My "new" Miata [Archive]

aMaff

11-11-2006, 01:02 AM

Yes, Miata, not MX-5 damn it! Picked up a 1992 Black & Tan last night :) I'm planning on building her for STS2. I'm going to start with a "good" suspension, wheels and tires to get used to the car, and to attempt to tighten that stupid nut behind the wheel. I have to work a few little, miata bugs out. Haven't found anything major, just the usual idle droop, dead cat rattle, and a couple other minor things. After that, race seats / harnesses / roll bar, followed by engine stuff when money allows. That should hold me for a season or 2. After that (and hopefully a promotion or 2 lol) I'll be able to go full out on the suspension. After that? Who knows, maybe drivetrain swap w/ a 1.8 w/ mazdaspeed diff and go to CSP / SM. Either way, this is going to be a LONG term project. Should be fun tho :D

UPDATE:
Parts List Added. I don't have everything there yet, but all of that should be on the car by next season. I'm abt to place the order w/ Good Win here in a bit. Only place I could find good prices on everything I needed.

iLisa

11-11-2006, 01:48 AM

Yay!! Glad you finally got one!! Have fun with it! :D

MiaTurbo

11-11-2006, 09:08 AM

yay! welcome to the club. the cool club

GordonJ

11-11-2006, 09:20 AM

Very nice. Don't see many black miatas around much anymore...

nate0123

11-11-2006, 11:36 AM

congrats (2thumbs)

Prodigy

11-11-2006, 11:47 AM

Nice Andrew!

I knew I should've bought a miata instead of the Quaife... heh.

crazyGJ

11-11-2006, 01:11 PM

(cool) Nice!!!

SilverBulletES

11-13-2006, 12:26 PM

Sweet yo!

lagunamiata

11-13-2006, 02:44 PM

'92 black & tan is a pretty rare car... congrats!

Canecreekfreak

11-13-2006, 06:31 PM

congrats! Great looking car!

aMaff

11-13-2006, 07:44 PM

congrats! Great looking car!
It passes the 10 yard test ;)

mazdaspeed777

11-13-2006, 08:17 PM

that will be nice for the summer

jersey_emt

11-13-2006, 08:21 PM

Congrats, and welcome to the club :)

Kansei

11-13-2006, 08:26 PM

Kansei

11-13-2006, 08:27 PM

Congrats, and welcome to the club :)

I know some day I'll join it too. I'm constantly tempted.

jersey_emt

11-13-2006, 08:40 PM

I know some day I'll join it too. I'm constantly tempted.

Have you driven a Miata yet?

If not, don't, unless you are looking to buy one in the next few days!!

Kansei

11-13-2006, 08:59 PM

Have you driven a Miata yet?

If not, don't, unless you are looking to buy one in the next few days!!

I've driven 3.

First a 2002 with 48kk miles, Sunlight Silver.. 6spd, pretty mint.. but it was 2005 (summer) and they wanted 17,500 for it.. o_O. Plus, it rode like junk compared to my P5, something was up with it.. definitely wasn't taken care of very well.

Then one of my friend's back home convinced his mom to get one as a summer car.. she was bored with her tdi passat and wanted something fun. 1991 red with the hardtop Miata with 120k miles. Complete service records since new, has been on Mobil1 for a really long time, runs perfectly, drives perfectly, no chassis shake or anything. 100% rust free, was definitely just a summer car.. I drove it for probably like 4 hours in one day, it was soooo much fun! I don't care if it has a 1.6 and 14" wheels, it's just SO much fun!

Then I test drove a 97 in a weird metallic dark green/blue, it needed to have the front and rear bumpers repainted, had aftermarket 15s that I didn't like at all, and had some chassis shake. It was 9600, and they offered me 11,000 for my P5 (this past summer with 70k miles on it).. I was filling out some paperwork, called my mom and she found my title and was ready to drive up to the place to hand it over. But then they were like "well you have aftermarket parts on your car, you'll have to put them all back to stock".. which would mean I'd have to drive 6 hours to rochester to get my stock struts, springs, exhaust.. not going to happen.

Some day I'll get one :)

I'll just have to live vicariously through maff until then. Drive the hell out of that thing!

aMaff

11-13-2006, 09:06 PM

Have you driven a Miata yet?

