I bought my bone stock 90 with 200k one year ago. I have had some fun cars in the past, including a very fun 02 WRX, but I never really got my hands dirty, except an occasional oil change or brake pads. After much reading I figured that a Miata would be an excellent way to build an exciting car, and learn the ropes at the same time. My goal is an excellent handling car with around 200ish RWHP, and to do as much of the work as possible, by myself.

The first thing I installed was the HDHCDD, and some Race Dynamics Pro Race 1's with Falken Anzenzi's. I promptly blew the head gasket and it got put up on jack stands. Over the next year, in my very limited spare time started to formulate a plan, and begin on the suspension.

I installed Energy Suspensions bushing kit from 949 Racing, installing Zerk fittings along the way for future lubing issues.

Next was some Ground Control's 500F/325R with some Koni sports, FCM bump stops and shockmounts. I set the ride height at 12.5" and 13". A RB hollow bar up front.

 

I also put in new alignment bolts.

 

A couple more.

 

Last week I pulled my 1.6 and James339 came up and we were going to freshen up the 1.8 and drop it in. I was really looking forward to geting this thing on the road. We had some trouble with the crank sprocket. It just wouldn't come off, we tried everything, screwdrivers, heat, then we went and got a 3 arm puller, that just broke the outer edges off the sprocket. So we ground a ring into it so it would have something to bite into...this didn't work either.

By now its 10pm and this is all we have done today, besides install the FM style depowered rack. So we try to grind it in half and split it apart, but we cant get through enough of it with out damaging the crank. By now I'm like a bipolar wack job, can't decide if i want to break stuff or just laugh

What we wind up doing is just dropping the pan and trying to remove the crank to take it to a machinist, but it won't come out because the sprocket wont allow the oil pump to come off. So we do what another motard would do at midnight, after basically working an entire day to get one part off, we took an sawzall to the oil pump.

Took it to a machine shop near my work, and got it removed. I put the sprocket and partial pump housing back on the crank for some pics. So now I'm waiting for some main and rod bearings to come in, and we are going to scavange the oil pump and sprocket from the 1.6 so we can put it back together and see how it does.

 

On a positive note, talked to Stehpanie today, my franken kit is about a week or two out.

Going to bed, later.

 

interesting way to loop your shoulder harnesses....and by interesting I mean silly.

 

Well not being a track ****, and seeing multiple harneses in person, I followed the instructions I found online and in an article in Sport Compact Car magazine. They were consistent with each other, and with the way we secure climbing harnesses, so I'm assuming your talking about the final wrap around itself? It's just to take up slack to keep it from blowing in the wind. I didn't want to cut off the ends since I will be selling them when I get seats and 5/6 pt harnesses.
If your seeing something else, or have some constructive critisim, I'm all ears.

 

Whats with your seats? They look suede.
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Nope, suede would be nice. Just faded OEM seats.

Will keep everyone posted on how it comes back together. When I get the parts next week. Will also be installing a prolight flywheel and ACT-XTSS.

 

mine are faded too, but they dont look like the same material....yours look like fuzzy cloth, not our weave style.

as far as the harnesses, looked like they were simply tied in a knot around the bar

 

Mine look like the weave style also. His definitely look different.
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My wife calls me stupid all the time but tying harnesses in a knot? Wow that would be an all time low.

There not a weave, kinda like a worn valuer. I just assumed they were OEM because they have speakers in the headrest. One of the previous owners might have had them recovered. Who knows? It don't matter to me, they will be replaced soon.

Speaking of, I like the Memory Fab seats Memoryfab - Universal Auto Accessories Parts : S58 Carbon Fiber Bucket Seat
They are not FIA aproved, how much will this matter for HPDE's and track days? Is FIA approval only for organized racing? Otherwise I was thinking of Monaco - Black: Fast Race Products

Any opinions?

 

I've been reading railz thread, and your guys responses have me in a tail spin. I want this thing one the road, like last month. Every time I turn around I got to buy something else.

Somebody stop me from the "I'm already doing this, so I might as well do this"...nightmare.

If you read the ^ then you know I have the bottom end off right now. I have been debating whether to do the M-tuned rods while I have it apart. If I do it, it puts my MS off for another month or two.

This is what I have collected/ordered so far:
1.8 swap going in,
Begi cast mani
Garrett 2560
SS braided lines
Begi SS SGDP
Rx-7 460's
Begi S3 T-body inlet and turbo inlet with the re-circuit hardware
A no name 26x9x2.5 FMIC

Still need:
MS
WB O2 sensor
IC piping

I am within a month of being able to get these last parts. If I get the rods, this puts the other stuff back a bit, I won't be boosted till it's snowing.

 

lol

 

Ok, I'm ordering the M-tuned rods tomorrow. So I'm gonna pull the head, which would be best? Install ARP head bolts now, and reuse them when I get a 99 head this fall, or reuse the OEM now and install the ARP when I do the 99 head?

 

Just get the ARP and reuse them down the road. They are not tq to yield.

 

******* crank sprocket... seriously... i have never had that **** ever happen.... the motor looked like it had been rebuilt by a pepboy tech... and i have no idea what the **** they did to that crank sprocket....

but i have never... and i mean never seen some fucked up **** like that.... at least now with the bottom end of the motor off, we can drill the oil return line, and put all fresh new bearings in...

dan... let me know early july some time should be perfect... girl's been bugging me about going on a trip, might be heading to Colorado for a bit... wanna see this **** done and on the road by then...

I also have an entire parts car, so any other freshen items you want to do we should...

-James