Found this little beauty at an estate sale. 01 LS with 34k miles. Car had a minor tap in the back. Messed up the rear bumper cover and drivers quarter a little bit--it would be a little bit tacky (but ok) as is for a street car but perfect for a race car. There's some minor marks on the body here n there, nothing really huge. The driver's exterior door handle was removed, but it's included with the car. The rear bumper, skirts, mudflaps, etc were also included. Also a new set of OEM tails, still in boxes were included. Everything looked stock on the car; I didn't see anything that looked modified with exception to the obvious damage.

Car only has 34k miles. It has leather, Bose, and all the sport braces underneath. This should be the LS car which has a Torsen. Does not have bilstein shocks or 6 speed. The top and leather seats are perfect. 16" twisted spoke wheels are in great shape but one tire was punctured. It was sitting for 3 years--the owner became paralyzed and so it sat incomplete and unsued. Engine started right up on spray. Probably needs the injectors cleaned. The top will make it to my 96M which needs a new top.

A top like that goes for $500 so the way I see it, I only have a few hundred bucks in the car after that. Thinking in that manner, selling parts like the tupperware, perfect seats, BOSE, center console, etc will more than put me in the black and help to go towards the project.
SWMBO wants me to part it, but I have other plans. Looks like a great track car to me.

Not sure I need 3 Miatas. I'll have a nice 96M, bone stock except an 01 soft top, for sale soon.

 

I am pretty sure you do not need 3 Miatas either. I think you should buy a 4th or 5th.

 

OK, but I'll have to park them at your place. I now have 2 cars and a trailer at work. I need to sell some stuff before Jerry gets mad at me for having so much of my junk clogging up the shop.

 

Nice color! Not that I am biased or anything...

 

that color goes well with sawzalls on the frame rail.

 

...says the man with a retro steering wheel on a 2001 turbo car.

 

Worst. Color. Ever.

Judging from the car's condition, I'm assuming you got a kick *** deal (did I miss the price?).

In for DIY respray and track car build.

 

What'd you pay for it?

 

We have about $1k in it so far.

I'm starting the plan for GRM $2011. Going to shoot for the $1000 class (the rules allow me to sell $1005 of stock parts back, so basically I'll have $1000 for race prep).
Or I might go ahead and do the $2011 class and low end turbo.

The budget has to include wheels, suspension, power adders, and engine management--though things like brake pads and roll bar/cage are not included against the budget.

 

OK, looks like I have the cage lined out.

I've picked up all the little things like oil, filters, spark plugs, etc. Tomorrow is going to be "make it run" day.

 

i made a thread when i got my 5th miata on another forum using the same title lol(without the miata #3 part of course)

 

The rear roll hoops are in. Welded in at 4 points with plates. Clears hardtop.

The rest of the cage is to be completed over the winter, but this is enough to get me on track (just not road racing of course), plus the cage won't be in the way as the rest of the car is prepped.

If anyone in the Atlanta area needs a recommendation for an awesome cage guy, let me know and I'll forward you his details. Retail cost for a custom rear section like mine is not that much more than an off the shelf Hard Dog, but this is a *much* better product.

Sorry for phone cam pics.

 

damn what kind of bars are you installing?

 

I don't understand the question.

 

Woot! Got these things done today...

Rear shocks
Fuel filter
Diff housing repaired and diff reinstalled
Injectors reinstalled

2 weeks ago I installed a new fuel tank and pump (the tank it came with was NASTY and the pump was dead). Big job because the rear subframe comes out to get to the tank.

Car will now start and move under its own power. Car started with an amazing flame throwing backfire through the intake. It blew the crossover tube and upper airbox off. The lower airbox caught fire. We put that out, buttoned it back up, and hit the key again. It started.
First time this car has run since 2003 according to the paperwork it came with.

The tach doesn't work and the fuel pump only runs when jumpered at diagnostic connector. That's something I need to look into. It needs a new battery, and I need to finish up the exhaust, change the front shocks, and the list goes on and on. However the engine now starts and the brakes work. Trans feels really good. It's getting there.

I think also the MAF was damaged in the fire. The engine is all there, but it doesn't rev quite right. It will rev up with light throttle, but bogs with a quick throttle stab.

 

Here's where we are today. If anything below seems a little out of context, it's because it's a direct copy and paste from another site where I've been posting more regular updates.

Car is at a point now where it can run and drive. And remember, I have only ~$1000 in it as it sits.

A couple pics from yesterday's work session. I always feel a bit awkward about stopping work to take pics, so I don't have too many. Plus usually when working, the hands get greasy, so that makes it double awkward as I have to stop to wash up before touching the cam or phone. Yesterday was mostly a clean day though, so I did take a few that I thought people may find at least mildly entertaining if not interesting.

As noted above, the driver's quarter was pushed in a full inch and pushed down 2 inches. I have previously spent several hours pushing the quarter back out by expanding it with a high lift jack and strategic hammer bashing. It was much improved, but imperfect. Well it's still imperfect, but now less so.

So here are a couple pics of yesterday's body work jig, made of a cheap floor jack and a wood anvil. Various pieces of wood were cut to size for different bends. You can see in the background a few of the various items that were stripped out of the car yesterday.




Progress pics






And here is the rear trunk panel installed. It took a good bit of reworking with a drill, dremel, and hammer. You can see the trunk gasket is installed, so the trunk should be weather tight, or at least reasonably so. You'll note that the pics above were snapped in sunlight hours and the last pic here is taken at night under the worklights to give an idea of time frame.



The drivers tail light area then needed some more work with a hammer to get it to fit. I also had to trim a little plastic.

 

Did you ever figure out the problem with the tach and the fuel pump?

 

Yes. It needed a MAF. Motor feels strong.

 

Track rat glory.

 

That's awesome, it's just like my track car.