My '99 Miata!

[Dooey]

I've already made a few posts here, but I figured I should actually introduce myself, and my new to me Miata that I picked up on October 31st. My name is Radu, look forward to meeting more locals and I'll be keeping track of everything I do to the car here!

- 1999 Miata (Stock besides style bar)
- Purchased w/ 164K
- Black ext. Tan int.
- BOSE
- 5 Speed w/ Torsen

The car runs and feels great!
- No rips/tears on the leather
- Transmission ****s perfect
- Engine runs well
- New Nitto tires. Paperwork says they were installed in February this year

Off the bat I realized;
- brake fluid and clutch fluid were a bit low and dirty
- Was in a very minor fender bender in the front right corner. Headlight housing was cracked and fixed. Bumper was either fixed and repainter or just repainted. No frame damage.
- Tan top with glass/defrost window. Top has several tiny tears and two bigger tears. If anyone has a top in good condition, lmk!
- BIGGEST issue I'm having with it; Has a slight hesitation under 3k rpm's. Will not make it up a hill in 2nd gear rolling at ~ 5mph (friend's '97 1.8 can as well as friends '90 1.6). Also feels REALLY slow throughout the entire powerband. Mazdababy drove it and he even thinks it feels really slugish.

It had Belden Spark Plug Wires and BOSCH Spark Plugs that I replaced with NGK Wires and NGK R Standard Spark Plugs. I also thoroughly cleaned the Throttle Body and the Upper Intake Manifold. I did a cold compression test and all cylinders showed 155-160psi. What does everyone think is going on..? IF anyone with an NB 1.8 would like to test drive each others cars to feel power difference or anything, lmk.

- Did an oil change right when I got it
- I then flushed the coolant, which was completely nasty, and changed the thermostat with a failsafe one.
- I seafomed it through the vacuum
- Figured the Cat might be clogged, cause it threw a CEL for that, so I removed the Cat and placed a pipe instead.
- Then I did plugs and wires, like I mentioned above


Well, here is what she looks like;

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9224/miataday1.jpg
(Red NA that was parked at the Mall, Idk who it is)

[fastnfurious7]

Transmission ****s perfect


Oh my...perfect **** from the transmission.:lol:

Nice car, friend. Turbo charge it & add engine management system & the problems will go away. :p Yeah...wish I could help more with the issues you are having.

[lance]

Did you take all the plug wires off at the same time or replace them one at a time?

[Dooey]

Did you take all the plug wires off at the same time or replace them one at a time?

One at a time, why?! Lol

[Dooey]

Oh, and it also gets super bad gas mileage. I got like 188 miles to the tank last fill up, and relatively the same the fill up before.

[atl20ae]

have you changed the fuel filter?

[Dooey]

have you changed the fuel filter?

I actually ordered one from Advance the other day. Will probably replace it tomorrow or Thursday.

[JesseShoots]

That red NA is some guy who works at Hendrick Chevy's girlfriends car. Austin met her the other day that's how I know

[Bernie]

Good looking NB1. Wonder if maybe an injector is stuck or clogged and causing your issue...

[Dooey]

That red NA is some guy who works at Hendrick Chevy's girlfriends car. Austin met her the other day that's how I know

Ohhh, okay. That's cool. I saw her once but never talked to her. Lol

Good looking NB1. Wonder if maybe an injector is stuck or clogged and causing your issue...

Thank you. :) I was thinking about that too, but how exactly could I find out if one is clogged or something?

[Bernie]

Hmmm, besides pulling the injectors out and testing them... I'm not really sure.

Now, what you can do, if you have any seafoam left, put about 1/3 can in the gas and let that run through. Or a can of Techron. You might get lucky and either of those might actually clean out the injector.

But I could also just be grabbing at straws. There are much more knowledgeable folks on here that might have some better ideas.

[miata5620]

If you have good compression and spark then I would replace the fuel filter and add seafoam or a fuel injector cleaner to the gas and see if that helps. Since they are both cheap and easy things to do. Check to make sure your air filter is still good too.

[Dooey]

Hmmm, besides pulling the injectors out and testing them... I'm not really sure.

Now, what you can do, if you have any seafoam left, put about 1/3 can in the gas and let that run through. Or a can of Techron. You might get lucky and either of those might actually clean out the injector.

But I could also just be grabbing at straws. There are much more knowledgeable folks on here that might have some better ideas.

I've added a little bottle of the Fuel System Cleaner made by Lucas to the last gas tank and it didn't really make a difference in the 170 miles I got from that tank. Lol. Would it still be safe to add 1/3 part of Seafoam to the gas tank since I've refilled it?

