jish's 2000 mazda miata weblog

What's this about???
my 2000 mazda miata This page on my site documents the modifications/ journeys/ installations related to my car - a 2000 Mazda Miata LS. It's not my intent to take the car to the race track, so most modifications are for cosmetic, safety, or "ooomph/vrooom" reasons.

Who am I???
I will always be a car nut. It all started when I was a child, one of the things I enjoyed most was playing with toy cars. I was constantly in trouble for bringing my 'Hot Wheels' cars to school. My pockets were bursting with them and I can recall my elementary school teachers confiscating them. And now, several years later, I am not a car "collector" anymore, I am more of an "enthusiast" or an "admirer". If you're interested, you can read more about me here.

January 18, 2003

Some pictures from a beautiful day.

Re-painted front air dam (the front grill is crooked here, I fixed it later):
2000 Mazda Miata front

My new lip spoiler:
2000 Mazda Miata rear lip spoiler

[5:16 PM] []

Hey good lookin'. I forgot to mention that yesterday I finally peeled off the disgusting headlamp shields on my car. They had become discolored and looked horrible. Though the vendor thinks it is due to the salt air near my home, I disagree since my neighbour has the same headlamp shields and his are still in great shape ... also, my foglight shields don't show any discoloration. Weird. I think I probably ran into some weird "road grime" that ate into the shield. In any case, the lamps look sooooo much better and brighter now.

Today, I re-installed my front grill. I removed it a while ago when I was shopping around for a body shop to do the work on my front air dam. I'd forgotten how much it improves the look of the car (and protects the innards from flying debris through that gaping mouth).

[11:56 AM] []

January 17, 2003

Feels like the first time. I picked up my car from the body shop this afternoon (Hack's Body Shop in Pacifica, CA - highly recommended small shop). The rear lip spoiler was painted and mounted, the rear bumper was completely refinished, and the front air dam was removed, sanded down, repainted, and re-mounted.

It literally feels like I'm driving a brand new car, I love it. Of course, I just jinxed myself and now I'm 100% certain to muck up the car when I go out this evening. Oh well, I had an awesome time driving it this afternoon!

[6:23 PM] []

January 15, 2003

Painting my rotors and calipers. I've wanted to replace my rotors for some time now ... mainly for cosmetic reasons. As you might know the rotor "top hat" (or the "hub", which is the non-contact area of the rotor) can get quite rusty. It's not that it is damaged in any way, it just looks horrible ... especially with rims like mine that allow you a great view of the brakes.

I've been reading several peoples' opinions on the matter and the general consensus is that it's a waste of cash to replace the rotor for these reasons. Also, there's no significant improvement in braking performance obtained by going to cross-drilled or slotted rotors.

For this reason, I think I will paint the rotor hubs and perhaps the calipers as well. If you're curious, here are some "articles" that take you through the process step-by-step: one, two, three.

I need to buy some things (jack stands, grease, paint, wire brush, paintbrush, brake cleaner, etc...) and clear a full weekend (I like to take it nice and slow) before I take on the job. Even with all of the "tools" I'll need to buy, I'll still be saving some cash versus getting 4 new rotors.

[8:44 AM] []

January 14, 2003

Body Shop. I dropped off my car at the body shop today to get some work done. I'm finally going to have my rear "lip spoiler" painted and mounted, the front air dam will be removed and repainted, the car will be de-badged, and the rear bumper damage will also be repaired.

In this sense it's a good thing that I travel frequently ... if I time it right, I'm not inconvenienced when I have to leave my car at the shop for a few days.

Some more good news today: I'm leaving my apartment. Though the ocean views here are spectacular, I know the salt air is doing some damage to the car ... or at least I *think* it is. The new place has an indoor secure parking garage ... I may even have a place to keep my old rims and shocks, instead of keeping them on the floor next to my dining table!!

[5:31 PM] []

Brief auto history (this'll be updated along with the weblog above):
Completed:
- Installed AEM Short Ram Intake - May.02.05.
- this list is not completely updated!!!
- Service: Oil change - May.??.04 [56,500 miles]
- Service: 45,000 mile service (used Redline fluids, fixed foglamp, adjusted convertible top) - Dec.4.03 [49,517 miles]
- Kenwood KDC-722 installed - Oct.20.03
- Service: Oil change/coolant flush - Jun.25.03 [43,727 miles]
- Service: Oil change - ??.02 [40,154 miles]
- Installed KYB AGX 4-way adjustable shocks - Dec.04.02 [36,828 miles]
- Service: Oil change - Nov.26.02 [36,613 miles]
- Changed wipers - Nov.19.02
- Installed Enkei RS5 wheels and Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 tires - Oct.15.02 [35,698 miles]
- Service: Oil change - Aug.22.02 [33,210 miles]
- Installed bra on front end - Jul.10.02.
- Service: 30k mile service at dealer - Jun.04 [29,617 miles]
- Service: Oil change - Apr.22.02 [27,451 miles]
- New polished brake handle and button - Apr.13.2002
- Changed windshield wipers.
- Service: Oil change - Feb.21.02 [24,048 miles]
- Service: Oil change - Nov.24.01 [20,351 miles]
- Installed CD caddy, Voodoo polished shift knob, airbag switch storage tray - Sep.22.01.
- Service: Magnecor wires & NGK spark plugs - Aug.19.01 [16,594 miles]
- Front diamond grill - Aug.2.01
- Kenwood KDC-716S installed - Jul.27.01
- K&N air filter installed - Jul.26.01
- Service: Oil change - Jul.17.01 [14,950 miles]
- Tan leather brake boot - Jul.13.01
- "Eject" chrome cigarette lighter - Jul.13.01
- "Miata Parking Only" sign - Jul.13.01
- Tan boot bag - Jul.13.01
- Twilight Blue Mica touch-up paint - Jul.13.01
- Bag for car cover - Jul.07.01
- Radiator baffle shroud - Jul.05.01
- Chrome valve stem caps (4) & keychain - Jul.05.01
- Chrome hvac rings (3) - Jul.03.01
- Chrome fuel lid - Jul.03.01
- Silver embroidered visor gloves (2) - Jul.03.01
- Chrome emergency flasher ring - Jul.03.01
- Chrome vent rings (4) - Jul.03.01
- Front grill - Jun.23.01
- Hard Dog Hard Bar - Jun.23.01
- Nardi wooden shift knob - Jun.22.01
- 'Saratoga' trunk saddlebag - Jun.12.01
- Service: Oil change, filter, tire rotation - Jun.08.01 [12,237 miles]
- Clear corner lenses - May.19.01
- Headlamp impact shields - May.18.01
- 'Wicked Loud' horn - May.18.01
- Flip-open cupholder - May.18.01
- Nokia holster for sun visor - May.16.01
- 'Noah' car cover - May.14.01
- Purchased car - Apr.27.01 [~10,100 miles]