Vehicle Owner

Member ID: gomiata99

Location: Medina, OH

Vehicle Info

2008 Mazda Miata

Bragging Rights

  • 1/4 Mile0 sec @ -1 mph
  • 0-600sec
  • Top Speed-1mph
  • HP-1
  • Weight-1lbs

Major Upgrades

  • turbo
  • nitrous
  • bore increase
  • port and polish
  • supercharger
  • extrude honed
  • stroke increase
  • engine swap

Modifications

Performance Parts

  • AEM Intake 
  • Racing Beat Springs 
  • KONI Shocks 

Interior

Exterior Styling

  • Dunlop Tires 
  • Enkei Wheels 

Ratings

    • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.

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Last updated: Oct 10, 2009

Hits: 27,437

Rich’s Mazda Miata
“MaX”

  • Currently 3.3428571428571 /5 Stars.
13 guestbook comments

On this page you'll find;

1) An introduction to MaX our 2008 Miata, and a quick overview of some of the modifications done to it as of July, 2009.

2) Mini MaX

On page 2 you'll find;

1) Storage bins for the 3 cubbies in the NC Miata interior.

2) Trunk well divider system.

On page 3 you'll find;

1) How to install a Scan Gauge II in the dash.

2) Some engine bling, Kansai Front Shock Tower Brace, painting the      

   engine cover.

3) Making a Mazdaspeed oil filler cap fit the new engine.

On page 4 you'll find;

1) How to remove the interior door panels on an NC Miata.

2) How to take the plastic door panel apart to install faux suede door             coverings and installing faux suede inner door panel coverings.

On page 5 you'll find;

1) Making a license plate bracket.

2) Adding the Racing Beat Radiator Screen.

3) Converting the useless cup holders into usable storage space.

4) Adding a padded armrest and a cupholder.

5) Making a deep dish coin slinger out of the factory coin slinger.

On page 6 you'll find;

1) First trip to Deal's Gap with the new Miata, July 23-25, 2008...

2) Painting the seagull badges.

On page 7 you'll find;

1) How to make a front splitter for an NC with the appearance package. 

On page 8 you'll find;

1) Installing Katzkin upholstery (removing the factory cloth first)...


 

Meet "MaX", the replacement for our '99 Miata, "Baby".

Baby,  (link...  http://www.cardomain.com/ride/472010 )

gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata

MaX is a Copper Red, 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata, Touring model. From the factory MaX has the suspension package, exterior appearance package, rear spoiler and the brushed aluminum interior trim package. MaX arrived in March of 2008 as a factory order from Japan. MaX is in a constant state of change so these pictures may not match how the car is currently set up.

.       gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata

gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata        gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata

So far MaX has been given an RX8 front and rear anti-sway bars, Koni Sport Shocks, Racing Beat springs, Dunlop 215/45-17 Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires on Enkei Racing RS-M wheels and as a result it now sits about 1 1/2" lower than stock.  I built a custom front splitter that mounts under the front spoiler, the grille is now the chrome trimmed unit from the PRHT and there is a custom front license plate bracket too. Out back there's a European market brushed aluminum gas cap cover and a Roadster Sport II exhaust that adds a nicer exhaust note. Of course the "meep-meep" horn is gone, replaced with a set of Fiamm Freeway Blasters. Lighting the way out front are Xenon HID lights & ballasts that were added to replace the factory Halogen lights.