If not, don't, unless you are looking to buy one in the next few days!!
+1

On a side note, I got bored and decided to check out what kinda deal I got. I totally forgot to check it out during the test drive, but I have a finned diff housing, and the "eared" stub flange. It's probably shot by now, but it is / was a VLSD! w00t!

http://www.miata.net/garage/diffguide/08.jpg

Gonna test it out this weekend :D

kcbhiw

11-13-2006, 10:38 PM

I know some day I'll join it too. I'm constantly tempted.

Be careful with that temptation. It struck me and I ended up with two :D .

aMaff

11-13-2006, 11:49 PM

Be careful with that temptation. It struck me and I ended up with two :D .
that that is about 2 too few....

k-lea

11-13-2006, 11:52 PM

everyone is going to the dark side, i love it.

Kansei

11-14-2006, 12:04 AM

everyone is going to the dark side, i love it.

If by dark side you mean girlyman side :P

kcbhiw

11-14-2006, 12:12 AM

bwahaha. There's nothing dark about it. It's more elightenment if anything else :D.

aMaff

11-14-2006, 12:14 AM

nirvana is perfect 50/50 weight distribution :p

Mr. 4500 RPM

11-14-2006, 12:29 AM

and i thought id beat you to a miata :( i have the money for it but no garage space and stuff....

kcbhiw

11-14-2006, 12:33 AM

and i thought id beat you to a miata :( i have the money for it but no garage space and stuff....

Pfft. Garage space isn't a necessity. Open road is, however.

A track works well too.

k-lea

11-14-2006, 12:37 AM

bwahaha. There's nothing dark about it. It's more elightenment if anything else :D.
you knew what i meant. >.<

Mr. 4500 RPM

11-14-2006, 01:19 AM

Pfft. Garage space isn't a necessity. Open road is, however.

A track works well too.

yeah but in a household with six cars and only three being garaged and one being in dc with my older sister its sorta hard convincing the parentals for another car...wish i could we do have the space its just an annoyance to them i guess, too many toys!

ronin12

11-14-2006, 08:04 AM

Congrats on the car, I am heading out to DMV to get my plates for my '95M in about a hour. It has been the toughest week evar with it sitting in the driveway unable to take it out, but will definately make up for lost time.
Mr. 4500 rpm, get a car cover or portable shelter, let the parents take it out once, I saw a 91 British Racing green edition when finding mine for 3,000, also know of a 92 red 70,000 miles for 3,500
here is mine:

aMaff

11-14-2006, 08:32 AM

Mr. 4500 RPM

11-14-2006, 08:50 AM

C
Mr. 4500 rpm, get a car cover or portable shelter, let the parents take it out once, I saw a 91 British Racing green edition when finding mine for 3,000, also know of a 92 red 70,000 miles for 3,500
here is mine:

Yeah man congrats, I would let them drive and have tried every excuse but when you have cars that are 1000000XXXX better then YEAH...I could get another car but id need to sell the p5 and I really do not want to do that. A new Carrera 4S will beat miatas stock for stock, especially one that is from the early 90's sadly so :( so I will continue to live in dream land *sigh* and hope to see Andrews new miata this weekend!

aMaff

11-14-2006, 09:04 AM

Yeah man congrats, I would let them drive and have tried every excuse but when you have cars that are 1000000XXXX better then YEAH...I could get another car but id need to sell the p5 and I really do not want to do that. A new Carrera 4S will beat miatas stock for stock, especially one that is from the early 90's sadly so :( so I will continue to live in dream land *sigh* and hope to see Andrews new miata this weekend!
I keep telling you, for the price of 1 of those, you could get a DAMN good miata, and have enough $$$ to build 1 to make the carrera / M3 / whatev look stupid ;)

CTt3P5

11-14-2006, 10:46 AM

Congrats and Enjoy.

ronin12

11-14-2006, 10:54 AM

Nice! I must've missed seeing that you got yours. Congrats!

Thanks, haven't really posted much about it cause I have been trying to get plates for it. Hopefully within the hour I will be zoom-zoomin(drive2)

GordonJ

11-14-2006, 05:39 PM

Yeah man congrats, I would let them drive and have tried every excuse but when you have cars that are 1000000XXXX better then YEAH...I could get another car but id need to sell the p5 and I really do not want to do that. A new Carrera 4S will beat miatas stock for stock, especially one that is from the early 90's sadly so :( so I will continue to live in dream land *sigh* and hope to see Andrews new miata this weekend!

