'97 Miata M Edition build thread

I have lots of plans that will hopefully become reality in time so I figure why not keep things simple and do a single thread. I have thoroughly enjoyed owning my NB1 but upon figuring out its burning oil at about 1 quart per 700 miles I had to figure out what to do. Unfortunately I dropped some coin right away so at first I was going to build another motor or rebuild mine but since I originally wanted a NA I figured now was the time. I REALLY wanted a '93 LE but didn't want the 1.6 and viscous lsd but didnt count on finding a LE anytime soon much less with a 1.8 and torsen swap so I moved onto the NA8's. I had originally entertained several different '97 M's before getting the NB1 so although it wasn't my goal I came across one with only 93k miles and a clean car fax with documented maintenance records. After negotiating and meeting to inspect and finalizing the transaction, I was the happy owner of my first NA.

09-28-13: Had the 15x8 +25 Konig Flatout's (machined finish and weighing in at 12.4lbs) w/ 225/45/15 Hankook Ventus RS3's taken off my NB1 and put on the M but need to take pictures.

Today I corrected Mazdas interior mistake and completed the Nardi theme :chug:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps09cb21d8.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psbb07debe.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps89894b52.jpg

Thanks to Rev9 Autosport for the Royal Clover key. I think it compliments the car nicely.

At this point I think chasis rigidity is my goal given the increased chassis flex the NA suffers over the NB. Probably Flyin Miata frame rail braces will be the first addition with various other braces in the future. I was originally going to go with FM V Maxx coilovers but have been seriously considering Fat Cat motorsports. I don't know what direction for sure I will take but yalls input and experience is appreciated.:chug:

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Originally Posted by whoswatchingme

I was originally going to go with FM V Maxx coilovers but have been seriously considering Fat Cat motorsports. I don't know what direction for sure I will take but yalls input and experience is appreciated.:chug:

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Cool thread.

Best thing to do is see if you can drive them. I'm rocking FCM -- happy to let you take a spin (not literally please).

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Originally Posted by hornetball

Cool thread.

Best thing to do is see if you can drive them. I'm rocking FCM -- happy to let you take a spin (not literally please).

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Thanks when I'm up in the DFW area I will let you know ahead ot time. Thanks again!

I have that same steering wheel in my '94...but it looks a lot better in the tan/wood trim interior. I will enjoy this thread

hornetball is in Granbury, closer to you than DFW

After an accurate diagnosis and solution from Dennis Nicholls on miata.net I got my headlight shake reolved. First I adjusted stops but that did very little so I ordered the rod thru Rosenthal and installed it today and problem solved, no headlight shake, yay! :chug:

Now that the headlight issue is resolved I need to install the window guide kit from Miata B racer and the small things are resolved.

Next I need to reduce chasis flex(as previously stated) because it is much more obvious in the NA vs my NB so I'm thinking the best bang for buck is Flyin Miata frame rails..thoughts? The price tag fits what I currently have to spend and at the claimed 30% increase in chasis rigidity, it sounds like a wise step in the right direction. I plan on eventually doing frog arm braces, Beatrush PPF performance brace, roll bar, front strut tower brace and probably rear tower brace. As far as struts go I'm leaning VERY heavily towards Fat Cat Motorsports Elite coilovers and every one of Shaikh's videos I am more and more convinced.

Be sure you have the time to wait on FCM... Promised vs delivery can be miles apart.

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Originally Posted by Steve E

Be sure you have the time to wait on FCM... Promised vs delivery can be miles apart.

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I got mine within 2x of the promised delivery time frame :punchout:

Got my Flyin Miata frame rail braces installed and changed out the filter while I had her on stands.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps2d842b5e.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps695f0d8c.jpg
The difference in rigidity is impressive and can only imagine the results with the butterfly brace as well. Now it feels ALMOST as rigid as my NB1 but not quit there yet. Cowl shake is reduced, bumps are more evenly distributed and cornering speed is now more stable where else before the rear end would come out some. Love, love, love it!

I plan to order the FM braces for my 95 too. How long did it take to install them? Also, how long did it take for them to deliver them to you once you ordered them?

cheers.

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Originally Posted by Bob_MX5

I plan to order the FM braces for my 95 too. How long did it take to install them? Also, how long did it take for them to deliver them to you once you ordered them?

cheers.

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Taking my time and flying solo, it was 5-6 hours but I also changed the fuel filter. I think from the time I ordered them to the day they were delivered was 3-5 days, pretty quick. I highly recommend the upgrade but that's no earth shattering news since they are tried and true. :toast:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whoswatchingme

Taking my time and flying solo, it was 5-6 hours but I also changed the fuel filter. I think from the time I ordered them to the day they were delivered was 3-5 days, pretty quick. I highly recommend the upgrade but that's no earth shattering news since they are tried and true. :toast:

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Thanks for the reply. Planning on getting/installing them over the Christmas break.

cheers.

