Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Well

All of the rest of us just die when we drive at night. Those pesky invisible potholes

skidude

iTrader: (3)

$975 is incredible! I am saving pennies to buy a $300 bi-xenon kit for my outback, I can't imagine dropping more than 3 times that on headlights.

Hopefully OP turns out to be an awesome asset to the community, he seems like he could be amusing if he doesn't try too hard.

rotormotor

Seriously? Come on duder, I'm not fresh off the boat. I'm a paying vendor over at rx7club, but WE ONLY SELL FD PARTS. Unless someone wants to cram a twin 25row oil cooler kit mated to a rotary engine into their NB (which I've always dreamed of doing) it's not free advertising for anything at all whatsoever You can't buy what we don't sell



Seriously, everyone lighten up. Jesus, what a freaking hazing for the new guy LOL... I feel like I have to eat a live goldfish or some ish.

Yes if we end up making any Miata parts I would be MORE than happy to set up a vendor account. In all honesty though, our parts wouldn't thrive with the Miata crowd as my own NA with hardtop included is worth less than a third of some of the parts we sell for the FD. It is what it is, but if we come up with any Miata goodies, by all means I'll set up a vendor account. There's also a TON of competition in the Miata market and I cant figure out how anyone (besides FM of course) makes a living.

-Heath

PS I see this forum features a swear filter... lemme clean up my post real quick. Is anyone here really offended by curse words? wtf Now I want to see what the filter WON'T filter out

blaen99

iTrader: (6)

I'm not the only one with an RX7 on here, we've got quite a few RX7 fans on here.

(Edit) Cute edit there. I need to get back in the habit of quoting back to back posts.

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

That is like, So 1975.




Good ole' Honest George


Welcome to the 21st Century. With PISTONS.



Really though, Welcome.

rotormotor

I appreciate the vote of confidence . No, I'm happy to share with the community and I obviously realize thousand dollar headlights would never fly with the miata which is why we've never considered trying to sell any Miata parts. What kit are you saving for? I just did a retrofit on my 97 outback (parts hauler) and if you've got the same body style I can give you a few pointers... it was a tricky install but doable. Belt sander and a ton of patience is required haha.


As far as the miata goes I have to say, it's more fun to drive every day than the FD... it's a testamant to the miata that I can't bring myself to get rid of it or replace it after owning it for over 12 years now. Any time I think about retiring her as a weekend car all I can think to replace it with is another miata! It's cheap, fun, easy to park, reliable, decent mileage, great handling, , I can drive it at the limit all day long... and its a convertible. It's a little on the feminine side but I'm secure with my masculinity so I could care less what some douchebag in a mustang has to say (and with a lip and lowered it looks much better)

rotormotor

ZOMFG that things a death trap!! For a second the car fills up with smoke and thought, gee it got hazy real quick. Nope that's just a half inch of tread off his tires in the cockpit! Want!

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

The owner is like 'I just drive it to church..'

Yeah, a *little* over the top.

yellowihss

iTrader: (20)

Engine pics?

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

You should do a writeup about the projector retro.

I bought a pair of 2010 Escalade bi-xenon projectors to retrofit into my Jeep ZJ but not really sure I like the beam pattern, or really the physical package the projector is in. Squeezing it inside the housing with space available might not be possible, which won't allow me to seal it on the rear any way.

Low beam:

High Beam:



Probably going to use the ole failsafe TSX projectors.

triple88a

iTrader: (2)

So how about them engine pics?

jacob300zx

Fing post a write up on miata HID so we can stop hazing you like Hustlers Mom.

turotufas

iTrader: (7)

Where can we find legit 7" round projectors on the low!

rotormotor

As I said before my 13b engine bay is pretty stock aside from reworked BNR twin turbos (but they look just like standard turbos and are buried under the rest of the crap). So that's not gonna knock anyone's socks off

The project car has no motor and half an interior at the moment (repainted engine bay, custom subframe to mount the 20b, a $2k carbonetics clutch, 20b short block on my engine stand, re-worked 20b twin turbos, lots and lots of j-spec goodies for the interior and exterior, yada yada).





Unfortunately I don't get to spend as much time as I'd like working on my personal cars with the business... a few hours here and there on weekends is all I get. I need to get the motor in finally, but I'm getting close.

