Looking good Alllen and I love the beer

Went to Steve's picture spot today....great place by the way, got my dime bag while I was there so it saved me a trip

 

We better not be forgetting about the original R3 in the area :P

Wendy, good idea doubling up on trips. Smart move with gas prices the way they are. Heard meth is pretty cheap around there.

 

There is already a Black Mica R3 running around with Tein Flex's, maybe Byako has a pic of it LOL

 

thanks for the advice. I'll take a look at it

 

Finesse-it II is a must have if you're going to buff it, even with a a super light cut. It's expensive, but a bottle will last forever. I'd offer you some, but I don't have any, or a buffer for that matter...yet.

I used Meguire's clay bar kit and was really surprised with how much shine it brought out of the paint. I simply scrubbed the hell out of the car, rinsed it down, clay barred the whole thing with the spray the kit came with, washed it again, rinsed it really well, dried it, and waxed it. I use Meguire's NXT Tech Wax 2.0 paste wax currently. Prior to that I alway's used Meguire's Gold. The gold last's longer, but isn't as easy to get on and off as the Tech Wax.

I've never really cared for liquid waxes, but i've heard that they're way easier with black paint than paste. If you have a polisher/buffer, obviously it's the way to go as well.

If you really want a glass finish, when you're all done apply some Malco Flash Wax. It's a liquid carnuba wax, but i'd still give it a full wax first. It's more of a finishing shine but worth every penny the **** costs. I need my dad to get me some more through his old hookup in the business.

 

I forgot to mention I use 3M Imperial machine glaze, and a good product for acid rain that is Professional Products clear cut compound P-26 but I do that by hand and it's for small areas. The meguiars gold is better than the Ice, but like Fuz said it's a PIA on black. My dad has all Meguiars stuff at his house, so If I can't get something to come out, I go with the gold paste. The liquid Ice is just quick and easy.

...maybe I'm old school but I like the wool pads! I tried Griots step process from a guy at work who lent me the foam pads and polish, and I wasn't impressed with the results.

 

Just don't step on the crack pipes. I had to dodge a few broken remains of whatever glass was broken and sitting by the curb.

I'm not sure I'd want to be there after dark, but during the day it appears reasonably safe, except there's a few areas someone could mug you pretty quickly and get away easily. My wife thinks I'm nuts for going there, especially with a megabuck camera in tow.

James, how's the leg doing? I feel bad that it was my car you whacked it on.

 

Swelling and discolor are almost gone. I'm fine, I just need to get it looked at when I get back from vacation.

 

Mine favors silver over gold, and designer purses. I made the mistake of letting her take me into a jewelry store where she has a hookup, now we have a card for the store (in my name, I'm not a fool).

Wendy, do you have any idea how many ricers are going to want to race you now that you have that wing on?

 

I like where the RX-8 is...

 

I just noticed in pic 2 the rx-8 tag on the wall. The question is: Is it real or PChopped in? Knowing Wendy, it's real. I guess I have to make another trip down there to find out.

 

LOL, you have seen my work on the Dragon then I take it, hahaha. No but I am going back later with my sidewalk chalk to add some "work" of my own and take some more pics - sidewalk chalk is harmless and pretty

Chief - yes, the Vtech crowd has been rev'ing me like crazy all week then they see it's a fat old chick and I just have to laugh.

A few pics from downtown tonight - I am on a picture high or something - some nice imports downtown meet on Tuesday nights by the way.

 

My fathers R3 ^ Tein Flex's with EDFC.

And what is this about using 100 grit sandpaper and steel wool on the bumper lol
I'm hoping that's a joke.

 

Cool dad byako. Us old farts think along the same lines.

100 grit was a joke. Sort of....

 

^ that's proper, love the amber fogs. Didn't notice them when I saw it.

 

Nah, you aren't old. Now Steve, he's old...

byako, tell your dad to come to Fuel some time (preferably when I'm home).

 

+1 you need to make it up there too byako

 

I resemble that remark. Thanks Chief. May you boat always float.

 

Anyone have some brake shims laying around they don't need?

Apparently the upper rear driver side brake shim disappeared from her car after having tires installed. I'm not sure how they can "fall out", but I'm almost positive they were present prior to getting new tires. Didn't feel like arguing with the shop, and had already seen enough red after their oily handprints made their way to her headliner and their air wrench marred the **** out of her rims.

Anyway, if anyone has one laying around they could donate to the cause I'd appreciate it. Nowhere near time for rear brakes, don't wanna throw away the cash on a hardware kit for 1 piece. Please shoot me a pm if you have one...Thanks!

 

That's why I always take my wheels into a place. That way they can't mess up the car, or overtorque the lug nuts. Where did you go, so we can all avoid the place? Sorry but I don't have any shims.

I know it's out of the way for most of you, but there is a really good place close to me (Steele's Hometown Tire in Burlington). John the owner is a great guy, he actually brought in his own scales when I asked about getting the Miata cornerweighted so it could be done. Keith is the guy who did the tires and alignment for the Miata, he knows his stuff and he loves the car. I've had them do some other stuff as well (that I didn't want to mess with), prices are good.

Who loves ya Steve?

 

^ is he reasonably priced? I need to get my tires mounted when I get back from vacation, went to Wal-mart last time, but I would rather have someone who kinda cares about my wheels. They didn't get scratched last time, but I would rather be sure.

 

Walmart? Really?

I called around to get mine installed. Felt reasonably comfortable with Tire Discounters near me and I interviewed them before I gave them the key. That's when I found out the guy who did them was a Mazda guy. Since I was standing no more than 10' away when they were putting the tires on, they knew that I was kind of sensitive to scratches on new rims. Even when the guy hand torqued them down, I questioned what spec he was using and he told me the correct range for the 8.

Tire Rack says Performance Alignment is supposed to be good but my friend will say otherwise. They scratched one of his rims when he went there a couple month's ago. Oh, and stay away from Costco. The guy who put tires on my Speed6 dumped everything out of my glove box to find the wheel lock socket and left everything on the passenger side floorboard. I did save quite a bit, but if they don't care about the quality of work, you know they're just banging stuff on the mounter and balancer.

 

TireDiscounters in Walton, KY

My Tech was Branden. Don't know the guy, and can't confirm he was at fault. Either way, you guys saw the car and know how clean it is. They tried the "worn bushing" excuse... Yeah.. 44k miles of pampered garaged life wore those suckers out. They also zip tied something on the brake lines up. I have not had time to "repair" that properly. I do know I crawled under it for 45 minutes to find the problem before taking it to them to hear their story, and there was nothing broken previously, cant wait to see what they "fixed" for me.

They were very reluctant to claim any liability on the shims, and offered no sympathy for damages to the wheels or stain on the headliner. Thankfully the magic eraser tip I found on this forum worked on the stain.

 

I'm with Chief on this, I wouldn't have my tires mounted while on the car, its the best way to avoid some of the mishaps. Yeah, Wal-mart in Florence did mine, so most likely I'll take my wheels over there again for the install, unless this other place is reasonable. They did a good job and the tires never lost any air so I can't complain.

 

I usually work weekends so I can't make it out lol
Same goes for my father, he's out of town most of the time.
But him and I don't get a long too well so you probably won't see me out with him very often ^_^