patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

Most here have a common goal of turbocharging their car or generally enhancing its' performance. Some people enjoy showing off their accomplishment with a shiny polished aluminum FMIC, red calipers, large flashy wheels, fender flares, turbo badges, and various other mods to set their ride apart from the rest. This thread is not for those people.

Everyone post pics of your sleeper mods you've done to better hide your cars modifications and a brief description of what you did. If you're sort of sleeper, post pics of whatever you did for the sleeper look. I'll start.

I wanted an Air/Fuel gauge but didn't want to mount a gauge pod to the A pillar or a 3 gauge bezel in the controls area by the radio. So, I moved my radio to the middle din and the storage tray to the top. Then I tucked the panel meter into the back of the tray. It's angled so I can see it, but nobody else can see it unless they are sitting in the drivers seat. Even the passenger can't see it.


I've also have direct port nitrous. I wanted to hide it too. The foggers are mounted on the bottom of the intake manifold out of sight. (can't see them, so no pic ) I mounted the arming switch in the ashtray.



I have the progressive controller and MSD Digital adjustable window switch in the glove box.


I also have a 3 way switch for my coils. I can switch them to Stock ECU/Off/MSII. It's mounted under the steering column. To the left of that, you'll notice another switch mounted to the bottom of the fuse panel cover. That's for my radar detector. Still need to hide the detector though.


My ultimate goal is for the car to look 100% stock. I also want it quiet, but that will be hard. I'm considering building a 3" exhaust to the rear and putting a turndown. I'll weld the stock tip back on for looks.

The_Pipefather

iTrader: (5)

My car is not turbocharged yet, but it will be soon. For now my sleeper mods are:

MS-in-stock-case (shown here on the bench with jimstim). Serial comms are through a discreet phone jack mounted in the cabin. i.e. no USB or DB9 in sight anywhere




Hollowed out AFM with MAP sensor mounted inside






LC-1 near clutch master under fuse box on driver's side




Final install




The Easter Bunny himself




I intend to keep it looking this way even after the WRX-13T and 3" exhaust goes in.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

I'm modifying my radar detector so the speaker will be inside the car and I'll mount the unit in the mouth somewhere out of sight. Wanted to move the sensors only but that would be way too much work.

mrtonyg

iTrader: (1)

Pipefather...I love the incognito MAP in the vane type airflow meter housing!!!!!!

I love it totally...ingenuous!!!!!!!!!!!!!


My vote for the ultimate stealth mod!!!!


Tony

Bryce

iTrader: (24)

That's almost as sleeper as the civic who routed his charge piping through the stock intake piping! (hint hint)

IcantDo55

iTrader: (11)

Its a great idea, but also the 1st thing I noticed on the engine pics that looked strange....:::::there should be not hose going to that:::::::

jasonrobo02

iTrader: (13)

I agree. The vacuum line runs all the way across the engine bay. It's cool that he made it fit in the AFM, but I'm sure that there was a more "sleeper" way of doing things. Perhaps just tapping the manifold on the rear lower section and mounting the MAP sensor somewhere out of sight.

mrtonyg

iTrader: (1)

I agree, it could have been more stealth, maybe bring the line from underneath...but still, very ingenious and unique!!

Tony

cueball1

iTrader: (13)

Pshaah. The vacuum line would only be noticed by total Miata geeks. The install looks very clean! Good job!

cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

Might have been a way to run the line inside the intake tract then out again at the manifold. That would have kept it hidden away for the most part.
Most people at autocrosses are total miata geeks, particularly inspectors.

The_Pipefather

iTrader: (5)

Well the goal wasn't really to cheat. If it was I probably would have found a way of hiding it inside the intake tract as Cjernigan suggests, plus you guys wouldn't be hearing about it anyway

The goal really was to have an almost bullet-proof install, electrically speaking i.e. no ground issues etc. so I decided to take everything in through the stock AFM connector.

I almost forgot my wells TPS install:

Cover on:



Open sesame :


This was something of a bitch because I had to mill off the boss that holds the stock plastic thing inside the TPS. But I'm getting pretty good ADC range on the TPS (44 closed to 238 WOT).

I intend retaining the AFM after I go turbo. I will probably mount it after the intercooler with the new IAT screwed into it somewhere. That is unless I can get away with using the stock IAT post-turbo.

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

Nice! I like how the panel meter came out. I should run one myself. My MS hates my WBO2....

BTW, a big exhaust doesn't look even a little out of place. I used to worry about it a LOT, but I have a 3.5" shiney tip, and I have gotten very few comments, even from people who know.


That's about the worst, unrealistic angle for the pipe, and it still doesn't look fart-canny.


Wowm again, very very awesome! Nice stuff! I try to keep mine stock-ish, but anyone who knows miatas would know it wasn't even close. At least with the Mazdaspeed, most people think that's what I have.

Funny thing, beat some highly modified car with a miata, and they are impressed till they hear it's not a MSM. :-)

BTW, I get from 7 to 100 cts on my OEM throttle, so I like yours better.
Two comments: 1) Don't use the OEM air sensor, it's way too slow! I did see a friend use a ford sensor that looks much nicer than the GM one, no metal to heat-soak, and ultra fast. 2) A shorter line to the MAP is generally a good thing. I love where you routed it, and especially the connectors - using the OEM plug (I'm assuming it's boomslangless) was fantastic!



My O2 meter:


Also, ignoring the white guage on the dash (there for contrast), you can see my FIVE guages which, while not hidden don't attract attention.

And, as an added bonus, by the parking break, the small switch (same one as pat's radar detector) is all that externally shows my 40GB hard-drive based MP3 player.

Lastly, the not-at-all subtle flagpole.

But people don't think modded car when they see it. :-)

RacingGreen

Looks good, but was IMHO a BIG waste of time...

What do you want with a MAP sensor BEFORE the throttle body?

The way you mounted it, you always see ambient air pressure regardless of the throttle opening?

You'll never ever see vacuum, which is neccesairy for cruise tuning?

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

Uhmm... Hence the vacuum line running from the map sensor to the intake manifold?

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

What about radar behind you?

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

It won't pick up radar behind me, unless I mount another detector in the back.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

zoomnick

i love the tape deck!!! kickin it old school

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

Um, I intend out mounting another in the rear. Besides, around here I RARELY get hit with radar, they love the K band. My detector only picks up a 30* spread in front of it for K band, so I need one front and rear anyway.