Turbo Smurfette - Build in progress (slow)
#1501
I agree with keeping at least your shell it's a super clean car. I think you should run it one more year and if you still want a change maybe do a built k swap and shoot for 300 non turbo.
I dont know.. you gotta do what you gotta do but this is one of my personal favorites on here do t want to see you give it up.
I might be willing to take the cams off your hands if you dont want them and it keeps you in the car another year.
I dont know.. you gotta do what you gotta do but this is one of my personal favorites on here do t want to see you give it up.
I might be willing to take the cams off your hands if you dont want them and it keeps you in the car another year.
#1502
Moderator
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 20,650
Total Cats: 3,011
EVERY TIME somebody takes their car apart for more than a couple of months they start to lose the familiarity of the joy of driving it. I always recommend changing one thing at a time and getting it back on the road to enjoy as quickly as possible.
If your girlfriend is hot and dynamite in bed but you haven't had any, or even seen her naked, in 6 months then your eye may wander. It doesn't mean you won't be thrilled when you are stroking her throttle and plowing through her curves again. She's still got the ability to get your rocks off so hard, but you have to take her out on a date or you won't get any.
You are worrying about whether you'd like her better with her hair dyed a new color instead of pulling her close and enjoying the luxuries of what her hot *** is ready to give you. Buy that bitch a purse and take what's yours. Make her moan and squeal.
TL;DR - Get some
If your girlfriend is hot and dynamite in bed but you haven't had any, or even seen her naked, in 6 months then your eye may wander. It doesn't mean you won't be thrilled when you are stroking her throttle and plowing through her curves again. She's still got the ability to get your rocks off so hard, but you have to take her out on a date or you won't get any.
You are worrying about whether you'd like her better with her hair dyed a new color instead of pulling her close and enjoying the luxuries of what her hot *** is ready to give you. Buy that bitch a purse and take what's yours. Make her moan and squeal.
TL;DR - Get some
#1503
For what it's worth, if it helps in the motivation department - following your build has been pretty inspirational to those of us getting started on attempting to make power beyond stock block limits. I've enjoyed reading through your build log and seeing one of the few well put together dual duty builds (though I like your car more as a street car) I've come across a fair share of old posts/threads of you looking for information along your journey that has definitely helped me along with mine.
I also agree 100% with six's thoughts - the longer a project stays apart/un-drive-able, the more doubt and lack of motivation starts to set in. I'm sure once everything is back together, you'll fall right back into it. I know I would.
+1 on mechanical empathy. Breaking more **** sounds like it might break you too. Join the 6spd preservation society.
I also agree 100% with six's thoughts - the longer a project stays apart/un-drive-able, the more doubt and lack of motivation starts to set in. I'm sure once everything is back together, you'll fall right back into it. I know I would.
+1 on mechanical empathy. Breaking more **** sounds like it might break you too. Join the 6spd preservation society.
#1504
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 4,648
Total Cats: 544
I hate to say it, but it really sounds like you're done with the project. If you don't have the love for the car or a strong desire to see it finished, a part out would probably make the most sense.
One thing I don't understand, though, is the desire to start over with another shell. I don't get that. If you don't want to chase huge power anymore and want something usable on track, why not sell your big power parts and put together the track build you're talking about? I can't understand parting this out just to start another Miata project over from scratch.
An s2000 or ND, otoh...
One thing I don't understand, though, is the desire to start over with another shell. I don't get that. If you don't want to chase huge power anymore and want something usable on track, why not sell your big power parts and put together the track build you're talking about? I can't understand parting this out just to start another Miata project over from scratch.
An s2000 or ND, otoh...
That way I don't have to source more parts individually to get rid of parts. It makes better sense in my head, and something about feeling good sleeping on a bed with new sheets. Fresh start.
#1505
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 4,648
Total Cats: 544
I read it. Allofit. And basically feel the same way/agree. Though if you're really this close, I'd throw it together and at least enjoy for one last time. Nothing worse than spending money only to get to hold the part and nothing more. Mechanical empathy will go a LONG way and you'd be surprised at how much that 6sp will hold with it
I try to empathize as best I can, that's how I've only had one 6 speed this entire time... But I'm curious how far that goes, if things go well
#1507
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 4,648
Total Cats: 544
yea. It wasn't until just yesterday I felt the nostalgia of MATG2018 and would definitely miss that if I gave the car up in the summer months. It really does ebb and flow but you're right, when it's working, it's usually more fun. I just gotta concentrate on other hobbies to keep stimulated and stop tearing the miata down; breaking things only to fix them.
