alittlefox's amateur build

alittlefox · 06:57 PM

I bought my 2012 Speed3 without any knowledge of how to drive a manual transmission. The dealer gave me a crash course in another car after I purchased it and my aunt had to drive it home for me. From there, I used my phone and Youtube in a parking lot to teach myself. Since then, with the help of my local and even national Nator friends, i've learned to drive better and more confidently and have learned to maintain and upgrade parts on my car!

This past weekend, I drove in my first autocross event and learned to drive on a road course. Needless to say, it was amazing. I was addicted to my car before, but i'm ready to dive in now!

I literally don't know what i'm doing, but i'm just going to take it one step at a time, haha.

The day I bought her...

3 years later...

Engine/Trans:
COBB AP v2
Autotech HPFP Internals
Corksport TMIC
Corksport long downpipe (catted)
HTP 3" Intake w/ K&N Filter
JBR SSP/shifter weight
?? Oil catch can
EGR Delete
JBR trilogy motor mounts

Suspension/Wheels/Brakes:
JBR Rear sway bar
Avid.1 AV-06 (black) 17x8 +42 w/ Nitto NT555 245/45-17

Interior:
@maisonvi; shift knob that I stole from @Ploobert; until mine gets in
A sweet seat cover for my dogs and sometimes a goat
A ton of mud from the farm

Exterior:
35% tint all around
RallyArmour Breast Cancer mudflaps
Plastidip in all the right places

Realistic Plans (I was serious when I said baby steps!):
Replace JBR motor mounts with Damond Motorsports threesome
Bilstein B8s
Eibach Pro-Kit
BNR S3
3-Port
3 BAR MAP
HTP coolant extension kit

I've been reading a lot and there's so much information, I don't really know where to start! I'll figure out a step by step guide for myself and the car someday, i'm sure.

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

My most recent fix was a snapped sway bar bracket. That's what I get for having fat friends, I guess.

I needed a little help getting the rusted bolts loosened, but after that I was able to pull them out, grease up the bar and install the new brackets/bushings. It's nice to be able to fix your own stuff. /flex

NCspecV81

I had the same problem with the sway bar bracket

patABQ

Looks like you're doing just fine for an amateur.

MS3Shadow

Nice. I also bought my car with knowing how to drive standard. But the sales person gave me a 15min or so crash course on the car.

Sent from my HTC M9

Code Monkey

1. Get a Miata
2. Get as much seat time as possible.
<end>

zenit

@alittlefox;

First: thanks for all your work at enmwnmnwmnm.

Great to see the build thread.
See if you can convince the DM folks to do another run of pink mounts!

Re:pads, EBC yellows seem to be the choice for daily driver pads that preform at AX/track.

You should also consider getting some bils/koni's selling to complete you suspension setup.
@MS3johanna; runs stock springs on bils on a juan and is plenty fast (she's faster than me).

Also, what tires?

P.S. did you beat that wrx on the highway after the track day?

maisonvi

Originally Posted by zenit

@alittlefox;

First: thanks for all your work at enmwnmnwmnm.

Great to see the build thread.
See if you can convince the DM folks to do another run of pink mounts!

Re:pads, EBC yellows seem to be the choice for daily driver pads that preform at AX/track.

You should also consider getting some bils/koni's selling to complete you suspension setup.
@MS3johanna; runs stock springs on bils on a juan and is plenty fast (she's faster than me).

Also, what tires?

P.S. did you beat that wrx on the highway after the track day?

^^^He is right. I run EBC yellows for both DD and track, and I love them. They have been a great pad with little fade and predictable pedal feel. I would recommend that before your next track day you do a brake fluid swap. I assume you are on the OEM stuff and after a track day and however many miles, you will want new stuff. You wont need anything super crazy as far as boiling point for where you and your car are at right now so it shouldnt cost much.

I second @zenit; on koni/blis as well. I had yellows and Cobb springs, and ran that for years with a couple track days. It was an almost ideal set up. Only reason Im not running it now is because I got a wicked deal on some MS coils.

Im glad you had a good time this weekend. I like seeing new people hop into a sport that can be very intimidating the first time and hard to get started. I know my first track day I was nervous as hell, but I also know when I was done I couldnt stop smiling.

Good luck with the build

JakeMS3

Hey @alittlefox; how is that CS long catted dp? I've ordered one just waiting for them to ship mine out. I had a cobb dp in my last ms3 but heard great things about this one.

Crarrs

The monster Koni sale is over on Monday. I recommend the Sports highly. They've worked very well for me with stock springs. Or just wait until March when next year's seasonal sale starts back up.

KONI Shock Value Sale! 40% OFF MSRP!

alittlefox · 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by zenit

@alittlefox;

First: thanks for all your work at enmwnmnwmnm.

Great to see the build thread.
See if you can convince the DM folks to do another run of pink mounts!

Re:pads, EBC yellows seem to be the choice for daily driver pads that preform at AX/track.

You should also consider getting some bils/koni's selling to complete you suspension setup.
@MS3johanna; runs stock springs on bils on a juan and is plenty fast (she's faster than me).

Also, what tires?

