Cheap "touch up" mods and little things to make your fd crispy!
#1
Cheap "touch up" mods and little things to make your fd crispy!
So lately the little things on my FD have been pissing me off and make me feel 70/30 about the car (still love it) but im trying to do some reviving... We all know these cars are old, and im getting annoyed of my car feeling like an old piece of crap. so im just curious what other "cheap" simple mods help out the car out and update it...
some things ive done to attempt to revive some life back into the car..
99spec tail light conversion (~20 if you dont have anything)
respraying interior pieces (SEM trim black ~15 a can looks awesome)
respraying headlight shrouds
quiet coat the whole interior (quiets the cabin, and if applied in the door gets rid of the cheap "glunk" sound when you slam the door
in the process of...
painting rotors
painting calipers
ones i know of... (i know some are lame)
white led for gauge cluster (~ 50 i believe?)
e-brake/Shift boot
any others to add? any cheap mods to make your car feel "a bit newer"??
some things ive done to attempt to revive some life back into the car..
99spec tail light conversion (~20 if you dont have anything)
respraying interior pieces (SEM trim black ~15 a can looks awesome)
respraying headlight shrouds
quiet coat the whole interior (quiets the cabin, and if applied in the door gets rid of the cheap "glunk" sound when you slam the door
in the process of...
painting rotors
painting calipers
ones i know of... (i know some are lame)
white led for gauge cluster (~ 50 i believe?)
e-brake/Shift boot
any others to add? any cheap mods to make your car feel "a bit newer"??
#2
Classy
iTrader: (17)
New rotors
New carpet, trunk, floor mats, interior
A very good detail job (a professional can make your car SHINE)
99 front lip
reupholster seats
"cheap" is relative to your financial situation but mods above aren't beyond most of our reach...especially since we've dedicated ourselves to the money pit already.
New carpet, trunk, floor mats, interior
A very good detail job (a professional can make your car SHINE)
99 front lip
reupholster seats
"cheap" is relative to your financial situation but mods above aren't beyond most of our reach...especially since we've dedicated ourselves to the money pit already.
#7
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
the only item i think makes the interior seem dated is the steering wheel. i installed a 99 nardi steering wheel and it transformed the interior. retained the air bag and horn but lost the cruise control, which means nothing to me.
i dont think its a "cheap" mod($250ish) but easily my favorite(make it a bit newer) interior one.
cheap mod would be...rattle can your wiper blade holders and replace your wiper blades with Trico Innovision blades. VERY clean, subtle, "make it a bit newer" mod....$25ish
i dont think its a "cheap" mod($250ish) but easily my favorite(make it a bit newer) interior one.
cheap mod would be...rattle can your wiper blade holders and replace your wiper blades with Trico Innovision blades. VERY clean, subtle, "make it a bit newer" mod....$25ish
Trending Topics
#10
Ling Ling
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Coatesville, PA
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
detail the exterior yourself, if it has some light scratches in the finish, then do some light wet sanding, if not, get a clay bar kit (autozone sells meguires mothers and some other kit, i got mothers and it is sweet) and do a nice multi step wax job (i use meguires 3 step, but instead of the normal wax, i use the gold glass stuff.) then for all of the faded plastic/rubber trim get some meguires trim detailer and rub that into those old faded pieces, a clean shiny car really does feel better to drive.
#11
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
My original shift **** was getting worn looking. I picked up a like-new 5-speed RX8 **** from the forum. IIRC, ~ $60. Then I took a tip from DaleClark's old website and bought a chrome Miata E-brake button, which matched the polished accents on the ****. <$10. I like it anyway.
Bad picture, but you can sort of see it..
Added an Autovation dead-pedal cover that matches the stock clutch and brake pedals pretty closely. ~$35.
Redline Leather goods shifter and e-brake lever covers. Not sure how much they are now. I bought them shortly after I got the car years ago...<$50 at that time.
On the exterior I bought the updated turn-signal/park-light lenses for the 93-95 bumper. There are a couple of different versions, but IMO they update the look quite a bit. Various sources, but most under $60. I don't have a picture handy, but there was a recent thread on them with pics.
#14
the only item i think makes the interior seem dated is the steering wheel. i installed a 99 nardi steering wheel and it transformed the interior. retained the air bag and horn but lost the cruise control, which means nothing to me.
i dont think its a "cheap" mod($250ish) but easily my favorite(make it a bit newer) interior one.
cheap mod would be...rattle can your wiper blade holders and replace your wiper blades with Trico Innovision blades. VERY clean, subtle, "make it a bit newer" mod....$25ish
i dont think its a "cheap" mod($250ish) but easily my favorite(make it a bit newer) interior one.
cheap mod would be...rattle can your wiper blade holders and replace your wiper blades with Trico Innovision blades. VERY clean, subtle, "make it a bit newer" mod....$25ish
brake rotors... kinda like the rx8 guys... they all have rusty rotors so they paint them silver or black to mask em... im gonna powdercoat mine...
detail the exterior yourself, if it has some light scratches in the finish, then do some light wet sanding, if not, get a clay bar kit (autozone sells meguires mothers and some other kit, i got mothers and it is sweet) and do a nice multi step wax job (i use meguires 3 step, but instead of the normal wax, i use the gold glass stuff.) then for all of the faded plastic/rubber trim get some meguires trim detailer and rub that into those old faded pieces, a clean shiny car really does feel better to drive.
