Tom's Mauritius Blog (attempt 2!)

[Tom Messy]

Since the last blog was more or less all mashed by the hack, here we go again!

Standard car, back in March:

Good old reflector!!

De-bumpstripped and mudflaps added

Sub and rear 6.5" speakers installed. Front door speakers replaced to match rear.

Colour coded door handles, mirrors and boot handle

Reflector removed (accidentally!) and mudflaps trimmed!

Stickers removed

Dash centre sprayed Ford Paris Blue, as well as inside door handles and bits in footwells.

Made speaker boxes for rear speakers, which increased sound quality tenfold! Went to the scrappy and stripped carpet off of the rear seats of 2 micras to make them match! There's still space for a pair of 6x9s and 2 amps if needed.

And thats the story so far!

Next job is to convert parcel shelf to stealth shelf!

 

[joesouthgate]

Lookin good mate! You need to put up some pics of the rear de-stickered too

 

[Tom Messy]

MSC stickers on

 

[b47to]

the set up in the boot looks gurd

 

[Tom Messy]

Cheers Took me all day to make those speaker boxes. The only thoughts about it (probably it's positioning) is that when you stand directly behind it with the boot open, the small speakers sound really tinny. If you stand just to one side however it sounds pretty nicely balanced. Is that just the way I've positioned them, as they're kind of aiming up? I put them like that so it sounds better in the car, rather than listening to them with the boot open.

Also, any pointers where to get some cheapish acoustic carpet? Halfords looked fairly expensive, although I'm not shocked.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[b47to]

any more updates pal,come in on really well ! putting any splitters on front or back ?
i think the open mouth grill makes a big difference from the front and looks smart too

 

[Tom Messy]

I have an open mouth grill?? lol

I'll answer some of my own questions... the tinny sound I think was because of the sound bouncing off of the rear window. I put the parcel shelf in and it made a big difference!

Also, found some cheaper acoustic carpet on eBay, 7.30 inc postage for 1.5mx95cm - perfect for my parcel shelf Might need a new shelf though, as it split in a couple of places while I was making holes in it

Tom

 

[squarepants]

that rear reflector looks cool...some some reason i like it! lol

 

[Tom Messy]

My acoustic carpet came today, so now I have a parcel shelf again! I was nervous parking the car in town without a shelf, but all is well now

I've covered the front speaker grills on the inside too.

Tom

 

[joesouthgate]

Done anything else mate? i reckon super s spoiler and open mouth grille next (Y)

 

[Tom Messy]

Not really, apart from covering the rear speakers with some leftover acoustic carpet. Lack of funds really at the moment - trying to start my own business, and not going to have a lot of money until I can get a few customers together.

I think an amp will have to be my next buy, as it is driving me mad at the moment! But after that, it'll be the open mouth I reckon.

Oh and I've removed the rear flaps! Tried to trim one of them a bit more, just to make it slightly more discreet, but messed it up so ripped the other one off as well!

 

[Tom Messy]

With those speaker boxes I have made, would I get a better sound if they were totally enclosed, or is it OK that the underside is open and sitting on the boot floor? At the moment there's just the four sides and the top with the speaker sitting in, bottom is open.

Tom

 

[joesouthgate]

yer you would do mate.

 

[Optispart]

looks quality

 

[Tom Messy]

Minor update, again spending no money!

Ive now made the speaker boxes into actual boxes now instead of just "stands".

Used up some leftover carpet and plywood and made a couple of new panels to make the boot area look a bit neater. IMO it looks a lot tidier and hides me bad upholstering on the speaker boxes! I plan to do the sides at some point, and also make a mount for the amp when I get it. Also want to re-cover the speakerboxes in the acoustic carpet I used for the shelf and panels, so it looks like a solid box, not showing the speaker hole.

(edit: looking at those pictures its a bit wonky on the right! won't take much to straighten that side out. )

Tom

 

[Tom Messy]

Finally I think I've worked out why my speakers were being so temperamental and distorting. I was re-wiring the rear speakers today, and suddenly I was able to put it up to maximum without any distortion! Had a massive adrenaline rush, how sad! lol

Aaaanyway, I think the problem was where I had connected the Nissan rear speaker wiring to my new speakers. I had put both positive and both negative wires together in 2 little connector boxes and then split each of them again to go to the speakers. Now what I've done is run each wire through it's own connector box and to the speakers. If that's an obvious mistake I'm sorry!