An NC with less than 2 grand in mods (springs, struts, sways, tires, intake, and exhaust), will give pretty much any car a run for its money on the track, and be a LOT cheaper overall.

MiaTurbo

11-15-2006, 04:52 PM

So I sell one of mine, and everyone else buys one? damn. I'm having serious top-down withdrawl.

An NC with less than 2 grand in mods (springs, struts, sways, tires, intake, and exhaust), will give pretty much any car a run for its money on the track, and be a LOT cheaper overall.as long as the track doesn't have any straights... lol

aMaff

11-15-2006, 07:35 PM

So I sell one of mine, and everyone else buys one? damn. I'm having serious top-down withdrawl.

as long as the track doesn't have any straights... lol
oh ya, cuz it's not like you have one...

iLisa

11-15-2006, 09:46 PM

did you get the car cover?

GordonJ

11-15-2006, 11:43 PM

So I sell one of mine, and everyone else buys one? damn. I'm having serious top-down withdrawl.

as long as the track doesn't have any straights... lol

Not according to MazdaSport magazine.

According to the latest article, with the above mods, the modded Miata ran equal or better t s2000s, BMWs, and other vastly more expensive sports cars.

from the article:

...Our NC had improved nearly 10 seconds on lap time over stock. Now our NC was running down Honda S2000s and numerous other more expensive sports cars. A big time car magazine testing a new 500Hp Ford GT at this same tight course the day before our event turned a best of 1:32-a full second slower than our Miata

Obviously you're not gonna win many drag races in a Miata, but if you buy one for that in the first place, you should probably have your head examined. :P

Foolish

11-15-2006, 11:46 PM

This just in:

Andrew is a tool.

That is all.

:p

aMaff

11-15-2006, 11:50 PM

Old news. We've had a Disk Rreplacement Utility (DRU, pronounced Drew) tool at work for about a month now. It's a running joke..... ;)

Foolish

11-15-2006, 11:53 PM

That's pretty funny. I was just trying to stir shit with you, for no good reason. ;)

The cheap-ass Miata I found is (of course) sold. Bummer, but no shock.

aMaff

11-15-2006, 11:54 PM

sux mang

MiaTurbo

11-16-2006, 12:35 AM

Not according to MazdaSport magazine.

According to the latest article, with the above mods, the modded Miata ran equal or better t s2000s, BMWs, and other vastly more expensive sports cars.

from the article:

Obviously you're not gonna win many drag races in a Miata, but if you buy one for that in the first place, you should probably have your head examined. :PI'm sure MazdaSport magazine is very unbiased.. lol

MiaTurbo

11-16-2006, 12:36 AM

This just in:

Andrew is a tool.

That is all.

:phey Eric, welcome to 1995. lol

GordonJ

11-16-2006, 02:36 AM

I'm sure MazdaSport magazine is very unbiased.. lol

Well, they ARE track times. Either he got them, or he didn't and is lying. There's no opinion or bias involved, it's not a matter of opinion. Unless he's outright lying. But I doubt that.

The article was written by Brian Goodwin of Goodwin racing, btw.

ronin12

11-16-2006, 06:48 PM

did you get the car cover?

if you're asking me then yes, car cover, wind deflector, shop manual, spare oil filter, all stock parts he removed. Loving every minute of top-down driving:)

GordonJ

11-16-2006, 07:16 PM

if you're asking me then yes, car cover, wind deflector, shop manual, spare oil filter, all stock parts he removed. Loving every minute of top-down driving:)

Are you getting much top-down driving time in New England?? I'm in (comparatively) warm Ohio, and haven't had a good top-down driving day in weeks...:(

nate0123

11-16-2006, 10:28 PM

anything over 50 and not raining is perfect for top-down driving

maybe not highway, but certainly around town is perfectly pleasant for top-down driving

Foolish

11-16-2006, 10:31 PM

50? Pfft! I was a 40+ top-downer. Anything under that and you risk cracking the back window. That's how the my stock top died.

