(Part 2) Best products from r/Miata

I did one last fall in my NA without a lift, but I don't think I would have been able to do it without a trans jack. I borrowed this guy from a co-worker and it worked great. You will also need a 2 foot breaker bar, 6 point (don't use 12 points) 1/2" sockets, about 1.5 feet-2 feet of 1/2" extensions, and at least one u-joint. A flywheel holder will make your life easier when removing/re-torquing the flywheel bolts and a seal puller will help removing the front/rear trans seals and the engine's rear main seal.

Here are the steps off the top of my head:

• buy a copy of the Enthusiast's manual or a hanes manual if you want one that's NB specific. It's always nice having torque specs on hand
  
• remove center console, shift knob, and upper shift boot
  
• put car on jackstands
  
• disconnect driveshaft by unbolting the rear yolk, leave in car for now
  
• drain transmission (it will leak if you don't keep it level when you're dropping it)
  
• break free all of the bell housing, starter, and PPF bolts. I was able to do this completely from under the car on a creeper
  
• swing PPF out of the way (I was able to leave mine in the car, hanging from the rearmost diff bolt)
  
• remove drive shaft (I was able to leave my exhaust in place)
  
• unbolt/tie up the slave cylinder
  
• preload trans jack to support trans
  
• remaining remove trans bolts
  
• drop trans. This involves some wiggling while pulling it away from the engine
  
• do maintenance items (trans seals/gaskets, rear main seal, etc)
  
• resurface your existing flywheel or install a fancy new aftermarket one. Don't forget to install a new pilot and throw out bearing
  
• install new clutch on new/resurfaced flywheel using clutch alignment tool. Bolt flywheel to motor
  
• install in the reverse order

i LOVE them. i got the truck-lites. nice and bright and have a nice clean beam, which made aiming them super easy.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007K8AA7I/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cibie 082440 Light Unit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008DQV88Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_IuQkxbCJSHRC0

You'll need two plus bulbs. Don't need any wiring harnesses or anything.

Kicker CS speaker package - Two pairs of Kicker CS Series 3.5" Coaxial speakers 40CS354 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016P5ZE0E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_KvQkxb28GWZ7P

These are the headrest speakers. Sound great, literally plug and play, fit in nicely as long as you remove the box the original speakers went in. Nice and loud and clear sound.

Refinish the headlights.

I have tried a bunch of different solutions, the best one is to sand the headlights, from 800 grit > 1600 grit > 2000 grit > 3000 grit, something along those lines. Finish up with a plastic headlight polish like PlastX, then mask the surrounding paint with a cut plastic bag + tape (use painters tape around the headlights during sanding, or even better take them off to sand and paint them), and finish it up by spraying Meguairs Headlight Coat on it, wait 5 minutes, and give it a second coat. Should come out close to perfect, and will last at least a year. Using just PlastX polish will last for maybe a few weeks before fogging again. I tried mixing spar urethane with mineral spirits, 50/50 and that only lasted a few months before fogging up, it dried yellowish as well.

I used this kit for the sanding pads, you can use the powerplastic polish instead of the plastx stuff.

I would heavily recommend a cordless drill for the sanding and polishing

This is the headlight spray

hey just wanted to give you an update. i ended up picking up this model https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07736LWX2 just because it had some features i needed, but same screen. got it installed today and its friggin PERFECT. today was a full on 100% sun day, driving with top down and polarized sunglasses on and its still 100% readable. definitely recommend

I have a Bluetooth to FM transmitter right now (This one 4.5/5 stars and 4,000+ reviews) but I'm still unhappy with the sound, but I'm not sure if it's the speakers, the stereo (Because there's no external amp, it's being powered by the stereo) or the speakers. It's fuzzy/muddy, it clips, etc.

Although replacing the speakers would be done anyways, so maybe I will just start with that..... And maybe put an external amp in between the MSSS and speakers, so it can be a little more powerful without having to remove the stereo..... Really the only "broken" part is the Mode button, which switches between top up or top down sound modes, doesn't work right so I had to put a McDonalds straw shim in to keep it depressed, and the cassette player doesn't work.

So I'm torn because I'd like to have a modern stereo and just be able to plug a device in, but I also don't want to get rid of the MSSS (Although I did see an AUX mod for it). Thanks for letting me talk this out by the way, it's definitely helping. I think I will start with the speakers, then maybe an amp, and if I still don't like the way it sounds, I will remove it, store it somewhere safe, and throw a new deck in there.

