1996 NA MX-5 Build Thread

[stephen8512]

10/02/2016

MiataRoadster Short Shifter
When I had purchased my NA8, I noticed that as I was driving, the left side of my leg would get really hot due to the temperature coming from the car. Dan (91-BRG) informed me that it was most likely my shifter duster cover was torn as well as the insulation probably having worn out. Sure enough, he was correct. When I was installing my gearshift boot, I noticed that the insulation was just a mess and sure enough there was a tear in the duster cover.

After speaking to Dan, he suggested that if I plan to fix it (which I was), I might as well get the MiataRoadster short shift kit as it comes complete with new duster cover. Having a quick look on the website I realised just how complete this kit was. Not many kits these days come with OEM parts but this was one of them. I promptly messaged Bill at MiataRoadster, placed my order and within a few weeks, I had received my kit.

Following a great comprehensive DIY install guide by Adam at RevLimiter (which you can find by clicking HERE), the install was very simple. The pictures really says it all.

MiataRoadster Short Shifter kit with all the component parts.



The old insulation and torn duster cover.







The old shifter.





New parts ready to be installed.







Installed with brand new duster cover in place.



I had also purchased some new OEM insulation from Mazda Spare Parts via Amayama.



Went for a quick test drive.



After installing the short shifter and going for a spin, the shifter throw is immediately noticeable. It feels so much nicer now with the shorter throw and the shifting feels more precise. Not only that, I'm glad that this kit came with the OEM dust cover. It feels like the most complete short shifter kit available for our MX5's as most only offer the short shifter itself and basically you re-use your existing parts. If you're thinking about getting a short shift kit, get this. You definitely will not be disappointed. It's probably my favourite mod to date.

Many thanks to Dan (91-BRG) for the suggestion and to Bill at MiataRoadster for answering all my queries and for making a sublime short shifter for all of us.

[stephen8512]

24/03/2016

Nardi Classico 360mm Wood Steering Wheel
Unlike the NA6 BRG's, my NA8 never came with the wood handbrake handle, nor did it come with the Nardi wood steering wheel. These were two things that I really wanted my car to have. To replace my OEM Momo steering wheel (which is in great condition and feels fantastic) I purchased the Nardi Classico 360mm Wood Steering wheel just so that I could complete the retro/vintage look. I already installed the Arrive Mahogany Wood Handbrake Handle and this was the last piece of the interior puzzle (for now) to make it seem like an oldschool vintage British Roadster.

Nardi steering wheel with component parts.



In the process of removing the MOMO steering wheel.



MOMO OEM boss which needed to be removed. Cluster also removed (see below).



Steering wheel removed. Date stamp on the MOMO wheel.



Installed!





Feels very nice. The handle isn't as thick as the MOMO but I love how "complete" it looks now that it has the wooden steering wheel with matching wooden handbrake.

I also took this opportunity to install some LED lights in my dash cluster. Since the steering wheel was off, it was much easier to remove the dash cluster and cover. I'm going to have to remove it again later on anyway when I get my RS Products retro dash face with new dials but decided to do it anyway. Now it has white LED's which makes the needles glow white, and is overall much brighter.




Next to be installed :
- Runabout M2 Mirrors

Currently awaiting on :
- Ohlins Coilovers
- RS Watanabes refurbed to polished lip + Gold centres

[stephen8512]

31/03/2016

Runabout M2 Mirrors
Decided to install the Runabout M2 Mirrors I had bought from YJA. I've always liked these mirrors and it goes with the retro theme I'm going with, but have been told by many that visibility is quite poor due to the size of the mirrors compared to the large OEM ones. However, it's all for looks, right? Install was very simple and straight forward but unlike the NA6, I had to take my door cards off to unplug the power mirrors. Was easy enough though!

Runabout M2 Mirrors.



Door cards removed to unplug power mirrors.



Installed.





Visibility is, as mentioned previously, not the greatest. But, I'm stoked now that these are installed. It's going to look awesome once I get my Watanabe's on and coilovers installed.

Speaking of Watanabe's, I mentioned previously that I would be getting them refurbed by Barrel Bros. Well, I had dropped them off yesterday and got a message from Mark, who is looking after my set. The wheels will be fully refurbed, with lips polished, gutter rashes repaired, and centers painted gold. Here is the teaser photo I received from him. They've been "stripped down to its undies" according to him.