The windblocker velcroed to the rollbar helped on the 40 degree days.

nate0123

11-16-2006, 10:35 PM

I said 50+ was perfect, not that I'd never drop the top at 40+ ;)

jersey_emt

11-16-2006, 11:06 PM

nate0123

11-16-2006, 11:08 PM

yea... until traffic starts to slow down and you can't maintain 70+ mph

then your head starts to get wet

kcbhiw

11-17-2006, 12:43 AM

Wimps. I've driven in freezing cold weather with the top down. Roll up the windows, turn the heat on full blast, and wear a tight fitting hat. You'll be fine.

Also, note signature concerning rain. On the highway, it can be pouring, and you won't get wet if the top is down.

Been there done that.

This is typically how I get to my autocrosses, rain, shine, cold, wind, whatever.

http://www.msprotege.com/members/kcbhiw/DSCN1391sm.JPG

MiaTurbo

11-17-2006, 12:51 AM

50? Pfft! I was a 40+ top-downer. Anything under that and you risk cracking the back window. That's how the my stock top died.

The windblocker velcroed to the rollbar helped on the 40 degree days.the trick is putting the top down before it gets that cold, and leaving it there ;) note the picture in my sig to see my opinion on the matter, and no it wasn't a 1 time deal, I was top-down 350+ days a year. I've seen 20*f nights with whatever windchill it would be at 70mph.

MiaTurbo

11-17-2006, 12:55 AM

Well, they ARE track times. Either he got them, or he didn't and is lying. There's no opinion or bias involved, it's not a matter of opinion. Unless he's outright lying. But I doubt that.

The article was written by Brian Goodwin of Goodwin racing, btw.my sarcasm isn't reflected well in my posts, lol.

ronin12

11-17-2006, 09:32 PM

The only time I have had the top up is when it is unattended at work, Every time i have driven it the top has been down, even the first day on the highway with some light precipitation(rain). Didn't get wet until I got off the highway, but by then it was just misting. I love it, people look at me odd but I think it is miata-envy (glare)

aMaff

11-17-2006, 10:29 PM

it is miata-envy (glare)
mmhmm :)

evilmonkeyMSP

11-17-2006, 10:31 PM

you blow this fucker up yet?

aMaff

11-17-2006, 10:33 PM

I'll let you know after this weekend. Should have at least 14 (hopefully more) runs on her by then. I may need new tires by the end of the weekend. These tires suck lmao

MAZDASPEED MX5

11-19-2006, 08:38 PM

Ronin12, here are a few more pics of your new Miata from a show Zak and I had attended this summer at the Museum of Transportation in Massachusetts:

http://www.mazda-speed.com/albums/Garnetmica/DSCN2189.sized.jpg

http://www.mazda-speed.com/albums/Garnetmica/DSCN2197.sized.jpg

http://www.mazda-speed.com/albums/Garnetmica/DSCN2199.sized.jpg

http://www.mazda-speed.com/albums/Garnetmica/DSCN2190.sized.jpg

I'm sure I have a ton more in my desktop somewhere.

ronin12

11-19-2006, 08:46 PM

Those are some good pics! Makes me wish it was spring so I can get out there to detail it, she sure does clean up nice!

MAZDASPEED MX5

11-19-2006, 08:52 PM

Those are some good pics! Makes me wish it was spring so I can get out there to detail it, she sure does clean up nice!

It's definitely a great color and it doesn't take much to clean her up. When we dropped the car off I had mentioned my '03 Garnet Mica Miata. It's a few shades lighter than the Merlot but a classy color too! Kinda wish that it was offered on the Mazdaspeeds.....but then again it would have been a very difficult decision to make. Heres a pic:

http://www.mazda-speed.com/albums/Garnetmica/Pics_093.sized.jpg

http://www.mazda-speed.com/albums/Garnetmica/Miata_038.sized.jpg

ronin12

11-19-2006, 09:17 PM

That is a nice color. You painted the calipers? I thought about maybe doing mine, just not sure what color to go with.

MAZDASPEED MX5

11-19-2006, 09:22 PM

That is a nice color. You painted the calipers? I thought about maybe doing mine, just not sure what color to go with.

On the '05 MSM I went with Lava Orange and high temp clear coat. With the '03 Miata I went with Fire Engine Red with high temp clear coat (I always loved the late 90's Porche of similar color with red calipers).

