Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats. - Aidan's loose oily bunghole actually runs a track lap

THE REAL FUN STARTS HERE: https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...6/#post1351579

Picked up my 1990 a while ago but just bought a turbo so I have finally committed to spending some more time on this forum. Its going to be a while before I get it in but I wanted to start this to have a place to keep track of my work and get some comments/hate/advice on my build. I'm still learning as I go so be sure to be as critical as you want, I won't mind. The meaner you are the more I learn.

Story Time:

This all started in march when I had finished most of the projects I wanted to do on my truck that were in my budget and time frame. I started getting bored and decided I wanted a new project. It needed to be cheap, relatively good mileage (compared to my trucks 6mpg in town), and fun to drive. I started searching around and looked at MR2's and some Nissans before I realized that a Miata was what I needed. I started searching on CL and came upon one that I liked. The paint was beat up but it seemed mechanically fine and had 160k on it. Talked the guy down to 1800 and had my dad pick it up for me the next day. After some BS with the title and searching for some previous lein holders I got it all sorted out and began working on it.

Here are some pictures from the day it came home:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407295945
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407295945
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407295945
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407295945

Before I even started researching I picked up a set of 100 dollar bucket seats off CL and promptly mounted them sky high on the stock sliders. Farther along you will see where I go back and remount them but they did add much needed support.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407296264
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407296264
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Next step was to remove this so called "lip" and replace it with a GV style front lip from Ebay

http://oi57.tinypic.com/2guy0ec.jpg

Before:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

After:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Exhaust
I got lucky and scored a broken Corksport Drift Exhaust on CL. It is a little loud and ricey for my liking but it was 30 dollars plus some TIG time at my friends and that's hard to beat.

Excuse the shit welding, first time TIG and I haven't gotten much better since.

First fix:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Second attempt (about 2 months later):
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Since the last one it has once again cracked, I need to grind it down some more and use a bit more filler I believe.

Rollbar
A rollbar was one of my first purchases, and I did almost no research on it. First mistake. I bought a Hard Dog Ace. Nothing fundamentally wrong with the Ace, but it was too low, too skinny and just not what I wanted. Either way I installed it and ran it for a couple months.

Pictures:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Well get back to me hating the look of the Ace later when I waste more money on fixing it.

Right around then I also plasti dipped the wheels gold. It turned out a little more bronze but I ended up liking that more and what has led to my current wheels (which you will see shortly)

PlastiDip:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Suspension
Take one:

First day I had it I looked on CL and found some flyin miata lowering springs for sale. I immediately jumped on them and went over to the guys house. He was a great guy and I still get advice from him all the time. I actually just bought my turbo from him. But he and I both failed to realize that he had NB FM springs, not NA. After attempting to install them and actually having to cut off a shock because of corrosion (I replaced it with bilstein HD's) the car sat higher than before. WTF?

It rode great but I hated how it looked. You can kind of tell in this picture.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407432342

Take 2:
I decided to go with ebay coilover sleeves, on top of bilstein HD's. When I first put them on it sat low and rode like crap. Cut springs civic style. But this was because of my NA top hats and having no shock travel. So I bit the bullet and bought some ISC racing top hats. Mother of god they made a difference. The car rides perfect right now. In the future I see some summit racing springs and new sway bars but I am happy with the ride and the height for now. I started way to low and have brought it up to a level I am happy with.

Here are some pictures:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

And some with my truck:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

And one of just my truck:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

Right around that time a torsen came up on CL. No axles or DS, but the price was right and the guy said he would deliver. I picked up some axles and DS at a local junkyard for less than 100 and did the swap in a weekend.

Torsen Swap:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

Wheels and Tires

Lets start off with I hate wheels and tires. Too expensive, too many options.
I decided I wanted to run used slicks on the track, and cheap tires on the street. Got these spec miata toyos for 100 a set, and from the same guy a set of Team Dynamic 15x7 for 400. Which was a steal for being brand new.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1407433301

For the street I really wanted bronze flat-outs but they were out of production. And konig told me they wouldn't be making a Dial-in 15x8 in bronze. So instead I bought the 15x8 in grey with free shipping from good-win and had it powder coated bronze. I have a guy near me that will do 4 wheels for 100 so it was a really good deal. I am picking them up on Friday and will have more then.

Here are some pictures of the Dial-in's before I had them powder coated:

http://i61.tinypic.com/1z1z1ua.jpg

http://i59.tinypic.com/2rrnfc4.jpg

And the tires:

205/50r15 Hankook V2 Concepts

http://i58.tinypic.com/iy28et.jpg

I also got a Cloth top from a 2006 and put it on to fix my ripped vinyl top. I love the cloth top and it was only 350 dollars with a frame which saved me so much effort over a robbins top.

http://i62.tinypic.com/o91e9u.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/5p0tnc.jpg

http://i62.tinypic.com/4ki60y.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/ndvb6o.jpg

After cleaning with 303 fabric top care (which worked amazingly after I followed this guys instructions and didn't have to mask anything.)

http://i61.tinypic.com/16krtbl.jpg

Also this is what old ass tires with too much camber look like after too many burnouts.

http://i57.tinypic.com/xf4y6f.jpg

Next I installed a NRG quick release that I got from a friend (install thread here)

http://i58.tinypic.com/2m6narp.jpg

After a few months I got tired of looking at my bad decision and being pissed at myself all the time I bit the bullet and bought a Hard Dog Hardcore M2. Its what I should have gotten in the first place and I love it. On another note, I have a Hard Dog Ace for sale in Portland if anyone needs one.

Pictures of the M2 installed:

http://i60.tinypic.com/2wrhoxy.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/t5n98g.jpg

http://i60.tinypic.com/52djew.jpg

Also got this deal on a 6 point harness:

http://i60.tinypic.com/16aa7hk.jpg

And how I carry my kayak on my miata:

http://i57.tinypic.com/2my599j.jpg

Then my gf backed into the bumper with her jeep, oh well the paint is shit anyways:

http://i60.tinypic.com/118lz7c.jpg

And that kind of brings me up to where I am with it right now. I am putting together a shopping list and plan to get the MegaSquirt in December and move on from there. Any advice is always appreciated.

I will update it as I find pictures and have time to write more out.