nmwisima's '96 Miata

[Ian.G]

Yes - this car has all sorts of crazy under body braces, ARB and Gaaz Coilovers. Its very very low down and it scrapes the chassis rails over speed bumps LOL.

I spent some time today giving the car a good clean out and emptying it of debris (less rattles now). Replaced the blue rollcage padding with black so its a little more sedate. Nice layer of wax on it now and the paint came up a treat.

Also removed some nasty razo JDM pedal extensions which turned the pedal box into something like a treddle from an old sewing machine - it was impossible to heel and toe in the car with my big feet. Now on normal pedals its OK.

Just been out for a 2 hour drive getting familiar with the car. So my initial findings here:

1. Could do with getting seat about 1-2" further back - that aint gonna happen - driving position is pretty good but I prefer my legs a little more stretched out.

2. OMP Steering wheel helps a LOT nice and easy to get your hands round the wheel as it has a 90mm dish. Standard wheel on the turbo'd one I drove a few weeks ago was harder to work with.

3. Ride is pretty harsh - as the car is so low down it only has about 1 1/2" before it hits the bumpstops on the rears.

4. It corners like a go-kart - its so nice to have a car with not much power again so you have to drive it to exploit its handling - not just mashing the gas pedal like with the 350z. To induce oversteer you have to nail the gas hard and use weight or the clutch - none of this mash the pedal turbo power stuff. Its been about 8months since i've done any serious sliding about but the eunos is very friendly over the limit - you need to keep it hard on the gas but its quite straight forward to hold long(ish) slides. Diff works a treat - but doesn't feel like a 2 way but locks a lot harder than the std one.

5. Could probably do with a bit more steering angle - but the chap I got the car from has some rack spacers so may try these.

6. Brakes are good - endless pads all round - right now it has the rubber brake lines but in true jdm style they have been covered with zip ties - I think they do this as a cheap way to stop the lines expanding when hot. I'll get some proper lines on it this week.

Nothing for sale .... LOL .... well apart from the nasty razo pedal covers :wink: Car came with a set of 14" bbs wheels too - but I'll keep these as if I ever sell the car I may keep those demon camber wheels as they are dual drilled 4x100 and also hachi stud pattern.

I have a small list of jobs to do this week:

1. fix dodgy drivers window motor
2. braided brake lines and flush and bleed.
3. Check and bleed clutch - sometimes when the car is hot its hard to select a gear when stationary - pumping the pedal makes this go away - maybe a dying slave cylinder ?
4. Get immobiliser fitted (for insurance)
5. Get single din cubby hole from madza and a less silly stereo (the current double din unit flashes all sorts of shite up on the screen - its too much)
6. Search for cheap hard top.

So - its not my corolla for sure (and that is still in bits due to problems getting the fabricator to actually DO SOMETHING to the shell LOL) but its fun for the summer and cheap to run.