Then there's the SBG shop car which my partner in crime (co-owner of SBG) just got up and running again after a blown motor a couple months back


and finally a shakedown last weekend after getting the new motor tuned. Lots o compliments from the porsche guys


Enjoy.

rotormotor

Yeah the high and low's really just look like a halogen projector almost... they're kinda lackluster... but if you've already got em, idk maybe just work with it. Problem with the TSX is it's low beam only right? Unless it were for fogs or something I'd never bother with a non-bi-xenon retrofit... too much work for no high beams. Personally we use FXR's for a lot of our setups, sometimes others but that's my go to projector of choice. I love em. Problem is they're pretty damn *** large, reallllly long with a bulb and connector hanging off the back, and still not a simple retro in the slightest into most housings, and the backs are all open.

For the FD housings I've got between 8-10hrs I'd guesstimate into each set (once they're all done and wiring harnesses built etc.) and I'd say that they're one of the more straight forward retrofits. I've done everything from corollas to miatas using all sorts of projectors and no two are similar, but I can say that everyone has taken WAY more time than the FD's to build, which are a nightmare in itself. Honestly retrofits are a huge pain in the *** if you're not doing them in huge assembly line batches and have spent the time to work out everything before hand. I've got all sorts of little jigs, aiming devices, patterns I've made to make the process go faster but there's a trial and error phase at the beginning of every new type of headlights and sometimes you have to change your plans mid build (hopefully the housing isnt ruined at that point haha).

rotormotor

AFAIK nothing good currently exists. There's a bunch of ebay fake projectors where they put a piece of glass in front of a halogen bulb in a standard housing... other than that you need custom shiz. I think part of the reason they're NOT made (at least why I don't produce them as a "product" at least) is because the market isn't there for quality projectors, bulbs, ballasts, wiring etc for cheap cars. Most people with cheap cars want cheap parts (or they'd be driving something more expensive in the first place). Even if high quality units could be made for 5-600, the Miata community would scoff at the price.

I spoke with FM about possibly retailing Miata lights for us but even though they were interested in doing it their thought was "you can get halogens for 70 bucks, so few people would spend 8-10x that for HID's, doesn't matter if they're Mercedes level lighting, they just cost too much for the average Joe"

I basically agree with them. We did FC headlights (mostly the same components as the FD units but in 6x7 rectangular universal form factor, and cheaper price... we sold 10 sets over two years, and pulled out of that market). The interest and desire is there, but the funding isn't.

elesjuan

iTrader: (11)

I was thinking about that for a second, you're correct on the TSX- They're low beam only, FXR is what I was thinking about. Bitch of it is, I don't want to spend $100 for some clear lens housings to potentially break so I've been thinking about actually making some new lens covers out of some thick *** poly. Haven't even started on it yet, know it will seriously be a huge pain in the *** plus I just don't have time. One project at a time. :(


You're right about the market. Clearcorners.com sells LED tail lights for the Miata, they're only 1400 a pair.



Some of the things they do though... 1200$ a pair of side windows:

rotormotor

I highly highly recommend just buying the clear housings to start with. If you value your time you'll save money in the end, and not hate the project. Do you have an NB? If so good luck, the fxr is not an easy retrofit into that housing at all, I'd stick to one of the drop in mini's to be honest. You'll get about 75% of the performance for 500% less effort. Granted I retrofitted my subaru last month with the minis and while it's absolutely no comparison to stock and the lighting is quite good, I wish they were wider and threw further. They're also cheaper though which is a plus.

$1200?! That's pretty steep. We used to do custom FD tails so I know how much work and custom parts are required (we had to have all of the parts custom fabricated with something like 80 LEDs and 30 resisters hand soldered on each board x 6 boards per set, plus all the work to install, wire, there's a lot involved. I was eying my miata tails the other night and started thinking... hmmmm the hourglass design could really use a little updating! It looks really dated. My lenses aren't in great shape anyway... maybe it's time for them to go under the knife

http://ganesh-cf.livejournal.com/37776.html

olderguy

iTrader: (19)

Well, one more post and you can PM ;-)

rotormotor

I hope you all are happy. Now that I'm through the hazing, I'm sure I'll still gonna get harassed like a freshmen. Awesome.
-Heath