I’m not sure I consider cleaning and fluid changes a “mod”. Seems more like regular maintenance to me. The other stuff like suspension, roll bar, wheels/tires seem like good mods. I gotta get to work on my ‘94. I hate the cheap all-seasons on it.
Nope. The first things you do when you buy a Miata is 1. Yank the stupid visors out. They are usless and usually look ugly. 2. Ditch the spare tire and jack. Pointless extra weight. 3. Yank the baby teeth. Also pointless weight and ugly. 4. Better brake pads. Stopping fast is more important than starting fast. 5. Advance the timing. Free mod for butt hp increase. All the fluids and shining up the paint are good ideas. And any NA on stock suspension is definitely going to need replacement. Good video.
@@yuankaicai9086 These are the tow hitches that protrude from the grill. So, along with ditching the spare tires and jack, and the tow hooks, Goodeggpro is preparing for you to be stranded by the side of the road if you get a flat, or need a tow. Kind of dumb for barely any improvement in handling.
Except for maintenance I would start with: 1. Roll bar 2. Wheels/tires 3. Coilovers 4. Oversized radiator 5. Brake pads After that I would make it nicer with a bucket seat, a shifter rebuild, an aftermarket steering wheel, new suspension bushings and get an aftermarket shift knob. After all that I would start with simple power upgrades like an exhaust, a header and an intake, then I would probably get the head shaved slightly.
@@ericsson_motorsportsyou’d have to be some kind of retarded magician to get a Miata to flip. That said, Delrin door bushings and Flyin’ Miata frame rail braces are worthy and relatively non-invasive additions. Aftermarket shifter and steering wheel are completely unnecessary. And the car already has bucket seats. Not the most aggressive bolstering of course, but where is your body going to shift to in a Miata? The above bracing, sway bars and new shifter bushings are probably the best things you can do for a Miata for the least money.
@@mr.butterworth i agree but when you said "you’d have to be some kind of retarded magician to get a Miata to flip" its just so funny bro lmaooo. i mean i agree its almost ipossible to flip a miata
The first things i bought were hardtop, smoked blinkers and taillights, doing fluid changes and getting new tires. Now i´m going for new wheels and new tires again.
Hey man, when I do long projects on my cars, they're usually full of tools and dirt from not being driven as much. A good cleaning really does feel like a mod sometimes because it completely changes the way it looks lmao
Do Suspension first! I did almost all these mods before suspension and that was a mistake. Putting on the Flyin Miata stage 1 kit was a game changer. I still can't get over how much better the entire car is. I should've done it 2 years ago. Also, a roll bar and nice exhaust could have been in this video as well, while not as dramatic of improvements, it all makes the car more enjoyable!
The very first "mod" I did to my Miata is to RUST PROOF it! Flood every cavity with penetrating oil, chain lube spray, even old engine oil if you're a cheapskate. Heated vaseline/wax mix is best, but anything oily is better than nothing. I used "Fluidfilm", will put "Mike Sanders" grease in next year. Fixing rust is a royal pita, so make sure it doesn't even start.
Actually, it you only go to 14deg BTDC it is ok. If you step up to 18deg BTDC then yes, you need higher octane. With fluid change, don't forget the brake and clutch fluid then replace pads (rotors if necessary). If you don't plan on any suspension mods for a while, get an alignment. Been more than 60k miles since timing belt change? Add that onto the list and if you do it, change water pump as well and probably all hoses/belts.
I completely agree with this list Alex. The only thing I think people didn't mention are the sway bars. Coilovers and sway bars together are an epic combination!
Great vid. Just bought a Miata and now I appreciate even more how previous owners took care of it. Almost all mods you mentioned are already done - hardtop, coilovers, breakes, rx8 gearknob, perfect cleaning, fresh oils, aftermarket radio - but nothing more. Still feels and looks very clean. Now it's my turn! :D
When I first got my miata, the first thing i did was make the car road worthy again, meaning i fixed all the parts that needs to be repaired as quickly as possible like the cooling system, the brakes, suspensions, and parts inside the engine like head gaskets, thermostats, thermostat housings, intake and exhaust manifold. Next is the tires, wheels and tires makes a huge difference especially when you daily drive your miata. Exterior and interior mods are the last pieces i’ve changed.
