Big Update On My 83 GS Project!
01-04-08, 08:07 PM
#1
Big Update On My 83 GS Project!
Well, its been a pretty long time since I did any substantial update on where my project is. So, since I finished up what I was doing in the garage early tonight, I thought that I would kick back and relax for a while. Grab some popcorn and I'll show you fellas what I've been up to lately. Hopefully you like what I've done with her.... 
First a few updates on what I got for Christmas. Got a new half of a tool box from Sears, as my old one finally filled up. I was tired of sorting through the drawers for stuff, so decided it was time to get some more storage space. Its been very nice to have the extra storage room so far. Also, the bench grinder and stand next to the toolbox were a much needed addition to the garage. I don't know how I've been getting by without one for the last couple of months. I used the old one ALLLL the time....
Next up is the new 13" Grant Formula GT steering wheel that replaced the stock one. I'm 6'3" or 6'4" so I appreciate the extra leg room that the smaller steering wheel provides. I'll gladly make that tradeoff at the expensive of tougher turning, and covering up some of the visibility of the gauges....
Here is the new dummy antenna that I installed a long time ago but never got any pictures of. I don't have ANY stereo in this car at all, not even the wiring, so it is on there merely for aesthetics and to cover up the hole in the rear quarter. Maybe someday I'll put a stereo back in, but right now I sorta like not having to deal with it. Takes some weight out of the car as well....
My current project is to bring the old tired suspension back to life. I've done LOTS of work on 1st gens before, but for some reason this is my first real run in with the suspension components. Its actually been very enjoyable so far. Here you can see the rear shocks removed, and the glass sunroof nestled safely in its cover in the hatch area.
First a few updates on what I got for Christmas. Got a new half of a tool box from Sears, as my old one finally filled up. I was tired of sorting through the drawers for stuff, so decided it was time to get some more storage space. Its been very nice to have the extra storage room so far. Also, the bench grinder and stand next to the toolbox were a much needed addition to the garage. I don't know how I've been getting by without one for the last couple of months. I used the old one ALLLL the time....
Next up is the new 13" Grant Formula GT steering wheel that replaced the stock one. I'm 6'3" or 6'4" so I appreciate the extra leg room that the smaller steering wheel provides. I'll gladly make that tradeoff at the expensive of tougher turning, and covering up some of the visibility of the gauges....
Here is the new dummy antenna that I installed a long time ago but never got any pictures of. I don't have ANY stereo in this car at all, not even the wiring, so it is on there merely for aesthetics and to cover up the hole in the rear quarter. Maybe someday I'll put a stereo back in, but right now I sorta like not having to deal with it. Takes some weight out of the car as well....
My current project is to bring the old tired suspension back to life. I've done LOTS of work on 1st gens before, but for some reason this is my first real run in with the suspension components. Its actually been very enjoyable so far. Here you can see the rear shocks removed, and the glass sunroof nestled safely in its cover in the hatch area.
01-04-08, 08:16 PM
#3
Here are all the shocks and struts removed and sitting in storage at the moment. I'm waiting on my Tokico blues to come via UPS, as well as a full Energy Suspension bushing kit. I also need to get some Racing Beat springs too, but I'm still working on that part. I figure that replacing all of the bushings will keep me busy for quite a while. Especially since I haven't done it before. Any tips that anyone can provide would be very helpful.
Here is the gaping hole that is left in the front strut tower after removing everything.
Here is what I just finished up tonight. I got some 2000 Miata seats on Ebay for $200. SCORE! Finally finished putting in the driver's seat tonight. It works like a charm. It's even better than the factory seats. It sits a little bit lower, which also helps me out with my leg room problem. The bolsters in the seats are a lot more comfortable as well.....
Here is the short throw Miata shifter that I got on E-bay for about $35. It was kinda tricky figuring out how to make the spacers work in the 83 transmission, but I got it figured out. I had to do a lot of filing on the spacer to get it to sit just right, but the shifts feel great now. I can't wait to try it out. Keep in mind that this car hasn't been started since last April.
Some random shots of the engine bay and the FC oil cooler that I installed ala the Trochoid oil cooler writeup. Couldn't have gone smoother. Thanks for doing such a great writeup Scott! It made the job a real breeze! And it was cheap too!
I'm waiting on my Tokico blues to come via UPS, as well as a full Energy Suspension bushing kit. I also need to get some Racing Beat springs too, but I'm still working on that part. I figure that replacing all of the bushings will keep me busy for quite a while. Especially since I haven't done it before. Any tips that anyone can provide would be very helpful.Here is the gaping hole that is left in the front strut tower after removing everything.
Here is what I just finished up tonight. I got some 2000 Miata seats on Ebay for $200. SCORE! Finally finished putting in the driver's seat tonight. It works like a charm. It's even better than the factory seats. It sits a little bit lower, which also helps me out with my leg room problem. The bolsters in the seats are a lot more comfortable as well.....