I have the FM rails and butterfly brace. I had my butterfly brace off for a few days and I felt like the car flexed more without it. You might consider getting the butterfly brace down the road.

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Originally Posted by motorollow

I have the FM rails and butterfly brace. I had my butterfly brace off for a few days and I felt like the car flexed more without it. You might consider getting the butterfly brace down the road.

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Thanks for relating that experience but I do plan on getting it. The next suspension mod is FCM coilovers. :chug:

Did both belts today on my '97 only to discover the adjuster for the alternator was gone!Fortunately they are the same for 1.8's so i pulled it of my '00 LS which i discovered the alternator belt was about to go on it...what are the chances? Thanks William for the assistance on the adjustment for the p/s!

Also got my window switch from Revlimiter installed today.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps2d7a6e1f.jpg

This is subjective, of course, but you can remove the trim ring around the bolts on the Nardi wheel. IMO it looks cleaner and more attractive. I'm not quite sure where my trim ring is these days...

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps4234307c.jpg

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps3da44733.jpg

http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps9ac2b134.jpg

MC70: I would agree but due to the quick release, the horn button will not sit flush. :( Will probably take care of that issue one day. :chug: I can't wait to get my Warbird gauges installed, nothing too cutom like yours, really the only difference the tach and speedometer zero's @ 10' o clock. :chug:

Nice! I love the Warbirds. My son has the basic black and white version with green illumination and I think they are incredible looking. I have been thinking of trying something with the tach; I may be able to reverse the polarity and have it sweep the opposite direction. I think that would be very cool. The very Adam to whip up a mirrored tach face.

Ya mine are basic black with white lettering and the said 10 o' clock zero position and will be doing red back lighting and i used an exacto knife to shave the gauge needles down to be thin and painted the tips to match the Westach gauges i plan on getting to achieve a "fighter plane" feel. :chug:

Very nice. Most of out gauges are green back lit though in the aviation world. Still sounds like it'll be sharp though! I'd like to see it when you are done. Are you doing the Warbird HVAC panel too? I don't know if you ever saw mine, and the script on it, but it is very aviation inspired. I don't think Adam would charge you a custom fee if you wanted to replicate that as he already has the templates built. Ditto for the 'flying M' logo.

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Originally Posted by MC70

Very nice. Most of out gauges are green back lit though in the aviation world. Still sounds like it'll be sharp though! I'd like to see it when you are done. Are you doing the Warbird HVAC panel too? I don't know if you ever saw mine, and the script on it, but it is very aviation inspired. I don't think Adam would charge you a custom fee if you wanted to replicate that as he already has the templates built. Ditto for the 'flying M' logo.

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The red back lighting was decided by the '99 BMW 540i i use to have and the Audi's my friend has had, i LOVED the red interior lighting. I do plan on doing the Warbird HVAC panel and i saw yours and its pretty much what i wanted with the 'Flying M' and all. Great minds think a like! :chug:

Given that I'm an old fighter pilot and have flown behind both red and green . . .:

Aircraft lighting was always red in the old days. Red preserves your night vision . . . but for reasons you might not suspect . . . read on:

Green was adopted for several reasons:
1. Night Vision Goggles compatibility (red makes NVGs flare).
2. The wavelength of red is really long compared to green. For most people, that means red is hard to focus compared to green (since we evolved as diurnal mammals, our eyes are optimized for yellow and green). Ironically, it is the hard to focus aspect that prevents our eyes from reacting to the red light -- thus preserving night vision.
3. A HUD has to be visible in daylight and it was really hard to give red enough brightness to be visible in daylight.

So, the philosophy in aircraft changed from medium/high-intensity red to low-intensity green for night flying. Personally, I like green much better.

As for driving, you don't have any night vision anyways since you're always staring at the headlights of oncoming traffic. Green is a FAR better choice function-wise for quick-glance data acquisition.

But, aesthetically, either works so have at it. Just thought you should be aware of the science.

It's kind of like the high-end watch commercials that always show young "fighter-pilots" wearing expensive, heavy watches. Do you know what we really wore in the fleet? Casio's. And not the high-end G-shocks, but the small, lightweight $20 versions. They didn't weigh you down under G-forces and they held up to the abuse of sea duty. Form vs. Function. LOL.

^ Yup. I found out a whole bunch of that during the altitude chamber 'flights. We are starting to adopt blue now, which has a very long wavelength but can be tuned closer to green. The blue is a more calming color (green actually induces nausea) and is still compatible with NVGs.

I too prefer green, though in the car I prefer amber backlighting as it is warm without looking angry or hot.

Blue has a shorter wavelength than green. Look at a rainbow . . . . Violet is shortest, red longest.

Also, it is the wavelength that gives the color. If you "tune" the wavelength, you change the color. They're the same thing.

??

I think we may have strayed off-topic though.

