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PROJECTS & SORTS

This will be a page for my mods that I have done usually out of boredom and low on finances. In the next little while you can expect to see;

1.) Driving lights in front air dam holes...
2.) Valve cover painted crickle black...

ASHTRAY MOD

Recently I have noticed alot of scratches accumulating on my rather costly cellphone. I decided to sell my cupholder and buy an OEM Miata ashtray and turn it into a place to hold change and the phone safely.

Here is a pic of the used ashtray cover I bought for $5. It was painted a red color (past 93 LE owners project?). I didnt mind repainting it cause I wanted to sand out the textured bumps and paint it shiney black to match the vent rings Ive painted and to also match my shiney black Voodoo knobs.

Here is the top drying with the other pieces along the side.I took off the sliding lid and threw it away.

Here it is after being painted and lined with soft adhesive felt on the inside. I will take a better pic soon so you can see the nice cushy little place for the phone now.I tried to take the pic at an angle so the inside could be seen easier but the window lighting was too powerful. I'll update it soon...

...here is that better pic I promised

Here is my old attempt at putting a clock int the ashtray. It turned out well but the phone didnt fit all the way in. Also I didnt use the clock that much so I decided to sell it to a friend.

FRESHLY PAINTED MESH GRILL

My mouth grill was looking really bad. It was one of my first car mods and showed it. It was now brown instead of silver/chrome. I decided to tape off the black seals on the outside and spray the metal a silver color, here is the result! (I had tried to polish the metal with a dremel but it didnt work) I'm happy with this

SIMULARM LED Alarm System Project

I have wanted to put in an alarm for quite a while but have not had the money. (OK I have, I just didnt want the alarm that bad compared to other mods plus I live in a very safe area) I found this LED alarm simulator on ebay for $5.50 (here is the website http://www.securbar.com/simularm.htm)

It is meant to connect to your car's wiring but I didnt want to mess with the car's wiring so I went to Radio Shack and bought a 12v battery connector, an On/Off switch, and a 12 volt battery for $6.00 Now I will be able to have the LED blink as if it were a real alarm and also keep it seperate from the car's electrical system. I just push the button when I want the light to blink.

I decided upon this location due to the fact that it was easy to access and it was near the stereo where I assume the potential thieves will look. The hole was 1/4 inch and the LED holder slid in place and the LED just gets shoved up that. Very easy

I now needed a place where I am going to "arm" the simulated alarm. I drilled a hole a little less then 1/2 inch inside the center console, and put the button in there. I didnt want it to be in view (ugly in my opinion) It will be a bit of an inconvenience to open and close the console every time but I only plan on activating it during the nightime anyway.

SOFT TOP REMOVAL

For a while now I had been toying with the I idea of taking out the soft top. The window is in bad shape and I just dont use it much with the hard top beeing on most of the time.
I finally got around to taking it out. It was easy. Email me for help if you feel the need.
Here are some of the pictures, they are blurry so the next time I can take pics during the day I will.

This freed up 41 lbs. When I can get access to a scale I will weigh it. I dont know if its the placebo effect or what but the car feels lighter and quicker:-)

CALIPER PAINT JOB & new Lugs

I bought Ford Red Engine paint and brake cleaner. Used a metal wire brush to clean the metal. I sprayed the paint into a cup and then brushed it on. NOTE the nasty old lugs getting rusty, I replaced them with McGard lugs that dont oxidize.

Before and after

For some reason in the light the calipers look orange. When in the shade they are their true
red color.

The rear hubs are even more ugly after all the years. Painted them black.

CUSTOM AMLUMINUM HEATSHIELD

Here is the heatshield after its template was done and has been bent and the top slant cut was made.

MORE PICS AS I PROGRESS...

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