Looks good, although I still think you should have drilled the frame rails out with a holesaw or something just in case water gets in there somehow, because now it would be REALLY trapped.

However, it's probably fine. Just double check your sealant after it dries and whatnot. My frame rails for example:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388073711

Obviously not comparing the cleanness of the car, lol. But the design of the frame-rails is to prevent moisture from getting trapped.

No, it's not fine. No car is watertight. Water is controlled by channelling, draining and ventilating. Mazda put drain holes in the frame rails for a reason. You've made a serious mistake sealing those up. Some of the water/snow that falls on your car will make its way inside the body panels. When this happens, the water makes its way to the bottom of the car through designed-in water channels. The water channels target the various holes drilled, on purpose, in the bottom of the car. Those need to be open to let the water out and to ventilate.

At this point, you can either:
1. Remove the frame rail reinforcements. Make sure that the OEM drain holes in the frame rails are open and drill corresponding holes in the reinforcements. Re-install.

2. Drill drain holes through both the reinforcement and the frame rails at several locations.

Go easy on the sealing.

Hmmm to me it seemed like water had no way of getting in the rails unless it was flipped up into them. Luckily sealant is easy to remove once cured.

FireInc I love your rails, I'm not confident mine are doing much after I see how straight yours are. And how easily mine bent.

I guess I thought I could totally seal moisture from affecting the frame rails further but now I realize you're right. Condensation, seepage happens, no way to keep it unaffected.

And that is after hammering them over my mangled frame rails. I noticed how bent yours were too, I'm sure they are doing SOMETHING but they certainly aren't as stiff looking as mine. You know what to do.. Frame Rail Reinforcement Kit - Static Nine Garage

Haha, the FM ones are really nice too, and i think boss frog makes some as well. I really like these though, they have a nice fit and finish and were $100 shipped to my door. I think they are $100 + shipping now, but still killer deal.

Trying to decide if the stainless steel Flyin' Miata rails are worth it or just spend a lot less for the V8R/S9G rails.

In the mean time, I finally got the door done for the drivers side.

All the pieces of the puzzle assembled

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

Expanding rivets plastic for the holes, which, by the way, if anyone wondering is 1/4" wide(not diameter; width).

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

Black finishing screws to add a touch of oem look.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

Rubber grommets that I added to keep vibrations out of the door panel.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

Tiny O-ring I added to the screw to stop, again, rattling and movement.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

Finished pull strap which comes out of the door panel vertically. Decided that it would be a little easier/natural. Not sure about the length yet, I may cut them smaller.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

and the finished product, turned out excellent and doesn't move at all, hitting the panel produces no rattles!

Yes I realize the arm rest looks nasty with how shiny it is, it was just very dry so I am re-moisturizing the vinyl with some VRT.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137


My family is down for the holidays so I needed to move the car out of the way so they could actually use it. While it was so low to the ground I decided to see what the wheels will look like on the car. Bronze was the right color to get, the car isn't even close to being assembled and I can already see it in my head.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388126137

So much awesome!!

I've got the FM rails. I got the SS for track duty. My local track has some high curbing and I figured less chance of rust if/when they got scratched up. BTW, with door bars, the frame rails are an utter waste from a stiffening standpoint. But they do protect the OEM rails from damage.

Like I said, I'm going to cry when your pristine miata spins off track. I just can't believe how beautiful it is. That old man with the white Miata would be shocked.

I recently installed the Flyin' Miata rails and I'm glad I spent the extra money for the nice stainless ones. In the long run, it's totally worth the extra $80 or so, especially considering how much time, money, effort you're putting into your car.

I would recommend them

The powdercoating on my s9g rails has held up so far, and my car is low and i live on a dirt road. However, the FM rails give you the potential to add their butterfly brace.

It depends on your needs for the car. I never plan on adding door bars OR the butterfly brace to my car. It's actually pretty damn stiff as-is now. I need to soften up and raise the suspension for more travel and flex if anything.

Thanks! I didn't think about the fact that they are not needed with the doors bars...do they really negate the need for frame rails that much? Makes sense really though. From a protection stand point they will be nice.