If you have good compression and spark then I would replace the fuel filter and add seafoam or a fuel injector cleaner to the gas and see if that helps. Since they are both cheap and easy things to do. Check to make sure your air filter is still good too.

What do you think about Seafoam in gas tank since ive already used some Fuel System Cleaner in the last fill up (I have a new full tank of gas now)? I think the air filter is fine, but I may just replace it with like a cheap STP or Purolator.

[JesseShoots]

I have a cone filter I'll sell you for $20. I used it for 1 week if that ;D

[Dooey]

I have a cone filter I'll sell you for $20. I used it for 1 week if that ;D

I don't want a cone filter Jesse.. Lol. A new panel filter is cheaper than $20.

[JesseShoots]

If you get a crap no name one, you won't get anything from it. plus my cone will help give you more POWAHHH! That is your problem right.

[metalman]

I may have a K&N drop in (panel) filter.

[Dooey]

If you get a crap no name one, you won't get anything from it. plus my cone will help give you more POWAHHH! That is your problem right.

Haha, we'll see Jesse, we'll see..

I may have a K&N drop in (panel) filter.

Just let me know. Do you think you may have an idea of whats wrong with my car..? Lol

[Dooey]

Bumppp!

[miatastuff]

Get a compression tester from auto-zone loan a tool and make sure you are starting with 4 good holes.

[Dooey]

Get a compression tester from auto-zone loan a tool and make sure you are starting with 4 good holes.

I've already done a compression test and it was 1550-160 cold psi. I put that in the first post.

[miatastuff]

I've already done a compression test and it was 1550-160 cold psi. I put that in the first post.

Sorry I missed that.

[Dooey]

Sorry I missed that.

No problem. Go another idea..? Lol

[Dooey]

UPDATE; I changed the fuel filter and cleaned the MAF with the CRC MAF Cleaner stuff today, and the car does intact run a lot better. The fuel filter was original.. So much nasty rusty fuel poured out of it.. Now, to just run Seafoam in the gas to clean the injectors more!

[Stealth97]

A clogged catalytic converter can make it run like it has 5hp as well.

[Dooey]

A clogged catalytic converter can make it run like it has 5hp as well.

Already removed the cat and placed a pipe instead cause it threw a CEL for the cat.

[Mazdababy]

- Transmission ****s perfect


http://www.mx5atlanta.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5116&stc=1&d=1321603721

???

[Mazdababy]

I still say just send the injectors off and get them cleaned... seafoam can never get them that clean.

[Dooey]

I still say just send the injectors off and get them cleaned... seafoam can never get them that clean.

I'll probably do that if it doesn't get any better. It already is better than it was!

[Dooey]

http://www.mx5atlanta.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5116&stc=1&d=1321603721

???

It was supposed to say "shifts" but I guess I typed it too fast.. Lol

[Mazdababy]

Lol i know what it supossed to say. I've done the same, but I said I **** with two fingers.

[Dooey]

Lol i know what it supossed to say. I've done the same, but I said I **** with two fingers.

Haha, I know what you mean man!

[JesseShoots]

You guys are gross, stop s***ing with two fingers and teaching your tranny to do it as well lol

[Mazdababy]

Buy my NB things you know you need since your car runs better now so I can buy NA things.

[Mazdababy]

If you get a crap no name one, you won't get anything from it. plus my cone will help give you more POWAHHH! That is your problem right.

What kind of filter?

[Dooey]

Buy my NB things you know you need since your car runs better now so I can buy NA things.

I told you in not gonna spend my money on stuff that I don't necessarily need right now.. Stop bugging me about it. Lol. I'll buy that eventually.

[JesseShoots]

What kind of filter?

Spectre. The same exact one you have. I got it and then the like a day later my dad came home with a K&N panel filter.

[Dooey]

UPDATE!

Finally got my car running good! Did the water pump and timing belt on it. Long story short, it was off a tooth or several. Lol. All work was done by me, Mazdababy (Bryan), and JesseShoots (Jesse). Bryan helped me time it this morning and then we put everything back together, I finished up a few odds and ends, then she fired right up! It honestly feels like a new car. I would honestly not guess it has 166K miles. Well here are a few pictures!

http://img.tapatalk.com/47ec0c80-cf58-3e25.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/47ec0c80-cfcc-264d.jpg
Putting it all back together. Engine bay needs to be cleaned, haven't had time for that either.. :/

http://img.tapatalk.com/47ec0c80-cf78-01b7.jpg
Then gave it a much needed bath!

http://img.tapatalk.com/47ec0c80-cf98-0e9d.jpg
I haven't got around to cleaning interior, but I'm planning on ripping everything out, cleaning it, and putting it back in.