For what it's worth, if it helps in the motivation department - following your build has been pretty inspirational to those of us getting started on attempting to make power beyond stock block limits. I've enjoyed reading through your build log and seeing one of the few well put together dual duty builds (though I like your car more as a street car) I've come across a fair share of old posts/threads of you looking for information along your journey that has definitely helped me along with mine.
I also agree 100% with six's thoughts - the longer a project stays apart/un-drive-able, the more doubt and lack of motivation starts to set in. I'm sure once everything is back together, you'll fall right back into it. I know I would.
+1 on mechanical empathy. Breaking more **** sounds like it might break you too. Join the 6spd preservation society.
I also agree 100% with six's thoughts - the longer a project stays apart/un-drive-able, the more doubt and lack of motivation starts to set in. I'm sure once everything is back together, you'll fall right back into it. I know I would.
+1 on mechanical empathy. Breaking more **** sounds like it might break you too. Join the 6spd preservation society.
Details to come...
Last edited by psyber_0ptix; 02-13-2019 at 09:02 AM.
#1509
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Posts: 7,950
Total Cats: 1,003
One more thought: what is it about cars in general, and this Miata in specific, that lights you up? I don't think it's building, because the fact that it's apart has you thinking of parting. Is it the drive? Is it track days? Is it highway pulls in the middle of the night trying to find the fastest cars to beat? Is it highway pulls in the middle of the night trying to get a higher VD #? Is it coming up with new solutions? #science?
For me, I'm not really that into building the car. I can hardly believe I completed my project a couple years ago. I would never have completed my dad's project Miata if it had been for me - I would have backed out. For me it's about driving the car and feeling the connection with it. Hitting some boost.
Whatever will get you fizzing soonest and as much as possible, that's what you ought to do.
For me, I'm not really that into building the car. I can hardly believe I completed my project a couple years ago. I would never have completed my dad's project Miata if it had been for me - I would have backed out. For me it's about driving the car and feeling the connection with it. Hitting some boost.
Whatever will get you fizzing soonest and as much as possible, that's what you ought to do.
#1510
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Murfreesboro,TN
Posts: 2,042
Total Cats: 265
I'm glad you're leaning back into keeping the car and continuing the project. I 100% agree with sixshooter on project boredom. I haven't been able to drive my car for nearly 3 months due to an injury/surgery and I constantly find myself thinking of different project I could get into. Recently I've been working on a friend's 1.8L swap so he can bring his car to MaTG this year and it has reignited some motivation to finish up some small repairs on my car and maybe finally get it professionally tuned. Hopefully with everything out of the way I can work on some smaller projects I've been want to do.
Based on the fact that you totaled up how much you have spent on this project tells me you really won't want to abandon it. Most people I have known that have abandoned projects won't look at the money they spent because they do not want to know their losses.
Based on the fact that you totaled up how much you have spent on this project tells me you really won't want to abandon it. Most people I have known that have abandoned projects won't look at the money they spent because they do not want to know their losses.
#1511
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 15,176
Total Cats: 1,680
I have a NB1 shell sitting in my backyard. Just the shell alone, the rest of it was used for a exocet. I will drop it off at your place next Wednesday night. It is already on a trailer so easy to move around, and you get to keep the trailer. Talk to Soviet and have him get team Sputnik to weld in a cage.
#1512
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Jonesboro Arkansas
Posts: 553
Total Cats: 25
I can relate to this completely. I remember my last build, it was super fun, a 300+ miata is a blast. But I also had this constant fear of breaking something, or when it did, it cost me. I felt like my relationship was a hyper one with high highs and mighty lows. I felt like I was throwing money at the car more and driving it less. Not to mention the financial aspect of it all. At the end of the day I was forced to sell the car. At the time I was pretty depressed, its hard to throw away 15 years of miata and quit.
