A few new projects

[lh6601]

Beautiful car.

[gmonsen]

Here are a bunch more pictures of some of the things I find more interesting. Hopefully, some of these are new.

Gordon

Here are a few photos of the brakes. They are brand new Spirit R brakes, which are slightly larger than the stock brakes at 314mm diameter. The pistons are different than stock and each rotor is individually dynamically balanced. The rears are slightly larger and have different pistons as well. I liked them, because they were larger and better, but still Mazda. I like the Brembo-like red calipers with silver white Mazda.


This interior photo shows the new seat redo with the perforated leather and more padding for my old ass. You can't believe how comfortable these are, especially since they started as the RZ racing shells (the CF on the back is covered with the same black leather that covers every interior surface except the cream white perforated headliner). The console was "metalized" (shot with silver dust and copper ad nickel plated) and then painted black. The ashtray was chromed. (Maybe a bit much.) The short shift gear shift knob is a Voodoo aluminum knob that I had Joe powder coat black with the shift pattern etched and filled in white.


A little closer shot. All the surfaces -- other than the metalized plastic on the dash, console, and doors -- is black leather, but, all in all, it looks pretty stock, even though not one piece you see is original. Every piece was redone.


I kind of like this rear under valance I had made out of aluminum. It replaces the stock black plastic one that always melts where the cutout is for the exhaust tip. My exhaust exits downwards before the valance, so there's no cutout for a tip or any tip for that matter. Fits exactly as the stock unit.



And, of course, I really like the front grille surround I had made out of aluminum as well, which I'm still finishing off with the new screen and emblem.


I love this photo taken behind the driver's seat. It all looks completely stock, but, again, it isn't. Everything is black leather (the same leather hides BMW uses), including the bins.


And I had them repeat the bin ribbing pattern in a few other places, like the subwoofer box in the rear.


This closeup of the ashtray is interesting, because, while you can see that the ashtray is chrome, you don't notice that the entire console is metal as well, but painted black. The area surrounding the console is black leather and the seats are red leather.

Here's the console area after being plated and painted.


Here's the back of one of the door pieces, showing the copper plating a bit.


One of the things I've always hated is not just plastic in the interior, but plastic vanes in the air conditioning and heating vents. So, I had them taken apart, and actually individually chromed and then reassembled. You don't notice them very much, but you do notice them when you're driving. The black plastic vents themselves are, of course, also metal plated and painted black.

[Prodigy]

So let me make sure I understand this correctly.. you took the factory plastic surround (gauge, shifter etc...) had it plated, then shot with some more metal coatings to give it some texture, then painted black to make it look even better then stock...

Had the same plating/painting done to every vent (after disassembling then) and got the fins chromed to add that little touch of class....

then had every piece of remaining plastic in the car covered in a BMW quality leather, and had some added some "ribbing" in certain areas to match/add a bit more texture, pattern to the interior...

My favorite part is still the rear valence and front grille surround out of aluminum.... with it emulating the surface under it, it will either lighten the car (like in the posted pics) or it can darken it to a whole new level... adding a bit of personality and flare to the car itself (imagine how it would look parked over a handicapped stall, reflecting that blue)


You know how I feel about your work you have done to this car...

looks great... I would "rep" you, but this forum does not have the option...


J.

[gmonsen]

Thanks, Prodigy. I'm pretty sure I have the honor of spending the most money for the least noticeable changes, but, yes, that is what I did.

Thanks, again. If we ever run into each other, you should take a drive. Its enlightening and fun.

Gordon

[Prodigy]

Yeah but there is a certain humbleness that comes with building such a project as this... that's one reason I like/respect this car and your work on it so much. You were not making it to be a cry to attention, where as quite a few FD's are... you knew the look of the stock was alright, you just wanted it that little bit more refined, higher quality, since Mazda had to make the budgets and cut the quality on quite a few things, you are just making the Interior to what it deserved to be in the first place... IMO

Its a classy car... where mine may look alright, but the interior will not feel nearly as solid as yours, nor will any passengers have the same appreciation, that they do in yours... Mine looks somewhat neglected (going to get it running awesome first, then Iron out the small things I don't like)

In the words of Jeremy Clarkson, yours would be something like the Spyker C8, where its a car that you "wear" not so much as drive, it brings with it a certain expiation, or ambiance. Where as my car (although currently not running) would be more in the Gumpert Apallo camp, where it sacrifices creature comforts for a more "track based" performance... although I'm guessing yours would still run circles around my car, that is until I learn how to drive...


Either way, you have done a magnificent job... you up classed the FD from a 90's jap import with nice design and poor execution to a nice design and superb execution...

Now just throw some ITB's on it and call it "done"


My name is Jon.

[gmonsen]

Thanks a lot, Jon. It means a lot when someone really gets what you're trying to do. I'll get those ITB's on right away!

Gordon