P.S. did you beat that wrx on the highway after the track day?

Shhhh, you weren't supposed to see that. I was doing a bad thing. But yes. I did.

I will work my Bunny magic and see if he'll run me some pink mounts again. So far my suspension is compromised of pink things, might as well keep the rtadition going.

I will be looking into the Koni Yellows some more. I've heard nothing but praise and know a lot of people who run them. I was always leaning towards them, just never got around to making the leap! Thankyou for pad advice (that sounds weird), I wasn't sure where to begin on that search. <3

Tires I have now are Nitto NT555 245/45-17. Originally on my 17x9 +35 wheels, which i'm now selling because I don't think they fit as well as I thought they would. So, tires gotta go. Haven't even begun looking into that yet.

So many things to think about and research....!

Originally Posted by JakeMS3

Hey @alittlefox; how is that CS long catted dp? I've ordered one just waiting for them to ship mine out. I had a cobb dp in my last ms3 but heard great things about this one.

I LOOOOOVE IT. It was a huge pain in the ass to install, since I hadn't done it before and needed help. It made a big difference. Smooth and faster spool somewhat.

NCspecV81

IF he does pink mounts I'd be in for a set @MATT DAMOND;

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

Tomorrow will finally be the day I have time to get into the garage and work! I ended up buying EBC Yellowstuff and Stoptech High Carbon rotors and they're here, waiting to be installed. I also have a CS FMIC on the way and Relentless Customs just finished the valve cover I won!

Will update my struggles tomorrow....

speed3 britz

Originally Posted by NCspecV81

IF he does pink mounts I'd be in for a set @MATT DAMOND;

This! @MATT DAMOND make us more pink mounts!

NCspecV81

Originally Posted by speed3 britz

This! @MATT DAMOND make us more pink mounts!

Pink mounts for everything!

JakeMS3

Valve cover is looking clean. Post pics up once you get it in along with that front mount!

Easter Bunny

That fox is pretty sweet

On the valve cover.

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

After 3 stupid weeks, I have my car back. First, I messed up the gaskets when I switched the valve cover out, which caused me to blow oil everywhere. Then, when I fixed the gaskets, I accidentally broke the plastic on the vvt. @nindoja; saved my ass on that one and sent me a replacement. In the process of fixing that, I somehow fucked something else up and had to finally tow it to the shop where they did nothing but put new bolts and gaskets on and charge me a heap load for labor.

But it's fixed now, so fuck it. /flex

Now i'm finally ready to buckle down and get my shit together so I can get a Freektune and not be halfway through anything! WOO.

Easter Bunny

So tell me about this new name you have, any truth to it?

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

Originally Posted by Easter Bunny

So tell me about this new name you have, any truth to it?

Yea, I squirt oil everywhere.

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

Thanks to @Roddiy; I was able to finish the brake pads and rotors today. However, as my luck holds strong, my battery died. Not entirely certain how it happened, actually. Taking the battery in tomorrow to be replaced. It's only 3 weeks old :|

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

PRAISE JESUS. This year started off with a perfectly running vehicle. Everything is fixed and ready to be broken again! Tax season is upon us, so i'll be purchasing some Bilstein B8s and some springs that I haven't decided on yet. Added that to my list of things to do.

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

HA. HA. FUCKING. HA.

After my last post, I got a huge FUCK YOU from my whore Judi. Goodbye turbo. The bearings came loose, the impeller was sideways with the fans hitting the side of the turbo...I haven't gotten a good look yet. I'll be rallying the troops for help in the near future it looks like. Decided on BNR S3. Also going to try and knock out springs/shocks too while i'm at it...Goodbye tax return!

08cosmic3

Get to work and have the car ready for ENM/MDC in April, we need our Vanna White.

Code Monkey

JakeMS3

Originally Posted by alittlefox

PRAISE JESUS. This year started off with a perfectly running vehicle. Everything is fixed and ready to be broken again! Tax season is upon us, so i'll be purchasing some Bilstein B8s and some springs that I haven't decided on yet. Added that to my list of things to do.

I just installed the B8's with swift springs and it completely changed the way the car drives. I feel confident taking turns and curved entrance ramps at higher speeds. Even city driving feels better to me. This is how the car should have come.

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

Originally Posted by Code Monkey

You obviously haven't paid enough attention to the correct threads if you're looking for that still. Gtfo of my thread, fag.

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

Originally Posted by 08cosmic3

Get to work and have the car ready for ENM/MDC in April, we need our Vanna White.

Once it all comes in, i'll get on it!!! Mazdaspeed Vanna, inc!

Easter Bunny

Originally Posted by alittlefox

You obviously haven't paid enough attention to the correct threads if you're looking for that still. Gtfo of my thread, fag.

other than the one of you in a skirt standing on a toilet all the good ones have been deleted.

alittlefox · I'm slow 278WHP @ Moore [4/12/14] 14.77s 1/4 Mile @ Mason Dixon [4/13/14]

Originally Posted by Easter Bunny

other than the one of you in a skirt standing on a toilet all the good ones have been deleted.

Sad, but not my problem! Maybe next time.

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