I know Zak had a hard time with color selection on the 95M. IIRC they are currently a Bronze color. I would be tempted to go with a nice bright Silver color.

ronin12

11-19-2006, 09:34 PM

Iknow I have to redo the ones on my protege come spring and want to clear coat them this time, maybe at that time I 'll do the miatas

aMaff

11-19-2006, 09:47 PM

Quit junking up my thread! :p

So, I auto-xed her yesterday and today. Yesterday, I was on stock wheels w/ what could have been the tires that came with the car from the factory in 92... Seriously, these things were H rated $20 costco specials. They were squirmy...ON THE HIGHWAY!!! WTF?! Anyway, went from driving RacerXGirl's FWD DS Mazdaspeed Protege on R comps in the morning, to the RWD Miata on crap for tires in the afternoon. Heck of a transition. I was actually able to max out what the car could do on those tires.

Last night, picked up a set of 15x7s w/ azenis on them from kcbhiw. The car was completely different today lol. The weak spot went from the tires to the suspension. I'm pretty sure the suspension is pretty tired. I know I'll need full bushings at some point, but I'm gonna do the standard suspension stuff 1st then go from there. I am SO happy with the car, it's so much fun :) Yesterday, after the 1st run I felt like a kid in a candy store.

I heard that Tein makes a harness bar for the Miata. Does any1 know where to pick 1 up? I couln't find it on the usual suspects of miata vendors, and I didn't see it on Tein's site. I've got a race seat to put in, but I really don't want to until I can put a harness w/ it.

ronin12

11-19-2006, 09:50 PM

(fu)

(jacked)

j/k

Foolish

11-19-2006, 09:52 PM

Weren't you planning on a roll bar? If so, I woundn't go spending money on a harness bar that will be made redundant by the one on the roll bar.

MAZDASPEED MX5

11-19-2006, 09:55 PM

can't you get away with a cg-lock for a little while?

aMaff

11-19-2006, 09:56 PM

I am, but that's ~$550 (when you includes padding and shipping). That's going to be a "future" project. I just figured that the harness bar would be a lot cheaper and work for the time being.

aMaff

11-19-2006, 09:56 PM

can't you get away with a cg-lock for a little while?
well, I've seen stock seat belts and race seats. It's basically a big pain in the ass.

Foolish

11-19-2006, 10:04 PM

Dude, you really think something like a harness bar from Tein is going to be inexpensive?? Just save your $$ and wait for the roll bar!

aMaff

11-19-2006, 10:18 PM

touche`. But it was worth a shot. Thanks for crushing my dreams :'(

Katya4me

11-19-2006, 10:24 PM

We've got racing seats and a CG-Lock. It works gret for us. :)

aMaff

11-19-2006, 10:29 PM

I guess I'll have to see how I fit in the seat. It's not like I"m gonna take a weekend to build the whole car or anything, so I may see how the stock belts work. I know I rode in an NB and it was a pain in the ass, but it may be different in the NAs.

BTW any1 know where I could pick up a used Corbeau Clubman (black)?

Foolish

11-19-2006, 10:37 PM

Thanks for crushing my dreams :'(

Anytime, man, I love to do it! My pleasure, really.

moxnix

11-20-2006, 01:01 AM

In SCCA autocross you can not legally run an upper body harness without a roll bar in an open top car. So assuming that you are looking for holding you in during autocross the harness bar would not let you do this.

aMaff

11-20-2006, 08:13 AM

damn, I must have missed that rule. Oh well, thanks :)

aMaff

11-20-2006, 09:25 PM

oops....
http://www.importatlanta.com/nemesis/scca/gallery/images/138.jpg

iLisa

11-20-2006, 09:42 PM

awesome pic!

aMaff

11-27-2006, 08:30 PM

Good news / Bad news
Good: Got some rotors from Napa today. Got lug nuts that are a LOT easier to get to in those wheels than the stockers (Gorilla), and got a set of used Hawk HPS rear pads. Now I need some Hawk HP+ fronts, Stainless braided lines, Koni Race shocks (front) and Koni sports (rear) along w/ a set of 550/370 GC coils. I've already bought a seat from KCBHIW, and I'll need to see abt mounting it to the stock bracket. Any1 know how hard that'd be?

Bad:
Failed emissions. Any1 got a stock Catalytic converter I can borrow?