Ok, here's the "official" update.
Installed the resurfaced MS flywheel, counterweight and a stage II Exedy 3 puck clutch. Also wrapped the midpipe again since I wasn't happy with the original wrap job.
Pics:
Look TTT, it's a lift...
Counterweight in...
Mmm, freshly resurfaced flywheel and 3 puck disc...
All buttoned up with a super secret custom alignment tool, lol...
Also re-wrapped the midpipe as my first midpipe wrap job was sub-par...
Impressions thus far... 7/10. I've put about 100 miles on it now and its getting better but its a bit noisier than I remember the ACT puck clutches being but Exedy says 1500 miles and it should be good. I'm still fine tuning the engagement point as the initial pedal feel was terrible and I wasn't getting full disengagement.
Apparently during that whole process my neutral switch took a shit (or maybe its not plugged in, need to crawl underneath again and find out) so I've got a searching idle. Not a big deal, more of just an inconvenience.
Other than all that, its a great feel. The car definitely pulls through the gears quicker, my rear tires are really feeling the difference
This should put me a bit closer to that 190whp goal now, lol.
Something else that was interesting... my rear pinion seal has leaked since I bought the car at 32k miles. Took it to Mazda to get them to replace under warranty and that stated they did, however, its still leaking. We expected the seal and MC noted an "up" and a "down" fitment on the seal, and well.. mine is upside down. So, either the car came from the factory with an upside down seal, thus the leak... or the Mazda dealership installed a new seal upside down... thus still leaking. I wasn't able to source a new one quickly enough for this job, so I'll order one up here and when I fix the neutral switch, I'll put the seal in too..