I like the look of the metal sill plates, but not the scratches and dents they seem to attract after a while. Flame if you must, but I bought these off ebay. Metal backed by thin hard plastic and they're self-adhesive. This is a picture I took shortly after installation...3 or 4 years ago. They still look the same. I think it dresses it up a bit...~$20 shipped IIRC.
My original shift **** was getting worn looking. I picked up a like-new 5-speed RX8 **** from the forum. IIRC, ~ $60. Then I took a tip from DaleClark's old website and bought a chrome Miata E-brake button, which matched the polished accents on the ****. <$10. I like it anyway.
Bad picture, but you can sort of see it..
Added an Autovation dead-pedal cover that matches the stock clutch and brake pedals pretty closely. ~$35.
Redline Leather goods shifter and e-brake lever covers. Not sure how much they are now. I bought them shortly after I got the car years ago...<$50 at that time.
On the exterior I bought the updated turn-signal/park-light lenses for the 93-95 bumper. There are a couple of different versions, but IMO they update the look quite a bit. Various sources, but most under $60. I don't have a picture handy, but there was a recent thread on them with pics.
My original shift **** was getting worn looking. I picked up a like-new 5-speed RX8 **** from the forum. IIRC, ~ $60. Then I took a tip from DaleClark's old website and bought a chrome Miata E-brake button, which matched the polished accents on the ****. <$10. I like it anyway.
Bad picture, but you can sort of see it..
Added an Autovation dead-pedal cover that matches the stock clutch and brake pedals pretty closely. ~$35.
Redline Leather goods shifter and e-brake lever covers. Not sure how much they are now. I bought them shortly after I got the car years ago...<$50 at that time.
On the exterior I bought the updated turn-signal/park-light lenses for the 93-95 bumper. There are a couple of different versions, but IMO they update the look quite a bit. Various sources, but most under $60. I don't have a picture handy, but there was a recent thread on them with pics.
love it. yes it is a significant difference, ESPECIALLY in the doors.
#15
Still got it.
iTrader: (2)
Bubbles,
claybarring isn't enough, you still need to do a 2 or 3 stage detail
laquor bath your car (removes wax & excess clay)
2000 grit wetsand
3000 grit cutting compound (I like 3M extra cut)
start slow with the cutting compound with a wool pad (1000 - 1200 rpm with a 7" pad)
finish your cut at a higher speed (1400-1600 rpm with the wool pad)
now use foam pad polish (with a medium/soft 7" foam pad)
spread evenly, and buf @ 2200 rpm
next: swirl eliminator apply with a soft/ fine 7" pad @ 2800 rpm
work large/ even areas
now wax, let it haze
remove with a micro fiber cloth that has been lightly sprayed with body shine.
You will love the way your car looks after that.
claybarring isn't enough, you still need to do a 2 or 3 stage detail
laquor bath your car (removes wax & excess clay)
2000 grit wetsand
3000 grit cutting compound (I like 3M extra cut)
start slow with the cutting compound with a wool pad (1000 - 1200 rpm with a 7" pad)
finish your cut at a higher speed (1400-1600 rpm with the wool pad)
now use foam pad polish (with a medium/soft 7" foam pad)
spread evenly, and buf @ 2200 rpm
next: swirl eliminator apply with a soft/ fine 7" pad @ 2800 rpm
work large/ even areas
now wax, let it haze
remove with a micro fiber cloth that has been lightly sprayed with body shine.
You will love the way your car looks after that.
#17
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
I've been procrastinating because with my luck, right after I replace it on my dime, a stray rock will take it out again. But I'll have to pull the trigger soon....it drives me crazy.
Don't know about the "Quiet Coat" stuff, but had good luck with rattle-can undercoating. You have to pull off the inside door panels but my doors shut with a nice solid "thunk" and helps a little with road noise. Good time to shoot some silcone caulk between the outer door skin and the inside crash brace/barrier too. The factory stuff sometimes lets go, and the two panels can rattle against each other.
#21
here some of my pics when i did it to get an idea..
http://muibubbles.blogspot.com/searc...&max-results=5
heres a pic of a rotor with rust (the inner hub part)
#24
Turd Ferguson
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sherman Oaks, California
Posts: 2,047
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
some of these are touch up mods. some of them are just good ideas to begin with...
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/small-mods-make-world-go-around-881462/
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/small-mods-make-world-go-around-881462/
#25
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=196316
some of these are touch up mods. some of them are just good ideas to begin with...
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=881462
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=881462