Miata Mailing List: June 1996, Message #64
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   From: "Allman, R., GS-13 28SUPS/LGSA" 
Subject: modifying my '96
   Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 09:32:23 -0400


   Thought I'd share a few things from this weekend:

   First Bosch Platinum plugs were on sale at NAPA for $1.84 each.  Picked 
up a set (#4202) and a #42 thermostat.

   When trying to install the thermostat I found a piece of threaded stock 
with a nut on it in the lower thermostat cover hole instead of a bolt! 
 Since I'm taking the car in for its 3000 mile service friday I'm having the 
dealership remove this crap and install the normal 12mm bolt under warrenty. 
 Really odd that!

   Taking a hint from a recent magazine article, I obtained 20 feet 
@$1.10/ft of Thermo-Tec exhaust/manifold insulation wrap.  Pulled off the 
heat shield from the headers and using a wire wrap tool and some 18 gauge 
safety wire wrapped the headers up.  Had to work around all those annoying 
welded on heat shield fastener recepticles.   I had about 3.5 feet left 
over.  Remounted the heat shield and fired up the engine.  Whew!  Didn't 
expect the wrap to smoke but it did!  After 2 shut down and fireup cycles 
the wrap finally "set" and the smoking stopped.
    After a lengthy run I found the engine compartment noticeably cooler. 
 This had been my prime objective:  further cool the air being sucked into 
my Akimoto Funnel Ram induction.  As a side note, I'd been somewhat annoyed 
by the "tin" sound from my homebrew catback when the engine was cold.  Well 
that noise has not only disappeared, the overall sound of the exhaust has 
shifted fully aft:  fully mellow.   I never realized how much noise I was 
getting from the engine compartment.  The wrap not only cooled things off, 
it's dampened sound  too.
    Bottom line:   Much more effective than fabricating a secondary heat 
shield like that which comes with the K&N Filtercharger to reduce header 
heat for open filter induction systems and it dampens engine compartment 
noise as well.  Highly recommended tweak for the Miata!!!!

               -=[Bob Allman]=-   MCA#58517  '96 Black B+