I will cry as well, my hope is that I will be able to refrain from driving it at 9/10's on the track.

I haven't talked to Dave in a long while and I wonder if he is still following the thread at all. I'd be interested to see what he thinks of how I've changed the car.

I needed a new under engine plastic tray since when I tried to clean mine it crumbled into 4 pieces so I ordered one from Flyin' Miata and figured while I'm getting that part I ordered the S.S. frame rails as well. Powder coated mild steel frame rails seems a bad idea after all the surface rust on my subframes. I love having Flyin' Miata so close, shipping is only a day or two at the most. Plus they have awesome customer service.

So I think I have changed my standpoint on a stripped down loud obnoxious car and want a little refinement in the cabin. What do people recommend for sound deadening on the interior? Cheap hardware store stuff or go legit with Second Skin sound deadening. The S.S. stuff is quite pricy but actually works well unlike dynamat/other vendors.

Parts Express has some great sound damping stuff. I've used their vinyl by itself before. I understand it should be paired with some asphalt backed sheets, but it does pretty well by itself.

Sound Damping in the Car Audio Department at Parts Express | 409

Also, those wheels and that paint are incredible together. Can't believe the pace of this build.

What frame rails are those? I had a set made by a member here and I can't imagine being able to deform one of them like yours is.

I have no idea, previous owner had them on the old car. No vendor name or anything so I'm guessing they were a one off.

I want to get all the tedious small jobs out of the way before Tuesday; when I get my bolts back. I forgot my nice camera so this is all cell phone quality, apologies.

Decided to protect myself from cuts in the sheet metal around the roll bar.

I used door sill trim I had left over from the second Miata with some good flexible shoe goo. Fill up the inside with shoe goo and then pinch the ends together nice and tight. Slide it over the sheet metal and pull/push hard to get it to fit onto the tight curves well. Then grab some needle nose pliers and give it another quick squeeze to ensure a tight fit.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388248749

Nice finished product

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388248749

After grabbing my tail lights I realized how scuffed up and scratched they were. In keeping things uniform with my turn signals I sanded it down with 170/300/800/2000. I had to use really coarse sandpaper to pull the deeper scratches out of them. I also decided to do both sets just in case one breaks, or if I decided to sell one of them.

After 2k wet sand. You can see the light hazing where the light reflects onto the lens.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388248749

Restored the plastic on the back of the tail lights

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388248749

Difference from untouched to polished light with sealant added.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388248749

4 lights lined up and pretty

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388248749

Next up all the plastic trim panels inside the car.

Great idea on the trim around the roll bar cuts.

If you decide to sell a set of taillights, send me a PM. :) I may never get around to doing it and even if I do, it likely won't be done as well or as thoroughly as you will have done.

What products do you use to restore the plastic and to seal the lights after the polish, also what did you use for the stainless door sills...? Thanks!

Meguiars aluminum polish for the door sills

Menzerna Power lock Sealant (lasts about 4-6 months)

Adams Super VRT plastic/rubber/vinyl trim restore

Ill let you know. Each tail light has a tiny crack on the colored portion of the lenses. So not the outside surface but the inside.

I'm contemplating removing the plastic housing and popping out the plastic coloring and replacing the bulbs with matching LEDs.

Excuse the cell phone pictures. I can't stand not having my camera on me.

I'm hoping this is the last of the painting I have to do. Really tired of sanding...really really tired of sanding.

All the ball joints got the rust removal service along with the steering rack assembly

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388314363

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388314363

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388314363

Then a quick lick of paint...turned out pretty good! I'll take some better picture of the parts once the paint cures long enough to handle.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...229_021555.jpg

Attachment 185017

Attachment 185018

Yes. The door bars will carry the load. They're stronger/stiffer and better positioned as a roof "replacement." There are some pretty good threads about it. Frame rails are still well worth it as a "scuff" plate.

9/10th. LOLOLOLOL!! Have you looked in the mirror lately? Is ANYTHING in this thread done at only 9/10th?

Decided to try a different route for the door will plates. Looks really good. Should hide scrapes/scratches well, which is something I've always hated with unpainted steel/aluminum.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388335039

That does look good. Spray-on bedliner?

