Alex's white NA8 build.

[Okibi]

I agree!

[93_Clubman]

My wife grabbed this little photo

Good eye!

[Alex 2550]

Thanks very much for the compliments everyone.......... I’ll pass them on haha


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[Roadster2]

Another +1 for that photo, looks awesome!

[Tamaiya]

Awesome

[Alex 2550]

Thanks everyone for all the Positive comments, I really appreciate it.

So some updates!!
Firstly my GV rear panel, KG works spoiler, vented headlight cover and quilted leather transmission tunnel cover are in transit!! Fingers crossed I’ll see them very soon and then start stripping the car down and trial fitting up the new parts.
One of the goodies mentioned in a post up further is getting closer to arriving but sadly one looks to have fallen through (Mazda one) because the seller isn’t getting back to me, thankfully it’s nothing very exciting and easy to get........ the other item coming is the opposite and I’m pretty excited about it actually I’m very excited.

So I didn’t really give any photos of the items I got a while back but keen eyes would of seen them in this photo.
I grabbed a couple very quick (rough) photos last night in the garage for a friend and thought I would chuck them up.
Jass black air diversion panel.


Jass stainless fuse box cover.
(notice the Beavis brake master brace in the background? It definitely adds a nice bit of feel to the pedal and noticeably improved response.)



Jass cowl cover, I cut the circle out to access my Nitrodann washer bottle lid.
It’s also made my cowl intake louder....... not sure that’s a good thing yet, it was loud before.



Daihatsu reverse light for the GV Panel.



And a big Mazda box from Mania...... May have a brand new Mazda front bumper and a GV lip in it


More updates to come shortly, i did some hoarding of parts on the weekend lol


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[Alex 2550]

So as I have mentioned I’ll be going turbo at some stage in the future, don’t hold your breath on this one, it will be some time but I’ll most likely put a 6 speed in the car for added strength.

Now in Aus and Europe the NB8B got a 3.6 rear end, U.S got 3.9 and I think japan did as well but don’t quote me.

3.9 with the 6 speed and turbo Powaaaaa makes first useless, there is plenty of talk about this on the U.S forums where 3.6 gears go for silly money ($600+).

The 3.6 (actually 3.63 if we are getting technical) gives the 6 speed very similar ratios to the 5 speed with a 4.1 rear end in the first 5 gears and 6th becomes an actual overdrive style gear.

If your bored with isolation have a play here

https://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/gearing.php

So with this in mind I picked up an NB8B diff for $150, yes it’s cheap but there is a catch.........

It has weight reduction!!!!!!
For those that aren’t aware Mazda designed a failure point in the diff housings and this is exactly where it is meant to go at these notches on the right hand side. This car had a light hit with 78,000km on it.
Kmiata does a bolt in brace for those that are worried about breakages. Basically drift, drag and 350HP is where this MAY become an issue from what I have found. Obviously you could also weld a brace in.


I did split the diff to make sure everything was ok and confirm ratio before purchasing.
the crown wheel had 40 teeth, the pinion 11 so
dríven gear of 40 / driver gear of 11 = 3.63. Success, I’ll fit these gears on a Torsen one day.

Also while there I picked up another part for the bargain price of $20, the NB8B crossover pipe.

Some time ago I thought that it would be a small cheap upgrade for the NA8 because it doesn’t have the crushed section near the throttle body and lets face it Mazda changed it for a reason.

I forgot all about it till 93_clubman reminded me claiming a small bump in torque, thanks mate.

For those that care the NB8B also got the hermholtz chamber added back on that was missing from the NB8A which is meant to help mid range torque slightly.
Here is a photo comparing the 2.
NB8B left, NA8 right.


You can see the crushed end of the NA8 and inside it’s definitely a bottleneck.




Compare the pair.

NA8 above, NB8B below.

Fitted NB8B pipe in NA8 engine bay.


