"Sharkey"
"Sharkey"
I recently bought a 1992 Mazda Miata 5-speed 1.6 liter. She's white, and currently has about 51,000 miles on the clock. I've already ordered new Mazda white powder-coated rims, a radiator protector grill, and headrest speakers. I'm planning on getting Dunlop D60 A2 JLB tires on the new rims. My wish-list includes front and back sway bars, low profile headlights, and cold air induction. I should have a picture of her on here soon.
15 Jan 00
I received my 4th rim from FinishLine yesterday, and ordered 4 Dunlop D60 A2 tires from Tirerack last night. I also ordered new NGK spark plugs and wires, Jackson Racing Lifetime air filter, fuel filter, and PCV valve from FinishLine. Still haven't heard anything from Team Miata on my black grill I ordered on the 2nd of Jan.
One of my friends from Wright-Patt is in town (RAF Mildenhall) today, and we're going for a ride down to Cambridge for some Indian food. Then, probably take a cruise around the area.
16 Jan 00
Dave, the friend from Wright-Patt in town, and I went to Stonehenge and Bournemouth, a town on the southern coast, today. This was the first long run I've put the Miata through, and she performed without a flaw. Too bad the weather wasn't good enough to run with the top down.
17 Jan 00
Flushed and filled the antifreeze today. It looked horribly muddy.
18 Jan 00
Received and installed the black radiator grill from Team Miata. Taking off the tie-down hooks was a pain, but I got them off. Looks good! Also got confirmation that my tires are on their way. Haven't received the headrest speakers I ordered on December 29th from Crutchfield. I don't think I'm gonna order from them in the future.
12 Feb 00
Installed the Bosch 13275 4-wire Oxygen Sensor my friends at the OSMPF got for me in the states, by the directions given to me on Miata.net's Forum. It works great so far. No more noticable hesitation at 2,000 RPM when the engine's cold. Also, received my package from Finish Line Performance and installed the Moss Motors, Ltd. hood lift and trunk light kits. Both went in with no problems. Excellent products! I'm still waiting for my speakers from Crutchfield. They can start the US Postal Service tracking it on Monday.
13 Feb 00
Installed new plugs, wires, PCV valve, and JR foam air filter. The engine purrs like a kitten, and roars like a lion.
14 Feb 00
After reading post on Miata.net Forum last night, bought some copper anti-seize, removed new plugs, coated threads, and re-installed. That gives me a little peace of mind.
Wish me some luck. I'm testing tomorrow morning for Master Sergeant. I don't feel too comfortable with all the material my career field requires us to learn. 27 volumes for our career field Skills Knowledge Test and the 1 volume for Air Force knowledge. Should know the results sometime in June.
17 Feb 00
Received Brainstorm Low Profile Headlight Kit and Red Line MTL fluid today from Performance Buyers Club. Already assembled the new buckets, and will finish the installation on Saturday or Sunday. Also planning to do an oil and filter change, and a fuel filter change this weekend. Good thing it's a 3-day one this week. Probably do the transmission fluid change the following weekend.
19 Feb 00
Installed the Low Profile headlights (Did you notice the change to the top picture?). It's not too hard, but it could be better. The driver's side went in perfectly. The passenger's side has a little problem with alignment of the lid. Hopefully, I'll work that out tomorrow. The output's a lot brighter than the stock sealed beam units were. And, the looks are stupendous! Also receive the front and rear sway bars and front sway bar brace from PBC today. Now, I guess I should order the Tokico Performance Suspension Kit: HPK217 from Cyberauto, and install them all together.
20 Feb 00
Finished aligning the headlights. Looks factory when closed now. I took some pictures of her today, thanks to Russ' Mavica.
26 Feb 00
Got the new rims and tires put on Sharkey. Ordered the Tokico Performance Suspension kit this past week. Can't wait to get them and the new sway bars installed.
9 March 00
Received (finally) and installed the Sony XS-33 3.5" speakers in the headrest, and 6.5" speaker baffles for the Pioneer TS-A1668 3-way speakers in the doors. The sound is very good now. Here's how I wired in the headrest speakers to achieve 4 ohms per side.
11 March 00
Went over the entire car with CarPlan T-Cut Colour Restorer, and got rid of all the dirt embedded into the paint over the years. Followed up with a good waxing. She's shiny and white now. Also, removed the dealer's badge and "KORN" sticker off the rear bumper. Wish I could remove the MAZDA badge from the rear, to clean behind it, without damaging it.