However, I set lower goals for myself and purchased the best deal I could find. I've driven my new car more and have had just as much fun. True the highs aren't as high but the lows aren't as low either. While keeping the budget reasonable. I actually find it more fun to work the cost/joy ratio. Yeah its not as fast as what I've had before, but it makes me smile all the same. Being on this forum can pull you towards allofit. Its really easy to get into that. Especially when you see how you could do things different or better and when you know you are capable of it. Now my perspective is much different. There seems to be some peer pressure to keep going for allofit. I'd toss the idea of a back to basics.
However, I set lower goals for myself and purchased the best deal I could find. I've driven my new car more and have had just as much fun. True the highs aren't as high but the lows aren't as low either. While keeping the budget reasonable. I actually find it more fun to work the cost/joy ratio. Yeah its not as fast as what I've had before, but it makes me smile all the same. Being on this forum can pull you towards allofit. Its really easy to get into that. Especially when you see how you could do things different or better and when you know you are capable of it. Now my perspective is much different. There seems to be some peer pressure to keep going for allofit. I'd toss the idea of a back to basics.
#1513
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 4,648
Total Cats: 544
I have a NB1 shell sitting in my backyard. Just the shell alone, the rest of it was used for a exocet. I will drop it off at your place next Wednesday night. It is already on a trailer so easy to move around, and you get to keep the trailer. Talk to Soviet and have him get team Sputnik to weld in a cage.
Lets hash out the details offline.
#1514
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 4,648
Total Cats: 544
I hear you completely. I think Vlad hit the nail in the head that I'd probably be a bit sad not to try out the last iteration since it's paid for. But if Lars and I can work something out, I might be able to enjoy Smurfette for one more year, and still retain some parts to transfer over to a new more modest build. I really hope this works out. That way I can finish the science project, but if someone buys my engine/trans/turbo setup whole, I'd even help them swap it into their car and sort out wiring knowing it would live on. That'd be super idealistic, but maybe not outside the realm of possibility.
#1515
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 4,648
Total Cats: 544
It started off as a science project in a time when the efr was still young. It was my first motor, built out if a storage unit. I just wanted to see what the product of my own two hands and efforts could achieve, and brick by brick, it pushed the car higher and higher, the engine usually not being the limitation.
I do like to try to make a contribution if you ever dig through past gs500 forums (swapping gxr forks into a gs with katana wheel). Or on Nasioc having had 3 swapped GC/GM imprezas. And e30 forums swapping the the ///M motor into a 318i. I love to tinker.
, I think I've just hit a point with smurfette where it's exchanging parts but it's not really new. It's the same thing. I've been through three intercooler setups, two motors, two exhausts, two turbos and other little repeat things. It is a joy feeling the hammer drop. But it's reached a point where I can't produce anymore logs for Vlad without asking myself, is it worth going to jail to do these pulls on public roads. I fear its bred too far into the street car life to be a reliable track vehicle, though in reflection given my work schedule/travel and space and tow vehicle limitation since my property is so tiny, I don't think I could seriously pursue tracking outside of basic hpde.
I really think saving my suspension, brakes and diff for a K swapped NB I can start from scratch would yield a higher quality product.
A soft break up if you will.
#1519
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 4,648
Total Cats: 544
Yummy! Is that purple heart I see?
I used mineral oil to season, then warm oil+bee's wax for sealing. I need to build a router table to notch some handle grooves in and it would make rounding over easier. I suck at handheld.
I used mineral oil to season, then warm oil+bee's wax for sealing. I need to build a router table to notch some handle grooves in and it would make rounding over easier. I suck at handheld.
#1520
SADFab Destructive Testing Engineer
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Beaverton, USA
Posts: 18,642
Total Cats: 1,866
Late to the party, but don't partout without driving it again.
Everytime I want to part the car out my wife won't let me, reminds me how happy it makes me to drive it on track/autox. Then i take it to the track and the autox and its just so gawdamn fun. Makes it worth it every time.
Everytime I want to part the car out my wife won't let me, reminds me how happy it makes me to drive it on track/autox. Then i take it to the track and the autox and its just so gawdamn fun. Makes it worth it every time.