Now it’s a tight fit but it does fit, the larger hermholtz chamber just clears everything, if you have a re-route fitted it would be easier.
I need to run a line for idle control and shorten my breather both are easy and I’ll let you all know if I notice anything.
To be honest if the butt dyno notices it the improvement would need to be substantial which I don’t think it can be however all the small things add up in the end.
If I pick up 1HP and a pinch of torque for $20 that’s a good value mod on a BP.


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[plohl]

You can by a breather filter that will fit directly onto the idle air inlet. I think it's 19mm/ 3/4". Might be a bit easier than getting back into the hose.
The NB8B throttle body has an internal intake, which is handy.

[Alex 2550]

You can by a breather filter that will fit directly onto the idle air inlet. I think it's 19mm/ 3/4". Might be a bit easier than getting back into the hose.
The NB8B throttle body has an internal intake, which is handy.

Thanks very much Plohl!
Forehead slap moment here, I was over thinking this. It just needs air.
That would work perfectly fine.
Thanks again.


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[Alex 2550]

so it may be slightly more difficult on further reading.
it seems that the NA8 idle valve never fully closes, it goes to about 40% closed meaning that while still using the AFM i'll suck un-metered air at all RPM by using a breather so unfortunately it looks like ill need to run a line to the new crossover pipe, no big deal just a little more mucking around.
if it closed after idle completely a breather would not be an issue.
i think ill run a T where the breather goes in and step it up to 19mm, fairly easy.

[plohl]

Ah, I keep forgetting not everyone has an aftermarket ECU and still have the maf Good pick up

[Alex 2550]

Ah, I keep forgetting not everyone has an aftermarket ECU and still have the maf Good pick up

all good mate i hadn't forgotten about the MAF but it should of been fine if the valve actually closed fully on factory idle loop, my NA8 idles fine with no MAF just don't ask for revs.
the car will only have the factory ECU till its finished at the painters, MSLABS MS3 basic will be going in shortly after..... then hopefully the head, cams ect. i'm aiming to have that all sorted by the end of the year.

[Alex 2550]

small update, the Mazda items i was after was the JDM folding NA visors. just got word that they have sold unfortunately so ill grab a set next time they show up.

[Alex 2550]

Ok some parts showed up!!
I grabbed the zoom radio surround that was for sale on here.
From the get go I couldn’t really decide how or what gauges I wanted but I knew I didn’t want them just in gauge pods or so low that I couldn’t easily read them.
I considered the Revlimiter dash mounted cups but I have done similar before and it was quite painful, to be fair they weren’t the same quality that Adams are.
Keeping in mind that this car will have a turbo I really want to keep an accurate eye on temperatures and of course boost.
I lost a motor in the WRX firstly from a big boost spike followed by a massive increase in temp from the blown head gasket, lesson learnt.

I grabbed VDO chrome vision gauges in,
Oil temp
Water temp
Boost
And a clock.
The clock is handy and adds to the vintage feel.

The boost gauge will remain in storage for now but it means it will match when needed just in case that range gets discontinued.

The VDO gauges had the red needles like my gauges (obviously will never fully match them) and a nice chrome ring to tie into my vent rings.
I couldn’t help but do a rough knock up.








It’s hard to get a photo that captures it properly and it is just sitting there but you all get the idea.
The fibreglass piece will require I bit of sanding to get the fitment spot on, actually it’s fairly off for a Japanese made product but I’ll get it there.
Another post coming shortly with some news that will really slow everything up.


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[Alex 2550]

Ok so the body parts I’m waiting on from carbonmiata and the leather transmission cover have been sitting in Shanghai air freight terminal since the 12th so they are coming but slowly.

Now sadly the build is going to get set back for a while.
This week I ripped the bicep tendon off the bone in my left arm just below the elbow and it’s currently sitting up near my shoulder, the bicep is also halfway up my upper arm.
I’m in for surgery next week to have it repaired but it’s going to be a couple months at least before I start being able to do much to the car let alone drive it. I’m chalking it up as another brilliant experience of 2020.......
I’m currently in a full arm cast to stop the tendon retracting further and assume I’ll be in one for about 6 weeks after the op before rehab so that’s really put this years plans back a bit sadly.


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