Nice thread revival. Glad to see someone that finished a project they started a thread about and then later posted a follow-up on the outcome in the same thread. Wish more people would do the same

 

The previous owner of my car swapped out the tan carpet for a black one. My car is a 93 black on tan Base model, which I think was a rare option to start with. He also recovered the seats and the missing **** has been reinstalled.

 

You are correct about that. In person, the interior oozes quality and is probably the nicest I have seen on an FD. The parts have a very high quality look and feel to them.

Back to the tan and black thing, just had my seats recovered by Noel (Salva on the forum) and I am extremely pleased with the results. The seats are now all leather and very soft and supple. I added a few individualized touches to them - black stitching on the major outer seams, "Mazda" stitched in black on the headrests, and black seat belt holders for some contrast:

 

i have tan carpet, mats and seats but everything else including seat belts are black...is that factory?

 

I believe a few did come from factory like that. Mine is a 94 that is black with tan carpet and seats. IMO the tan only looks good when its brand new...I personally like all of it to be black.

 

Jeez, David. If you don't stop posting, I'm gonna go broke!

A few questions about your first pic:



1. Is the widefoot pedal still available?
2. Smaller diameter than stock?
3. No question. I just like this.
4. & 5. Did you have a donor seat, or did you buy these parts new? I don't see a way to remove the seat belt holders. Is that done when you recover?
6. Nice. Did you buy them like that, or have them painted?

I should contact Noel. Your seats look great.

Thanks!

 

^ ditto about #6 .. those look nice.

 

#6 look like mine, painted with RX7 in red though

 

I have to admit, when I was looking to buy one I didn't want anything tan. I didn't know 94s and 95s came with just the seats and carpet tan, I thought they were all tan at first. All tan interior I wouldn't be able to deal with, but the 94/95 black and tan has grown on me a lot.

I may still get black seats some time, but I really don't mind the look at all now.

 

Too funny! My idea is to get the economy going again, one RX7 piece at a time

To answer your questions:
1. Is the widefoot pedal still available?
Don't know - I got this quite a few years ago from a group buy. I do recall seeing someone who listed these on their website (rhdjapan.com?) but I am not sure who it was. Mine also came with the metal dead petal.
2. Smaller diameter than stock?
Yes, it's a 2003 Miata/Nardi wheel I sourced from eBay and I then paired it with an airbag from a Miata forum. Total cost was about $230, one of the least expensive things I have done. Compare this to $450 -$800 if you buy and FD one and mine has cruise control built in which no others have. I think it is 350mm or 20mm smaller than the stock but I could be messing up my numbers. It's definitely smaller though and I like outside of the nice update look, it just feels much better. Note I modified the airbag with a custom chrome Masza symbol - the come stock with an aluminum flat badge which scratches.
3. No question. I just like this.
No answer then
4. & 5. Did you have a donor seat, or did you buy these parts new? I don't see a way to remove the seat belt holders. Is that done when you recover?
No donor seats, that was done when the seats were recovered. I ordered the black seatbelt holders from Ray at Malloy Mazda and Noel installed them on the new seat covers. I can't say enough about the quality of the leather and how the seats turned out. I'm picky and I am very pleased. Call Noel, (Salva) and you will be impressed.
6. Nice. Did you buy them like that, or have them painted?
I had them painted and clear coated. They came as polished aluminum and I thought they stuck out too much so I made them into how I thought they should look. Just a little bling and something you wouldn't normally notice.

 

I agonized with this and almost went complete black but changed my mind at the last minute. I decided to keep the stock feel but improve on it with my own custom "bling" and I am very happy with the way it turned out.

 

David
does the miata steering wheel bolt right up or did you have to modify?

 

I'd say it turned out f'ing awesome.

 

It bolts right up with the exception of having to drill one hole for the steering ring which took all of a minute or so. You also have to wire it up using the stock FD wires and match them to the correct Miata wires which are a different color.

There is a very good write up with pics on how to do this if you search for Nardi Steering Wheel Conversion. It's actually a very simple thing to do.

 

found it...what is difference between miata and protege 5 wheel? besides cruise control buttoms...would protege 5 wheel work...does it feel ok...read it felt plasticy

 

I think they're both the same but I could be wrong about this. The wheel feels better quality than the FD one did.

 

did you have to replace air bag module or can u use stock fd one

thinking about this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

with

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

use my stock cruise control buttons...and wire air bag...

 

The FD airbag will not fit the Miata/Protege wheel, you have to source this also. I've never seen them sold together. The Miata forums always have better deals on airbags than eBay. I bought mine for $50 shipped.

 

its says its a mazda protege air bag??

this is a old pic but all i have were you can sorta see interior

 

These are about the only images that I could find right away that show the inside... I need to go out and take some more pictures since the weather is getting better.

 

Don't worry about taking any more pics - IT WILL NOT WORK with the 1999 - 2003 Miata/Protege wheel like I have installed. Period - End of Story.

Was I clear enough? Seriously, you have to source another airbag as the shape of the FD airbag doesn't fit into the newer style wheel.

 

my point is that the air bag i posted isnt for an fd and neither is the wheel they are both for proteges

 

Yes, that would work and that wheel is just like the one I have in my car. It comes with the cruise control buttons so you would use the new wheel's cruise control buttons and wire them up to the FD wires. In this way, you get a completely stock upgrade.

What you found is a great price so snag those if you can. Watch out for shipping though as the eBay guys usually try to charge a bundle to ship an airbag.


Here is a great link with step by step instructions:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...+wheel+dummies

 

See my above post. What you found will work together. Any combination of 1999 - 2003 Miata/Protege parts will work as they are the same. So you can buy a Protege wheel and a Miata airbag or vice versa.

 

thank you!