Happy new year to everyone, as well! :)

[Dooey]

Pretty big update!

A few weeks after finishing my timing belt/water pump and all, I bought Bryan's Megan Racing headers and installed them. You can definitely feel a bit more power/responsiveness in the top end

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9238/meganracingheader.jpg

They're stainless steel, however, they used to be header wrapped, but it was all falling off so I just ripped it all off.

Then I purchased I.L Motorsport Eye Lids from RotorNut!

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/7407/ilmotorsportseyelids.jpg

Bought brand new OEM Rear Mud Flaps off of eBay for super cheap. They were in original Mazda packaging, along with all OEM clips/screws and installation directions (not that I needed them), just thought it was cool. I couldn't find front ones at the time in OEM black, so I bought white ones off of a guy on CR.net (brand new as well) and painted them with a duplicolor paint match (not pictured)

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/8004/mudflaps.jpg

[Dooey]

Next I decided to rip the entire interior out and thoroughly clean it all. The carpet mainly was disgusting. I pulled it out of the car and it had a bunch of stains and very dirty. I just vacuumed it so it can be easier to pressure wash.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/449/interior2jc.jpg

I took it to the diy car wash along with the rear deck carpet and pressure washed them all, and they look almost new besides the worn spots.

During the time it was all drying, I decided to re-insulate the interior with Frost King Duct Insulation. Bryan (Mazdababy) and Jesse (JesseShoots) did this as well with pretty good results, especially on the transmission tunnel. I bought two rolls, and have just a bit left over from the second roll.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5118/interior3s.jpg

This is an unfinished picture of it. I was in a hurry the day after so I threw the carpet in when I finished with the insulation. The entirety of the interior is covered with this stuff, and it's best to seal it/adhere it better with foil/aluminum tape stuff that is used for ducting work.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8353/interior4f.jpg

And then the freshly cleaned carpet! :D

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8430/interior5p.jpg

I also cleaned my leather seats really well with Mr.Clean Magic Eraser. They were really nasty especially where they rubbed the style bar that was in the car when I bought it. They look almost new besides where they're worn. I'll take a picture of the interior all back together when it's nice out.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Wow! You've been busy! Looks great! Clean carpet really goes a long way.

[theothersawyer]

Looking good! Nothing beats those cheap mods that just require a little labor!

[Dooey]

I went ahead and did the AUX Mod as well, because it's more convenient to listen to iPod/iPhone. I placed my switch and Auxiliary plug in two places I haven't seen anyone place them. I thought it's more sleep and OEM looking.

I put the switch in my cubby under the Bose. Bought this OEM cubby off of Rosenthal for like $11 or something.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8863/auxmod1.jpg

I put the Auxiliary plug in the center console next to the trunk/fuel pop.

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/853/interior7.jpg

I used quick disconnects in my harness if I ever have to take the center console or the cubby out for any reason, or if I have to change the switch or Auxiliary plug. I also used a few strips of double sided tape to hold the wires to the side of the center console for a cleaner look.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3193/auxmod.jpg

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1403/interior6.jpg

Had to cut the bottom of the NB2 console's power window switch holder thing so I could still easily plug in my NB1 power window switch. I bought the NB2 console from Atank, along with 01 SE Floor Mats, and 01 SE Door Sills! (not pictured yet)

Next came some much needed goodies!

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/4365/goodiesf.jpg

I needed new upper/lower rubber shift boots so I just went ahead and ordered everything else at once to save on shipping.

- OEM Upper/Lower Boots
- OEM Cubby
- ATE Super Blue
- Redline MTL
- Redline MT-90
- Redline 75w90

I actually changed the transmission and differential fluids along with the upper/lower shift boots today. It's a world of a difference how much better my transmission shifts and how well my diff locks!

Next on the list is suspension, and installing my power steering rack I got from Pat (NA6R) forever ago. Mine is leaking pretty bad. I've decided to go with the Megan Racing Street Coilovers. I originally decided on the EZ Street version but the wait for them is too long, plus I know how the Street's feel. I also have them on my VR-4. I will update again when I get these installed!

[Dooey]

Wow! You've been busy! Looks great! Clean carpet really goes a long way.

Definitely have.. I'm trying to do it all on a tight budget too, and making the best out of it. One thing I hate is having a dirty interior. Thank you!