19 March 00
Received the Wolf Miata Power Door Lock & Alarm System with kill switch on Friday. The kit looks really well put together, and the instructions are thoroughly written. I'll probably install this next weekend. Today, I change the oil and filter and fuel filter. I used 3.5 US quarts of Mobil 1 10W-30 and a Fram PH4998 oil filter. The last individual to change the oil didn't put a seal on the drain plug. Getting to the filter is a pain. I'm glad I picked up a FloTool Super Graphite Oil Filter Wrench #5. It's the only way I could get the old filter off, and the new one properly seated. Why can't Mazda find a better location for their oil filters? My 323's the same way, but on the back of the engine. For the fuel filter, I used an OEM Mazda filter. I'm still waiting for the Tokico suspension package from Cyberauto.com.
2 April 00
I installed the Power Door Locks & Alarm system last weekend, and it seems to be working fine. I still have to install the Proximity sensor. I got some good advice from miataforum on good locations for this. Also, got to see if my idea of tying into the existing pin switches on the doors and trunk will work.
Received the Tokico Suspension package this week. I thought it would come with new bumpstops and dust boots, but it doesn't. I looked at the dust boots currently on Sharkey, and they look OK. I'm waiting now for my package including the adjustable sway bar end links before tearing into her. I would like to do everything at once.
Set the timing to 14° BTDC. She seems to idle a little rougher than before. But, there's no sign of pinging.
30 April 00
After closer inspection, the dust boots were in pretty bad shape. So, I ordered and received new ones. Installed the Tokico HP Suspension Package, new 1st generation dust boots and bumpstops, JR swaybars, RB front swaybar bracket, and heim-jointed adjustable swaybar end links last weekend with a friend, Jason, from work. It took us 7 hours at the Auto Hobby Shop on base. Everything went in smoothly. We used the BAH method on the upper knuckle for the fronts. Got her a 4-wheel laser alignment yesterday, and she rides fantastically. Now that I have this project completed, I'm looking into a Hard Dog Hard Sport roll bar.
22 July 00
It's been a while since I last updated this journal. Since the last entry, I've changed the transmission, differential, and turret oils with RedLine lubricants. I changed the lower and upper rubber shifter boots, and installed a leather shifter boot and brake handle boot. I installed the proximity sensor on my Wolf alarm system. I relocated the license plate below the front bumper (there's no good place for a front plate on a Miata). I ordered and received SpeedBleeders for the brakes, but I haven't installed them yet. And finally, I ordered, but haven't received yet, a Jackson Racing Stage 2 Performance Package. This contains Cold Air Induction, 4-2-1 header, High-Flow catalytic converter, and complete stainless steel exhaust system. I've heard some bad things about the JR catalytic converter, but I'll try it out to see if they've fixed the disintegrating inside problem.
Future projects in the planning are slotted brakes, new performance clutch, and roll bar.
20 Aug 00
I installed the JR exhaust system yesterday, and what a change in performance! She is really rev happy now. She'll shoot straight to 6,500 RPM with no problems in all gears, and the sound is awesome. I, as well as quite a few other Miata enthusiasts, think the tail pipe is a bit presumptuous and might have to go for a more "non-rice" look. But, the combination of the CAI and complete high-flow exhaust system is THE BEST upgrade I've done on Sharkey performance-wise. It was pricey, but well worth it.
I still have to get to the SpeedBleeders. I think I'll do them when I install the slotted brakes, which is my next project.
14 Apr 01
I know I haven't written anything here in quite a while. Sharkey is currently on her way across the Atlantic to Baltimore, MD. I'll be arriving on June 3rd, and will be driving her first up to see my Mom in Massachusetts. From there I'll be heading to Dayton, OH to see some friends there. Then it's onto Broomfield, CO to visit my brother and sister-in-law. Then, I'll be heading across the continental divide to Fairchild AFB outside of Spokane, WA. Hopefully see some of you Miata nuts on my way cross-country. I'll be the one with the UK plates and the top down with a huge smile on my face.
Since the last time I wrote, I installed a slotted brake kit, stainless steel lines, and the SpeedBleeders. Just got them broken in before shipping Sharkey off. I also installed an Aiwa CDC-MP3 head unit a while back.
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