One thing that I've heard that completely changes the car are frame rails. Some people even recommend doing them before a roll bar if you arent doing autox or HPDEs regularly and need to rollbar to pass tech.
My favorite mods on my '91 have been roll bar, frame rails, and sway bars. I'm running oem spec shocks and springs and this package handles great! This is my daily driver and weekend fun car so I need a setup that can do it all.
My brother talked me into getting a Miata. So I finally got myself a NA Miata from 91 like a week ago. I already like driving it. It feels like it's not been driven a lot/hard in the past (my shifter still feels really tight), but yeah, suspension is litterally the first thing I noticed. My brother installed coilovers in my car a decade ago and I already forgot how much of a difference this makes.
Good videos dude. Any Miata is a good start. Maintenance is always first "mod". Then new tires. Then regular oil and filter changes. Then, storage, daily driving, and finally a mate to help you clean it and praise it for being so wonderful and loved. The rest is just superfluous!
One thing people often forget/neglect but is a great mod is new engine mounts. The rubber on most are usually just as bad/old as the suspension components everyone says to swap out. I'd highly recommend the Innovative mounts, you can lower your engine slightly and get even sharper handling/turn in response. With that a lot of the little body rigidity issues go away imo.
My mod list for a miata Coilovers All round Poly bushing Ball joints Anti sway bars front and rear Tie rod links and bushing Cold air intake with u shaped pipe ARC air chamber (now rare to find goes behind radiator) Bigger throttle body with heavy spring BOSCH super 4 spark plugs 8.5 mm MSD or Magnecor plug leads/wires Headers / free flow cat/ de-resonated pipe exhaust with only racing muffler at the back ( racing beat gives the best tone without droning) Street Comp clutch and lightened flywheel. And a mega squirt ms2 stand-alone ecu For my project mx5/eunos roadster
On my 97 mk 1 , I've put adjustable coil overs on, new rad, head skimmed , all new belts, sensors, relays, water pump ,new elec fan, 4 new wheel discs, calipers, pads, complete copper brake pipes , engine strut , interior strut , white dash dials, wooden steering wheel. Back half stainless steel exhaust. Better headlights and indicators .New battery. Runs great but more to do yet. I need a hard top , a roll bar and my original wheels refurbished. Could do with a respray. Owned for 10 happy driving years 🙂👍.
I just bought a 2000 gen II. The most fun you can have in a car with clothes on. Can not go wrong. Enjoy it. Can not get over how affordable this much fun could be. Bought one and its not you? Thousands of people follow these like a cult. So there is NO problem to resale. Only thing I hear is what mods to do. Hell stock they blow away cars costing 10x what these do. Dont really see a down side to these.
Great video! But i must say that the Miata’s stock shifter knob is actually quite nice, it has a great feel and is weighted as well, stock shifter knob+ short shifter kit= race car feel 👍
Bought a ND 2 years ago. 1. Mod : Upgradet front brakes with 4 pot calipers and steel bradet lines all around. 2. Sound tube delete. 3. Mishimoto Oil catch can. Reverse camera was already in when I bought it. 4. New stiffer springs from Eibach- original Mazda Germany part. Shocks are already Bilstein from factory. I am also OK with the factory tires ( 205/45 R 17 W Bridgestone RE 001 ) NA and NB`s runs best on 195/50-15 Hankook Semi Slick RS3 - 222 from my experience in no speed limit Germany.
