Latest update on my upgrades. The painter called. It's ready to come home. I looked at it, paid the guy, and will pick it up, later today. Wow! It looks new! Not bad for a 1990 Miata! The one seat in the car looks really good with those red inserts. I've already received the SS door sills, chrome gas cover, SS vent trim, and replacement console lid. I'll put those on as soon as possible. I also have the front mud guards coming in to match up with the rear ones. Without the protective side coating, I figured I'd need that. I also have a new car cover coming. I also need to get a lighter plug to cover that hole and a couple of speaker grills to cover the speakers behind the seats. The rest is general cleanup. Less than three weeks to the first showing!
Weekend Projects
- Thread starter 08cosmic3
- Start date
Bring back the creepy face hybrid human dog please!Yesterday was a cleaning day. I got most of the interior done and back in place. The new doorsills, console cover, lighter, and gas cap cover were installed. The seats are back in the car, as well. After I got done for the day, I took it for a spin. I had the top down for the first time since I bought it in November; so, it was a given we had to go! Now, I guess I'd better start on that trunk. The only thing bad about a new paint job is that every other thing looks bad, now. Ugh!
Edited update: I had a mess in the trunk. It was mostly sanding dust and some sand from VA Beach in the far reaches. I got most of the sand out of there. One day, I'll open things back up and try to get the rest; but, it looks much better than it did. I did some touch up painting and really cleaned things in areas where people can see. It looks much better, now.
The fender wells, wheels, etc. need cleaning. Then, it's the engine compartment. I also still need to install the front mud guards. Lots to do in two weeks! After the first show, I may clean the car underneath. There are too many pretties under there to not have them shine.
Edited update: I had a mess in the trunk. It was mostly sanding dust and some sand from VA Beach in the far reaches. I got most of the sand out of there. One day, I'll open things back up and try to get the rest; but, it looks much better than it did. I did some touch up painting and really cleaned things in areas where people can see. It looks much better, now.
The fender wells, wheels, etc. need cleaning. Then, it's the engine compartment. I also still need to install the front mud guards. Lots to do in two weeks! After the first show, I may clean the car underneath. There are too many pretties under there to not have them shine.
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I must be the only one working on his car! I know. You guys are saving your work for the meet.
I took my wife to Pigeon Forge for a couple of days of shopping. She likes to do that, once in a while; so, I try to work that into my schedule. She's a pretty good sport about my car nut stuff.
Yesterday, it was back to work on the Miata. I removed and painted the little wind deflector on the wiper blades. I also painted the new front mud guards with some texture paint so they would better match the textured rear mud guards. I'll install those, today. I glued the windshield wiper washer tubing to the hood at the attach points to keep it from sagging. My clips are broken; so, I'll try to find some, later. I also glued the wheel center caps in place, since they don't fit quite right. I used small dabs of silicon on the tabs to hold them so they could be knocked back out, when needed. I think that should hold them, OK. I also had to adjust the headlight lids so the rear edges would be flush with the hood. They get bent down pretty easily, I found out. Now, I'm down to the nitty-gritty stuff to do. Most of the major stuff is done. I'll do more detailing in the engine compartment and try to do a little more in the fender wells. I may also look under the car and see what I can do there, quickly. I don't have much time left to go into detail, there.
I took my wife to Pigeon Forge for a couple of days of shopping. She likes to do that, once in a while; so, I try to work that into my schedule. She's a pretty good sport about my car nut stuff.
Yesterday, it was back to work on the Miata. I removed and painted the little wind deflector on the wiper blades. I also painted the new front mud guards with some texture paint so they would better match the textured rear mud guards. I'll install those, today. I glued the windshield wiper washer tubing to the hood at the attach points to keep it from sagging. My clips are broken; so, I'll try to find some, later. I also glued the wheel center caps in place, since they don't fit quite right. I used small dabs of silicon on the tabs to hold them so they could be knocked back out, when needed. I think that should hold them, OK. I also had to adjust the headlight lids so the rear edges would be flush with the hood. They get bent down pretty easily, I found out. Now, I'm down to the nitty-gritty stuff to do. Most of the major stuff is done. I'll do more detailing in the engine compartment and try to do a little more in the fender wells. I may also look under the car and see what I can do there, quickly. I don't have much time left to go into detail, there.
