Nice to know we don't have the only car that does that. Still, it seems a bit odd to me so I'll have to look into it.

We were out last night and my wife saw a car with a pink neon license plate surround. So now she wants one. I told her I wasn't putting it on.

Oh, and on our way home on North Bend Rd had a blue RX-8 with KY plates alongside. Not sure if it's anyone on here or not. Looked like they had the factory appearance package, window tint but stock exhaust.

 

Just want to let all the local guys and gals know I have some awesome parts for sale that were on my car for less than 400 miles. Check out the parts for sale section by me, SRrx-8jc.......let me know asap if you want some of these things bc I would rather go local bc some are big......

 

Wow, this thread is pretty dead normally (seems like). And why isn't it stickied like some of the other local threads?

Finally getting the title tomorrow (on the last day for the temp tag) so will be able to get the license. I'm going to order a personalized tag for her, that's as far as I will go (she'll just have to deal with no neon).

I installed some grilles for the oil coolers and lower radiator opening yesterday. Came out pretty good, I'm happy knowing the coolers have some protection now. I'm getting way too good at removing the front bumper, I think I've done it three times now.

 

this thread is usually pretty dead. You're bringing all the life to it Chief. As for me, i have my coolant leak fixed, it was just a weak clamp and a bunch of build up at the block for the lower hose. I took advantage of the "this could go bad" moment and ordered some silicone hoses. Once it warms up i'll get those on, and if all goes well, some other goodies if i can get them ordered soon. I also need to decide if i want to spend the cash to powder coat my summer wheels, or i just want to paint them. I have a friend that can powder coat them, but he's been unreachable since having his kid. Paint doesn't last as long, but I can do it myself and save some money for other mods. I guess i still have plenty of time to decide at this point though.

It's still early in the week, but i'll probably head down to Fuel on saturday if anyone is interested.

Chief, you have a serious case of the mod bug. Good thing it's your wife's car, mine would have killed me by now. What are you going to go with for the plates? I thought about it for mine, but didn't end up doing it. Maybe at renewal time. Good call on the no neon by the way.

 

Glad to hear your coolant leak wasn't major.

You have no idea! There isn't a car of mine that hasn't had a lot done to it. If I were to sit down and total up what I have spent I would probably be shocked. Only thing that helps is I do all my own work, and keep my eye out for bargains. I really need to curtail myself and get the restoration of my RX-7 going.

I'll try to make Fuel unless they call me back to work this week (not looking likely at this point). I'll bring the Speed so you can see just how deep my car addiction is. I'll let you tell my wife (if she comes) that no neon is good neon. She still occasionally tells me she wants some of the underbody lamps. I keep telling her she will need to get her boyfriend to put that on!

I'll stay mum on the plate, she really wants it and I want to make sure she gets it. I'm funny that way...

 

Oh, I won't be able to post for several months when I go back to work so right now I'm just making up for that.

 

This thread never used to be dead when Jeff, Steve and myself were all on here, I am the only one left. Jeff and Steve sold there cars. We were the ones that got this thread going and set up meets.

I am offering also to anyone that needs help with mods and trouble shooting locally to hit me up. I have been through one engine and have done more modes to this car than you can even think of haha I do it all myself to learn. I am currently converting my 8 into a full track car. I would love to meet up with all you ladies and gents and meet all the new people around here but I started my own company and it has consumed my life.

Also I have some Racing Beat oil cooler screens that you could have bought brand new for $30 haha if you still want them let me know chiefmg.

I wont have my car out until it warms up, also I am currently making a new side exit exhaust for the 8 like the ones you see on the old speed source RX-8.

Hope to get a chance to hang out and meet up with you all......cheers

Josh

 

Josh,
I'll take the RB screens if you have them still. I've been thinking about them and you're price is hard to pass up.

Chief, i'd love to see the Speed. If i could afford it, i'd go mod crazy...I really should thank my wife for not letting me spend all of our money on the car. We'll be looking for a car for her in the spring and she's thinking MS3, so she'll understand soon enough. I definitely agree that no neon is good neon. hmmm NoNeon makes for a good plate.

 

Thanks for the offer Josh, but I'm set with the oil cooler screens.