Thanks again!

I'm a carport and driveway dweller, as well. A bit pricey, but after 2 years of use, my soft top cover is still in perfect shape. It only takes a minute to get on/off and folds up a lot smaller than my cheap full car cover, which I also use over the half cover for longer parking sessions. I debated on whether to spend the $100, but it has been well worth the investment.

I use these, and absolutely recommend them. They're the best headlights I've ever had, and the half halos make for the happiest Miata you've ever seen. Some slight fettling of the housings required, nothing crazy.

https://www.amazon.com/SUNPIE-Headlight-Wrangler-Headlamp-Signal/dp/B01C5KSZIQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486534314&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=Sunpie+half+halo

I have a < $300 soft top with a heated glass window from Amazon. It didn't fit perfectly over my frame, but the end result was actually very good, looking very much like factory.

http://www.amazon.com/Convertible-One-Piece-Non-Zippered-Heated-Window/dp/B00O0FPA6U/

I recommend getting a new rain rail.

There are a few optioins besides the GE Nighthawks. I run these in my Miata:

https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-Round-Street-Headlight-Contains/dp/B00OYR8MVO

There are also these:

https://www.amazon.com/Truck-Lite-27270C-Headlamp/dp/B007K8AA7I/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1486508489&sr=1-2&keywords=Trucklites

Yes only the top half lights up, but how often are you looking back at your lights? THe cutoff is great, does not not blind oncoming traffic. I am a big fan.

I don't have a garage, so unfortunately mine stays out in the elements year round. It had a small leak at the window seal when I got it, but I adjusted the windows and now it seals and I have had no problems since. It was a little blacker in color when I got it but the dealership probably used some restore stuff to shiny it up and I could do the same and it would be fine. It gets dumped on with pine needles and pollen and rain all the time but I wash it a lot to help. When it's summer and dry and pollen gets on it sometimes I have to use a soft brush when I wash it to get the pollen out of the textured surface. I think that's about it. Mine has held up fine. But I'd be a million times happier if I had a garage.


Edit: get a trombone cleaner to clean the drain holes, mine get plugged with pine needles so it's regular maintenance.

Edit: here's the trombone cleaner I use:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K3E9KO/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_pHZ9Bb38HVDAY

There are different conditioners you can put on the top to help it cope better with the sun. What you get depends on whether you have vinyl or canvas.

Also, one of these will help too:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C2W9K9Q/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HZ7C85Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

It is a full reupholstery of your seats. Great for the price and fitment is perfect.

I bought this kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012ZEZ8A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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It is pretty comprehensive :)

The door speakers are 6.5", so you have a lot of options there.

The headrest speakers are something crazy like 1x2" or something else that aren't commercially available outside of OEM. However if you remove the factory headrest speakers and the plastic "boxes" they are installed into, you can pressure-fit 3.5" round speakers in there without having to cut foam. Thanksgiving weekend I got these Kicker 3.5" since they were four for $40 and they work great.

I had started by looking for factory size or OEM replacement speakers, but the very few I could find were either crazy expensive and crappy, or used 20-year old crappy OEM ones. I strongly recommend picking up some 3.5" after market speakers and using them: the sound quality, price, and install difficulty are all better than trying to find OEM.

When replacing the head unit, I recommend getting one of these pigtail adapters. That was you don't have to cut and splice the factory pig tail and your aftermarket head unit pig tail. It makes replacement in the future (or reverting to stock) super easy.

I use a RAM mount for my roll bar that works great with my Session 5.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GY5JB8W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

How well it works: https://youtu.be/wW680jFYdfM

I used this 3M kit to restore them (which I bought when it jumped to $15 for 2 days instead of the average $10 :/) and Meguiar's Keep Clear coating.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably go with this Meguiar's kit that includes the keep clear. I say this because my wireless drill cannot hold a charge and to do both headlights it took me a long time.

You can use a [Bluetooth adapter] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018E0I01I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_83IOzb08NNCMC) that you plug into the cigarette lighter. It works great but you just have to find a good radio station to use.

Flyin Miata is well-regarded for all the things.

