Cupholder Mod

So I have decided I hate the cup holder in the console.  It is worthless for a cup holder and if you have drinks in it - it makes it incredibly hard to shift.  No cup holders!  If you want to drink - hold it yourself...

Get In, Shut Up, Hold On - new mantra... ;-)

I like the cubby without the cup holder attachment, for sunglasses and other accouterments, but it is quite ugly just open.

Solution:  I cut a piece of aluminum to the size and shape of the cubby, and wrapped it in leather.  I will attach 1/4/x1/16 inch neodymium magnets into indented holes in the corners of the cubby, and steel washers (zinc coated) to the aluminum cover for a "snap-in" connection.  I had the magnets and the leather was leftover from the seat upholstery; the aluminum was leftover from the cold-air box and shroud.  So, it was essentially a free mod.

I used larger magnets like the one below to hold the coil covers down at the fuel rail - after cutting out the tops, the clips on the underside were no longer functional.  Red circles are the nuts from the #8 stainless screw holding the magnet.   These have like 23 pounds of pull - very strong for only being 3/4x1/8 inches.

A few more pictures

Fabricated a replacement inner shroud from aluminum - replaces the plastic piece

Finished the coil covers and added some highlights!  Zoom-Zoom!

A Few Winter Activities

So I have been working on a few items on the Miata over the past few weeks.  I recovered the seats with custom replacement leather covers, added a new shift knob, sound deadened the doors, and modified the fuel rail covers...

First bottom done...

Back in progress - my hands were sore after this work - lots of pulling, tugging and clamping.

I have ordered a replacement leather boot in Tan that I will install when it arrives.  This is a Karcepts Stainless shift knob that I got as a scratch and dent for $35 and I painted it satin black - I t just didn't fit the scheme being polished Stainless.  This knob weighs in at 1.34 pounds and makes the Pro 5.0 shifter move through the gears like butter.

I modified the fuel rail covers - I like the look, but they hold a lot of heat, so I added ventilation.

Evening Cruise

My son and I were out for an evening drive and the website owner of ImportAtlanta snapped these pictures:

New lights - HID

Working AC - 'Livin Large Now!!

So I fought all weekend with the AC, trying to get it running.  I finally dropped the car off to a professional to make custom lines with the proper connections and tap for the LS1 Sensor (transducer).

So that's it - right?  Working AC - BUT NOOOOO!

The compressor would not come on when the button was pushed.  I thought I had it all wired up, but attempt after attempt proved not.  I finally jumped the compressor and traced the wire from the jumper back to the "bundle-o-wires" that I did not strip from the harness - BINGO!   The location circled in the diagram was the culprit.  I assumed it was spliced in the harness, but apparently, it was spliced in a connector on the F-Body.

After splicing that one connection, the AC and the fans work as designed when the AC is engaged - Ice Cold Air at last!!

Heat Management

I have been suffering with uncomfortable heat on the floor when I take the car for long(er) rides.  The floor around the pedals has to be over 100*F.  So I added some HP Sticky mat 1/8" under the car, above the cats and added some header wrap to the pipes just under that section of the floor.  So far, so good - while I haven't driven the car that far, I have had it to 200* sitting, running whilst working on the AC - and the floor stayed relatively cool.  Fingers crossed - time will tell...

Gauges and lights

Tranny is back

The transmission is back in and the car is back on the road.  I am babying this thing and so far have about 25 miles on it this time.  It rained this afternoon here, so tomorrow morning I plan to drive it to the Caffeine and Octane monthly meet.

Gauge cluster - cluster

So I replaced the gauge cluster with another one I got locally (fewer miles) from a 2005 SE.  After I installed it, the tach reads half what it should - wow - talk about inconsistency...  So, I took the other tach out (older gauge cluster) and put it in, with the face from the new(er) one...  Also, since the gauge faces are green when the lights are on, I added green 5mm LEDs to the new mechanical gauges I just installed (replaced the white incandescent bulbs).

Speaking of the new gauges - I developed a leak with the oil pressure line (nylon), so I replaced it with copper.

Under the dash, I added a couple LED lights to the footwells - they are also green, but the superflux SMD. These only come on when the door is open (courtesy lights).

LEDs

The picture below shows the 2-different LED types I used.  These came from Oznium.com.

The Boomerang Effect

Well, as my luck would have it...  The transmission is coming back out AGAIN.  I have had little time to drive the car, dodging the rain and other things going on.  Friday evening, me and my Son went for a drive - it was the second time I took the car up to 70+.  Along that ride, while in 5th gear, at ~70, all of a sudden, it felt like the drive shaft came out - a couple of kunks and some grinding.  I quickly pulled over and inspected under the car - did not see anything wrong - (neither of us had a cell phone).  I restarted the car and eased out in 1st, then 2nd, and limped to the garage - it now has a rubbing sound in the transmission...

UPDATE:  The reverse needle bearing assembly was trashed...  I assume one (some) of the bearings came out and through the gears.  Replaced bearing and main shaft.  I have it back, and hope to get it in by the weekend.  Repaired under warranty.

Can't cry over spilled milk...  Onward...
In the meantime, I have been thinking that I really want mechanical temp/oil pressure gauges.  I took the NB gauge cluster apart and sunk a couple of 1.5 inch mini gauges into the same holes where the Miata temp and oil pressure gauges were.  It looks pretty good - the colors are a little off - but it works for me...  Its completely reversible if I don't like it in the future...