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) Our old '99 Miata.

3) Mini MaX, kiddie car replica.

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.

4) E-Brake handle replacement.

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.

3) Changing the faux suede panels to padded  leather panels.

4) Replacing the factory leather wrap on the steering wheel.

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. 

2) Adding a pair of FIAMM Freeway Blaster horns.

On page 8 you'll find;

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

On page 10 you'll find;

1) Giving MaX a real roll bar and some extra trim to make it all look            nice.

2) Mix & matching a Goodwin Racing engine brace with a Kansai shock        tower brace.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

This was our SC'd '99 Miata, "Baby". 

 A link...  http://www.cardomain.com/ride/472010 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Meet, "MaX", our 2008 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 probably will not match how the car is currently set up.

.        

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.

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. 

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.

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

The finished product. vvv