Just inherited a 1994 1.8 NA from my mother-in-law last year. Only had 60k original miles and just completed the big maintenance check at the dealership. I still did the trans, diff and gear shift fluid changes with Redline products along with the shifter rebuild kit, and put on new tires. The coolant and brake fluid had already been changed by the dealership. Completed the engine oil change last week when the odo rolled over to 65K. I also did the Delrin door bumper upgrade which noticeably stiffened it up. Will soon be throwing on the Flying Miata rail braces that are waiting in the garage along with some new Moss Miata seat covers and floor mats. Then will be changing the spark plugs and upgrading the wires to Magnecor. Will likely paint the valve cover and polish the intake manifold at the same time. Saving up for the Flying Miata 2.5 suspension kit, roll bars and wheel/tire upgrade to 15". This is fun. It has put my El Camino restoration on hold. I always have a permanent smile plastered on my face when I drive this car, even though it lacks power. I love being able to red line it on every shift and still be in total control. I used to own a 1969 MG Midget years ago and this car brings it all back, but without the engine gremlins.
1 - Rims-Tyres. 2 - 93-94 Octane Petrol. 3 - Locate window washer fluid resovoir to the boot to be friends with the battery. 4 - Drive the snot out of it and have fun, leaving the resale higher because it wasn't modded. 5 - Keep it rust free, clean and waxed.
Only just found your page the other day. On my 4th Miata and they're the best. Your info is educational and entertaining. Look forward to binge watching everything you have . :)
A NA Miata comes with a Momo sport steering wheel as stock. If you have the 3 spoke wheel, get the cap of the center of the wheel out and you got a steering wheel that is awsome.
how do you only have 531 subs?! this video is solid. im only a couple weeks away from owning my first miata and ive been watching all kinds of "first things to do with a miata" videos and this is just as good a video as some of the more established channels. good on ya, you earned my sub!
The first thing I did was replace the stock radiator with and aluminum core radiator. The first cosmetic thing I did was replace the stock headlights with some LED halo lights. And next I plan to put a new stereo in, and then replace the sun visors with some LED cabin lights.
@@rxivild by the time you're 16 and can drive the NB will be just as cheap as the NA's are now. Sadly, by that time people will start to pump up the NA's price because it is already considered a vintage car, thus it will appreciate in value and only the shitboxes with 200k miles or clapped out slammed NA's will be available. Keep in mind the NB has all the charm and characteristics of a NA (minus the poppies :( ) and a more rigid chassis with more power.
From a previous owner, my wish list was straight pipe,13x8 wheels,soft top delete, exhaustintake mod,itbs,spare tire relocate,2 8inch woofer out back. I got most accomplished ,except the itbs. If I had 2 more seats, I would have kept it!!!!
1. Make sure all basic maintenance stuff is up to date 2. Check & Replace any worn bushings, tie-rod ends, bearings, etc 3. Brake pads 4. Wheels & Tires 5. New struts + maybe springs / coilovers 5. Dont bother adding any power until the above is done 😂
Great video. Good stuff. Not a fan of a roll bar in the NA with its lower seat back. Being rear-ended is way more likely than a roll-over and I don't want to whack my skull on solid steel. I would add: sway bar(s) and end links. At least a front upgrade (FM sway bar is great) if not both makes a major improvement to turn-in and cornering with no negative effect on ride quality. It isn't crazy expensive AND is relatively easy to swap. After tires, this is my favorite first performance mod suggestion even for Miatas that are only street driven and have no other suspension mods. (But this does assume that shocks, bump stops, and upper mounts are not worn out.) And right after that, headlamps. It's so nice to see better at night.
Yo wtf!?!? I loved this video so much, looked at the time posted and realized it just came out and somehow ur a small youtuber. Lowkey mad but also glad that I’m here in the beginning. I definitely though u had like a mil sub count already... cause I really love the video style and keep them coming fr.
Great video! I'd die the priorization of mods quite similar. The only thing that should also be mentioned ist the complete replacement of the brake fluid! This might be even some decades in there, aged (and coloured) like Scottish Whisky. Brake calipper overhaul is also a recommended thing to do as a preventive maintenance for a car in its late tventies. Brake pistons often die look pretty nasty under the outer gaiters. Not expensive but you should know what you're doing. Cheers!
