mitch_f1's mariner NA6

[mitch_f1]

Hey there, thought I would put my ride up on this forum as well. I am just going to copy and post it from another forum.

16-6-09
Well, I have finally purchased a proper car. It is a bone stock NA6 MX5. Got it off of a guy from here. Pics (not mine):










Plans, roughly in order, are:
-wheels
-intake
-suspension
-exhaust

Then I think I will sit happy for a while

Looking to do a few trackdays with it. Nothing too serious, just something for shits and giggles.


Mods:
Exterior:
-SSR Reverse mesh 14x6.5 +8, 14x7.5 +7
-SSR Type C 14x6.5 +30
-Headlight intake duct
-Custom made offset number plate bracket
-Garage Vary front lip

Suspension/body
-Koni Yellow/King springs
-Rear lower control arm chassis brace
-Garage arrive front lower control arm/chassis brace
-Carbing front strut tower brace with brake master cylinder brace

Brakes
-RS Factory Stage pads (F+R)
-NA8 rotors, calipers
-RDA slotted fronts
-braided front lines

Performance
-ARC intake chamber, Apexi pod filter or stock airbox with K&N panel filter for road use
-HKS Super Header 4-2-1 headers, heat wrapped
-RS Factory Stage catback exhaust in mild steel

Cooling
-NA8 radiator shroud
-ASI 42mm alloy radiator
-Toyota long life coolant

Interior
-Torque Box roll bar
-Sparco bucket seat
-RPM race harness
-Manual window regulator conversion
-fire extinguisher

[mitch_f1]

19-7-09
I love this car, it is soo much fun to drive. So very different from the cress; you turn, and IT TURNS....so much fun Just have to adjust driving styles now that I have a more precise car. Man the Cress is a barge :p

Anyhow, not much in the way of mods, a ghetto offset plate holder, a new headunit (cheap sh*t sony one...which receives aussie stations - JDM doesn't surprisingly), new door speakers to replace rotten ones, and a coin tray instead of stupid and pointless ash tray. Also bought a set of extractors off of ebay, but I dunno, they seem a bit dodgy; there is filler on the head of them (pics later)

Took some pics the other day, as I was bored

[mitch_f1]

21-7-09
finally, let the proper mods begin.

Firstly, this is the set of extractors i picked up off of ebay from a suspect wrecker. They had sprayed it in some kind of paint, am yet to work out if it is just rattlecan, or some kind of proper exhaust paint, otherwise if it is the later i assume it would spoke itself off, which I do not want. There is also the suspect filler in the manifold end of the thing. Anyone with any clue as to what purpose it might serve?




Now, just went and picked up a set of suspensions off of a fellow MX5CT member. They are Pedders shocks, with Racing Beat springs, which are said to lower it 2-3 inch from standard, so this will serve as a good temp fix until I can afford coilovers.

[mitch_f1]

1-8-09
So got a new set of wheels finally; SSR Type C's in 14x6 +30. Also picked up a set of lowered springs and pedders shocks for almost nothing off a forum member. Was told they are 2-3 inch lower, but I don't think they are lower than 1" from standard. Getting them fitted was a bitch, ended up giving up and cashed in a favor to get them on.





I think I might go for a set of KYB AGX and king springs, or Tien S springs, else, I save up my $$$'s and get a set of coilovers early next year. I am kinda leaning towards the latter.

Also just about to pay for a Torque Box roll hoop, which should be pretty cool once arrived and fitted. Should fix up the flex when the top is off as well, which would be amaze, as it is pretty shocking.

Was so devo I couldn't bring it last night, as the guy doing the suspensions couldn't get the left ball joint off, so it was stuck there till smorning.

[mitch_f1]

2-8-09
Anyhow, cleaned it today, and got some proper pics:


Front is sitting reasonably


Rear is still 4WD height



I really want to find a set of SSR Mk2's in 13 or 14" by about 7" in t he 4x100, if anyone knows anyone that might want to sell a set, please let me know

[mitch_f1]

22-8-09




Just a little teaser of things to come :p

[mitch_f1]

3-9-09
sh*t just got real :O

Tyres to come really soon. Can't wait to get them fitted XD

[mitch_f1]

8-9-09
So I went and got some Hankook's in 195/60/14 all round, cause they were the cheapest, and no one had anything much bad to say about them when I called around, unlike most of the other tyres I was looking at. I'm a bit worried about 2 things; 1) it's not in the guards, and 2) the height, and seeing that I'm not overly keen on coilovers, and I don't want to scrape on everything, I dunno.

One and a bit problems arised; one of the front rims is badly warped, and so it will need re-rolling (where do I go?), and a rear is a bit warped, but was still able to be balanced. So the wheels can't go on just yet








Also took me and my dad a solid 1 and a half days to put this in; a Torque Box roll bar from MX5Plus.