 

       gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata             gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata

On the interior, speaker trim rings were added to the door speaker grills, chrome vents were added to the dash and modified so that all four vents now close or open. An I.L. Motorsport e-brake handle & chrome button compliments the factory shift knob, Mazdaspeed pedals and Redline e-brake and shifter boots. The armrests on the doors were covered with Redline leather as are the door pulls and custom Redline faux suede panels cover the hard plastic door surfaces too. Graphite and Red Suede Katskins seat upholstery has replaced the factory cloth. 

gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata      gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata  

                             gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata           

In the dash center stack is a Scan Gauge II and hidden away behind everything is an iPod hookup for good tunes always. The interior, auto-dim with compass and temperature, rear view mirror is an adapted Mazda 5 part that has been painted Copper Red to match the exterior, a power outlet for the radar detector was installed in the windshield header and an extra power outlet added next to the factory one in the console for the nav. unit, cell phone, etc.. The Valentine 1 radar detector is attached to the mirror stem with a Super Z Radar Detector Mount. Mazdaspeed pedals were added for happy feet. Custom bins for the behind the seat storage cubbies were built with the bin behind the passenger's seat set up as a tire repair kit. The cubby between the seats also got it's own custom bin for holding all of that loose stuff one accumulates in a car. The in console cup holders were removed and a custom console storage unit built with an IL Motorsport armrest pad adapted to fit. A cup holder was added behind the armrest in the console.

                               gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata      

            gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata               gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata  

 

Mini MaX

Mini MaX began life as a red Bobby Car MX-5 that I had shipped over from the UK. The stock Bobby Car is seen in the third picture, it's injection molded plastic, much like a milk bottle and it is very rough. After a whole lot of sanding and filling, primer and finish coats the paint on Mini MaX matched that on the real MaX, the "interior" was done in black and red, the wheels were painted to look more realistic and then the toy was lowered 3/4". Matching license plates were printed and added for the last touch.

The little kid next door to us is allowed to ride the stock Bobby Car, but not Mini MaX. It's all fun.

Primed, but not yet lowered with an unfinished wheel, below the stock Bobby Car parked next to the now lowered but not fully painted Mini MaX, the wheels are still not finished either. vvv

gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata

The finished product. vvv

 

gomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miatagomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miatagomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miatagomiata99's 2008 Mazda Miata

 

 

Guestbook

Displaying entries 1-5 of 13

MiataGalVroom  

Posted by: MiataGalVroom

11/12/2009 08:12PM

love your Miata check out mine when you get a chance and feel free to drop me a message and a vote ;)

pinofredd  

Posted by: pinofredd

07/16/2009 11:18PM

Does the front end need some time and miles to get the correct lowering?

lugnut  

Posted by: lugnut

03/10/2009 10:25AM

Schweet Rich. Looking forward to checking the car out at M@MBIII Jerry & Cootie

hondacivic4u  

Posted by: hondacivic4u

03/02/2009 12:07AM

Hi, I cannot believe that I have found you, and your car on cardomain.com! This is craig sturgill, I am sure you remember me, my dad built your addition and I had Mrs. Velardo (your wife) as my teacher. I have been obsessed with miata's for the past yearand just went ot the auto show yesterday. I just happened to type "miata apperance package" in the google search engine. I was like wow thats a sweet car. I saw the name "rich velardo" and was like no way. I have been into cars since I was about 14 years old, now im 19. I have a honda civic that I have done many modifications to until i recently had it stolen. Over the years I changed the tranny from auto to manual. Lowered it, installled rims/tires/ exhaust and all that good stuff. I bought another civic and plan on modding it also. I currently go to lccc college, so its difficult to save money for my car. I love miata's though and was just thinking the other day about how you had a miata. It is so ironic how just a few short days later I happened to stumble upon yours! I remember those ancient coins you gave me and still have them in my closet. haha, I am looking forward to your reply! Your car is very nice and its my dream car. you do very nice work. Tell Mrs. Velardo i say hi also. have a good day! - Craig

TarkMalbot  

Posted by: TarkMalbot

02/27/2009 08:10PM

I spy a fellow miata.net member. I am sure I have seen some of your work on there. Nice work with the Scan Gauge! I have not been as brave to mount mine there. Very brave with the centre storage. Are you keeping it DIY or are you considering the IL Storage unit? Check out my car pages sometime.

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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: gomiata99

Location: Medina, OH