my Top 5 every miata mod: 1 - Wheels - Elevates the look, and completes the look 2 - Coilovers - Miata is already so low to the ground; go even lower 3 - Tow strap - you gotta show your car is gooofy ah 4 - Sway Bar - Huge difference to stiffen up the body 5 - Headlights - Nice new set of eyes brings life to the miata, full pop up headlight, or that sleeper miata look everyone loves
Sway bars and links, Delrin door bushings, FM butterfly brace, master cylinder brace, 200 TW tires, FM alignment, shifter rebuild with the Motorcraft fluid, upgraded brakes and, of course, all maintenance items. Nice job, keep 'em coming. Aloha
+1 master cyl. brace. I was skeptical if it would be any help on my NC until I got my mate to stomp on the pedal and saw how much the firewall flexes under heavy braking. It's not the distance so much as all the extra force you need to apply to brake hard when the whole braking assembly is moving away from you
Tribute washer nozzles, cibie or bosch e-code headlights, a good front swaybar (before coilovers), delrin door strikers. These should be some of the first things miata owners do. You can do all of these for $200 and make a much nicer/livable daily driver. Hardtop as a first mod is a terrible idea. It's a convertible. Enjoy it as it's intended to be driven, with the top down. That's a lot of cash for a first mod that can go towards suspension or tires and then decide whether you want a hard top or not. It was the first thing I sold from my 95M (no regrets). Not to mention, in major cities they are stolen pretty regularly. I do agree with the detailing. My first miata, a red 94 was seriously faded. I waited 3 years and detailed it just before selling and the paint looked almost brand new after a solid day with a harbor freight DA polisher.
oh, I forgot one! Cleaning out behind your front fenders, cleaning/expanding your drip holes in the pinch weld, and cleaning out your rear rain rail drains.
Really enjoyed the video! Points were concise, music was quiet enough to hear you talk, good video quality. Glad I found the channel, I’m hoping to get a miata soon myself.
hi alex, just a friendly suggestion to rename the video if you want to be accessible to NEW miata owners! (like myself). I saw this video two months ago and it took forever to find it when I got my NB bc the title wasnt what I thought it was. Just a suggestion! keep up the great work i enjoy all the videos
5x Racing shifter rebuild(brass bushing for long term).. huge difference! Before my 6 speed felt like each gear was a neutral lol another non-performance mod is stereo/speakers especially on tired old Bose system like my 01 had
I'd suggest buying a couple of the cursed water plug caps so you aren't stranded for a while (part # FEA713104) and maybe start looking for an affordable speedometer cable. These are 2 items that will typically go bad. Just did the shifter rebuild, what a difference!
Since I live in Sweden it was kind of hard to get my hands on some paco´s strong arms or anything equivalent. So I ended up welding the front end after Flyinmiatas templates. I couldn´t believe the difference, I was honestly very disappointed of the handling before this since it behaved very very strange mid corners (coils+ns2r). But this got rid of it all, with barely any weight increase and very low cost.
Hey Alex, your Miata is beautiful and your advice and videos are great. I’m hoping to get a Miata soon for myself. Just subscribed. Thanks again for sharing and look forward to more of your content in the future!
Just bought 16X8’s XXR 513 with 0 offset and I ordered BC Racing BR Series Coilovers so I can’t wait. I went to replace my brake pads and my caliper was rusted shut so I couldn’t so I might have to go with what you said about the 1.8L brakes
@Burnouts&Buttstuff today im taking it in to a mazda shop to fix some stuff i couldnt and than im getting a front lip. Theres a lot of stuff i wanna do but its illegal in my country.
How many miles did you say your Miata had on it when you bought it, 200k? Mine has 114k and I am afraid to dump too much money into it because of miles, but maybe I shouldnt be concerned. My list: 1. Frame rails 2. Headlight upgrade 3. Coilovers 4. Sway Bars 5. Clearwater Speakers That's a list based on what I have done so far. The frame rails make it feel so stable at high speeds. I am always driving with the top down and use my Miata as a daily driver so hard top is last on my list. I bought a Miata to have top down versatility. I don't know how you guys live with the hard tops lol.
I want a Miata that i can put like spoilers and different bumpers and stuff on but i have no clue what year I should get or anything i literally have no idea about cars.
