Hello from Chris (Bay Area CA)
#1
Hello from Chris (Bay Area CA)
Hello MT.
I have been lurking for a while -- lots of great info here. Lots of it still goes over my head, but I am learning slowly. Looking forward to developing an awesome car with your help!
About me: I'm a web developer, working mostly on in-house intranet stuff. I have had 6 miatas, 3 at once at one point, but now just one white '92. Here it is:
I have had the car for about a year, during which time I have installed:
-- poly bushings
-- FCM coilovers (700#/400#)
-- RB hollow front sway
-- HDHCDD roll bar
And removed a bunch of stuff:
And replaced the popup headlights with these:
Yes, I ground/sanded the ribs off of the OEM lenses. Yes, it was a royal PITA. No, I did not know about the euro-spec clear lenses at the time
Moving forward, my objective is to build a track car which is still sort of streetable. I am kind of obsessed with adding lightness (as you can see). But I have come to the realization that I am also going to have to add some HP to the mix! My tentative plans for the next couple years are as follows, more or less in chronological order:
-- 15x9 6UL with RA1 or NT-01 (I Have a set of black wheels in the closet waiting for tires)
-- Shorty rear bumper (Simpson Design), maybe integrated with an Elise rear diffuser.
-- front lip and splitter
-- finish gutting the interior (doors, buncha spot welded brackets)
-- fiberglass trunk lid: I am in the process of figuring out how to make this on my own. Not having too much success yet, but I will keep trying! If I can get the hang of fiberglass then I might try making a HT and doors.
-- twin-disc organic clutch (949 racing)
-- seat(s), maybe memory fab, have to sit in more seats.
-- steering wheel
-- another round of de-wiring
-- 1.8 rearend upgrade with OS gilken diff (949)
-- lighter and better looking steering column support and gague cluster (new gagues?)
-- chassis stiffening (debating having a half cage welded in)
In a year or so I will start on the fun(ner) stuff. I am planning to stick with the stock 1.6L motor.. until I blow it up, which seems to happen a lot. I am planning to upgrade the EMS first, and then maybe the cooling system, holding off on add FI as long as possible. While I am dying to have more HP, I kind of feel like I don't deserve it until I learn to drive a little better LOL!
-- Adaptronic ECU
-- COPS ignition
-- Radiator upgrade with coolant reroute
-- Turbo: My plans get sort of fuzzy (that's why I am here of course -- to figure that part out). The HP number I have in my head is 200 whp.
Thanks for reading
Chris
I have been lurking for a while -- lots of great info here. Lots of it still goes over my head, but I am learning slowly. Looking forward to developing an awesome car with your help!
About me: I'm a web developer, working mostly on in-house intranet stuff. I have had 6 miatas, 3 at once at one point, but now just one white '92. Here it is:
I have had the car for about a year, during which time I have installed:
-- poly bushings
-- FCM coilovers (700#/400#)
-- RB hollow front sway
-- HDHCDD roll bar
And removed a bunch of stuff:
And replaced the popup headlights with these:
Yes, I ground/sanded the ribs off of the OEM lenses. Yes, it was a royal PITA. No, I did not know about the euro-spec clear lenses at the time
Moving forward, my objective is to build a track car which is still sort of streetable. I am kind of obsessed with adding lightness (as you can see). But I have come to the realization that I am also going to have to add some HP to the mix! My tentative plans for the next couple years are as follows, more or less in chronological order:
-- 15x9 6UL with RA1 or NT-01 (I Have a set of black wheels in the closet waiting for tires)
-- Shorty rear bumper (Simpson Design), maybe integrated with an Elise rear diffuser.
-- front lip and splitter
-- finish gutting the interior (doors, buncha spot welded brackets)
-- fiberglass trunk lid: I am in the process of figuring out how to make this on my own. Not having too much success yet, but I will keep trying! If I can get the hang of fiberglass then I might try making a HT and doors.
-- twin-disc organic clutch (949 racing)
-- seat(s), maybe memory fab, have to sit in more seats.
-- steering wheel
-- another round of de-wiring
-- 1.8 rearend upgrade with OS gilken diff (949)
-- lighter and better looking steering column support and gague cluster (new gagues?)
-- chassis stiffening (debating having a half cage welded in)
In a year or so I will start on the fun(ner) stuff. I am planning to stick with the stock 1.6L motor.. until I blow it up, which seems to happen a lot. I am planning to upgrade the EMS first, and then maybe the cooling system, holding off on add FI as long as possible. While I am dying to have more HP, I kind of feel like I don't deserve it until I learn to drive a little better LOL!
-- Adaptronic ECU
-- COPS ignition
-- Radiator upgrade with coolant reroute
-- Turbo: My plans get sort of fuzzy (that's why I am here of course -- to figure that part out). The HP number I have in my head is 200 whp.
Thanks for reading
Chris
#6
I just mounted halogen bulbs in the stock housing, using off the shelf generic receptacles from the auto parts store. These lights are perfect for "be seen" headlights, but they only do a so-so job of illuminating the road. For in-city driving they are fine, but definitely not good enough for the backroads.
#7
I did most of the lightening while the car was on the stock suspension. I did not think to take a photo, but the car looked comical -- you could fit your head in the fender gap
#8
I just mounted halogen bulbs in the stock housing, using off the shelf generic receptacles from the auto parts store. These lights are perfect for "be seen" headlights, but they only do a so-so job of illuminating the road. For in-city driving they are fine, but definitely not good enough for the backroads.
I mean literally that looks HOT!
How do you keep the housing from melting?
#13
Cpt. Slow
iTrader: (25)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,175
Total Cats: 1,129
Not sure why I never commented on this car, but I should. Nice work.
FYI, take the e-brake looks fairly nice without it's plastic cover and a coat of black paint (very mechanical looking), along with the steering wheel, which yours also needs a coat of black paint. I think I also see the plate between the dash bar and steering wheel mount that can be removed, that's pretty heavy. WTF? Do you still have a horn? Loose that too. Me likey.
FYI, take the e-brake looks fairly nice without it's plastic cover and a coat of black paint (very mechanical looking), along with the steering wheel, which yours also needs a coat of black paint. I think I also see the plate between the dash bar and steering wheel mount that can be removed, that's pretty heavy. WTF? Do you still have a horn? Loose that too. Me likey.
#16
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Incline Village, NV
Posts: 2,034
Total Cats: 5
Welcome, give me a shout if you ever want a ride in a turbo miata.
Also check out norcalroadsters.com
Love the interior, i hope one day i can get off my lazy *** and clean the mine up as well as you have. You did away with the key?
Also check out norcalroadsters.com
Love the interior, i hope one day i can get off my lazy *** and clean the mine up as well as you have. You did away with the key?
Last edited by thesnowboarder; 01-28-2010 at 11:28 PM.
#20
the e-brake looks fairly nice without it's plastic cover and a coat of black paint (very mechanical looking), along with the steering wheel, which yours also needs a coat of black paint. I think I also see the plate between the dash bar and steering wheel mount that can be removed, that's pretty heavy. WTF? Do you still have a horn? Loose that too.