This page lists all of my past, present, and future projects that are covered on this blog.

Current Projects

These are projects that I am currently working on.

NB Miata project

• My first twelve months of ownership
• Engine out work (rear main seal, coolant reroute, and more)
• Suspension refresh (coilovers, bushings, and more)
• CANchecked multifunction LCD gauges
• Future plans after first six months of ownership
• Experiences during first six months of ownership
• Problems during first six months of ownership
• Cosmetic modifications during first six months of ownership
• Performance modifications during first six months of ownership
• Purchasing a Mazda Miata

Past Projects

These are projects that I am no longer actively working on.

3rd gen Honda Accord project

• Ten months with a 3rd generation Honda Accord

PlayStation 1

• Ultimate PlayStation 1 mod guide
• SCPH-7501 PlayStation 1
  • Posts:
    1. Teardown guide (coming soon)
    2. Fixing disc drive by replacing the disc spindle hub holder (coming soon)
    3. MM3 modchip installation
       • This post covers the installation of an MM3 modchip on my PS1. The modchip allows the console to play game backups from any region.
• SCPH-101 PSone
  • My goal with this project is to mod my PSone and its LCD to support more video input and output ports.
  • Posts:
    1. Introduction
       • This post introduces the project.
    2. MM3 modchip installation (PM-41)
       • This post covers the installation of an MM3 modchip on my PSone. The modchip allows the console to play game backups from any region.
    3. Teardown guide
       • This post covers the complete disassembly of my PSone console.
    4. MM3 modchip installation (PM-41 (2))
       • This post covers the installation of an MM3 modchip onto the PM-41 (2) version of the PSone. I also used a PIC12F629 chip which is different from the other MM3 modchip installation post.

PlayStation 2

• Ultimate PlayStation 2 mod guide
• SCPH-39001 PlayStation 2
  • Posts:
    1. Introduction
       • This post introduces the project.
    2. Modbo 5.0 modchip installation
       • This post covers the installation of a Modbo 5.0 modchip on my PS2 fat. The modchip allows the console to play game backups from any region, as well as homebrew applications.
    3. Noctua 60mm fan replacement
       • This post covers upgrading the stock fan inside of my PS2 to a much quieter Noctua NF-A6 60mm computer fan.
    4. Adding an HDMI port to the PS2
       • This post covers adding an HDMI port to the PS2 using an internally mounted component to HDMI converter.
• SCPH-70012 PlayStation 2 Slim
  • Posts:
    1. Teardown guide
       • This post covers the complete disassembly of my SCPH-70012 PS2 slim console.
    2. Modbo 4.0 modchip installation
       • This post covers the installation of a Modbo 4.0 modchip on my PS2 slim. The modchip allows the console to play game backups from any region, as well as homebrew applications.

PlayStation 3

• CECHA01 PlayStation 3
  • My goal with this project is to take an old PS3 that I bought on eBay, restore it, and mod it to run better and have more functionality than a stock console.
  • Posts:
    1. Introduction
       • This post introduces the project.
    2. Delidding, Cell CPU and RSX GPU IHS removal
       • This post covers removing the IHS from the Cell CPU and the RSX GPU. My goal was to make my console run cooler and quieter.
    3. External PC power supply mod
       • This post covers removing the internal power supply inside of the PS3, and replacing it with an external ATX computer power supply. This makes the system run much cooler and quieter.
    4. Custom firmware installation
       • This post covers installing custom firmware onto my PS3 using a Teensy and a NAND clip.
• CECH-2001A PlayStation 3 Slim
  • Posts:
    1. Custom firmware installation
       • This post covers installing custom firmware onto the CECH-2001A using a Teensy 2.0++ and a program called NORway.
• CECH-2101A PlayStation 3 Slim
  • Posts:
    1. Custom firmware installation
       • This post covers installing custom firmware onto my PS3 using a Teensy and the alternate soldering points.

Original Xbox

• Original Xbox revision 1.3
  • My goal with this project is to mod my original Xbox to be a more modern console.
  • Posts:
    1. Introduction
       • This post introduces the project.
    2. Adding an HDMI port to the original Xbox
       • This post covers adding an HDMI port to the Xbox using an internally mounted component to HDMI converter.
    3. TSOP flashing guide
       • This post covers how to hardmod an Xbox by flashing the TSOP BIOS chip with a custom BIOS.
    4. 80mm Noctua fan upgrade
       • This post covers upgrading the stock fan inside of my original Xbox to a much quieter Noctua 80mm computer fan.

Xbox 360

• Xenon Xbox 360
  • My goal with this project is to take an old Xbox 360 that I bought on eBay, restore it, and mod it to run better and have more functionality than a stock console.
  • Posts:
    1. Introduction
       • This post introduces the project.
    2. DVD firmware key extraction
       • This post covers extracting the DVD drive firmware, and key, from an Xbox 360 using Jungle Flasher. I extract the firmware using household items that I already owned instead of buying an expensive flashing device.
    3. Heatsink options, cooling upgrades
       • This post covers the heatsinks that the fat Xbox 360 consoles shipped with, and how they compare. I discuss upgrading both the CPU and GPU heatsinks to the best revisions to improve system temperatures and noise.
    4. Installing a PC heatsink
       • This post covers replacing the stock Xbox 360 heatsink with a PC heatsink. I used the stock Xenon heatsink’s copper base along with thermal adhesive and a Cooler Master Hyper TX3. Temperatures and noise levels improve significantly.
• Trinity Xbox 360 S
  • Posts:
    1. Trinity RGH mod
       • This post covers modding a Trinity console to be an RGH2 console to run homebrew, emulators, game backups, and more. I use an LPT port and an X360Ace.
• Corona v5 Xbox 360 E
  • Posts:
    1. Teardown guide
       • This post covers the complete disassembly of the Xbox 360 E console.

Xbox One

• 1540 Xbox One
  • My goal with this project is to keep my Xbox One well maintained. I may eventually go into more complicated mods, but for now I’m planning on doing things like replacing thermal paste, and fixing any other problems as they happen.
  • Posts:
    1. Introduction
       • This post introduces the project.
    2. Controller bumper button repair
       • This post covers fixing a faulty Xbox One bumper button that isn’t registering every press. I fixed it by replacing the button switches inside the controller.

Weather Station

• Weather station
  • I don’t have any posts written about this project yet.

These are projects that I have worked on in the past.

• ZL Studios blog
  • I ran a blog called ZL Studios from 2008 to 2013. It contained consumer electronics news and reviews, and tutorials.

Future Projects

These are projects that I am planning to start working on in the future.

• Transistor computer
  • I want to build a basic computer out of transistors, or maybe basic logic gates to save time. The goal is to have something that is expandable so that I could build an OS on top of it, video output, and maybe even networking support.
• Other console projects
  • I want to mod other consoles.