NC Mods

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Written by Bill Jurgenson Monday, 26 May 2008 15:41

Miata: NC model-  Tips

 

-         Tires inflated to. 28 – 30 psig

 

-         Lug nuts.. Torque to 80 – 90 ft. lbs

 

 

-         Replace stock horn with the Nautilus air horn http://www.thompson-automotive.com/Air_Horn.html

 

-         Install 3rd brake light flasher unit http://www.thompson-automotive.com

 

 

-         Fill the black hole, if something falls in it will rattle around in the cross member forever.   Locate the driver’s side inboard seat rail front mounting bolt. Feel inside the rail (about 1 inch behind bolt and about 1 ½ inches toward transmission tunnel) and you should find the hole.  Stuff an old sock in it.

 

-         Install black plastic mesh in the lower grill opening to protect the air conditioning condenser and radiator.  I used gutter guard and black 3-inch cable ties from Home Depot. I did both the upper and lower openings.

 

 

-         Soundproof the floor of the trunk.  Remove the trunk floor mat and insulate with 2 layers of roofing ice and water shield (I only did the well area) this really makes a big difference in the noise level with the top up. (About 4 feet off the roll is req’d)

 

-         Paint the non-machined areas of your brake rotors with Tremclad aluminum paint to prevent rusting.

 

-         Paint the visible surfaces of the muffler and tail pipes with black BBQ spray paint.  You do not have to paint the top or front of the muffler.  Also paint the end of the tail pipes inside the stainless tips; this almost makes the pipe disappear.

 

-         Brake callipers can be painted without removing them if you are careful. Only the visible surfaces need to be painted. Various colours of calliper paint kits are available at Canadian Tire, but are ½ the price at Meijer in the US.

 

-         Door edge guard (available in clear, or several colours) may be applied. One strip cut in half, will do both doors. ($4 @ Meijer as compared to Mazda’s $60 aluminum ones)

 

-         Clean your cloth top with 303 Convertible Top Cleaner.  Available at Murrays, AutoZone.

 

-         A lint brush works to remove fluff from the cloth top after washing.

 

-         Waterproof your cloth top with 303 Fabric Guard. (Murrays, AutoZone, West Marine)    Do not spray it on. Instead pour the contents of the bottle into a container and brush it on. Be careful to overlap brush strokes. Do not get it on the paint.  Once dry, water will bead nicely allowing the top to be dried off quickly. When first treated the top will have a slight sparkle, this will disappear after a few washings.  Partially lowering the top while applying the fabric guard will allow you access to the areas under the edge of the body.

 

-         Do not use Armorall on any of the interior rubber/vinyl surfaces, it is too shiny, oily and a dust magnet. It also seals the surface of the vinyl preventing it from breathing and causes premature aging and cracking.  Use 303 protectant instead.

 

-         Lower the front licence plate bracket. The way the dealer mounts it the top two bolts will damage your bumper if someone backs into you.  If you can get hold of a plastic Pepsi 2 Litre pop container tote, cut off 3 of the divider tips, about 1½ inch long. Pre-drill these to accept the stock lic. plate bracket screws. Mount the bracket lower on the grill using the plastic tips on the backside. The licence plate will fit the area in front of the grill. It does not restrict the airflow, and I have not had any cooling problems.

 

-         A 4 season car cover is available at Meijer for $29.00 as compared to Mazda $128.00 US. The medium size fits well.

 

-         Buy a puncture repair kit to repair/plug damage from nails etc.

 

-         Buy a container of green “Slime” to repair your flat tire. It is about $7.00 US, and allows your tire to be repaired/patched later. The Mazda OEM sealant renders the tire unrepairable and it has to be replaced. (Meijer, Wal-Mart, Murrays AutoZone)

 

-         The best chamois I have found is “The ABSORBER” It is super absorbent, machine washable, oil resistant and can be stored damp in its tube. About $15.00 at Canadian Tire, Zellers etc. About $12.00 in the states.

 

-         The best Plastic cleaner/protectant is “PLEXUS plastic cleaner protectant and polish” from BTI Chemical Co. – Agoura, CA. It may be available at Canadian Tire or through your Marine equipment suppliers. Use it on your Headlights, Taillights and the Piano black portion of the dashboard.

 

-         Treat the windshield, outside mirrors with “Rain-X or Rain Away”. The stuff really works and bugs clean off easily. Do not apply it to your wiper blades.

 

These tips are a compilation from other owners and myself; I hope they add to the enjoyment of your MX5.  Feel free to pass them along to other owners.

Dave and Carol Ann Wilson  (MX Copper Red)