Well this is more of de moding, but the previous owner had 3 gauges in the A pillar. Damn ricer crap, I've since removed it.

 

On my very first FD I was young and inexperienced... My motor mounts needed replacing and I didn't want to stay with "stock", cause ya know, who want's "stock"? So I bought a set of solid aluminum mounts, because, race car (but really, it was a street car).

Worst decision I ever made with the car. Transmitted vibration through everything. EVERYTHING. Never again.

 

^To add to that, the 'Engine Torque Brace' is a real winner when it comes to transmitting NVH, as are most of the differential and transmission mounts out there.

The only brace my '95 FD has is the Banzai trans brace with the integrated large bushing, and the drivetrain is nice and tight with zero added harshness

 

I like what I've changed in mine but at the same time miss the stock look and feel. If I could I'd get a second one and just do maintenance/reliability mods and keep it stock.

One to tinker with, change and play

One to maintain as original as possible and take it out on lazy cruises

 

Agreed. The beauty is splitting the difference.

 

Curious on why the turbo timer and kill switch?? I mounted the battery in the trunk and just order a kill switch for it.

 

I regret that Mazda made a sequential set-up so complicated that it is very difficult to maintain consistency in old age. Went from paralleled, back to sequential and back to parallel. Just did not have faith we could keep the sequential tuned. I liked how the boost gauge was much more responsive (linear) under the sequential, and would recommend to retain it if you think you can keep it running well.


I was amazed that my exhaust was much quieter under the sequential set-up compared to the paralleled. My guess is that under the sequential the second kazoo only kicks infrequently as apposed to being open 24/7.

 

My particular kill switch interfered at the ignition harness level, which is not something I readily recommend on "keepers".
A kill switch on the battery, like you mention, would have some/most of the same benefits without my personal reservations.

Same beef with turbo timers with the added danger that you can't easily shut your car down when something goes wrong, like maybe an un-expecting mechanic.
Just drive easy for the last couple minutes of your ride, let the idle settle out before you shut it down.

 

When my R1 was repainted in 2003, it went from BB (brilliant black) to BMW SGM (steel gray metallic).

Since blue is my favorite color, should have gone with a metallic blue.

Lighter colors show off the great rear lights and lines of the car better.

 

i'd say my worse mod to date (with my FDs anyway) has been a turblown dual wastegate manifold with my single turbo kit, wastegates vented to atmosphere.

I had wastegate creep issues with my first manifold, so I thought "i'll never have boost creep with this thing!"

then I hit full boost with the dual wastegate setup vented to atmosphere. it sounded like dog ****, it blew my ear drums out, and I started questioning life.

shortly after that I paid a fabricator friend to recirculate BOTH wastegates into the downpipe with vband connections and I literally had 7 vbands on the exhaust. the setup became so complex that it looked like a medusa's head of piping, and I didn't even want to tinker with it anymore. so I sold it and made a custom kit with an EFR 8374 turbo that cost way too much money.

 

So far I regret buyinging 3.5 inch ARP extended wheels studs for the front, I pushed them into my wheel hubs and they are too extreme...decided to push them out and go with 2.5 inch instead

 

Did they look like this?

 

any mod that's not stock

 

Well...my biggest regret was drilling the holes for the 99 side skirts .

If i had too do it again,I would just put **** load of glue.

 

I did the opposite and want the same. With this stock look i feel limited to keep it stock, so i would like another to mod more

 

Yep, that about sums it up

 

For me its the Power FC.

My willingness (and patients) to learn to tune on it is waaay less than it would be if I had an ecu that I would use again... Like megasquirt, haltech, fuel tech, and even an Adaptronic.

It was great that it was plug N play and has sooo much support and you KNEW that you would have no issues when installing it. Now I kinda feel trapped with it because i bought it NEW (see plug n play and knew it was going to work) I feel that i would me spending money twice and loosing money if i switched to something else.

 

In early 2003 I put OEM 18" RX-8 wheels on my FD. Some stand the test of time, others not so much...

 

Banzai racing motor mounts.

On my first FD I had the IRP mounts. I got the Banzai mounts because they were a bit cheaper and adjustable. I figured the adjustability would outweigh some added vibration. My IRP mounts were easy with no extra vibes. The Banzai ones have this vibration that rattles my windows (when they're rolled down) at about 1400-1800rpm and it drives me insane. The mounts look good but man that little red sway bar bushing that IRP adds is a game changer.

Love banzai parts and their shop, but I wouldn't go round two on the mounts

Matt

 

Matt,
We could easily offer a "street" version for the same price. The Energy Suspension bushings are cheap and there are 8 in one of the end link kits. Our mounts could even be modified, it would just take a 4" bolt to replace the 3" one. Not everyone experiences vibration transfer with our mounts, a lot depends on the setup. I will add a street version next week.

Chris

 

Banzai,

That would be amazing. The vibrations on initial installation were overwhelming but have become much more civilized after the 1000mile break-in. The vibration only happens at that RPM range and rattles change in my arm rest and the windows in their tracks when they're rolled down. It's not a SEVERE vibration, I'm just constantly conscious of it. If you could offer up the bushing and bolt kit for a few bucks for those looking to lighten up a bit, I'll happily be your first customer.

Matt

 

Matt,
I will figure out a retrofit kit for you tomorrow.

Chris

 

Nothing yet but i've learned a lot from you all... thank you.

 

Installed by previous owner:

"Engine Torque Brace" crap. That lasted on the car for about 24 hours before it came off. Vibration city.

Tein Type RA coilovers. These things are not for street use. WAAAAAAY too hard and no traction. I'd slap the owner that put these in. With the coilover. To the face.

Mistakes by me:

Aftermarket headlight covers. They just never fit right. Don't be tempted.

Momo 'Quark' steering wheel. Plastic-grip piece of nasty **** that felt awful to hold.

Painting the center console surround and the AC/stereo surround and the cluster face pieces. I don't like it anymore. Wish I didn't paint them that colour now.

Exhaust system- entrusted the car to someone I trusted, turned out to be a complete hack and all the exhaust hangers snapped off the welds on the stainless system.