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Originally Posted by hornetball

Blue has a shorter wavelength than green. Look at a rainbow . . . . Violet is shortest, red longest.

Also, it is the wavelength that gives the color. If you "tune" the wavelength, you change the color. They're the same thing.

??

I think we may have strayed off-topic though.

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Correct.

Yes technically you change the color but as we can only see within our spectrum there are a lot of wavelengths that fall within the color we see as blue; the NVGS compatible blues are closer to green but cooler. And yes, red is longest in the visible spectrum (which is why it is the first color lost when scuba diving).

We are off topic. The Warbirds will look great. :)

12-23-13: Installed a Mr Gasket Daytona shift ring and boot..hard to argue with it for less than $12 and ALMOST a perfect fit!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psa0b5548b.jpg
I am still gathering parts for my Revlimiter gauge install which stinks having to wait but will be worth the wait!


PS: You may notice along the way similarities between my choice of mocifications and MC70 and thats due to the fact i chose to do a fighter plane theme which as it turns out MC70 is going for a aviator theme(didn't realize this till i already made up my mind and reading his build thread on another forum) and some of his choices have influenced mine, so hope I don't disappoint. :chug:

Took advantage of the sell Adam had during Thanksgiving and ordered the Wardbird gauges with a 10 o'clock zero postion, then screwed up installing the oil gauges TWICE :silent: and after seeing how popular the Warbird's are I decided to get a custom tachometer done. My advice to all thinking about getting custom gauges: 1) Think out very carefully about EXACTLY what you want and 2)Provide Adam with as much information or pics to get your idea conveyed; otherwise you will be a pain like me. :?
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps6123536c.jpg
I also shaved down all the needles and painted the underside of the tips red to match the Westach gauges I'm going to use, which is what the logo on the tach was inspired by.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps61aa3b65.jpg
Still not ready to install in the car. I have a Track Dog Racing oil pressure gauge kit to install(basically a oil psi sending unit), needle caps on the way and will more than likely wait in install so i can get a KG or RS products gague panel. Have ordered many other goodies so stay tuned! :chug:

01-10-14: Received a Runabout fuel lid today from Rod (Tetsuya Garage) and it looks great as he said and got it installed, first exterior mod! :chug:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps78dbda62.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps03ff4d41.jpg

I like the fuel lid. The gauges though are just incredible! I mean they are out of sight awesome, stunning..... like a Victoria's Secret model of car parts.

Now the shifter surround, sorry to say I'm not a fan. If you want an ugly B&M T handle shifter, I will give it to you plus $40 for your nice Nardi :).

Thanks AnthonyS! Cant wait to get those gauges installed!
Just some pictures...
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psbf010c51.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps81e8b6f8.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps7e2dd4a6.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps32b5a8f4.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps3360184c.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps1d0952d5.jpg
Picked up a Flyin Miata butterfly brace yesterday locally and will be installing today!

Told myself I was going to wait to post pictures until I got all this is installed but I couldn't resist.
First, Revlimiter HVAC panels and Zero Automotive knobs, button and ring:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps6cc9fa61.jpg
and Revlimiter vent rings, Revlimiter custom Warbird Edition key chain and Revlimiter custom Warbird speedometer:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps84984b1a.jpg
close up of key chain:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psb329660d.jpg

As the owner of the world's ugliest BRG '91, I'm quite a bit jealous. Your Miata is just gorgeous. I love the new AC / heater controls and those gauges are too sexy.

The M is upside down on the keychain. Those gauges and HVAC controls look awesome!

Thanks AnthonyS and effse7en! :) That is the idea...its a W, for Warbird. ;)

More goodies from Tetsuya Garage, thanks Rod!
Zoom cf mirrors
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psbb84da49.jpg

and KG Works gauge panel
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps1d63dc63.jpg

Stay tuned to see these beauties installed!

Spoiler Alert! Just ordered a MS3 basic from MS Labs and FCM 2040 Elite coilovers from Shaikh, so wonderful times ahead!

02-10-14: After four months of collecting parts and first having a custom tach and then custom speedometer made, I FINALLY have my gorgeous Revlimiter gauges in and no pictures can do them justice, especially cell phone pics:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps06def6ea.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps074cd680.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psaebe6400.jpg

02-16-14: Another "gem" from Rod (Tetsuya Garage), Zoom carbon fiber mirrors. Although they have smaller mirror areas, the convex tinted glass really makes for great visibility and they look AMAZING to boot!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps0fb53695.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psd7751f5d.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...pseb41e180.jpg
Couple "beauty" shots:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps99e1b6fb.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps984f44b6.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...pscb0f4861.jpg

Got home from work just in time to meet the UPS man and get this box of goodies!!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps98e65c71.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps8365f2be.jpg
Plan is to get my Megasquirt 3 basic and get my car tuned in its NA form and then in 3-4 months install the supercharger...plans can change though. ;)