Hi, my name is Todor and i live in Bulgaria.It's almost 2 years as i've bought my Mazda 323F BA and i love it!Finally i can post pics and show it to all of you.I am thinking of mods all the time mostly stylish and things that come in handy.I thought for performance mods but one at a time because they cost allot.. also it's 1.5 (stumbled horse) :):):)
Here is the car the day i bought it here in BG from a dealer of 2-nd hand cars..
It comes from Italy so it's rust free, that was the first thing that's i was looking for:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/jpwZXQX.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/Mu4ILU5.jpg[/img]

Everybody says that Italian cars are abused,poor maintained, and scraped all around, but mine seems to be in good condition (besides the scratches)..
Bought it for approximately 800GBP so someone can say that i'm crazy to spend such money but it was the best option of all..
Also i wanted one that's dark-blue but silver is not bad at all..Only thing was that the AC wasn't blowing cold (maybe needing freon because it was working properly)

It wasn't long enough that i started to update the car with things that make it more stand out from others "F" here..

First was Reverse light from Uk model so now are 2 white at the back:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/c6EHdlE.jpg[/img]

After that made some interior stuff:
Changed all interior back lights with LED-s,made custom window control unit back light also in green,made back light for the green plastic lighter socket,changed the radio panel back light toо..

[img]http://i.imgur.com/QyM3HRA.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/EXAEvxV.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/3AkMxrl.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/XbAkSgs.jpg[/img]

Gave the front calipers good rub with steel brush and 3 hand of red spray paint,also done the same with the drums at the back:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/eiEmnag.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/HWUAL7O.jpg[/img]

Drove it for 4-5monts on petrol fuel, but with my paycheck it was mission impossible.. so i've put LPG injection for more economy and utility.The lpg "loading plug" is under the fuel top cover so no holes in bumper as i hate them.. it looks ugly with one so i decided not to drill the rear bumper..
I've managed to put the button inside the empty socket by cutting with knife the hull of the cover.. it's nice.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/GDpQxlP.jpg[/img]

After that i changed the turn signals in fenders with white ones that i find cheaper than hell here in a local store.. just under 5 pounds :):) Much better now!

[img]http://i.imgur.com/OStS2qK.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/11nKDmw.jpg[/img]

Then bought cheap broken headlights and start my project for angel eyes (daylights) I had to drive the car while i was making them.Also made devil ones but they didn't last long :S

[img]http://i.imgur.com/SOW1WaU.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/fXejX7A.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/vuwKFEJ.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/9vGg8Sh.jpg[/img]

Bought some alloys for summer "shoes" as i bought the car with winter tires..

[img]http://i.imgur.com/TZ6H2VE.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/KAFElaQ.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/LeCdrN0.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/H1B5jjX.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/R1J9lWC.jpg[/img]

It was very difficult to find these Wolfrace 15" in good condition here in BG as our roads are not so good..



After that made something that makes me smile every time i get in the car at night:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/pYOZl31.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/YWnAAhj.jpg[/img]

I cut every one of the diodes from old LED strip and soldered them to soldering board plate to made the shape of the new Mazda logo

Also made the doors light on the ground when opened (led-s again)

[img]http://i.imgur.com/NqrDmVk.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/vZIbOCi.jpg[/img]

I made a short shifter from my stock lever by
cutting it with 2-3 centimeters at the top tread and made it longer at the bottom with my poor welding skills and one piece of steel tube..It was surprisingly strong structure
sorry no pics because i made it for less than 20mins and didn't think of capturing it.

Then made some adjustments consulting some people from Bulgarian Mazda forum: adj.tps-sensor,cleaned maf,cleaned injectors one by one on hand,changed oil,all filters including pollution filter,removed air "snorkel" from intake,got new iridium plugs,new cables,new breather filter for oil vapors,changed the old hose(that was cracked) with one from a ford(i'll have to check for the model)bit of cutting but it was perfect! Then put a bass reflector for sub woofer in the bumper at left (saw this in here from other members)so the air can go freely through..

[img]http://i.imgur.com/wq3KEWP.jpg[/img]

After that i bought some lowering springs from 1.8 BA but the was REALLY too soft and the handling of the car was poorer and i was scraping at every small bump or hole so i've put my stock ones back..
here's comparison of the front springs:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/NrGrIKf.jpg[/img]

So now i'm making another mod this time for the turn signals in the bumper: removing the orange plastic ugly thing and reflector too and put orange bulb in.Also made one small ring from LED-s like the ones i used for the daylights and put it in the gauge place.. i already made the one side but time forced me to delay the other side:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/wu0h2kD.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/33pDZ1a.jpg[/img]

Made the glove compartment back light with one button for door and led strip.It's really good and handy to have light at night..

[img]http://i.imgur.com/LL5oDnI.jpg[/img]

This is for now, i'll look to update when possible..

