rleete

iTrader: (21)

Cooling. I had a buddy with one. He constantly overheated.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

I love the way you tapered that line off. It really worked out well.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

= I love the stitching on the stump where your ***** was.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Are you working on this? You had such a great start, and now it's just pining for the road.

Stein

iTrader: (46)

Finally got back onto it and re-did the rear fenders. It actually came out looking better.



Sitting on it's own feet today. Don't mind the panel gaps. The fenders are just zip-tied on as they need to come off for more wiring. I installed all new door and truck seals, need to do the window wiper seals but need to get some trim adhesive.



Got the hood on. Pleased to see the turbo and intercooler charge pipes all cleared the hinged rod that connects the front tilt hood.





Just need to tidy up some wiring and the lights and it will be driveable. It's close.

After I drive it I need to install the Megasquirt, run on base tune, install bigger injectors and scale fuel and then I can hook up the wastegate and start tuning.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

drool...

So happy this is still happening.

NiklasFalk

iTrader: (1)

And that's the complicated part...

Nice to see it moving again

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

It's been five years, Stein. I was daydreaming about old cars and cool conversions and recalled this one. Where are you now? I think I recall you bought a private island and were becoming a hermit.

miata2fast

iTrader: (2)

Isn’t like everyone a hermit these days?

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Whatever happened to that car in your signature?

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

@Stein Any updates?

Stein

iTrader: (46)

Amazing. After 5 years you post this. And something made me want to log into the old forum today. I haven't been here for years. So, a lot has happened lately.

Let the island go and bought a lake house down on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas preparing for my retirement four years ago. Then a year or so later I decided that I didn't want to be married any longer. It was a tough (expensive) decision that I thought about for a year. Finally I decided that you can put a price on happiness. It was seven figures. She kept the acerage and my shops, plus a bucket of cash. I got the lake house.

Fast forward a year and I moved all of my outsourcing for our company in US from China to Vietnam. Started to travel to Vietnam every two months and met someone. Moved to Vietnam fulltime in January 2019 and got married April 2019. We are in the process of getting her and her daughter's visas complete to immmigrate to the US. Planning on returning to the US June 2021.

Sold the SAAB last fall to another turbo Miata guy that is local to me (not a forum member). He is just dropping it off at a shop for them to finish what is left. I still have my V8 Miata at my other house in Nebraska. Lake house is for sale so when we move back we can use that money to buy another house in Lincoln near the schools that have a lot of Vietnamese to make it easier for my daughter to adjust. She's 13 and didn't speak any English when I met her. My wife is fluent. Daughter has done well and has a pretty good grasp of English now.

So, I'll be back in a year and think of something new to build.

Some pics of the new family.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Wow, you've been busy!

Congratulations on the new family and your newfound happiness! Life is too short and far too valuable to be miserable simply out of the convenience of circumstance. Good for you for gulping hard and making a tough choice. It's good to hear from you and we wish you all the best.

And please post progress pictures of that Saab if you ever receive any.

Don't be a stranger here.

Stein

iTrader: (46)

I need to poke my head in now and again. And I know the guy that bought the SAAB so I know I'll see it when it is done.

Oh, and get after it! Only 5 more to a time-wasting 20,000 post milestone! I assume at least a few of those have merit.

Stein

iTrader: (46)

So the new owner did exactly what he said he would do and dropped it off directly at The Shop, Inc and they finished it up. It's running and driving on MS on basemap, no turbo yet. Went to Ice Cream Cruise in Nebraska. Took a top 50 trophy out of 1,700 cars.

Stein

iTrader: (46)

New owner says it drives nice. He's looking for some wheels with more? less? offset so he can pull some of the negative camber. See last pic. Any suggestions for 15x7 wheels? Something that would look good on this car. When I mocked the fenders I had 15x7 other wheel and the RS3's are cheater width so they don't fit well.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

This car is awesome, so glad to see it finished. And Stein, you are a legend.

As for wheels, lots of choices out there. I'd definitely keep it retro though, I think those watanabe/minilite style wheels fit it perfect. Just find some smaller and/or less aggressively offset ones.

nigelt

iTrader: (10)

That's beautiful. It must be nice to see it finished and appreciated!

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

C'mon gents, Post #395 needs way more than 2

Stein

iTrader: (46)

Thanks for that. I'll be moving back to the US next June. I'll be building something again. Going stir crazy here not even owning a car. I haven't driven in 7 months! Motorycle, yes, anything with four wheels? Nope.