I don't like the fact that it's slammed..

MS wings however can give any 8 enthusiast a woody. :)

Travis

Wait, what is slammed? lol.

I agree. It gives me a girl-woody? LOL

Edit: oooooooh that photoshop I posted. Yeah I was just playing, I have no intention of doing that IRL :P

Hmm... girl woody...

Is that hard nips? Does your bean get erect?

My thought was it's so arousing women 8 enthusiasts literally sprout a penis for a few moments when they see it. Then it falls off like magic :)

I think of strange things when I'm watching cartoons with my kid...
Like the above statement... OR Do penguins have knees?
Travis

Definitely no spontaneous penile growths, lmao.

Did a small mod this weekend. I just got an OEM replacement shift knob, and the chrome was peeling. It looked like crap and would occasionally even stab me, lol. I was given a replacement with it, that wasn't peeling, but was knicked up real bad. I decided to paint it. Im not sure how long it will last persay (just being paint that will be handled frequently) but it will be easy to take apart and redo in the future if needed. I put a good few coats of clear over it so fingers crossed :P I happened to have a bronzey color that matches the Chaparral quite well, so I went with that.

Before

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...205854990a.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...5286751d71.jpg

After (the little button wasn't fully seated here).

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...701dc2c694.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...477f2f74fa.jpg

It looks noticeably lighter here (since it's shiney and reflected my flash quite a bit) but it's actually very close in color to the stitching on the boot as well as the remainder of the interior. I will get a better picture when the car isn't in the dark garage.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...59e934c170.jpg

Better interior picture, outside in daylight.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...c9411b2418.jpg

Where did you end up finding that wing?! and for how much if you don't mind me asking! Looking into the MS wing, but all the ones being sold are shitty aftermarkets that wouldn't fit at all, so then i've been looking into the APR GTC200, but i have legit NO NEED for it, as im not tracking my 8, at least not that i plan on, just going for aesthetics to be completely honest lol. How's the brackets coming along?

I found it from a vendor on eBay (just a shop that sells a wide range of stuff - not one that sells aftermarket parts specifically or anything like that). It was apparently used as a display model, and never mounted on a car. It IS a replica. I knew as much. I got it for very cheap, especially considering it is already perfectly color matched. I have also done some body work before (I made a custom grill for my Subaru which came out perfect) so I didnt mind if the lip needed some work to fit perfectly to the trunk lid. Once I get the brackets I will know exactly how much (just has a slight gap on each side but may sit better once I have it bolted down to the brackets). The blade is perfect. The brackets that are mounted on it are metal and well made. It's perfectly smooth/shaped. Well painted as well so that's nice. The lower lip is the only problem. It needs a lil work. I can mount the blade without the lip so It's whatever. It will give me a project to tinker with (which I've been itching for, haha).

Brackets are coming a long. I have a plan in place with my friend. I am also waiting to hear from another vendor who was actually planning to have these brackets reproduced (albeit slightly taller). Once I hear his price/timeline my friend and I will decide to move forward or not. The vendor has an actual bracket to work with whereas my friend and I are going based off measurements to draw up a model (I was provided with a ton of measurements from someone who has one, and then my own measurements of the trunk/wing, etc... so it will be a few extra steps but kind of neat to see what goes into it) My friend is very good with this stuff and he loves doing it. He has a 3D printer so he is printing me out a test model, that will also allow us to measure the angle of the brackets on the blade (they are not perfectly straight ahead, they cant outwards on each side a bit, in relation to the mounting holes.. so to make sure we get the angle right & that each bracket lines up with each other - if that makes sense). I know he will do a steller job if I don't end up grabbing the vendor's.

He will also be powdercoating the brackets black for me.

If i find a cheap MS rep, i guess i wouldn't mind spending like $100 to see if I can make it work to my liking! Good luck! Looking forward to seeing it on the car!

Yeah I got it for less than 100$ so I figured what the hell.

Exactly, worse case scenario you don't like it, or wanna deal with it any more, no MAJOR waste! and you can at least say you've given it a shot lol. Wish there was quality aftermarket option though :/

I agree. As of right now I can't see spending nearly a grand on a wing. I have more pertinent things to spend money on, lol.

Eventually maybe will get an authentic one, but for now I think this will do.

Me either lol. I have ALOT of stuff thats more important than a wing. Such as overhauling the entire brake system, from lines to fluid etc. Then wheels, deal with my.... you know what, i have a thread lol. Any major plans for the 8 in 2017?

Hey that's fine! I love following progress :) No worries on feeling repetitive, lol.

I need new tires soon... I may try to get a tire/wheel package or just get tires and refinish mine. Other than that &maintenance items no major plans in the near future beyond upkeep.