[mitch_f1]

11-9-09
okay, so ride height not yet fixed, but I had a lil pressie arrive this morning, it starts with A and ends with RC





Came with a stainless steel heat shield...FTW


Took me farking forever to get the darned OE one out, as I realized i had to take a fan out to get the massive thing out, but yeh. It's in. I'm a bit disappointed with the sound it makes; not nearly as loud as I would have hoped, and I can't notice much of a difference in power, like at all, but meh, I helps the engine breathe a lil better now.

Next step is to heat wrap the intake, as aluminium absorbs heat like no tomorrow, then get a mania style intake for under the windshield

[mitch_f1]

9-10-09
So was my 21st a lil while back, and I got given this by dad. two stripped screws later its in. Colour match isnt amaze, but the job it performs should be good (haven't drive it yet)



Also have my Koni Yellows and King springs coming up from Melbourne this week, so once they are on car will be sufficiently low.

Still having problems with the tyres on the new wheels; they now have the dud tyre and ive got to wait for them to replace it.

[mitch_f1]

23-10-09
So jsut a few updates. Got a Sparco Sprint seat for the 5. It's really faded, but i was kinda (not really i now realise) a cheap price, so I picked it up, to hold my skinny ass in better. Sits lower as well, which is good; lowers my center of gravity (lol). Ha just realised, the whole recaro special door sill thing...shame it isnt





Here is a shot of the Koni Yellows, and meshes that are waiting to go on. Suspension first, then guard rolling, then wheels.

[mitch_f1]

20-11-09
Well, I was looking at getting a second hand Carbing radiator shroud thing (dont know the name), but I was told by someone that the NA8's came out with a similar thing, so went to the Mazda stealer, and picked one up for a small fraction of the cost of the Carbing one. Installed it just then, apparently the NA6 and NA8 have different holes in the front bumper mount thing, so I had to retro fit it, but looks good. Am yet to drive it with it on, but should offer a bit of extra cooling, which is good in this sh*t hot weather. Suspension going on early next week, followed closely by wheels

[mitch_f1]

26-11-09
So i was convinced to do the suspension myself (thanks IH8)...which i did (woo). Did that on Tuesday day off. Today it had a track wheel alignment. Got to find out what specs he made it (I didn't pick the car up), doing that tomorrow. But wow, the suspension is soo nice now; I am very happy with it. Went for a drive up the Old pac just then, and there was no crashing over bumps, its very bouncy, but quite stuff, and with all that camber when I turn, the car just turns. Also really happy with the seat; holds very well. Now maybe if I can find some money a 4 point harness will be next in terms of driver comfort/safety

Also picked up that set of semi slicks and 15x7 wheels for track wheels (for the time being), they will end up being street wheels once I am finished with the tyres, and the Type C's will be the track beasts, but they need to be powder coated white, as they are all oxidising and not pretty.

I have Carbing strut brace, cusco (or another brand...gonna try each) front lower control arm brace, GV lip, and new brake pads coming hopefully before christmas. Oh and my manual windows.

The brakes are sh*t, they really need to be fixed; the pedal gets all squishy with any kind of temperature in the pads. So I hope it is just the pads, and new higher temp ones will fix the issue, but I might also have to get drilled and or slotted rotors up front.

Once all that is done I will be happy with my car for a while.

Found out tonight speaking to one of the circuit club guys, that there is a track day on Australia Day at Wakefield, so I am aiming for that as this cars first day.

[mitch_f1]

27-11-09
So today I went up to Ground Zero Tinting and got the tint taken off, cause driving up Galston Gorge the other night, I couldn't see the other end of the hairpin through the tint. I figured this isn't a hard parker, so it's gone. Function/looks. This is what it looks like now:


Also fitted the reverse mesh's today, and they pretty much fit under the guards, which i am quite happy about. But I'm not sure, at my ride height they don't look that great, so I am considering possibly maybe selling them, or storing them.












Now I am a little worried about the toe angle, is it supposed to be this extreme??
Back:


front:


I went back to see the guy that did the alignment, but he didn't know what he put on it, he said he just 'maxxed everything out'...I am a little worried. I should have listened to the advice I was given but another forum member, and gone to somewhere that does a printout. Although this place was recommended by MX5Mania, so not sure.


I also took this chance to see what the car looked like with the semi's on. Now before anyone comments, I know they are on the wrong waya round, I just wanted to see fitment, and couldnt be bothered finding the right ones. The 15" wheels fill the guards a lot more satisfyingly.

[two40]

This is going to be a long one. Keep em coming. ;)