Their workshop really is worth a visit. They had some pretty rare and old school JDM wheels, of which were either for sale, or were in the process of being refurbed for a customer.



Also, going to be installing this very soon. RS Products Classic Meter Panel Type-1. Will need to order matching gauge faces soon. Looking at the Type-RS Gauge face.



Next to be installed :
- ARC Intake Chamber
- ARC Super Induction Box
- ARC Replacement Air Filter
- RS Products Classic Meter Panel Type-1

Currently awaiting on :
- Ohlins Coilovers
- RS Watanabes refurbed to polished lip + Gold centres

[stephen8512]

Mark from Barrel Bros sent me a few more photos! He works fast!

Gutter rashes re-welded.



Let the polishing begin!



In progress...

[stephen8512]

Received this. Wrapped and labeled with love. *Cue Charlie Puth/Wiz Khalifa : See You Again*



Contents inside! ARC Chamber and ARC induction box! Cannot wait to put this on my NA8!



Will be polishing it up first using some of the PIKAL metal polish that I got with my ZOOM retro fuel lid. Hoping to install this over the coming weekend!

[stephen8512]

Now that I got the RS-Watanabe's back, I can't wait to mount them with fresh rubber. Took some more photos and mocked up how it'd look once the wheels are on there for good.

Once again, cannot thank Mark at Barrel Bros enough. His quality, workmanship and attention to detail is second to none. He tried to match the gold paint as period correct as he could and even when it was painted, the first time around wasn't satisfactory so he stripped it all back and did it again, free of charge. I love people like him who take pride in their work and lets their workmanship speak for themselves. Will definitely be going back there for future wheel restorations.

He also gave me this bottle free of charge too. It's called the "Barrel Bros Lip Balm" and it was developed in house. Basically it's a wheel polish that leaves a nice wax and gloss over the polished lips. Has things inside which help protect the wheel from the brake dust as this is one of the major causes of wheel damage, aside from physical gutter rashes etc.



Closeup of Watanabe's and the finish. Spectacular to say the least. The lip is immaculate and the paint is spot on. It's the exact gold finish I was looking for.

Mark fit some brand new 90 degree bend valve stems in the Watanabes to make putting air in to the tyres a lot easier and one less way to avoid any unwanted scuffs on the lips from the air hose. Also complimentary. I can still revert to my RS Watanabe valve stems later on if I really want to but I kinda like this look. Very practical too.



Mock up of what it will look like.



Better lighting.



With the RS-Watanabe centre caps on.




Just needs a fresh set of 185/60/14 rubber and a drop from the Ohlins DFV's to get it sitting and handling right.

[stephen8512]

Found a set of JDM Eunos Fog Lights, complete with interior switch and wire harness from Gumtree (Australia's version of a Craigslist). Very happy with them considering how hard they are to come by. I picked them up for cheap and everything looks intact and well looked after!

[stephen8512]

25/04/2016

ARC Intake Chamber + ARC Induction Box
Decided to install the ARC Intake Chamber and Induction Box I had received from Miguel. Install was pretty straight forward, however the ARC intake chamber (as nice as it is) seems to get in the way of everything. Getting the bonnet stand to hold the bonnet up is now a slight mission as is putting it back down. The bonnet does not sit flush now when closed and I can see why now that these things are so bent out of shape.

It was a quick install, maybe around 40 minutes or so and I didn't have time to play around with it too much to try and get it to sit more flush, but it'll do for now.

Stock intake pipe and stock filter.





I also decided to buy a replacement genuine ARC intake panel filter.



Installed.



As much as I like this, I'm thinking of replacing the ARC intake chamber for something a little slimmer; namely the ARRIVE intake pipe, but for now it'll do.


RS Products Classic Retro Switch
Replaced the interior hazard/headlight buttons to the RS Products Classic Retro Switch. Since I'm going for a retro theme it suits it very well and will tie in nicely with the RS Products Retro Cluster and RevLimiters Retro Power Window switches.

Install was very straight forward. It was just a matter of undoing the bolts holding the centre console together, then removing the tombstone screws located behind the vent cups and unplugging the OEM buttons and replacing it with the RS Products goodness.

Looks right at home!