As time goes on I'd like to get new grounding wires/clean all the points, replace all the coolant lines, get SS oil cooler lines, etc... "little" less noticeable things to help keep the car in top condition.

A SOHN OMP has been on my radar as well just still undecided.

Took a few pics yesterday afternoon. A bit of an overcast day = less reflection on a black car. She looked perty out there... Also, a wanted to snag a few wingless pictures. I honestly kind of like the wingless look as well...

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...3d964e9ef7.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...f1dcc10b23.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...27ad018d67.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...272d313356.jpg

I was taking some measurements for my friend, so here is a teaser pic...

Plan to paint the upper brackets black. Lowers will be sent to me once completed, powder coated black. I think this will make it look clean, having the brackets match.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...c1cf84bb89.jpg

IMO, tire and wheel packages are bleh, you're better off finding the wheels you want and tires and keep your eyes out for deals. I bought these OEM wheels and wanna keep for winter and colder months, but not the snow. Looking at 17" RPF1's wrapped in some cheaper hankooks for the summer tbh. 17's will let me achieve a meatier tire setup but also, 17" tires are MUCH cheaper lol. You're in AL now right? does it get below 50F often in the winter?

SS oil cooler lines do require a good chunk of time to install, Kevin landers of Rotaryressurection sells them for the best deal and quality i have found. I think its in the $300 ball park, not sure tbh but reach out to him! Coolant lines, not sure how tough that would be because i had the guy who installed my motor put them on while the motor was out, but another good item to keep in mind. MM has a good deal to get you some OEM lines. If you know your local dealer and you have a good connection, you can get them cheaper though them most likely, i got all 9 for about 189ish? but i did have to get the P/N's myself, which i can give you if you want lol.

Sohn is a meh mod, i wouldn't spend the last of my money on it, but if you can afford the epitroh kit, it's well put together for a complete setup and instructions etc. I use Motul 710 in my SOHN setup, but once again, there is not hard evidence saying it helps the engines last longer, I got it because it helps me sleep at night knowing clean 2stroke is being injected! :mdrmed:

I like the wingless look too but something about a MS wing... just LOVE it! idk maybe because when i used to play NFS underground 2 i fell in love with the 8, and then i always saw the MS edition and yeah. Love it lol

Well I just meant new tires/wheels together (not some discount package).

Yeah I have already talked with Kevin about possibly getting some in the semi-near future (we'll see). He did my rebuild so I would go to him first where applicable anyways.

As for the SOHN that's how I feel about it as well. I change my oil far more often than I need to (always a habit I have had) so I know the oil isn't THAAAT bad... and I premix with Idemitsu as well. I think i'd like to get one, it's just not as high on the priority list because there is no hard proof. Yes it means less carbon build up, but no it doesn't prevent the failures that are prone to happening anyways. So IDK. Still up in the air.

I like the wingless look as well. My 04 was originally wingless, lol. But I prefer the rear spoiler so I added one after getting the mounting templates from Mazda. Pic of the car the day after I got it two years ago:

Attachment 217315

However, I think I like the look with the MS wing better than with a bare butt :) I'm eager to see the wing completely installed. I know its gonna look great!!

Oh man what I would have done to have traded trunks with you, haha. Actually, I need the OEM holes, but I'm bummed with how gouged up my trunk is from 13 years of that OEM wing digging into it.

I will replace it or have it properly repaired eventually (probably once Im back in NC and can have my friend who did the previous body work, do it)... but for now I am probably going to wrap it :-\


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...84f9e8749a.jpg

This is after putting some touch up paint in the worst of it.. it was bare surface-rusted metal.

Excuse the dumb question but... doesn't the MS wing use the OEM holes or does it require new holes covering the OEM holes?

The authentic MS wing uses the OEM holes. The new brackets my friend is making will also utilize the OEM holes. I have been studying these brackets way too much the last week.. seems there are a few different styles with a few different footprints.

hmmm... would like to see a finished bracket, depending on fitment, quality and cost, i might buy some off you if possible. Currently trying to hunt down a ms wing. Saw an 8 with a CF rep one and walked up to see the quality and this looked so legit. Bottom level was flush with the trunk, the brackets were perfectly cut brushed aluminum, wing itself looked im great condition too, now i totally want one! :mdrmed:

I have seen mixed on the CF. It's a gamble. I wasn't wanting to take that 400$ gamble. They are all replicas so there is always that chance. Here is another member's CF wing problems..

9k shared these from another thread that I cant find atm.

But in response to that, I have seen a few that look like they fit perfectly (in pictures)..

As for the brackets, once we complete them and verify them on my car he is going to be open to getting a batch together for others.