Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

So you are keeping the (modified) Forester XT as the usual daily driver, the black NB is going to be a backup if the Forester is down and the turbo NB is the project car?

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

Min! I just thought of this!!
You have a backup set of 6UL's, right? I assume they're going on the black car...
Aside from a backup set of 6UL's, you also have a backup BEGI cast manifold with an external wastegate and a GT3071...
Know what I'm thinkin?

First and foremost though...Roll Bar.

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Well yeah i guess so. Except dailyinf will really be split between the black cars.

I think in a year i will be building the foxzie and putting a siz speed in, going for 500hp or whatever.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Just hack off the frame rails and do a forester swap to it.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

Be smart and purchase my single turbo BP setup. Keep it low boost. enjoy driving.

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Thank you Tim but it is a five speed so boost is off the plate.

This nat asp motor is actually some frikken bombsauce. I actually want to dyno it because it is really ballsy.


OK so I started molesting it.


Polished the headlights.

Before/After



After/After



Baked the light



Popped the shz off. Broke the tabs of course. Notice that the plastic is melted??? Wierd huh? Got plain ol bulbs in it too.



Other side



Closeup of melt





Went to get lunch. Got A LOT OF ATTENTION

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Done.

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

Looks good Min, but wayyy too much attention to headlights and not enough attention to important things such as oil drain fittings on other miatas.
Since you're all into keeping it NA, I am highly suggesting you put these on:

Then get a header and make your engine bay look similar to this:

and maybe, your car will sound like this and still be fun.

TorqueZombie

iTrader: (6)

So I take it you didn't pant the insides? Just left it black plastic inside. Might try it. Just haven't decided if the blacked out lights would look good on a silver car.

triple88a

iTrader: (2)

So you had it all taken apart and didnt remove the ugly orange cups?

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

They're not orange. They're actually silver cups. I thought about painting the turn signal cup black for a while before deciding not to.

I really want people in front of me at intersections to be able to clearly see that I am trying to turn. If they don't see it because it's not bright enough that could lead to some serious problems for me.

I will be daily driving this so safety and communication is important.

Speaking of safety


someone sell me a roll bar

Zaphod

You could simply have unscrewed the orange cups and put in silver/orange turn signal bulbs... (silver when off/ orange when on)

Thats what we do over here...

y8s

iTrader: (8)

powwwnnnn youuuuu

Faeflora

iTrader: (2)

Matt did you debadge your front bumper? Aren't there two little holes or did you fill em in?

curly

iTrader: (25)

Four little holes, which you can plainly see.

skidude

iTrader: (3)

Nice job on the lights! I can't get mine that clear. I got them pretty close, but yours look like new, at least from the pictures here. Maybe this miata will fare better than the "child molester".

y8s

iTrader: (8)

wat holes??



(spray paint job looks boss on camera phone... looked that good for whole weeks!)

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Okay, stupid question: what did you use to fill the holes?

gearhead_318

iTrader: (1)

I think I saw one for sale on here or m.net or clubroadstaaa.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

that's a joke right? body filler. bondo. whatever.

I did it quick and dirty but suffice it to say if you want to do it right, you have to take the bumper off.

in retrospect, the "right" way would have been:

1. remove bumper
2. remove badge (insert badges cliche joke here for the weak-minded)
3. rough up backside of area around holes with 40 grit
4. bond some rough aluminum or something that is contoured to fit *fairly well* onto the backside of the hole area with some super strong epoxy and let it cure a couple days
5. jam the holes full of body filler and when it's "green", remove it to nearly flush. let that cure for another couple days because it WILL shrink.
6. rough up the pretty side of the holes and surrounding area with whatever the body filler recommends
7. skim on the body filler to hide the holes, allow to cure. this should be a thin enough coat that it wont shrink unevenly and leave sink marks.
8. sand, with 180, then 320, then prime with gray primer, 2 coats
9. prime with alternate color primer, 2 coats
10. knock down the primer with a few swipes of 400 on a flexible sanding block. check for high spots (will show up as primer color that went down first). respray a couple layers and re-sand until high spots are good.
11. final sand the primer with 600
12. wet sand the area you are going to paint with 1000 to rough it up for repaint
13. paint / clear
14. wet sand with 1500 until you are happy
15. fine cut compound until you're shocked at how glossy it is hand or DA
16. polish (not wax) by hand or DA
17. wait a month and wash and redo 15-16 as needed
18. wax and roll like a boss.