My 10AE De-Build Thread.
 

So where to begin? I picked this jewel up from an older gentleman in the mountains of North Carolina about 2 months ago. He is a customer of my sons who works in a bicycle shop. My son wanted to sell him a bike but the gentleman needed to sell his car, so naturally the boy calls me! Well my wife loved my first Miata...

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...and it sounded like a pretty good deal so I went and checked it out over Xmas holiday while camping in the area and I was intrigued. It didn't start at the time but it had lots of nice little bits & pieces and I felt like I could make something work. I came back the next weekend with a dolly and gave him his asking price. This time it did start and he drove it on the dolly for me! This is how she looked when I got her home.

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She had been sitting under a cover and carport for a couple of years. The Electromotive Tek2 standalone was diagnosed as bad and he was having a hard time coming to terms with trying to get something else installed. As you may notice the gentleman got a little fiesty with the Plasti-Dip. This was the first to come off. If you like peeling sunburned skin this may have been for you. There were some satisfying pulls but for the most part I needed a power washer. I removed Plasti-Dip from the hard top, wheels, mirrors, side skirts, front lip, all emblems, a-frame around windshield, and a small spot on the rear bumper. Its about 90% off the car now. Some stubborn spots that were sprayed to thin and are sticking pretty well. Any suggestions anybody?

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It's sitting on jack stands by the garage now and I've pulled the turbo kit off (for sale here). I had to choose between that or the hard top to put some money back in the bank. I've pulled most of the interior out to clean. Removed the devastated soft top (helped with which had to go). Had a PDR buddy come and get that dent out of the rear 1/4.


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Now I'm just trying to figure out what to do with it. Go low? Go high and lift it? It's up in the air for now. I'll update as things progress.....

*Save this spot for later

Your PDR guy KICKS ASS!
Beautiful repair there.
Nice looking AE...
Ninja will lurk...;)

Plastidip Remover from DipYourCar will get thin plastidip off. Also, some of the "citrus-based cleaners" will work also, but not as effectively.

Nice find.

I need to be friends with that PDR guy. Nice to see another person in central VA.

Can't wait to see where this one goes. I miss my old 10AE that I sold, but I see myself in another one some day for sure!