60,000 Mile Maintenance & Cooling Upgrades

60k Maintenance, Cooling Upgrades, New Tires, and Alignment

Tackling a very large job fo rmy as a first time DIY mechanic

Maintence Time

After a fun little drive to the abandoned mill factory, I hit 60k miles on my 23-year-old car. Figured it was time for some maintenance to freshen her up. Unsure of my exact plans for the car yet, I decided to prioritize reliability before any modifications.

Inspired by the latest video from the Miata Dad himself, I followed the guide he provided and purchased all the recommended parts from Treasure Coast Miata for about $550.

I’ll admit, I was nervous about tackling this job. The most I’d ever DIY’d on a car before was my own oil change, and now I’m diving into tasks like the timing belt, new engine seals, and valve cover gaskets. But where better to learn than at my mechanic job, right? Thankfully, my boss allowed me to use a spare garage bay during my lunch breaks and a few hours on Saturdays, free of charge.

disassembling the front of the engine. The process went surprisingly smoothly. Managing the water hoses turned out to be relatively straightforward; I utilized a razor and a spreader tool effectively. Fortunately, I encountered no rust issues to complicate matters. Eventually, I successfully disassembled everything and began the process of replacing parts.

For maintenance purposes, I meticulously replaced several crucial components:

Gates Water Pump
Gates Timing Belt Kit
OEM Water Tubing
Conducted an Oil Change
New Coolant
Fitted a New Harmonic Balancer

Each step required careful attention to detail, but with patience and diligence, I managed to complete the tasks at hand.

Cooling Upgrades

So, to up the cool factor on my Miata’s cooling game, I figured I’d go with the crowd favorite and slap on the SuperMiata Coolant Reroute along with the SuperMiata CFS Radiator. I mean, why not, right? With these bad boys working together, I’m expecting some serious chill vibes under the hood, no matter what kind of heat I throw at it. Just hoping it’ll keep things breezy and smooth, whether I’m cruising down the highway or tearing it up on the track.

New Wheels and Tires!

In addition to doing the 60,000 mile maintenance on the vehicle, I have opted to enhance its performance and aesthetic appeal by installing new rims and tires. Specifically, I have selected the bronze Konig Hexagram 15x8 +25 rims paired with Hankook RS4 225/45/15 tires, a choice informed by extensive research and online recommendations. One aspect that greatly facilitated this upgrade was the opportunity afforded by my old employer to independently mount and balance tires. This experience not only underscored my technical proficiency but also instilled a sense of confidence in managing such automotive enhancements.

DIY Alignment? Not Really

With the need for a well-set-up wheel configuration and the use of sticky tires, I realized the importance of having an alignment that could unleash the full potential of these tires. Thanks to Pat at Gorman Performance Engineering, I now have the best driving experience I’ve ever had. This car feels like it’s glued to the road—it’s absolutely incredible.

Front Left	Front Right
Caster: 6.75°	Caster: 6.75°
Camber: -2.4°	Camber: -2.4°
Toe: 0°	Toe: 0°

Rear Left	Rear Right
Caster: -1.9°	Caster: -1.9°
Toe: .059” Out	Toe: .059” Out