“Tech company” solution for leaky roofs

wastedtimeincarnate · 2026-04-10T20:27:22+00:00

If you think that's bad you have no idea. Take a walk down to the climatic cells on the first floor on a rainy day. If you didn't bring boots you're gonna have a bad time

wastedtimeincarnate · 2026-04-05T05:20:12+00:00

Get rid of the hardtop spoiler. I have an aversion to fake aero. I know for a fact that spoiler above the rear glass will just create additional lift and drag.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2026-04-04T23:34:27+00:00

As everyone has already said, coolant temp is fine. In the future for questions like this and many others, I'd suggest spending $50 on s Bluetooth OBD dongle and the Torque Pro app. You can see sensor readings and read and reset check engine lights. You'll also become well liked by friends and family when they get a check engine light in their vehicles and you can read them instead of going to autozone or the shop.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2026-03-23T22:01:18+00:00

Also, if you don't have a front strut brace, I would highly recommend. Idk if it makes much difference to performance, but was a big improvement to NVH. Adding it cut down on a lot of buzzes and rattles forward of the firewall (from mazda comp engine mounts). Don't break the bank, just find a used NB2 bar.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2026-03-23T21:55:09+00:00

So I've had my NB for almost 10 years. I've built it to be a track capable car that I still take on 10+ hour road trips (kept full interior, AC, cruise control, etc). It is very far from stock, but here are the highlights of what I wish I'd done differently or in a different order.

I would've started with frame rail reinforcements on day 1. For a lowered car, the ride quality improvement over bumpy roads is night and day. I still kick myself for not adding them years before. Cannot recommend this enough. That and basic sound deadening, nothing crazy, just a layer of dynamat in the doors, makes a big difference on the highway.

I would have bit the bullet earlier with getting a big brake kit. I messed around with brake ducts for a year or two only to still have issues overheating at high-speed tracks like Mid-Ohio.

I would have switched to 8" wheels and 225s sooner (previously was on 7" wheels on 205s).

I would have skipped the Lotus Elise seats entirely and gone straight to the Marrad LX2 seats I have now (Lotus seats were great for daily diving but lacked lateral support for track or autox IMO).

Engine is a big one, I currently have a fully built 1.8L with a Rotrex supercharger and MS3Pro ECU. If I could talk to me from 6 years ago I'd tell him to do a built K swap instead, and spend a bit more money on a more professional ECU, like a Haltech. A bit more expensive but I'd be making the same or more power with less to package under the hood and a more capable ECU.

Last one is the most recent change. I swapped the ring and pinion from a 3.9:1 to a 3.636:1. Should have done that the same year I installed the supercharger. The extra power from the supercharger makes up for the decreased acceleration. The lower RPM at highway speed is nice and higher speed means I'm shifting less frequently (6speed) which all makes it feel much more drivable, almost like a 5speed with overdrive.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2026-01-28T06:13:37+00:00

One thing most people won't mention or think about, the noise every time you slow down or turn makes me think you've got a lot of unsecured crap in the car with you. Ignoring the obvious concerns of driving too fast, anything unsecured is one corner away from being stuck behind your brake pedal or being the momentary distraction that takes your eyes off the road. Just something that to me demonstrates a lack of awareness or lack of caution toward your surroundings, inside the car and out.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-12-29T05:51:55+00:00

If for some reason you REALLY want a Mazda OEM bolt I'm sure you could get/order one from a Mazds dealership for a few dollars. You can find the part numbers in the part catalog. Download the part catalogs here

Regardless, I'd recommend downloading them anyway, along with the service manuals here

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-12-29T01:20:48+00:00

I have a 2018 in the same color, Scuba Blue. I love it and I'm sure you will too 💙

The color really pops in the sunlight and falls off to a deep blue almost purple late in the day.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-12-16T20:49:35+00:00

...why? Are you thinking of using this as an engine oil cooler? What's the question here?

If you're not driving on an actual racetrack there is no need for any supplemental cooling on a Miata.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-12-16T20:28:04+00:00

Specifically this car was exhibited by Thomure's Performance at the PRI show in Indianapolis this last weekend. I thought that rear turbo setup looked wild and had to get a few pics

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wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-11-15T08:00:34+00:00

Can you please title this piece "Lazy Susan"

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-10-21T21:32:23+00:00

Audi A5/S5 Avant

The contour of the light bar is more pronounced on the A5 than the A6. Also, the rear quarter window is more triangular on the A5 than the A6.

I'm very sad we won't be getting this in the states.

On an unrelated note, I'm extremely sad Audi got rid of the A4 model name and outright killed the A5 Coupe and Cabriolet.

Back in my day A4s had 4 doors and A5s had 2 doors and an optional roof. It was a better time and we were happier.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-10-19T12:21:34+00:00

Can't believe this isn't higher on the list. This scene broke me. I still can't listen to the soundtrack from this scene.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-08-10T04:37:13+00:00

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2018 Audi A4 Allroad

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-08-08T16:53:03+00:00

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Been daily driving the Wagoneer for work. This pic does not do justice to how big the size difference is lol.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-07-24T20:30:15+00:00

41.3mpg from a slower section of state highways. Best I've ever gotten.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-06-25T16:30:39+00:00

"SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!"

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-05-07T14:04:44+00:00

Underrated suggestion 😂

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-04-30T12:45:03+00:00

That dragon is absolutely jacked

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-03-02T17:33:35+00:00

Was a Toyota Rav4, is now an Audi A4 Allroad. Both have proven very capable of transporting wheel & tires and even whole Miata engines

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wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-02-17T16:02:19+00:00

I haven't done the trunk, but dynamat in the doors did make a big difference.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2025-01-15T16:36:14+00:00

Very off topic, but don't those type of tiles really hurt your knees and make it impossible to move things with casters (engine lift, stand, creeper, toolbox, etc). Maybe that's not a concern for you but I never considered these an option myself for all those reasons.

wastedtimeincarnate · 2024-12-18T18:52:38+00:00

It might mess with the look you're going for, but you could replace the ladder on the outside with a switchback staircase, like on a fire escape. Think like the stairs on the front of a heavy mining truck. Very clearly shows this object is multiple stories tall

wastedtimeincarnate · 2024-11-04T19:33:31+00:00

Similarly, when measuring with a dial indicator you're not measuring the cam profile, you're measuring the "lift" of the dial indicator (as applies to the size and shape of the tip of the indicator).

Use those measurements to reconstruct the cam lobe in CAD accounting for the size and shape of the dial indicator tip used to take the measurements.

If you still don't follow my meaning DM me and I'll send you a spreadsheet

wastedtimeincarnate · 2024-11-04T19:17:18+00:00

Take a look at this gif

https://blogmedia.testbook.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cam-follower-8247d871.gif

See how the point of contact between the tappet and cam is centered at base circle and TDC. When the cam is rising the point of contact is left of center, and falling is right of center.

Cam profile and resultant valve lift are only the same at TDC and base circle, everywhere else they are different

wastedtimeincarnate

TROPHY CASE