[stephen8512]

Will be fitting some Pirelli Cinturato P1 tyres this Friday (185/60/R14) on the RS-Watanabes. Finally will get to fit them on!
Did a little mock up of how it will look with the RS Watanabe lug nuts, valve stem and centre cap. Can't wait.



Also picked up a cheap second hand rocker cover for $25 that I'm going to get professionally polished. Think I might get the ARC induction box and the intake chamber re-polished too.



Speaking of the ARC intake chamber, as nice as it looks, I've decided that it's a bit too much for my liking. Had to fit and re-fit the chamber and the induction box numerous times just so that I could get clearance right. For now, it's much better than what it was before but I've purchased the ARRIVE intake pipe from YJA and I think it'll look a bit nicer. Will keep the ARC induction box though and put the intake chamber away in storage. I think once the ARC induction box is re-polished, it should go well with the rocker cover and intake pipe.



Ohlins DFV coilovers will be most likely be installed in a few weeks. Have ordered RacingBeat sway bar end links from Good-win-Racing to go with my Cusco front and rear sway bars.

After all this, looking to purchase some MaximWorks headers from Japan but undecided on the catback. Thinking about the Fujitsubo RM01A but not sure. Will need to do a bit more research. Suggestions?

[stephen8512]

02/05/2016

RS Products Classic Retro Cluster
Installed the RS Products Classic Meter Panel (Type-1 Version). I'm told that RS Products no longer make their version of this retro cluster and I was lucky enough to obtain one of their last production models. KG Works still makes the clusters from my understanding and to be honest, I can't really tell them apart but it looks awesome and that's all that counts.

Install was pretty easy as I knew what to do to remove the cluster and such since I did it before when I was installing my Nardi steering wheel.

RS Products Classic Retro Cluster ready to install. It's actually pretty heavy compared to OEM due to the glass.



Stock cluster. The car just ticked over 160,000kms last night.



Had to remove the centre indicator so that the bulbs light up on the cluster.



Installed.





My car is currently sitting on 160,011kms. I have a NA8 JDM 180km/h cluster showing 166,385kms. Once the kms match, I'll be swapping it over to this one. I've also swapped the oil pressure "idiot gauge" out from the JDM NA8 cluster to a working NA6 oil pressure gauge. To make it work, I will be changing the oil pressure sender from the NA8 to the NA6. This should then give me a working oil pressure gauge.



I'm also going to get some retro gauge faces to match the cluster. Currently eyeing the RS Products Type-RS gauge faces to replace the stock gauge faces on the JDM cluster. It goes with the retro theme I'm trying to keep with the car. I may also check out some RevLimiter gauges from Adam just so that I can see what options I have available.

RS Products Type-RS Gauge Face.

[stephen8512]

06/05/2016

RS-Watanabe Type-A + Pirelli Cinturato P1
Finally got to fit the refurbed RS-Watanabe's today! Feels like it's been an eternity but actually, it's been exactly three months since I took delivery of the wheels (06/02/2016). Since picking them up, they've been stripped back, gutter rash welded, repolished and the centres painted gold. They are now sporting a set of Pirelli Cinturato P1 tyres (185/60/R14). These tyres are virtually brand new and were on a friends NA6. He is going to sell the NA6 so I asked if he could swap tyres with what I currently had on my OEMs, which were the Bridgestone Ecopias (pretty average tyre). He agreed so we met up today to do the swap.

The RS-Watanabe's needed a spacer to clear the NA8 brake calipers. I had a set of four 5mm spacers that I brought with me. The rears didn't need them but I thought meh, what the hey. Final offset for front and back is now +9.5 offset. I forgot to bring the RS-Watanabe lug nuts to the shop and the stock lug nuts don't quite fit. I told them not to rattle gun it down but just tighten it the best they could without scratching the paint. However, once I got home I immediately replaced them with the proper lug nuts and torqued them down to 85 ft-lbs. Finally, the pièce de résistance with the RS-Watanabe valve stem and centre caps.

Only thing that's missing now to complete the look is a drop from coilovers. It is currently 4WD spec at the moment!

At the tyre shop with the RS-Watanabe's fitted!



Back at home with the RS-Watanabe lug nuts, centre caps and valve stem caps fitted.



My two cars. MK6 Golf R daily on the left, BRG MX-5 Miata weekender on the right.