Good work matey She looks quite tidy! I'm liking the Mazda logo inside the roof light!

Looking good there Todor, some good work done, and like Hughie says, good base to start from and excellent few mods too.

Little up, after repairing the exhaust from the crack, realized that my old O2 sensor is working just fine..
So i've attached O2 sensor gauge to the new sensor and put it just in front of
the ashtray (as i'm nonsmoker) It's digital with numbers instead of scale with arrow..
As i've read allot for O2 sensors i know just from the numbers when is lean or rich..
It's just ordinary V-meter.Here's a picture of it:
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And today finally had time to replace the catalytic convertor with resonance silencer as it was partly clogged from the lpg system..
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Sorry for the quality of the pictures, it's just my phone..
That's for now..
Waiting for new items.Will upload pics when i get them

Oh, yeah i forgot to show you what present i got from my girlfriend:
One numberplate with our digits on it! YAY

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And if you ask why they are two, it's just because we "share the car from time to time and she has her own set of keys and i have mine..
But when i got home to receive my present i had one for her too..
The same thing actually
I saw this thing in the internet and order it for her, she saw it too and order it for me..
What a coincidence huh?
My GF is my
So now we have front and rear "spare numberplates..

I bro... I like some of things you do... keep good work

CSR

Meanwhile:
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Hmm... Do you like my lamp?

U have O2 sensor? Where and how ? you put there nice lights mate . Nice.

Yes i have O2 sensor and it's working properly, why do you ask?
I'm continuing the project for the turn signals but there is more work on them..
In other news:
New CAI mounted, loving the sound,and proving that it does make difference in acceleration combined with the FPR.. now i'm tweaking with them options..
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more to come..

Great looking mods Todor, loving the attention to detail with the LEDs

How did you manage the clear sections in the side lights?

I've finally sprayed the eyebrows with silver spraypaint and put them on the F..
Looking quite good actually..
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I wasn't sure how will it look with them so that's the main reason for not putting them on.
I have them from 1 year and just now i realise that i shouldn't think that much..
When i collect all the adds for the car (finger crossed) then it will go for full respraying
That's for now..

Little up:
Found one remus exaust muffler here and buy it for my F.. Was pretty exited for it because it was with moved 2-nd exaust end at the right.
Had a little rust problems as the previous owner had not welded stainless steel tube but normal "rusty" steel
I had to cut it all and weld stainless before i mount it on..
[img]http://i.imgur.com/z0nnyL6.jpg[/img]

And pic on the car:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/JfQREFu.jpg[/img]

Found one cheap front strut brace from mx-3 and played a little bit with it so it fits the 2 bolts on the strut top mounts and didn't touch the intake manifold.. trying to figure out the third bolt..
[img]http://i.imgur.com/7oXvNvt.jpg[/img]

Finally had time and motivation to put some stickers i got from [color=#FF0000]smurf182[/color] (Thanks man!)
[img]http://i.imgur.com/mZJSKy0.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/b3wsuhB.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/74QGgla.jpg[/img]

Changed some bots on the cam cover with new jdm pasword ones with alu washers and on some places on the engine bay.. details,details..
[img]http://i.imgur.com/rrsNgy0.jpg[/img]

And this is my new desktop background
[img]http://i.imgur.com/Jz4VNlx.jpg[/img]

Cheers to all!

That is looking fabulous, especially the wheels. I'm strictly not modifying my BA, but you're giving me some very tempting ideas!

(Everyone please keep reminding me that the classic car world will need unmodded Fs in a few years, or I might start on the slippery slope... !!)

S

My desktop background says: "[color=#FF0000]Come to the Dark side of modding Serena, This is your destiny[/color].."
But i agree that it must have stock ones rolling on the road..

[quote="maZZda"]My desktop background says: "[color=#FF0000]Come to the Dark side of modding Serena, This is your destiny[/color].." [/quote]

Eeep!



S

Keep it stock, keep it stock, keep it stock once you start, there is no coming back you can only go deeper and deeper

True^^

News feed:
Yesterday i finally made the camber infront and honestly, i'm terrified by the way it affects the handling.. moust of it caused by displaced toe in/out, but it's sorted now..
Here's a picture of the new hub(s) with new bearings and studs fitted and 2 others with all parts fitted and ready to test:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/ivDxKqu.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/GwqO3qW.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/LwBsnYe.jpg[/img]

And then this:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/WaqtTlp.jpg[/img]

to this:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/kIb48JW.jpg[/img]

That's for now..
as they say: "Stay tuned.."

Small update,
fitted 4 new summer tyre 195/50 15" Sportiva Super Z+..

