98legwag's 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata

[98legwag]

A little back story on the Miata. It was my dad's car. He bought it new and I am the 2nd owner. I took ownership in October 2018. Its a 2008 Grand Touring power retractable hard top with the 6 speed manual transmission and sport suspension package. That package consists of Bilstein shocks and a limited slip differential. The GT comes with the 7 speaker Bose audio system. The car is brilliant black with the brown leather interior. The car will be a weekend/autocross toy for me. When I got the car it had been sitting for about a year. I gave it a nice detail inside and out. I changed the transmission and differential oils along with engine oil and brake fluid. I took it to my friend's shop to have the coolant flushed. I went to the SCCA WDCR level 1 and level 2 autocross schools with it at the end of March.

Interior:
Alpine ILX-W650 radio with Android Auto and Carplay
Metra dash kit for double din install
IL Motorsports center console
Cipher Auto steering wheel
Zoom Engineering Penta rearview mirror
Delrin TC series shift knob from Shift Solutions Company

Exterior:
Plug and play HID 35 watt kit for low beams
Alla Lighting LEDs in the fog lights
LED marker lights
Cheap Amazon front tag relocator
Moss Miata stubby antenna
Carbon Miata PRHT spoiler
GV style front lip

Engine, exhaust & trans:
Moroso aluminium coolant expansion tank
IL Motorsports hardened rubber engine mounts
Exedy stage 1 clutch
Flyin Miata high flow catted mid pipe
Flyin Miata stainless steel dual outlet muffler

Suspension, chassis, brakes, & Handling:
Meister R CRD coilovers 7k front 5k rear
Hawk HP5.0 brake pads front and rear
Centric Premium Cryotreated rotors front and rear
Powerstop calipers front and rear
Technafit stainless steel brake lines front and rear
Garage Star delrin door bushings
RoadsterSport strut tower X brace

Wheels & tires:
17x8 +48 bronze 949 Racing 6uls wrapped in 215/45/17 Bridgestone Potenza RE71R

[98legwag]

Mandatory gas station picture:


The stock coolant tanks are known to be a weak point and fail. Usually around 100K or 10 years. So I installed the Moroso coolant expansion tank:


Crappy night picture of the Pioneer media receiver:


At the first day of the autocross school the serpentine belt failed. Completely my fault. It never crossed my mind that it was probably the original 11 year old belt. Luckily a parts store a mile away had a belt.


On the grid at the second day of the autocross school.

[98legwag]

Stopped by the small local airport last weekend.



Taken by my friend Patrick.

[Radio Flyer]

At the first day of the autocross school the serpentine belt failed. Completely my fault. It never crossed my mind that it was probably the original 11 year old belt. Luckily a parts store a mile away had a belt.

Whoa. Never seen anything like this...

[98legwag]

Whoa. Never seen anything like this...

All that fluffy stuff is the hood insulation that was ripped apart by the belt flapping around.

[98legwag]

Saturday I went to the PCA autocross with a friend who has a Jaguar F-Type R. He took this picture of my car in the paddock with a 914. I finished 39th out of 69 entries. I improved 5.5 seconds from my first (slowest) run to my last (fastest) run. Considering I am still on some Michelin Premier all season tires, I will take it. I did order some sticky Bridgestone RE71R tires to put on.

[98legwag]

I went to get the alignment done last weekend and the left rear camber bolt is frozen into the bushing in the lower control arm. As are both front camber bolts and caster bolts. I have gotten replacement LCAs and eccentric bolts and made an appointment to get all that changed along with redoing the alignment. I also ordered 2 sets of static cling number cards with different numbers for autocross.

[98legwag]

This past Friday I went back to the shop and had them replace all the LCAs and eccentric bolts and align the car. It drives so well now. Sunday I went to the SCCA WDCR region's first championship points event for autocross and ran in the non competition morning group. Even in non comp I had to run against some really good drivers and really good cars so my time was still near the bottom of the group. I had a great time and plan on going to a lot more autocross events this year. I still need to get the air conditioning fixed and I want/need to replace the worn oem steering wheel.

[98legwag]

Went to SCCA autocross again today. I ran the non-comp AM group again with some friends.