You've no idea how much that had been bugging me!!

:grinning:

Tom

 

[Tom Messy]

Straightened it out

 

[Tom Messy]

OK I've managed to nick my mum's wheels at last! lol They're 10mm fatter, and much better quality tyres than I had before, as I went and bought economy. Is nice to have proper Nissan trims too, rather than Halfords

 

[b47to]

boot install look good is that it now for the boot ? you planning on getting any alloys.
n im still going to recommend u the open mouth grill i love it i think it makes the front end look sooo much better

 

[Tom Messy]

Still need to board the sides of the boot, possibly the bottom too, not sure yet. You can count on mods like alloys and grills by may next year when the insurance drops!! LOL. Maybe sooner though, as the insurance went down by £20 per month since im no longer a student.

Tom

 

[Tom Messy]

Had a go at the engine bay today. Not quite finished cleaning it, but nearly there. It was filthy before.

Also started to clean up the rocker cover. I'm fed up of it being all nasty. If I remove it from the car to do, will I need to get a new gasket before I put it back, or can I get away with the one I have already?

I'm also thinking I might remove the rear seats and board out the back of the car. My business I'm starting would require me to be moving fish tanks, wood, rocks and equipment, and so it would be nice to have that extra bit of space. But If I ever need to transport 2 extra people I'd be a bit stuffed really :S. Also there's how to hide the sub etc..

Tom

 

[pjg1979]

Loving what you've done with the car, Engine bay wow wee that's clean I have been put to shame, lol.

The boot install is looking good, I don't plan to do anything like that to mine just yet as I'm starting from the front and working my way back.

Ah yeah, great mud flaps, I was thinking of getting a pair, makes the micra look rallylike.

Top Job there matey! ! !

 

[joesouthgate]

get the windows tinted then you wouldnt have to worry about your sub or anything valuable you take. and having no back seats is handy as you dont get treated as a taxi service!

 

[squarepants]

nah you dont need to replace the rocker gasket..its advised you do everytime you take the cover off, but its not needed unless the old one is snapped or leaks already.

 

[Tom Messy]

Thanks for the replys.

The tints are a good idea. I have a guy who is willing to make me some graphics for my business (logo etc) so that would look good on tinted rear side windows. And then I can remove the seats and board one side up for carrying fish tanks, and the other side for the equipment, wood and rocks. Would have to be fairly smart mind you, none of this plumber's van appearance!

I'll have to take the rocker cover off when I get back from Spain (week tues) and finish the job

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Nis]

My Rock Cover has been off 1001 times as you can imagine lolol!! and I have never replaced the gasket, the oil there is no pressured, only splash so as long as there are no nicks I would keep the old one. Just Remeber to check round the gasket after a week's worth of driving to make sure its not weaping.

James.

 

[Tom Messy]

Cheers for the confirmation Nis

 

[Tom Messy]

I haven't done any more to the rocker cover yet - I'm scared to at the moment 'cause I need the car running and if it needs a new gasket I'm stuffed. :glance:

This isn't really an update, just another picture of the car as it stands at the moment. I have sprayed a few more bits inside though, but don't have pictures as yet

I start my new job on Saturday in an Aquatics shop to back up my business I'm setting up (I did fish at college) so it should soon be time to start up some half-decent mods. On the list of things to do is an open-mouth (hopefully Xmas-time), Lowering 35mm, Wheel spacers, Splitters, Removing rear seats, Tints (to hide audio and aquarium equipment), false floor (to stand aquariums on while transporting), and possibly my business logo on the rear side windows.

I'd like silver bumpers too, but don't feel confident enough to do it myself yet

That's plenty to keep me busy and skint for a few years

Tom

 

[Tom Messy]

Bought some 10mm spacers today, and just fitted them on the rear wheels.

Before:

After: (on other side obviously)

I know this isn't a very good picture, but it's only my phone!

One question I have though is are these safe if the knuts are like this:

They have plenty of grip on the threads, but they look a bit short to me now. Any thoughts? Also, are these MOT-safe?

