'95 Project Miata Build, cheap and fun, just like your mom
 

I can finally say that I am a proud new owner of a 1995 Mazda Miata.
I picked her up in Canada for $750 from a guy who couldn't get it licensed there after he bought it in California.

The Good:
-It was $750!
-The car runs and drives good
-It made it home without breaking
-I wanted a 1994-1995 to start with
-Brand new Tokico Shocks/Struts and springs

The Bad: (where to start)
-Paint looks like dick (direct quote from a member here)
-Interior looks like a bum lived in it along with his pet rats
-Heavy cheap wheels
-No door panels
-Missing CD player plus bezel trim
-Missing instrument cluster trim
-Trunk is all kinds of jacked up and the battery is straight up mickey mouse special

First things first:
-Pull out the seats and clean for a few hours

Maintenance Round 1:
-Engine Temp. gauge does not work
-Driver's door is jammed up and does not open
-Flush radiator and change fluids
-Plugs, wires, filters

Make it acceptable to sit/drive in stage:
Interior:
Purchased already:
-Sparco Seats
-Radio Bezel
-Instrument cluster trim
-Steering wheel
-Shift Boot

Need to purchase:
-Door panels
-Instrument cluster trim
-Rear window repair "kit"


Build Stage 1:
Suspension

Already installed:
-Tokico Shocks/Struts
-Tokico Lowering springs
Need to Purchase:
-RacingBeat front sway bar (Should I get the adjustable end-links too?)
-Enkie RPF1's Mmmmm...

I will keep everyone updated as I go, she isn't much to look at now, but she sure is fun!

Attachment 188429
Looks ok from 30 feet :)

Attachment 188430
Attachment 188431
GONE SOON!

Attachment 188432
WTF!?!?

Attachment 188433
Again....WTF? New steering wheel: check

Attachment 188434
Bum who used to live in it: evicted. Sparco Seats: On their way!



Thanks for looking, I am very excited to tear into this little beast all summer.

What recaros?

They are black Sparco R100's. I have mounts for them that are Recaro, I made a typo... They sit a little high so I am trying to figure out a way to lower them down a little bit. (I am 6' 2")

hey thats a great deal for 750

Thank you, I've already had $750 worth of fun beating up on it around corners. I'm in the middle of moving so upgrades have been slow. I have a bunch of parts sitting around waiting to be put on.

wtf happened to the steering wheel :D

good deal for 750 :)

^Someone mustve been hungry...

Great deal on the car! I wish I was that lucky!

There are quite a few things on this car where all you can say is "WTF?". It's almost like someone cut part of the steering wheel off, I was thinking maybe it was stolen at one point and had a "CLUB" on it? I don't know, it's hacked up for sure though. I have a new Racing wheel on there now.

Just purchased a complete Turbo kit with PnP, injectors, full exhuast, everything needed to turbo this poor little car! I'm super stoked about it. I can finally fit in here!

Finally got my black turd all cleaned up. I broke the tabs off of my cheaply made eBay cover for the instrument cluster so I'm back to square one on that. Next up is new door panels. I'm thinking about making my own for the experience but I'm not sure yet if that's a good idea. I got a cheap shift boot off of eBay and I really like the stitching, it's the little things that matter right? (that's what she said)

Attachment 187869

If you are not up to making your own door cards, I will sell you mine. $20+shipping? If interested I will post up some pics. It defiantly looks better. As far as your temperature gauge not working, check and see if the wire broke off the sending unit. It is on the back of the head on the passenger side, just a single blade sensor. Mine broke of the female connector off the wire, put on new connector. Problem fixed. Good luck.

And can someone else comment, but is that a dash out of a NB?

looks like a fun project.
you think that paint looks like dick?
you should see my nb. water spots galore and it hasn't shined in years.

Common wear location actually, from the idiots that don't drive at 3 and 9. I imagine the PO cut off the damaged part, probably better than picking at it while you drive and making it worse.

If you're interested in stock, I have an airbag and wheel in decent shape if you'd like, although you obviously already have a replacement.

Door panels shouldn't be too bad, although I'd enlist the help of a fellow CR.net NW'er and borrow his/her door panel. Having something to trace would be much easier. We have a decent group of fellas over there.

What kind of condition are they in? I'd like to see some pics, that sounds plenty fair to me. Do you have an inner door latch? My door is stuck and I cannot for the life of me get it to unlatch. I took the window at and have tried manually pressing the latch with no luck, I'm at a loss right now on how to get this thing opened up...

What website is that?

CR.net is clubroadster.net, yeah I will snap some pics of them. They are in decent shape. I think they are anyways. As far as latches, I dont have any extras. I would pull it out and try to shoot some tri-flo on it and mess with it on a bench. I know its a pain in the ass trying to work inside the door and all that. Its only three torx bolts and removing the clips for the rods. The clips are really neat, you just lift the part over the rod and the rod will then slide out. All that and I didnt snap some of the door cards. I will take some tomorrow after work.

The NW section, come say hi:
http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/forumdisplay.php?f=49

Looks like a great project for $750. But why go after a 94'-95', why not 94'-97'?

OBDI instead of OBDII, less strict emission requirements.

Also:
Easier tuning, slightly lighter.