Looking good! Nothing beats those cheap mods that just require a little labor!

Yeah, for reallll! Thanks

[scandmx5]

very nice!

[Dooey]

Sorry for not being able to stay up-to-date with this. I have had a bunch going on with school/work and everything else. Now, there has been quite a few things done to the car since my last up date, so bare with me.

After installing the new timing belt/water pump and doing all the fluids, I wanted to drive the car for a few weeks to make sure that everything was performing correctly. I was now ready to buy some coilovers.

I was going to go with Megan Racing EZ Streets, but everyone and their grandma were sold out of them, so an eBay seller gave me a great deal on a set of Megan Racing Street Series Coilovers!

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3426/meganracingstreetcoilov.jpg

Installing them wasn't too bad. Here is what she looked like afterwards!

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3426/meganracingstreetcoilov.jpg

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/3426/meganracingstreetcoilov.jpg

My tan top was wripped pretty bad so I bought this black soft top with a zip down window from Robertmx51999. He was parting out a complete dark green '99. He gave me a great deal so I snatched it!

I don't think it's an OEM top, but it's okay, it works!

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1049/blacksofttop1.jpg

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5162/blacksofttop2.jpg

JesseShoots and I attended a drift event in Cordele. It was fun, we both had s*** alignments, and on my best run of the day, I made contact with a pole. This is from one of my decent runs.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/423128_2470663345624_1823608394_1561228_859733672_ n.jpg

I had to replace my core support and radiator. I'm still using the bumper from the event because I haven't found a good replacement yet. SO, if anyone has a good NB1/2 bumper, lemme know!

I decided to get a little bit creative and make a skid plate. :P

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9479/skidplate2v.jpg

However, I didn't like the fact that I would have to remove it to change my oil, so I drilled a hole using a hole saw and it now I can change my oil with it on the car. The hole is perfectly placed, I just don't have a picture.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/3193/skidplate1.jpg

I didn't like the way my headlights looked, so I wanted to restore them. I used the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit and it worked great!

Before:
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/176/headlightbefore.jpg

After:
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3028/headlightafter.jpg

Comparison:
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7701/headlightbeforeafter.jpg

I loved the way the headlights turned out, so I decided to use the wet sand pad followed by the applicator pad and rubbing compound on the taillights. It got rid of the dullness and the fine scratches.

Before:
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4471/taillightbefore.jpg

After:
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/8862/taillightafter.jpg

I have been searching for a set of wheels for a long time now. I was gonna go with a set of XXR 527's, but I was never a fan of the universal lug pattern they have going on. I came across VarrStoen, and I was pretty impressed by how nice some of their wheels look. Doing a google search for 'VarrStoen Miata', there are only like 3 NA's with the wheels I decided to get.

I got the VarrStoen V1's in 15x8 +0. I got a good deal and they came with Valve Stems, Hub-Centric Rings, and Lug Nuts.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2912/varrstoen1.jpg

Teaser of them mounted
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4986/varrstoenteaser.jpg

The paint was pretty dull in some spots so I decided to try Meguiar's Cleaner Wax. I first washed the car with dish soap, dried it, and started to use this stuff.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/84/scleanerwax.jpg

I didn't get any pictures because it was literally 1:00 AM when I was waxing it in my garage. But here are a few pictures from the next day at Import Alliance.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2113/importalliance2.jpg

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/5048/importalliance1.jpg

The wax actually made a HUGE difference!

And a few more pictures that I snapped

One day at Fort Yargo
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6114/fortyargo.jpg

Yesterday at QT!
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9251/qtpicture.jpg

[caseyfoster]

Car looks great, good job.

[Dooey]

Car looks great, good job.

Thank you! It's definitely still a work in progress.

[JesseShoots]

Needs new exhaust tip nao!

[Dooey]

Needs new exhaust tip nao!

I knowwwww. That was temp. But me/make me one. I just need a new exhaust..

[oldgrayfrog]

Looks great, that sweat equity is definitely upping the value of that car.

[mazdakart]

Wow, that carpet looks 100x better. Lookin good dude!

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Good job on the headlights - gonna have to do that to one of my dad's cars.

[Dooey]

Looks great, that sweat equity is definitely upping the value of that car.

Thanks. I love doing little cheap things that make the car look better. :)

Wow, that carpet looks 100x better. Lookin good dude!

Thanks man!

Good job on the headlights - gonna have to do that to one of my dad's cars.

Yeah, the 3M kit worked great. I definitely recommend it!