Next to be installed :
- Ohlins DFV Coilovers
- JDM Eunos Fog Lights
- BeatRush Rear Strut Bar
- RacingBeat Sway Bar End Links
- GarageStar Lightweight Alternator + Water Pump Pulleys

[stephen8512]

10/05/2016

ARRIVE Intake Pipe
Decided to get the ARRIVE Intake Pipe to replace the ARC Intake Chamber I had. As much as I would have liked to have kept the chamber, it was simply too big and although I loved the look of it in the engine bay, I think the ARRIVE Intake Pipe makes it look a bit cleaner. I kept the green silicone hoses from the ARC chamber because I like the green and gold theme I have going on at the moment.

Before :



After :



The plan is also have the rocker cover and intake manifold polished.


Ohlins DFV Coilovers
My friend who had these Ohlins DFV Coilovers since last year December rarely drove his NA after installing them so the mileage on them were less than 500kms. Since he was selling his NA6 (recently purchased an AP1 S2000), I asked him if he wanted to sell his Ohlins to me. He agreed but wanted my OEM shocks and springs with cash on top since the car never came with OEM suspension when he purchased it (had some no-name aftermarket coilovers when he purchased the NA6). It was a no brainer and agreed to swap!

NA6 and NA8 in the workshop ready for the suspension swap.



Ohlins goodness.





Ohlins + Eibach Springs.



Before :



After :



Driving Impressions :
Saying that the car now feels amazing is an understatement! It's completely transformed the driving experience for me. I have yet to really drive this thing properly through some twisties but it corners flat and the ride is still very compliant. It still absorbs bumps very nicely and to be honest, it feels more comfortable than the stock suspension. I'm not even sure if sway bars would be necessary but I have the option to put them in if I ever felt like it. I need to receive my RacingBeat Sway Bar End Links soon so I can adjust the sway bar preload. Will be taking it on a Sunday Morning Drive this coming Sunday so will report back after that.

Might lower it a touch more, perhaps 10mm or so. I'm still very happy with how its sitting as well. It should settle in over the next few days.

Next to be installed :
- JDM Eunos Fog Lights
- BeatRush Rear Strut Bar
- RacingBeat Sway Bar End Links
- GarageStar Lightweight Alternator + Water Pump Pulleys

[stephen8512]

Managed to get the wheels balanced and aligned today. Popped in to see Fulvio at Spinning Wheels and Tyres. These guys and another (Heasmans Steering and Suspension) are the only two shops I go to for my suspension and wheel alignment needs. These guys do all sorts of work and usually a lot of high end exotics and race cars come here. If it's good for them, then it's good for my little MX5. They're normally super busy especially on the weekends but managed to catch them on a quiet day so was pretty happy.

JAX Spinning Wheels & Tyres.



Wheels getting aligned.





Final alignment specs were :

FRONT
Caster : +5.0 Degrees
Camber : -1.25 Degrees
Toe In : +0.5mm Each Side

REAR
Camber : -1.65 Degrees
Toe In : +0.5mm Each Side

Result :

[stephen8512]

16/05/2016

Received this from GarageStar today.

NA8 Water Pump and Alternator Pulley. Version 3.



Car is due for its 10,000km service in the next 4,000kms so will be installing it then along with :

- JDM Eunos Fog Lights
- Mazdaspeed Engine Mount
- Mazdaspeed Suspension Bushes
- RacingBeat Sway Bar End Links
- Exedy Clutch
- Toda Lightened Flywheel
- Torsen 4.1 Diff

[stephen8512]

17/05/2016

Beatrush Rear Strut Brace
Had the strut bar sitting in my room staring at me, begging to be installed. So I decided to do just that. The reason why I put it off was because I had heard it can be a real PITA to install but honestly, it wasn't too bad. Getting the strut to fit without removing the fuel lines was a challenge but managed to do so in the end.

I was too busy trying to tetris the bar in that I forgot to take before photos. But here are some photos after it was installed.



Beatrush goodness.



Floor carpet installed and spare wheel holder extension.



Complete.



The only thing is that the metal shroud that covered the fuel lines now fouls against the rear strut bar which means in its current form I can't install it. I plan to make it fit again along with the carpet by cutting away at the bit which fouls against the bar and maybe give it a lick of satin black paint while I'm at it. Also, it'll be a little hard to adjust damper settings now that the bar is in, but it's not impossible.

Overall, pretty happy. Can't wait to get the frame rails in next!