[img]http://i.imgur.com/E3H438b.jpg[/img]

sorry for the bad pic.. it all hapened too fast for me to capture the tyres.. the guys were done for 8 mins with all the wheels
See what our bad roads do to old tyres:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/MhibcFp.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/gtTcm6m.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/g3mg6Uq.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/9diS6RH.jpg[/img]

When the guys take them off i was like: WHAAAT the F...??
After that i fit the alu wheel nuts D1 to check how they tighten in the studs and the rim.. i used lithium grease on tread and cone so they stay in good condition for longer.. now is testing time..

[img]http://i.imgur.com/2z3E8KU.jpg[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/mURW7zH.jpg[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/Mjg56DD.jpg[/img]
Tomorrow will exercise my argon welding skills for the throtlle body breakthrough i made with my fine rasp,so it fits the Z5 intake manifold..
Will post pics later..

New throtlle body installed..
[img]http://i.imgur.com/AWuZt6x.jpg[/img]

Now from 700rpm/min to 5700rpm/min goes faster than a snail
Also had, one of those switches that are meant to tell the Ecu when the throtlle is closed..
One of my friend sayed that i can use it to light up large size decal at the back window saying:
"Boosted up".. other sugestion was to say the all known catchword of Spongebob: "Floor it?"
that made me laugh a bit ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-v51CQXx2Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQs-icHiYhQ -

Glaad to report that are 2 monts now and yesterday actually i dismounted the alu nuts from the wheels and there isn't any sight of worn or damage on them!

[img]http://i.imgur.com/bl280Jk.jpg[/img]

Now with winter tyres and without spacers the car feels like a jelly... and the cornering is not the same

Long time i didn't wrote anything here..
after all the freezing snow and 2 days of fast melting, today is 16C degrees
i've finally had opportunity to change the old rear hub/bearings and put in some new shiny ones
Got them out, and new in for less than a half hour.It's so easy to work when everything is shiny and there's no rust..
pics:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/Mhuy7uB.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/QwqDcUg.jpg[/img]

New addition to the engine bay,
Homemade catch can with chamber for water separation:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/ixqFSWt.jpg[/img]
Now the engine bay look like this:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/8vMGCwF.jpg[/img]
I had little time with the rear hubs and my fathers car on wich we changed the starter with new one and didn't had time to clean the engine bay..

Today i fitted a vaccum gauge so to see what's going on with the engine breathing..
I haven't decided if i like it or not and where will i fit it.Maybe i will remove it after i'm done with my test research...
Pics maybe tommorow, it's dark outside..

Neat catch can. What did you make it out of?

The aluminium is body from a old security camera.
The plastic underneath is a water/moisture absorber for compressors.
I made extender for the core of the absorber so it goes all the way up in the can.
For filter i used dishwashing steel 'sponge' (don't know the word).
It all cost me less that 10lv.. I'm happy with the results.
It collects all the oil that is vaporised inside the engine..

Neat, I've got a random one for my RX-8, but I'm struggling to find a neat place to put it in the engine bay, so was contemplating making a smaller one to fit. That's one of the better DIY ones I've seen

I'm glaad you like it.
Here's 2 pics of the vacuum gauge:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/GZRtld1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/J3rR4Ii.jpg[/img]

Bad pictures i know, that's my phone.. i really need a new one..
The funny thing is, when i order it, i order gauge with backlight in one colour - green only.
When i receive it i saw the little button on it but i thought it was just for turnin the backlight on and off.Well i was wrong it is for changing the colours..
I was surprised because when we talk with the dealer he said that there are 2 versions, with one colour and with multiple colours and the prices was 26lv versus 44lv.I said that i want the one in green only and they said ok.
I spoke with the dealer when i was preparing to put it on the car(then i was able to test it),and told them it was with multiple colours instead of one.
I ask them if that is a problem(for them actually),and that i can send it back but they said that i can take it as a gift, because the sending again and resending will cost more than the difference.
It was their mistake and to comfort me they said that i can keep it althou it's the expensive one..
What a nice people.So now i can make a mini disco dance inside the car with all the colours
It has: green,blue,aqua,red,yellow,purplle,pink,white..

Today was verry barren day for me..
and while lurking arround,one of my friends called me and befor i know it we were at a shop buying Hids for his car..
Then we saw a little pistons and cilynders for lawnmowers and he bought me 2...
So i present to you the "project for shifter knob" (well, the bigger one)

[img]http://i.imgur.com/cDBQhLH.jpg[/img]

I have to go to my turner,miller guy workshop who will make it fit..

Hi,guys..
nothing big to report..
i'm waiting my new shifter knob to be ready so i can stick it in the car
and i'm waiting my 2 flanges for my rear strut brace from the laser cutting guys (i bought front strut brace for VW golf 4) so to be able to fit it at the back of my F... they have to call me tomorrow so i can collect them.. will post pictures later..
The engine didnt like oil any more and it spill it from any possible place it could..
This summer will need some attention to the compression rings...