For me, I'm luckily at the point in my life where I can afford to spend some money on frivolities (I don't see them as such, but most do). It took me some time to get here, and without the help of my wife it wouldn't have happened. Second time around for us both so we appreciate each other more. I do what I can to make her happy and right now, she is very happy with her 8. Even without neon!

Oh, and she was thinking about an MS3 too, but the lack of a sunroof kind of killed the deal. She has wanted an 8 for a while, it's pretty funny because she told all her kids she would get one. Now she has one, none of them can believe it.

 

Chiefmg: We're getting close to me being able to turn loose on mods, just not quite yet. It's awesome that your wife has the car that she's wanted. I'm sure my wife will love her 3 when we finally get her one.

Just picked up Josh's screens today. Good guy. Nice meeting you Josh. Now i just need a nice warm weekend to get the screens in, put on the new hoses, and take care of some other stuff.

 

If the weather weenies have it right, another crap weekend. So probably no Fuel for me, unless someone else is a diehard.

 

It will all depend on the snow for me. If it's just crappy out, i probably won't go. If there's enough to play in, I'll probably be out. I haven't had rwd in a long time and i want to see if the snow tires are worth their salt. (I know they are, but I haven't gotten to really see what they've got)

 

anyone have the stock rear speakers non bose for sale??

 

I hear you on that. I played in the Speed a little last month, the wife (lovely woman!) was with me and said she hoped I plowed into the side of the buidling. Still fun though, just wish I hadn't screwed up the front on my Protege while playing on another day.

The snow tires on the 8 are a little weird, the DCS keeps cutting in without much ado. I am starting to think the alignment might be off. I'll see how things are once I get the new suspenders put in next week.

 

my buddy has some, we threw some infiniti kappa 3 ways in there. i'll talk to him and see if he wants to sell them or not.

 

What are you going with for the new setup? If you need some help, let me know. The suspension is pretty damn easy to do. My buddy and i did my spring swap in an hour and a half.

 

my front springs alone took about that long and the back took 2 more days... i couldnt get the endlinks off.. they were seized. but no, the suspension is not bad on this car.

 

I bought a set of used Tokico D-specs w/RB springs. I was looking online using a search engine and they popped up on the Portland OR Craigslist. Took me a little while to arrange things but they should be here Monday. That way I don't have to worry about things changing with the coilovers when I'm not around.

I've done suspensions on both my Protege and Speed6 so I know what a PITA Mazdas can be. Try putting the front sway on a Protege, or the rear on a Speed6. On the endlinks, I just hit them with some PB Blaster and then an impact wrench. Works like a charm (now that I have said that I've no doubt jinxed myself!).

 

i just talked to my buddy with the speakers. he said he'll sell them to ya for 40 for the pair. let me know if you want them.

 

i had no problems with my endlinks. I did mine with thin channel locks and socket, but they are allen keyed as well, so a box end wrench and an allen wrench together work.

I'm thinking of d-specs myself, but will probably eventually just go to coilovers when i need to replace my shocks.

 

Lovely weather we're having! Glad I have AWD, just wish people would learn to drive better in bad weather.

 

White death, White death! The roads are wet it must be deathly slippery, must drive completely distracted and worried. Caution, Caution!

I just wonder if that's what people think. It drives me nuts too.

I'll probably head to Fuel tomorrow unless it's raining. I kind of want to see more snow. I'll get to test my tires and have a little fun, plus if the parking lot is un-plowed, it will make for some cool pics with snow up to the front lip. I doubt we'll get that much, and if we do, I'll probably forget my camera.

 

Its does that for a reason. So the lines dont dry up and crack. All makes and models do that. Next time leave it on or you may regret it this summer.

 

I realize you don't know me, but I am not a noob. Mazdas are designed to run the A/C compressor if you are using the defrost mode, however the light does not come on (ever wonder why your engine idle speed changes sometimes?). Since mine comes on by itself, I am puzzled as this is definitely not normal. FYI, the reason for running the A/C off season is to keep the compressor lubricated. The system when fully charged is, well, full so the lines always have something in them. Marine engineer with over 20 years experience with HVAC systems.

Whoops my bad, I see you were responding to someone else's post. Still, what I said is correct.

 

Any idea what time you might be going? I might be able to make it, we'll see how tonight plays out.