Me too. It's tax payin' time. I have a torque damper and a new intercooler shroud sitting around that I need to install. The damper requires relocation of the a/c and power steering lines :\ and the shroud needs to be drilled so it meets up properly with the brackets on the intercooler. Hopefully I'll get at least one of these done this weekend.
I'm pretty much in the same boat. My big spending on cars is over, for this year. Well, I may put a new top on the Miata at the end of the year. Right now, I have to start doing chores around her to keep the boss lady off my back. It doesn't cost much to keep them clean and shining, though.
Power wise, I think I've gone as far as I want to with this car. I'd like to move on to suspension/handling and add a decent subwoofer. At that point I'll be done with mods until the warranty runs out.
At that point I'll look into meth injection, a test pipe or turboback exhaust, and probably a Cobb AP. Of course I'll upgrade the fuel pump first. The only reason I'm still using the stock pump now is mine holds pressure like a champ.
At that point I'll look into meth injection, a test pipe or turboback exhaust, and probably a Cobb AP. Of course I'll upgrade the fuel pump first. The only reason I'm still using the stock pump now is mine holds pressure like a champ.
Thankfully, the two cars I want mods done to are already done. I can just enjoy the labors and expenditures of others before me. Well, I guess I did pay for the expenditures on the Roush. Now, I just clean, clean, clean. The problem I have with the Miata is that I have to realize it's a 19 year old car that is going to have a few flaws. I'm used to driving a lot newer cars; so, I'm trying too hard to make the Miata like new. It looks great; but, I continue to see those little annoying flaws. I'll most likely change out the top and windshield, before I'm done with major fixes. Then, I can just tinker with minor things, I hope. I should be taking some photos, today. It's clean enough for that, now.
Your killing us.
Finally! Here are a few photos.
This image was taken by another Miata enthusiast before we had lunch at a Cracker Barrel in Lexington. It seems the parking lot made a nice backdrop for it.
This image gives a nice rear and side shot. It looks great having no dents and dings in the car. The luggage rack gives it the sleeper touch. The twin exhausts give a subtle hint to something being different.
How about an interior shot? In this one, you can see the recovered seats, some bling, and my old floor mats. I use those for daily driving. A new set is used for shows.
Another side shot. Here, you can see the new gas cap cover, the wheels that finally have the caps in place, the new doorsills, etc.
And, for those who just can't stand it, here is the engine, again.
This image was taken by another Miata enthusiast before we had lunch at a Cracker Barrel in Lexington. It seems the parking lot made a nice backdrop for it.
This image gives a nice rear and side shot. It looks great having no dents and dings in the car. The luggage rack gives it the sleeper touch. The twin exhausts give a subtle hint to something being different.
How about an interior shot? In this one, you can see the recovered seats, some bling, and my old floor mats. I use those for daily driving. A new set is used for shows.
Another side shot. Here, you can see the new gas cap cover, the wheels that finally have the caps in place, the new doorsills, etc.
And, for those who just can't stand it, here is the engine, again.
MazdaSpeeder
Member
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- Protege5 (5-spd)
FINALLY! She looks beautiful. That new paint job makes a big difference. I love your appearance mods...they're clean and tasteful, and they accent the car well. Very nice.
Thanks! I wanted just enough bling to make it more attactive; but, I didn't want it to look like I bought out Autozone.
Anyway, I think I've spent enough on it, for now. I do have to buy some bling for the Roush, though. I told my wife I'd buy some of the little shiny items that can go in the engine compartment to dress it up. Not too much bling, though. I'm the one who has to keep it shining. I guess I'll do that at the first of the month so it'll be on the car when she's free to show it. Right now, she's working on Saturdays. In the meantime, I've got to clean it back up from my drive in rainy weather, yesterday. Then I have to detail it out for Georgetown. I'm hoping for great weather for both our events.
According to my receipts, those are Rota Sub Zero wheels from Good-win Racing. I like them because they aren't too flashy. The caps that come with them are carbon fiber and add a nice touch to the wheels.