Here is the short throw Miata shifter that I got on E-bay for about $35. It was kinda tricky figuring out how to make the spacers work in the 83 transmission, but I got it figured out. I had to do a lot of filing on the spacer to get it to sit just right, but the shifts feel great now. I can't wait to try it out. Keep in mind that this car hasn't been started since last April.
Some random shots of the engine bay and the FC oil cooler that I installed ala the Trochoid oil cooler writeup. Couldn't have gone smoother. Thanks for doing such a great writeup Scott! It made the job a real breeze! And it was cheap too!
01-04-08, 08:26 PM
#6
Here is the dismantled front right wheel well area. I'm planning on cleaning all the crud off of the wheel well and undercoating it. Going to get some new calipers, new rotors, new brake pads, and reinstall everything with the Tokicos, RB springs, and Energy Suspension kit. I'm hoping that it will make a big difference. If I can scrounge up the cash, I'd like to put on some braided brake lines as well. We'll see if that comes to fruition or not.
Here are a couple of shots of the exhaust that I welded up last summer right after I got the car. You can't see a whole lot of it in the pictures but the setup consists of the following. RB Streetable Header/collector, Magnaflow silencer, into centerpipe with another Magnaflow silencer, into Walker OE muffler. I'm hoping that the first Magnaflow can hold up to the heat since it is so close to the 12A. If not then I'll probably just get a Racing Beat presilencer to replace it. I think that the second one by the rear end should be far enough back that enough heat will have dissipated from the exhaust to allow it to survive. We'll see though. I hit everything with some barbecue grill paint which will probably burn off....
Last but not least, the crappy seats that I had before I replaced them with the Miata seats. These things are nasty. I let my dog sleep on them now when he is out in the garage with me. He likes to sit in them and chew his bones.
Here are a couple of shots of the exhaust that I welded up last summer right after I got the car. You can't see a whole lot of it in the pictures but the setup consists of the following. RB Streetable Header/collector, Magnaflow silencer, into centerpipe with another Magnaflow silencer, into Walker OE muffler. I'm hoping that the first Magnaflow can hold up to the heat since it is so close to the 12A. If not then I'll probably just get a Racing Beat presilencer to replace it. I think that the second one by the rear end should be far enough back that enough heat will have dissipated from the exhaust to allow it to survive. We'll see though. I hit everything with some barbecue grill paint which will probably burn off....
Last but not least, the crappy seats that I had before I replaced them with the Miata seats. These things are nasty. I let my dog sleep on them now when he is out in the garage with me. He likes to sit in them and chew his bones.
01-04-08, 10:04 PM
#9
Word of advice before doing the undercoating. Cover anything in the engine bay that you do not want to get coated. I made the mistake of thinking my engine would be fine when I undercoatd the frame rails. That stuff gets everywhere. Your engine looks way to good to have it covered in specs of undercoating.
01-04-08, 10:11 PM
#10
Word of advice before doing the undercoating. Cover anything in the engine bay that you do not want to get coated. I made the mistake of thinking my engine would be fine when I undercoatd the frame rails. That stuff gets everywhere. Your engine looks way to good to have it covered in specs of undercoating.
Jamie
01-04-08, 11:15 PM
#13
Looking good and glad to see some of my posting pay off. Fwiw, I use Truck Bed Liner instead of undercoating. I tried undercoating on a fuel tank once and it never fully set up due to the old liner underneath, Do tape everything off, I've made that mistake too.
01-05-08, 10:48 AM
#18
I had to make some adapters for the seat rails. I guess you could call them that anyway. I got some angle steel and some 2"x1" rectangular steel tubing and made new mounts for the miata rails. The old FB rails were pretty much worthless since they don't mate up to the Miata seats. I was hoping that the Miata seats would bolt in, but they were a mile off. A small correction too, these seats are out of a 2006 Miata, not a 2000.
If anyone is looking for a set of seats like this, I would HIGHLY recommend heading over to forum.miata.net. They are pretty easy to come by, and I've seen several other NICE pairs on there for $200 if you can pick them up. Really a good deal, for some nice, comfortable lightweight seats.
BTW, I still need some of the parts that we discussed a couple of months ago, but we never got around to meeting up. Would you still be available some time? Do you still have the parts?
Jamie
01-05-08, 10:59 AM
#19
We have some pieces of steel tube that we turned a sharp edge for removing the old bushings. It helps cut them out.
You can push them out by supporting the outer tube with say a socket or something hollow. You can then burn the rest of the bushing out with a torch. Just don't sniff the fumes.
-billy
01-05-08, 04:06 PM
#21
I think that the pieces on the sides were missing and the piece that goes around the top of the hood was rotten. I've probably got the top piece in a box somewhere if I looked for it. I'll most likely buy new weatherstripping from blackdragon at some point though....
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