[98legwag]

Installed a new Cipher Auto steering wheel today to replace the old worn factory wheel. I will have to post a better picture. This is all I have for now. Also, yesterday I cleaned the interior with 303 Aerospace Multi-surface cleaner. I highly recommend that stuff. It did a fantastic job.

[98legwag]

Proof that I need to get on that suspension upgrade. Too much ride height.

[98legwag]

Hanging out at Miatas and coffee. I mean cars and coffee

[geckoboy86]

Hanging out at Miatas and coffee. I mean cars and coffee

I'll have to bring the BRZ down sometime.

[98legwag]

I'll have to bring the BRZ down sometime.

I would say do it before it gets cold out.

[rkrenicki]

Why does it look so tall? Has it been lifted? I am not that familiar with this particular generation of MX5, but I seem to recall the arches not having that much space.. I see the mention of the "Sport Suspension" but that usually means lowered..

[98legwag]

Why does it look so tall? Has it been lifted? I am not that familiar with this particular generation of MX5, but I seem to recall the arches not having that much space.. I see the mention of the "Sport Suspension" but that usually means lowered..

Mine is stock ride height. The sport suspension is just Bilsteins and a 1mm bigger rear sway bar. It was not lower at all. All the other other Miatas in that picture are lowered. The ones on the ends are on coilovers and the silver one next to mine has lowering springs. I will likely be getting the same coilovers that are on the other black one. Even swapping to Koni shocks will lower the NC Miata about a half inch. The 09-15 had revised suspension which lowered the front about half an inch.

[98legwag]

At a charity car show this morning.

[98legwag]

Went to autocross again yesterday. It was a nice technical course that should have favored the low power cars like a Miata. But I screwed up on my 3rd and 4th runs so I didn't gain much time. I could have done better. Here is a picture from the grid with my car and my friend's Jaguar F-Type R. Gotta love a supercharged V8 AWD roadster.

[98legwag]

[98legwag]

Flyin Miata had a sale this weekend so I ordered a mid pipe and will be getting a used FM muffler from someone locally. I also ordered a set of wheels from FM. I will also be picking up a RX8 front sway bar. Its a direct bolt on that is bigger than the Miata sway bar.

[98legwag]

Some parts arrived from Flyin Miata and 949 Racing. I will likely transfer the RE71Rs to the new wheels and get some cheap all seasons for the stock wheels.

[98legwag]

[98legwag]

Installed the Flyin Miata exhaust today.

[98legwag]

Had a set of Kuhmo Ecsta PA51s mounted on the stock wheels for winter. In the spring the RE71Rs will go on to the 6ULs.

[Go Mifune]

Had a set of Kuhmo Ecsta PA51s mounted on the stock wheels for winter. In the spring the RE71Rs will go on to the 6ULs.

How is the wear on the RE71Rs? I had a 1985 M Edition Miata and loved it.

[98legwag]

How is the wear on the RE71Rs? I had a 1985 M Edition Miata and loved it.

The RE71rs are definitely a high performance tire. I only had the on for about 2k miles and about 5-6 autocross events and there is some noticeable wear mainly on the fronts. The NC in stock trim still has some under steer so the fronts get pretty hot. Mine still look good and I should be able to get at least one more season out of them next year. Maybe another after that, but I have been told I will likely heat cycle them to death before the tread wears out.

[98legwag]

Spent some money on Black Friday for some Miata parts. I ordered a set of Meister R CRD coilovers and a GoPro Hero5 Black to record my runs, and other things.

[98legwag]

My coilovers arrived the other day. I already ordered the rear adjustment extenders. I still need to get the extenders for the front.

[98legwag]

Yesterday I put together a potential autocross schedule for this year. It looks like a busy spring, summer, and fall. Potentially ending with a road trip to Miata Reunion 2020 at Road Atlanta at the end of October.

[98legwag]

Last time I washed the car I noticed is has the common NC Miata cowl panel water leak. It was dripping on the passenger side floor. I just took the cowl cover off and the foam rubber gasket under the clip for the screw that holds the panel down was complete gone. I did what most NC owners with the issue do. Covered the clip with silicone. I also covered the same clip on the driver's side while I have the cowl cover off. I used some GE Silicone 2 for windows and doors.