Yeah yeah, but you know how it is. I hate X product by company Y, company Y and all its products are crap, and will always be crap.

Well I managed to slip in My RX-8 Leather Weighted gear shift knob today before work. Not pretty, but very functional. Feels great in my hand, and the weight helps with shift effort/feel.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...41062072_o.jpg
https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/...95554383_o.jpg

Also snaped a pic of the de-chrome on the rear. Next up is getting rid of the rest of the woodgrain. Sadly I had to damage the Nardi Knob getting it off. Someone would have liked it.
https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/...36616724_o.jpg

Getting plates in a couple hours when I go to lunch.

Wow that's a ridiculous steal! That's probably one of the highest mileage msm's I've seen. I've got 104k on mine and it still works great.

If you need any msm-specific related insight feel free to pm me. Also maybe check out mazda-speed.com. Lots of good info on our cars there.

Been lurking over there, but Its such a small community, and I have not encountered any issues that are over my head (or googling ability) so far.

But thank you.

Bet you can get $200+ out of that steering wheel on Miata.net.

Yeah I'd settle for a direct trade something less aweful....

I wouldn't. Sell that thing, it's from an SE (also where the bezel and shift knob came from) and they'll pay real money for it.

Then grab a standard NB wheel or something.

I am gonna try. Probably sell the trim, grab an ebay wheel, sell the steering wheel, get something that is actually safe (stock nb wheel, or something) and sell the ebay wheel to a ricer.

Took the wife on a road trip to Savannah GA. ~450 miles on way. Car is running perfect. So yes a 220k mile MSM can be reliable.

Every car is reliable til it isn't.

Except for DSMs and Wankel based mazdas....

So my job sent me out of state temporarily. Back, got the car out of storage, cranked right and drove it home no problems. Looking forward to working on it some more in the near future.

Plans include :
New Top (Window started to split while in storage)
Brakes (Rears started dragging in the last few miles so I plan to replace all the hardware, and new rotors/pads all the way around)
Shifter rebuild.

Then I can get some engine managment and start doing actual mods.

Over a month later and finally I got my shifter rebuilt. Adulting sucks sometimes. Work has been busy as hell. I've had 3 days off in the past month and a half today being the 3rd.

Shifter Rebuild time.

Tools needed:
Knife
10mm Socket
Wobble Expentsion
Shorty or Regular Length Ratchet
WD-40 (Liquid Wrench etc)
Hammer
Roll Punch
Vise Grips
Phillips Screwdriver
Magnetic Parts Tray

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1440922468


The vape is Mad Alchemist dragon's breath if you are wondering.

Procedure consisted of removing shift knob, 4 screws to get center console out. 4 10mm bolts for the outer boot. 3 10mm bolts for the inner boot.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...6a&oe=5636EFD1


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1440922468


Then surprise there was no bushing at all on the tip. Supposed to be a plastic bushing. Good thing I opted for a 5x Racing bronze bushing.



At that point you need to remove the remains of the inner boot, the old wave washer, and old plastic bearing. replace with new delrin bushing, new wave washer, and install the inner boot with generous amounts of liquid wrench. Its all slip fit.


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1440922468

I had to file the widest point of the shifter a bit to get the new washer on without messing it up to much.

Next up, use a roll punch and a good ball peen dead blow to knock one roll pin flush.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1440922468

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1440922468



https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1440922468



https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1440922468



Then remove the bottom bushing and wave washer. Use a pair of vise grips to mash the pin back into place.


Install is reverse of removal of course. The website I purchased all of this from has an excellent pdf if you need step by step.


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1440922468

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6f525e1e63.jpg


Oh make sure you tighten the shifter turret bolts with a 12mm wrench while you are in there. Mine were loose.

​


Well thats all for this edition. We are going back to 5 day weeks in a week or two so maybe I can get on those brakes next. Yeah I know maintenance is boring, but hey this is my daily driver, and got more pressing bills at the momment. But getting out from under them. Maybe some go fast bits before christmas.

Time for more maintenace. Long weekend coming up. So I'm knocking out the Oil changes in my car, and the corolla.

As well as brakepads, rotors, and a hardware kit for my car (rears). Purchased the turbo manifold gasket. Pieceing that project together. Gonna have source a good bit of it at the dealer or online.

https://fbcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.ne...ccfb8fc6459e81

Looks like I will be doing an o2 housing and downpipe while fixing the exhaust leak. I have to remove the entire turbocharger assy. Might as well get some go-fast while I am it yeah?

So its still to damn hot in Alabama to be doing brake jobs and oil changes in the day... But I decide to brave the heat and wash/wax the MSM.

Crappy pics before my camera died.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1441475644

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1441475719



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7593915dfe.jpg


The pics don't do it justice. The mica and flake are simply amazing right now. Thing shines like a diamond in a goat's ass.

Anyways, spent this week working on some paint corrections. Learned to do this stuff at work. Surprisingly enjoyable. Got most of the scratches out of the car. Also worked on removing tire sling. This stuff is horrible, and tire shine really should be outlawed, at least the liquid solvent kind. Do others a favor and quit using it on your tires. They don't appreciate getting bits of rubber harder than diamond on their paint. Use the gel that doesn't dissolve your sidewall.

1st Big area to be sanded (1500, 3000) and them compounded using 3m compound and 3m orange pad.


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1442195953



Sanded with 1500 and 3000.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b3134ad049.jpg

Compounded it out. No more scratches.
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There were 3 more areas like this where it looked like someone use a pot scrubber to clean the car. Got all of them fixed.

Tire sling, you can tell I spend most of my time in the fast lane. Probably 150-200 of these black specs on the passenger door, fender, and side of the hood. Less than 20 total on the driver's side.
[img]⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12002927_945719452156250_1135303967070406731_n.jpg ?oh=9a0c11350d94686fbb49186e8d34b388&oe=56622C2E[/img]
[img]⁣⁣⁣⁣https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11040925_945719535489575_4609273137327455179_n.jpg ?oh=c7d1b67f030e864c970babb4ac6197aa&oe=566708F5[/img]

I tried several methods to get rid of this stuff. I found Turtle wax bug and tar remover to be the best method. Just remember to let it set up for at least a minute, then lots of elbow grease. Doesn't hurt to clay bar the panel afterwards.
[img]⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11990510_945719458822916_4357917168522568039_n.jpg ?oh=d618fc9e76a9fcb1804882f295f1c833&oe=56719C32[/img]
[img]⁣https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11990421_945719592156236_8791279911444329326_n.jpg ?oh=4e6911b643420590ca0d9454af8f210e&oe=569F1DE4[/img]



Not pictured. I was working the trunk area, and ended up get some sort of seed caught in my microfiber towel without noticing it, and scratched the fuck out of the trunk. Ended up sanding through clear trying to get it out. So much rage. Decided I am gonna use some 3M Di-Noc CF pattern and wrap the trunk lid and spoiler until I get ready to paint the entire car.

Don't have time to fix the rest of the pics to work on this forum before work. Will fix them tomorrow when I get home.

Edit:
Actually forget about, with the page tearing issues and the new image manager on this forum, I think I will just host my build thread only on DSMpurity.com and the mazdaspeed miata forum. Site is just to aggravating to view on my pc.