VHT wrinkle black?

Coming in a little late on the frame rail subject, but I used 2.5mm steel, just to be on the safe side.

https://www.miataturbo.net/general-m...y-brace-73870/

Yes sir! I had to do it twice since the first time the texture didn't come out right. It separated in a couple spots.

They were just a little to big for my oven and I was too lazy to bring it to my bakery and put it in my huge oven.

Updates are looking great as usual. I especially am drooling over those tail lights. That is on my list of things to do when I paint the car. Yum. I REALLY can't wait for assembly to start. ETA on the zinc plating?

He gets done with them today so hopefully tomorrow. I'm guessing Thursday in reality though due to new years day.

I believe he said he will have the bolts back on Tuesday.

Really have been enjoying following this build. So much awesome and it's all happening so fast! Feels like only last week that I was reading through the stolen/flipped story and now you already have a replacement car nearing assembly. Keep up the outstanding work!

Again, unbelievable. This is very possibly going to be my favorite Miata, especially now that you're adding a bit of sound deadening.

Anyone want to help me break into the UPS sorting facility to grab my bolts??

Damn UPS is closed on New Years Eve. Who the hell closes today? The bolts are literally 1 mile from my house but they won't let me grab them. Bastards! So it looks like Thursday.

I f'ing hate that. My injectors were delivered to my house but I swear the guy didn't even stop to ring the doorbell. I was checking the door all day and then all of a sudden I have a notice on my door saying I missed delivery. I checked, my doorbell does work.

So I immediately went online and told fedex to divert to the local fedex store since it was only like 1pm at that point. Long story short the injectors arrive at fedex store at 5pm the next day. FML.

Take a break. You can let it sit for one more day.

Trying to clean up the hard lines on the car. Letting the brackets sit in degreaser over night to break up the seriously caked on crap.

Took some wax and grease remover(pretty much acetone) to the brake lines in preparation to paint them. Then I had a thought; is it not a good idea to paint them? I know from a chipping point of view it would not be advisable but the lines do have lots of chips in the factory plating and seeing as Utah sees its fair share of salt on the roads, I figured I probably need to think of a good solution.

So I am either thinking of painting them, or blasting it with some heavy duty rubberized undercoating.

What do you guys think? Obviously can't mail them to get plated. I guess I could ignore them and not worry about it, which I am highly tempted to do.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388574330

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388574330

Fuel filter bracket cleaned up and painted

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388574330

New fuel filter and additional block of plugs I can use!

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388574330

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388574330

Trying to clean the intake manifold without removing it and it is slow work...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388574330

Mazda brakelines are normally painted from the factory with kind of a greenish paint. I'd definitely repaint if you've stripped them.

Utah uses salt? In Idaho, they normally spread ash/rock around. I've never seen much rust in that part of the world. That's why I expected the car from Colorado to be clean. You need to see what cars look like in Cleveland dude!

Haven't stripped the factory paint. Just stripped all the crud off them.

Utah uses salt. My car is a proverbial salt lick after it snows.

Saying that, Utah winters aren't nearly as bad as east coast winters. At least in southern Utah where we actually see the sun. Northern Utah gets an inversion where they don't see the sun until spring. You probably heard about Utah in the news earlier this year after they did an air quality report in salt lake city saying it is twice as bad as Shanghai, China. Red air days are no joke up there.

What are you using on the intake manifold!? I had great results sanding mine with a medium grit sandpaper.

Using Marvel Mystery Oil with a soft wire brush so I don't scratch it. Little slower but it only removes the corrosion not the metal.

My elaborate paint scaffolding for the hard lines.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388630653

All painted up

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388630653

The finished ball joints

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388630653

Soaked the carpet in degreaser and then set my pressure a little lower on my pressure washer so I didn't destroy the fibers in the carpet. Took several scrubbings and blastings to get all 20 years of dirt out of the carpets.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388630653

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388630653

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388630653

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388630653

The sound deadening showed up, not sure what it is but it came highly regarded by the local speaker dude.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388630653

After I put that down I'm going to put some Second Skin Luxury Liner down on top of it.

