Ok thought Id post some updates of what Ive done so far to my 1988 vert and whats in store as well as some questions for you guys. First up some pictures:


Here is my rx7 and my roommates Ninja 636 and Mazdaspeed Protege. My Honda F4i is in the other garage.




Alright the car is stock. I bought it from a coworker who is the original owner and never drove it hard. Car has 160,000 miles on it. He just had a new transmission and cluth put in last year. Theres some rust down on the back of the sideskirts. I'm not looking for performance just something fun to drive with the top down on nice days. Mods so far include seat covers since the old ones were ripped and a new head unit as you can see in the picture, glad it had Orange as a color choice. Heres my first question, when I have the key in the accessory position the stereo sounts pretty good even with the stock speakers (only the ones under the dash work, I'll fix that) anyways when I put the key in the run position the sound gets quieter and starts getting some static any ideas?

Updates so far, I just changed the spark plugs and put in a new air filter which helped a lot. Also installed a fuel pump switch which is also working great. My next question for you guys is an opinion. I was thinking of painting the stock wheels, I like them since they are so light. I was going to keep the whole inside like the polished and the center nut polished with the MAZDA on it and paint the rest black what do you guys think?

Future plans, I think this winter Im going to repaint the car and maybe put a new top on it (it has 2 small tears). I also want to replace the carpet with black. Also need to fix the parking brake and the passenger side muffler.

Thanks for any comments or suggestions and for any advice to my questions

 

turbo swap

 

That's an S4, so it must be an 88 vert.

I would agree with the turbo swap as well if you have the money, and if not then grab some headers, and a full exhaust, maybe a fuel controller. Are you just looking for small general mods or lots of power? And what kind of money are you looking at spending on it?

 

It is an 88 lol wow I kept thinking the guy said it was an 89 but hes in his 60's so I dont expect him to remember when he bought it lol. Im not looking for speed as I said I bought it just to cruise around with the top down on nice days. Ive had mustangs including a turboed one and thats not what I'm looking for in this car. I have a F150 with the 5.4 if I want hp and tq.

 

x2

It's "header" not "headers"

As for painting the wheels go for it, but not sure on how keeping the center cap silver would look. Also i'm not a fan of black wheels on back cars, seems to blend too much, but then again thats my opinion and its your car. Ever though of going bronze instead? Bronze wheels on black cars = sex

 

I'll look up some with bronze wheels. I'm not going to turbo it its not in the budget nor do I feel like getting that involved with another car right now. I might do a header but as for an exhaust the stock is as loud as I want to get no louder.

 

Have to ask, what is different between an s4 NA motor and a s5 NA motor?

 

Ok first update, I just went to meijer and bought a short rubber antenna to replace the non functional power one. Took about 5 min to install and I get great reception!

Question: While going through wide sweeping turns like a big off ramp, I get a rattle like I'm going over a rumble strip till I slow down and it goes away, any ideas?

 

**** i didnt even notice you were in columbus...maybe we can meet up sometime.

 

Yep, right now East side by Easton. Moving north by 270/71 at the end of the month and work at polaris at Sears

 

i live on the west side...hilliard/grandview area. what kind of discount do you get at sears?

 

Not the best of one but on certain times of the year its better. Standard is only 10% sometimes 20% but I get first dibs on anything used/returned whatever which can be upwards of 50% off. Should see my garage

Question about my car, can anyone tell me what causes this. On cold start up my car revs right up to 3000 rpms and then goes down to about 1500 rpms for a few minutes then slowly goes down to idle around 800 rpms and sometimes at lights bounces around between 500-800 rpms

 

Throttle Positioning Sensor could cause that or even bad grounds.

 

but the TPS is so exspensive lets hope for bad grounds lol

 

Mazda caused that..it's the Accelerated Warmup System and that's exactly how it works.

 

i meant the TPS could be out of adjustment. Even if it is somehow stuck just remove it and spray WD-40 around the plunger and work it in really good. Then let dry or blow out with air compressor. Worked for me and now has 2000 more miles on it.

 

Ok well I just did a compression test on the car 100 psi on the front rotor, 95 on the rear, not bad for the original motor with 160,000 miles... anyways now for my big F up I was thinking "hey it should help to clean my MAF, its worked on all my other cars..." yeah well in trying to get it out I unscrewed the lil plug on the side like I thought it said to do on in the haynes book and with a lil pull the plug partially came out along with what looks like 3 broken solders and 2 lil plugs it looks like a sealed unit guess I need a new MAF now?

 

hopefully getting a new maf from another member, guess we all learn from our mistakes

 

... and those of others!!

 

I searched I couldnt find anyone else who made the same mistake

So following list of parts on the way:
Two factory mufflers
Factory MAF
New Ball Joints
New Outter Tie Rods