Cheers,

Tom

 

[frank]

tom

10mm is too risky (5mm max) imo, and extended stud,s are needed

 

[Tom Messy]

Damn lol. OK thanks. Anyone want to swap some 10mm for some 5mm? fwn

New Side Repeaters today as well Only just cover the old hole though. I might put a line of clear silicone around the edge of them at some point just to seal them better and hide the edges of the hole.

Tom

 

[Optispart]

looks great i did the same thing! with the repeaters

 

[Tom Messy]

Thanks Optispart.

I've removed the spacers now. I took it for a test drive down the road with them on and the brakes sounded funny for some reason. May well just sell them on eBay if I don't swap for 5mm's.

Got some -35mm springs coming next week, but I might have to wait a month before I can fit them due to extra insurance costs. I highly doubt I will be able to wait that long though!

Should be getting an open mouth around Christmas time too or just after And I will start working on spraying my steelies black and chrome like Robb has done.

Tom

 

[Tom Messy]

Got my new/old springs off Robert this morning, so will probably have a go on my day off (Saturday). Need to get some compressors off my uncle first though.

Tom

 

[b47to]

rear 1s are easy

front seem quiet hard plz let me knw how you go on with them .

 

[Tom Messy]

I tried to fit the springs this morning but haven't yet managed to shift the bolts that seem to have molded themselves to the various bits they are bolting together.

So instead, taking inspiration from moddedmicra, I added some new washer jets to the front grill Bit of fun anyways

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/messy_da_legend/?action=view&current=jets_0001.flv

Tom

 

[joesouthgate]

lol, they're good fun aint they!

 

[Tom Messy]

Yes they are!

How did you do yours? New water container and motors or just used the existing ones?

I bought a new water container and the two motors but can't find a suitable place to mount it yet.

Tom

 

[joesouthgate]

i just used the washer motor for the rear, check your current washer bottle cause on some they used 1 motor that went 1 way for front and 1 way for the back so you can just fit a motor in the blank.

 

[Tom Messy]

Ooh I didn't know that. I just assumed I had 2 as thats like the one I got from scrap today. Will have to check that. If there are 2 I will switch it so I am using the rear one for the new jets as that would make more sense as I can still use the old front jets on the window!

 

[joesouthgate]

mhmm, NeX has some on his, he jsut fitted a rear pump from a different model.

 

[Tom Messy]

Removed the rear wiper this evening. I bought a set of grommets, all of which were too small. I've just reversed the standard rubber seal and put a smaller grommet in there for now, but will get a bigger one and colour code it on saturday or monday.

Sorry about the picture, it was dark!

Tom

 

[curtis]

Cars looking good mate (Y)

 

[joesouthgate]

Means you can use the rear wiper motor for the front washer jets

 

[mullet]

so does anyone know much about the mauritius like whats the deal i thought it onley came in the greenish colour like mines

 

[Tom Messy]

You never seem to see any Mauritiuses do you? Well at least I don't. I've only ever seen one other on the roads, and it didn't have the big reflector that mine had at the time.

Tom

 

[Scouse boy]

haha i know what you mean, my first car was a green mauritius and it was a brilliant car. Never seen a grey one though. Kind of like it's uniqueness. good work mate!!

 

[mullet]

i just passed my driving test yesterday (Y) and bought mines off my sister
and it has a cowprint interior
its a diffrent colour and i think it only relly suits the micra as i tryed to paint some things the same colour ant it looked like crap and it wasnt just from my rattle can skills

 

[Tom Messy]

Right I've put the new springs on. Really wasn't all that hard, the worst bit is getting the old bolts undone that have 13 years of rust sealing them together!

Not noticed a massive difference visually, but they seem a bit stiffer when driving.

Also, the side I did first is maybe 1cm lower than the later side. Is that just the springs adjusting? I've heard they take time to settle, but wondered if it was still the same with second hand springs?

I've also switched the water squirter to work off the rear jet as it won't be needed now, and now just need to re-plumb the front ones in so I can have a clean window again

May get pics up later and see if I can see how much it's dropped from an earlier pic. Should have done a before and after really.

Tom

 

[frank]

looking good tom , it just needs spacers on the back now