It's all lookin' good! It snows quite a bit here and one of the benefits of NM is that we use pumace or lava rock or whatever, it's a reddish brown and they throw it everywhere. No salt though.

^ Really? Pretty sure they also mix in salt down here in ABQ. Salt + red sand.

Also, the carpet cleaning came out lovely.

Thanks, I'm still going to dye them though. One of the mats has a really funky off-green look to it, and the carpeting on the drivers side is a little faded too.

This time...no duplicolor crap, real fabric dye, RIT is, from what my mother says, the most reliable in terms of color fade resistance.

My sister is staying down in St George for another week, and so her and I are going to have a sewing session quilt guild style, to see if I can save my old seats with some good fabric from an auto upholstery shop. I've never used a sewing machine before so it will be fun to learn how to do it.

I'd leave the brake lines alone then. (edit: way too slow again . . . .)

I used to live in Boise. Know all about inversions.

I've been to China in the Winter. Trust me, Boise/SLC/LA don't even come close. News is BS. What they left out was that SLC on the worst day of an inversion is twice as bad as Shanghai in the Spring after a strong front has blown through and the Chinese government has ordered all factories and cars shut off for two weeks to clean up the air for the Olympics.

All my family lives in southern Idaho and SLC and they say it is pretty gnarly but after seeing some photos of shanghai where it looks like it has bad fog, but is actually smog, I believe it. I feel bad for anyone I know who lives in those deep valleys. That air is really no joke. They say the amount of children with asthma has increased by a lot in the past 5-10 years.

That is why I love Cedar City. Elevation is 6k here and we live in a shallow valley with frequent winds that blow everything out of it. Plus with a total pop of 40k we don't have enough pop density/factories to even cause it.

Are they more yellow than they look in the picture?

Yeah but not by a ton. I am again a little disappointed. Maybe I asked for the wrong thing? Yellow Zinc plating is pretty self explanatory though.

Maybe they are covered in something that kills the shine, not sure.

They are yellow enough for me to not return them though.

Well... as awful as this sounds, i'm going to use this as a learning experience for me when i send mine out and just send the place a picture of the yellow ones i posted in here that lit the fire under your ass with a note that says "Like this kthxbai."

Please do. It really does look a lot better in person, good enough that I'd put them on my car at least.

I am annoyed that I've been screwed twice now though.

Either way, it's still baller shit and you're winning at life. :D

Mount one in a drill and blast it while holding a rag tightly around it. See if it brightens up.

Hmm maybe you need to ask for a clear coat over the yellow zinc yo get that maybe that is where I went wrong. I probably should have researched it more. As you said though. It still looks baller so I don't care anymore.

I feel like it may be classified as gold. That is how I would have classified the ones you linked earlier. Shiny yellow= gold.

Back hurts and eyes are blurring together. Taking a small break...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388720584

That looks so confusing on the rug lol

Doesn't help that I used my "if you move your cellphone 1 mm it will look like shit" camera.:rofl:

I bet yellow zinc over the silver made that custom zinc color, looks cool.

Ok enough of the bullshit cell phone photos. I just got done organizing all the bolts as best I can. Every single bolt and nut and washer all matched up. That took...forever. I don't know if I ever want to do that again.

As you can tell, they actually really do look great with my good camera haha. I'm not disappointed anymore, I'm just getting really excited.

Sadly the hard part is going to be figuring out where each different length of bolt goes. I wish I could find some exploded part diagram of each section of the car with associated bolt length/references.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388734022

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388734022

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388734022

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https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388734022

They look wayyyy better in these pictures!!!! I would be happy with them!

they look great

now assemble the car already

you're probably gonna finish your whole car before stupid retarded BEGI finally sends me my downpipe

I will cry and cut myself and talk trash about them in my frustration

LOLOL!!

Yeah, I'm getting excited to see this car come together too!! Gold hardware on new, shiny blue paint.

Need pics of Vlad cutting himself.

Don't worry it will take me a while to reassemble this beast. If BEGI takes that long then that is your sign to go EFR Vlad.:noob:

It's been a while since I've stopped in. I'm simply amazed by the level this build has reached. I'm finally getting settled in Pinehurst. Woohoo!