MatosMiata's build, turning a booger into something worth looking at
#141
May 4, 2017I went to another autocross this past Sunday. Since my brother was off from school, we brought my Miata along and ran both cars.
Here, you can see my cars out behind my friend's Evo. Made a new friend in the Mazdaspeed3 as well.
Here are both my cars, one looking clean and one looking ugly lol. I may end up paying a shop to redo my Miata.
Here, you can see my cars out behind my friend's Evo. Made a new friend in the Mazdaspeed3 as well.
Here are both my cars, one looking clean and one looking ugly lol. I may end up paying a shop to redo my Miata.
#143
Jun 14 2017
I haven't made much progress on the paint prep for the Miata. I finally decided to fork over the cash and have a shop paint it, however, I don't want them stacking paint on paint. For this reason, I started stripping the paint with aircraft stripper.
Seeing the result on the fenders, I realized that sanding first will help as the stripper really only eats a coat at a time, so it pays to sand into the clear first.
I haven't made much progress on the paint prep for the Miata. I finally decided to fork over the cash and have a shop paint it, however, I don't want them stacking paint on paint. For this reason, I started stripping the paint with aircraft stripper.
Seeing the result on the fenders, I realized that sanding first will help as the stripper really only eats a coat at a time, so it pays to sand into the clear first.
#145
September 8 2017Dropped my Miata off to the body shop for a full paint job.
PF13 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
In the meantime, I have a new toy to play with. A shiny blue GSX-R750 [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Wash1 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
Check out the bike in better detail and see the mods I will be doing below.
[MEDIA=youtube]T3n-2G_U9DM[/MEDIA]
PF13 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
In the meantime, I have a new toy to play with. A shiny blue GSX-R750 [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Wash1 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
Check out the bike in better detail and see the mods I will be doing below.
[MEDIA=youtube]T3n-2G_U9DM[/MEDIA]
#146
Sep 13 2017
Still have no word on when my Miata will be done. Looks like it will be delayed for two weeks due to Hurricane Irma. I ended up getting most of the week off since my job didn't have power back. I took a drive around Miami to see what things are looking like after the hurricane, and as you can see in the video below, things aren't fully back to normal, so it will likely be a while before my Miata is painted.
Still have no word on when my Miata will be done. Looks like it will be delayed for two weeks due to Hurricane Irma. I ended up getting most of the week off since my job didn't have power back. I took a drive around Miami to see what things are looking like after the hurricane, and as you can see in the video below, things aren't fully back to normal, so it will likely be a while before my Miata is painted.
#147
Oct 2 2017So my Miata finally re-surfaced after over a month. Looks like the body shop put her on some serious steroids, she re-surfaced looking rather muscular...
20171001_130837 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
20171001_130837 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
#149
Oct 16 2017
I have been wanting one for a long time now so I went and got it lol. It's absolutely amazing! Just got it ceramic coated too, it looks so good and water beads right off of it like nothing.
5 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
7 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
8 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
I have been wanting one for a long time now so I went and got it lol. It's absolutely amazing! Just got it ceramic coated too, it looks so good and water beads right off of it like nothing.
5 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
7 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
8 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
#150
Oct 31 2017
Well, if the body shop ever gives it back I totally plan on it... should be ready by Friday lol.
PF17 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF16 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
Originally Posted by CollinMB, post: 6125154, member: 21795
Soo... Do you even Miata anymore?
Well, if the body shop ever gives it back I totally plan on it... should be ready by Friday lol.
PF17 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF16 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
#151
Oct 31 2017It would seem that in the rough situation after the hurricane, my friend managed to hire a competent body work guy. Although I suspect he did most of this himself. In any case, I can't wait to see the final product. I took extra care to completely disassemble the car such that there won't be a single tape mark. I'll also allow it to cure a while before rebuilding it, such that the mirrors and such don't indent the paint.
PF15 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF14 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF15 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF14 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
#153
Nov 18 2017
The body shop sent me some shots of the progress
PF18 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF19 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF20 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF21 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF22 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
The body shop sent me some shots of the progress
PF18 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF19 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF20 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF21 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF22 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
#154
Nov 18 2017Here are a few more
PF23 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF24 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF25 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF23 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF24 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF25 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
#155
Nov 20 2017
I brought the car home from the shop. Still haven't had time to take day time shots, but I will upload some too. There are a few details I am not too happy with, and the paint had some swirls (they likely washed it at some point). However, once the paint has cured for a month, I need to take the car back for wet sand and polish so the swirls don't matter in the slightest.
I brought the car home from the shop. Still haven't had time to take day time shots, but I will upload some too. There are a few details I am not too happy with, and the paint had some swirls (they likely washed it at some point). However, once the paint has cured for a month, I need to take the car back for wet sand and polish so the swirls don't matter in the slightest.
#156
Nov 20 2017
Here are the pictures they sent me of it assembled. I plan to hold off until the car is polished before I go and reassemble it.
PF26 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF27 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
Here are the pictures they sent me of it assembled. I plan to hold off until the car is polished before I go and reassemble it.
PF26 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
PF27 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
#159
Nov 27 2017
Looking at my Miata, I couldn't get over how ugly the brakes looked. So I got new rotors and pads, followed by some sanding and painting of parts to make everything look nice and new.
BF1 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
The pads on the driver's side front were extra worn
BF3 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
The rears were in pretty bad shape too
BF4 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
Looking at my Miata, I couldn't get over how ugly the brakes looked. So I got new rotors and pads, followed by some sanding and painting of parts to make everything look nice and new.
BF1 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
The pads on the driver's side front were extra worn
BF3 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
The rears were in pretty bad shape too
BF4 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
#160
Nov 27 2017
It's a shame the rotors won't stay this nice
BF16 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
So I sprayed them such that the areas that don't get scraped by the pads will stay rust free
BF17 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
A few days later, on Saturday, I took the old brakes off and installed the new ones
Once the calipers are removed, the rotor can be popped off by sticking a bolt in the threaded hole in each rotor hat
BF5 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
You will need an M8x1.25 bolt for this
BF6 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
It's a shame the rotors won't stay this nice
BF16 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
So I sprayed them such that the areas that don't get scraped by the pads will stay rust free
BF17 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
A few days later, on Saturday, I took the old brakes off and installed the new ones
Once the calipers are removed, the rotor can be popped off by sticking a bolt in the threaded hole in each rotor hat
BF5 by Jose Matos, on Flickr
You will need an M8x1.25 bolt for this
BF6 by Jose Matos, on Flickr