a stock design front lip from Rev9


Made a bracket and installed a fire extinguisher.
Also a double usb socket where the cigarette light was.
Dashmat


Also fitted a USB socket in between the seats.
Removed the sunvisors and fitted blocking plates




Line in mod to compliment the stacker in the boot + new speakers
(Yes its a cassett with a wire ;) )



While the car was stiffer than when I bought it, I was still not happy so I installed fender braces and chassis rail braces.



Now since I'm heading over East I have been doing lots of things to get ready. Have ordered all the parts to do Timing belt, seals water pump etc.
Found some headers on Gumtree for cheap on Friday and though may as well. Installed them yesterday.


To protect the front as its in really good condition at the moment I had the clear paint protection film applied. Can only see it at just the right angle.

Moved my washer bottle and made some brackets for it as I have a Mx5 mania air intake coming this week

My engine still runs like a furnace. The guage does not budge from half now with the new radiator, but under bonnet temps are still silly and I cook in the car so I have the parts for the coolant reroute incoming.
Still plenty of bits and pieces to go!

[smy0003]

Nice wheels!
How's your thermostat? First suspect in any overheating issue. In cabin temps in an MX5 are always a bit silly due to the lack of heat shielding, especially with aftermarket extractors.

[pley3r]

Thermostat is fine. Put a new one in with the radiator
The extractors were only put on yesterday. Stock headers made no difference to the heat lol.

[pley3r]

So I went on a little roadtrip. 8000km later Drove Perth-> Adelaide -> Melbourne then back. Mx didn't miss a beat
Also picked up all the parts off a Wrecked Se. Was quite funny having the car packed with a complete turbo conversion+ exhaust and camping stuff on the way back

[pley3r]

So now i'm back its turbo time. I'm not after a huge amount of power. Just after a bit more poke and to have a solid reliable setup. Plus I can't help myself stuffing around working on the car ha. I could have found an SE I suppose, but all the work I have done to this car and owning it for around 5 yrs now may as well continue
First thing I did was the easy bit. Replaced the muffler and center pipe with the ones off the SE.




After that and the extractors were off started to test fit where the turbo sits.
First problem, The water pump inlet housing is in the way. Anyone know if the SE ones are still available from mazda? Off to the Mazda parts guy tomorrow to see.
Being a Nb8a obviously none of the stock water/ oil lines fit. Thats ok, got them pretty sussed out just need to wait for some new bits.
Next question the shambles that is the stock BOV and Vacuum switching valve. Anyone know any easy way to rearrange these so they will work? I'm presuming i'm going to need an aftermarket BOV to make it work properly.

[speed]

Do you mean the hard pipe that connect to a hose on the firewall?
If so you can just bend it.


Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk

[pley3r]

Some progress, Managed to track down a turbo water pump inlet pipe from America, so that's on its way in the post. Also on its way is an oil return pipe and a fitting for the sump. With the new inlet housing I can run the stock cooling hose that goes to the turbo and heater core, making that easy. The other water pipe will be running to the front. Finally the oil feed will run off of the plug in the back of the head
This weekend found some time to do a few things.

Mounted up the dump pipe.


Got the intercooler mounted. The bottom bracket needed a bit of massaging to line back up after the prang it was involved in. But its all in there now


Got the top connecting pipe in. Bit of body hammering and bending later Also had to cut the tabs off of the back of the headlight. 8A' s headlight is a bit fatter in the wrong place apparently. Just need to attach the front bracket up again with an extended tab. Should be good to go.

[pley3r]

So the piece I needed finally arrived! I lucked out and managed to find one in America.


Put in the new injectors...


In the process of mounting stuff. The oil drain worked out fine, finger crossed. So all up I have the oil feed coming off the back of the head, Oil drain is a braided hose to sump, Standard SE water pipe from the water inlet pipe to heater core and made a hard pipe water line to the front.


Getting there now.


Few things left to do.
-Have to mount the new catch can
-Flush the oil and replace after drilling the sump
-Refill coolant
-Get the strut brace and air intake fitting properly
-Make a new bracket for one of the top pipes
-Reroute some wires
-Will undoubtedly have to figure out all the vacuum pipes at the front where the BOV and vacuum switching valve is as I don't have the Electrics to run the valve. any advice?
-Waiting on the ECU to come back.

[VietnamVeteran]

Ed, have just returned from Collie and the gnats. I also have a NB8a "Goldie" which I have owned since brand new. She has been used for track work, public days and hill climbing over the years and as I am now 68 she is retired and used as a daily driver and car shows. I got around the engine bay heat by adding air ducts to the front bumper and routeing them up and in to the engine bay. One was for the turbo she used to have which is now purely used for the cooling effect and the other sits under and directed to the filter on the cold air induction setup. On wet days originally use to have steam coming off the bonnet but no more. Temperature gauge never reaches the halfway mark. I used a air-compressor filter from Bunnings as my oil catch can. Removed the original filter and filled glass bottom with stainless steel wool (no rust). The scrubber type. Works as well as any bought one. Just added a small K&N filter to the outlet end. I removed the air-compressor to help lighten the load and I also have a fibre glass hard top which in summer can get red hot. What the hell, when you are in the mx5 with the windows down nothing else matters. The front bumper also has a grid in it which directs air on to the radiator which was as a result of finding someone had backed in to her and put a nice hole in the bumper. Will now attempt to place some pics. Keep safe!, Regards Ron: Adelaide.

[VietnamVeteran]

Ed, could not fit these in the other message. Regards Ron: Adelaide