This is such a nice build. Seriously, it's top notch. Don't hold back on the pics!

EDIT: What did you use to coat the transmission tunnel? Also, when you installed the FM 19" IC, did you make a new bracket or just bend the lines until you had enough clearence?

The coating on the transmission tunnel is a spray on rubberized coating. The FM intercooler is hanging from the FM bracketry and the a/c lines and dryer can were moved just slightly to make room for it. Holding the intercooler somewhat in place shows you exactly what you need to do to make it fit.

So he bought some interior bits, I know not everyone here will be excited over these parts, but they are high quality and will make for a nice interior he'll enjoy.

Nakamae interior set. Only thing not pictured here is the convertible boot as it's going to be professionally upholstered to fit around the roll bar.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/...f6533a9b_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/...a9ed42ca_z.jpg

From what he was told, there are only 2 of these hardtop headliners in existence made by Nakamae:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/...4f851fe3_z.jpg

RS Products Center Console:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5207/...40e776c2_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5041/...0800de7a_z.jpg

I think it will all look better if the tan Lotus Probax seats get dyed black.

God......Damn

This car will be beyond nice.

awesome build man your miata is turning out really nice!

Looks promising! I love the seats and can't wait what it looks like once that center console goes in!

Wow, I like everything you've done here.

I want your buddies check book ... there's some serious blang blang in this thread.


I noticed you painted the trans tunnel with undercoating - did you notice a considerable difference in heat transfer?

I prefer my carpet-less interior for a number of reasons, however, the tunnel gets brutally hot.

When I have the trans out this spring I want to doing something - whether it's undercoating or some stuck on shielding.

-Zach

Thanks guys! I'm glad my old drive train will be put to good use again soon. And then I'll finally get to see some definitive numbers from it too since I was never able to get it on the dyno after it was completed.

Zach, when I did the tunnel coating on my NA, there was a little less heat, but it was still there. However it did help considerably with noise. Wasn't quite the results I wanted, but I expected it. I think probably only way to get the heat down is to add some good shielding.

I had excellent results with tunnel heat after an application of dynamat extreme and standard carpet insulation (home depot racing - FTW). No further heat issues at all.

Same here. However, for people with no carpet in the interior that doesn't work quite as well.

Im calling this car now when you go to sell it! You are doing EXACTLY what I want to do to my next NA's interior

I wonder how many more people are going to assume its his without reading thread:facepalm:

Awesome build, can't wait to see the before and after on that intake manifold.

I doubt the actual owner will ever sell it, but I'll pass it along.

lol

A few nights ago I started trimming the panels to go around the roll bar:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/...f7b1547d_z.jpg

Just to show what the panels look like after I'm done trimming and finishing them to go around the roll bar. They're initially cut with a cutoff wheel and then when everything finally fits right I smooth the edges off with my Dremel. All done by eye.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/...af3cf4a1_z.jpg

Then tonight I sealed up the exhaust and installed the FM Cannon Brace, which arrived in the mail today:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/...1a55b586_z.jpg

I replaced the broken gauge hood and now the interior is in the car again. A few Nakamae parts still have yet to be fitted, but the larger pieces are in.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/...72783773_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/...3b5f2636_z.jpg

I've neglected to update this thread, so I'm going to patch a few updates together... Anyway, he decided to remove the red parts and gave me a Nardi wheel and RSpeed vent rings for the interior:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/...673dfeb9_z.jpg

I used the Momo button and chrome outer ring from the old wheel because the Nardi button didn't fit in the sandwich trim ring (between the wheel and the hub, grounds the horn) and it's all easier to install with that ring. Regardless, it'll work for the time being.

The FM silicone hotside pipe we had came out of my old '95 and was not compatible with the 1.6 a/c hardlines, so we got a new pipe and after some persuasion I got it into place. I also test fit the lower radiator hose. There are so many hoses and lines in this area now it's become a little cramped, but nothing is rubbing on any pulleys or sharp metal objects which is always a good thing.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/...db7ceee8_z.jpg

I also got started on wiring up the '99 throttle body. The instructions for this job talk about cutting and reconnecting, that works, but I don't like hacking up the wiring if I don't have to. So I took the harness plugs apart and got to work:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/...d3348c12_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/...5bbd3d23_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/...8efe90a3_z.jpg

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The TPS wiring isn't done though, Mazda used different pins in the harness plug between years so I have to make a Radio Shack run to get the correct pins.

And finally he bought a new gauge cluster. It's pretty nice, each gauge has it's own individual glass and trim ring:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/...0d25bda1_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/...c734380b_z.jpg

So now the big parts are in place and most everything is buttoned up or getting buttoned up. There are still a lot of little details left, but now I'm really in the midst of the wiring, which is not only for making the 1.8 engine and components work in the 1.6 chassis, but for the Hydra install itself, which is slightly more complex since the Hydra was originally for an Evo. lol

We ordered a 1-piece clutch line to make life easier for routing the main wiring harness and the coolant reroute. I "built" the Hydra's IAT sensor harness and finished wiring up the TPS harness for the '99 TB. I also installed the sensor probe for the Intercooler In/Out temp gauge.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/...044b63d4_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/...1f57808e_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/...f731b523_z.jpg

For those of you familiar with SS lines and their ability to eat through other metal and rubber hoses, fear not, the line has a thick, clear rubberized coating on it to prevent that.

The owner came down last week to drop yet another delivery of parts off for the Miata and while I was replacing the headlight assemblies on his supercharged '95 M3 (fast as hell, fyi) he installed the Nakamae headliner and dash/gauge hood covers. Sorry, my pictures are not up to par today...

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/...b4a5b899_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/...1bb59fbf_z.jpg

He also brought over another Nardi steering wheel he likes better, he's going for a classic roadster feel inside the car:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/...b8ca9607_z.jpg

He also got a KG Works mirror to replace the OEM rearview mirror:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5270/...3287da91_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5109/...84d4f9a2_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/...5de8075f_z.jpg

We got a throttle cable relocation bracket to use the 1.6L cable on the '99 head, FM sends it unfinished so I took care of that with some rubberized undercoating. Now the go pedal works. :)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/...b94f142b_z.jpg

Also installed the Racing Beat Chassis Brace, very structural piece and now the underside of the car has extra bracing all the way around:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/...c31b5ffd_z.jpg

The front sway bar is also in place so I could check clearances between the radiator fans, pulleys, intercooler pipes, etc. After some more minor adjustments to the a/c lines (which I modified to install the larger core intercooler) the sway bar fits, so I'll have to go back in there and grease the bushings and install the adjustable endlinks.

:drool:

That engine sounds very much like what I would want. What kind of power do you expect to make on the 2871?

I'm so happy you swapped the steering wheel.

The goal is set at 300whp and I'm hoping we're able to make that and then a little bit more.

lol You and me both!