I like Gates for both belt and pump, personally. Amazon sells that brand. Get the belt in a kit that includes the replacement pulleys, gasket, etc. The Gates pump has a cast impeller rather than spot-welded, which some think is the better way to go for a water pump.

BTW, here's a worklist you can use for this job: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eEStLWP0Vp9YlvqrPNLA67S31Iz0FZd0Q-2waNV_UFg/edit#gid=0 (if you have updates on any of it, let me know!)

This turned out more expensive than I expected because of the tools. Can somebody confirm that I'm buying the right stuff for the job? Am I forgetting anything?
Doesn't have to be Amazon, it's just convenient. 1994 Miata.

• Permatex 81150 Dielectric Tune-Up Grease, .33 oz Tube
  
• TEKTON 24325 3/8-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench, 120-960-Inch/Pound
  
• Permatex 81343 Anti-Seize Lubricant, 1 oz. Tube
  
• NGK (9160) ZE21 Premium Spark Plug Wire Set
  
• GearWrench 80546 5/8-Inch x 6-Inch Swivel Spark Plug Socket
  
• NGK (6953) BKR5E-11 V-Power Spark Plug, Pack of 1

I use tire savers to keep the tires from getting flat spots over longer storage terms.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B073NQBJ1N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Other than that, I let it run for about 30-60 mins a month just to get everything moving around a bit, usually while/after i'm fixing something else on it anyway. I use a car cover as well, so I give it a good wash as well, but I'm in a parking spot so it may or may not be a consideration for you. I do know some people use really lightweight dust covers (or bed sheets) on garage kept cars as well.

I went with this one. It will mount on the windshield or the dash. I mounted mine to the dash just to the right of the cluster hump. Holds tight, and is fully adjustable. Best part? It was 10 bucks.

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https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Upgrade-Dashboard-Adjustable-Windshield/dp/B07921XZZS/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Mpow+Upgrade+Dashboard+Car+Phone+Mount&qid=1556049293&s=wireless&sr=1-3

Odd, I just looked back to my orders the WP was $28 when I ordered, another $40 or so for the TB+pullied and the gaskets for the camshafts and crankshaft were probably $30 tops all together. [Here's my wp. ](Gates 42134 Water Pump https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C2W91E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sXKXAb7NFEBRH) and [TB](Gates TCK179 Timing Belt Component Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C2YDNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_6YKXAbCPXBPEQ)

Yeah it can be hard to find sometimes. Another thing you could look into is getting new upholstery for your seats. For a whole I've thought about getting this kit. Seems to be priced well and it looks nice in all of the customer pictures.

Or the cheapest, simplest solution: a Bluetooth to FM radio adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter. They cost under $20 and work surprisingly well for both phone calls and music/audiobooks. Here's mine: https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-FM-Transmitter-Wireless-Adapter/dp/B07F2RTN5Z

Best money I've spent so far was ordering this book

http://www.amazon.com/Mazda-MX-5-Miata-1-8-Enthuasiast/dp/1845840909

Very handy and lots and lots of exploded diagrams.

/u/Champagneshallow is correct. Drain holes for rain. You should have another on the passenger side.

Buy a trombone brush and give them a clean once in a while. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K3E9KO

You can find replacement covers on Amazon. If you want to diy. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HZ7C85Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_elnNzbXQG0J99

I reupholstered them myself for cheap ;)

Mazda Miata Front Seat Cover Kit for 1990-1996 Standard Seats, Tan (Saddle) Simulated Leather

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HZ7C85Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_j-XVzbZHFN5WB

These are the headlights I got.

I got this one: http://www.amazon.com/Mazda-MX-5-Miata-1-8-Enthuasiast/dp/1845840909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330887789&sr=8-1 by rod grainger but there is also a 1.6 version.

Mazda Miata Front Seat Cover Kit for 1990-1996 Standard Seats, Tan (Saddle) Simulated Leather https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HZ7C85Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HGMrxbE6ZTZVY

I think they also make them in black!
I had it professionally installed but i know its possible to diy!

Do you have a cigarette lighter?
Check these out!

https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-FM-Transmitter-Wireless-Adapter/dp/B07F2RTN5Z/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=imden+bluetooth+fm+transmitter&qid=1573002425&sr=8-3

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I got this one for my car and it works well. It does have the occasional static while playing music which can be a bit annoying but it doesn't happen 100% of the time. Just a thought!