Mazda3 Hatch Activites (SOLD)

[Orange 94]

Not sure if anyone will be interested, but I'm going to make a little build thread for my mazda3.

The mazda is going to be done on a little budget. Its just my daily and I'm going to school so I'm just playing around with cheap mods.

2004 Mazda 3 S Hatchback
Lava Orange, 2.3L I4, 18" Montegi Rims

1. Headlight Restoration

I used the Meguiar's Heavy duty headlight restoration kit. I think it was about $37. Definitely worth it! Great kit, super easy to use!
Comes with 1000grit and 3000 grit pads and a little sander grip. Also comes with a headlight polish, UV protecant, polishing wheel and a polishing cloth. Great directions in box! All you need is water and a drill (preferably a cord drill)

Here are the results, could do another round to make perfect.

2. Replaced Air filter

Bought a K&N drop in filter. Don't think I'll get a cold air, or anytime soon. Since I was replacing the filter I thought I'd spend the little extra and get a good reusable filter!

More to come!

 

[Javi]

Very nice..
Wax it and polish it, it should POP!

Also needs moar..MZR I4 swap :tongue:

 

[Orange 94]

3. Rims Restoration

Started working on the rims. Previous owner didn't take good care of them...

So I'm taking the clear coat off! I'm using lacquer thinner and a scrubbing pad. I think the black is powered coated so it's not coming off So far its working great on the lip! This is one rim almost done!

 

[MustangChris]

sweet man! LOVE IT! that color is really intense. ... really gets it goin'

 

[the5.ohh]

I'm definitely watching this thread. Cool car you picked up dude. The headlights look brand new, the rim looks a million times better to lol. The K&N drop in is a good filter, that's all my familys been using in all of our cars, except when I got a cai lol. Ever think about plasti dipping the black part of the wheels blaze orange?

 

[Orange 94]

I'm definitely watching this thread. Cool car you picked up dude. The headlights look brand new, the rim looks a million times better to lol. The K&N drop in is a good filter, that's all my familys been using in all of our cars, except when I got a cai lol. Ever think about plasti dipping the black part of the wheels blaze orange?

Actually picking up some plastic dip tonight! That's what I'm planning on playing around with on the car.

The first plans are to black out the emblems and put the clear on the rims.

Maybe black out the roof?


But now you have me thinking about blaze orange on the rims.
Can someone PS blaze orange, blaze blue and white on the rims? [MENTION=17070]Tony[/MENTION] ?

 

[the5.ohh]

Actually picking up some plastic dip tonight! That's what I'm planning on playing around with on the car.

The first plans are to black out the emblems and put the clear on the rims.

Maybe black out the roof?


But now you have me thinking about blaze orange on the rims.
Can someone PS blaze orange, blaze blue and white on the rims? Tony ?

That's cool dude. There's a lot you could mess with on that car to plasti dip lol

 

[Tony]

Actually picking up some plastic dip tonight! That's what I'm planning on playing around with on the car.

The first plans are to black out the emblems and put the clear on the rims.

Maybe black out the roof?


But now you have me thinking about blaze orange on the rims.
Can someone PS blaze orange, blaze blue and white on the rims? Tony ?

lol, heh? whos rims.

 

[Tony]

nvmn....lol. you wanna do one of all 3?

 

[Orange 94]

nvmn....lol. you wanna do one of all 3?

one of each if you have time.

pretty sure I'll keep them black since everything like the stock headlight and taillights are already black.

 

[chris91]

Do the lips of the wheels the same color as the car.

 

[Tony]

one of each if you have time.

pretty sure I'll keep them black since everything like the stock headlight and taillights are already black.

eeehhh, just leave 'em black. looks great how ya did the lip. kudo's young fella

 

[the5.ohh]

Orange look at this video. Damn this orange is hot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR14...ew-vl&list=PL8Cnc6kMnQhPob341Elr4kW2N9rtq3UfF

 

[Orange 94]

Orange look at this video. Damn this orange is hot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR14...ew-vl&list=PL8Cnc6kMnQhPob341Elr4kW2N9rtq3UfF

If I had a white or even maybe black or grey I'd forsure do it. But I dont think it will look good on my car

 

[the5.ohh]

Yeah your right, just thought that orange plasti dip almost matches your Stang lol

 

[Orange 94]

4. Plasti Dip Emblems

So apparently plasti dip is stupid expensive in canada... not going to buy much more for $25 a can. So I'll do some searching for a better price if I want to buy some more.


Anyways I did the emblems black.

This stuff is great! Super easy to use.
1. mask off a small area. I created I small box around the emblems. It works better to completely spray in a small area so you can peel off the excess.
2. Light coat. Wait 15-30 mins
3. I did 2 heaver coats with 15-30 mins in between
4. Peel off the excess

I did the front emblem late last night. Didn't turn out the way I wanted. So I peeled it off and started again

Here's the back!

 

[Orange 94]

Front Grill

 

[sleepn_sn95]

The emblems look great! Its always fun to mess around with plastidip. If you decide to do the roof with cans watch out for striping. I tried doing my roof once and couldnt get it to lay on flat without stripes in the paint

 

[Orange 94]

The emblems look great! Its always fun to mess around with plastidip. If you decide to do the roof with cans watch out for striping. I tried doing my roof once and couldnt get it to lay on flat without stripes in the paint

Thanks!

I'm not sure if I'll do the roof. I'll at least try to do a bigger surface than an emblem before trying the roof. Just not sure what to do... haha

 

[MustangChris]

that plasti-dip turned out great.



and i cant get over how much better the wheels look.


how long until we get a side-by-side shot with the pony?