|
Bajan MX5
Hey all, I've been trolling the forum for a few months and have already gained quite a bit of knowledge by using the mythical search feature lol. So tonight I figured it's about time I introduce myself and get to know some of the other forum users.
Some background info on me; I'm 25, fresh out of university, and I live in Barbados (an island in the Caribbean) While the 93' NA is my third car, she's my first naturally aspirated and first rwd, so it goes without saying it's been an interesting change from fwd turbo to the miata. I got it last year after chasing the po down for 3+ years and have been slowly but steadily restoring it since then. The plan is to have a fun, reliable, turn key turbo miata, that can box outside it's weight class both on the track and in road races, as well as take a leisurely drive in the countryside while using the creature comforts (ac and ps). I think I've typed enough for now, I'll let the pictures do the talking, and give you an idea of how far she's come, and what she looks like now. |
6 Attachment(s)
The day I bought her: [IMG]https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399509253[/IMG] [IMG]https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399509253[/IMG] [IMG]https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399509253[/IMG] https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399509253 [IMG]https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399509253[/IMG] [IMG]https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399509253[/IMG]
|
14 Attachment(s)
Was posting from my phone so I've edited this double post to be relevant.
My painter/bodywork man collected the car from the po once I had paid and started dealing with the rust immediately. This is what returned: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399511389 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399511389 New(to me) rubber: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399511389 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399511389 Stock ride height: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399511389 At work between two of my boss' cars lol https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399511389 (free) Obnoxious subwoofer: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399511389 Drove it like this for quite a bit while I decided on how best to go about the restoration process https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399511389 Next up, the fun stuff! |
Fun fact:
I have spent very little time in the West Indies, and none in Barbados. Most of my travels in the Caribbean have been nearer to Puerto Rico, where most of my family settled after leaving Cuba. For some reason, I always assumed that the predominant flow of traffic on your island would be on the right, despite the fact that it is was a British colony during the 20th century. And I have never, in all of my travels, ever visited a country in which vehicles which opposed the local convention (right vs. left) were so noted on their registration plate. That said, it's becoming quite difficult to find unmodified 1.6 cars in good condition, and aside from some fairly basic surface corrosion (and hose God-forsaken taillights) you seem to have accomplished this. Welcome to MiataTurbo. |
Originally Posted by Joe Perez
(Post 1129178)
Fun fact:
I have spent very little time in the West Indies, and none in Barbados. Most of my travels in the Caribbean have been nearer to Puerto Rico, where most of my family settled after leaving Cuba. For some reason, I always assumed that the predominant flow of traffic on your island would be on the right, despite the fact that it is was a British colony during the 20th century. And I have never, in all of my travels, ever visited a country in which vehicles which opposed the local convention (right vs. left) were so noted on their registration plate. That said, it's becoming quite difficult to find unmodified 1.6 cars in good condition, and aside from some fairly basic surface corrosion (and hose God-forsaken taillights) you seem to have accomplished this. Welcome to MiataTurbo. Actually you are correct, we use right hand drive vehicles and drive on the left side of the road, which means my car is quite rare in that respect. There are about two other lhd miatas total on the island and a handful of rhd na's and nb's. Most recently I've seen one NC not sure lhd or rhd with the registration plates "MX 5". I guess Barbados is unique in that respect cause cars, trucks, busses, etc all have to be marked lhd if imported from the US market. Thanks for the props on the find, I'm really happy with it as well, I wouldn't have minded the extra torque from the 1.8 terribly and the ease with which I would then be able to find a nice range of turbo manifolds on this forum... but I'll make do with what I have. (Spoiler: the altezza tails have been replaced :cool: ) |
BajanMX5, congrats on signing up at the best site on the web!
|
Welcome to the site. It looks like she's in good hands, can't wait to see the progress.
|
Originally Posted by Braineack
(Post 1129350)
BajanMX5, congrats on signing up at the best site on the web!
Originally Posted by pdexta
(Post 1129391)
Welcome to the site. It looks like she's in good hands, can't wait to see the progress.
|
20 Attachment(s)
At this point, we were ready for paint, so here's one final artsy shot in the tattered, patchy, white guise I affectionately dubbed 'white cow':
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 And now with a touch of color: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 Sanded down, and full coverage base coat applied: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582255 |
Up to date
14 Attachment(s)
This post brings you basically current, as the car has not changed any in terms of exterior mods since these pictures, with the exception of some tire shine :rofl:
So here ya are; the finished product: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582770 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582770 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582770 I absolutely love this color :jerkit: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582770 Did a deep dish wheel and quick release install as soon as I got her back: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582770 https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582770 And finally here's my aerodynamically superior licence plate bracket :rofl::rofl::loser: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1399582770 |
4 Attachment(s)
What did you do to your miata today you ask?
Why my favorite mod so far 😁 Ignore the messy garage; it was cleaner shortly after. |
Nice build. Funny, I just got that same sticker in the mail today! Mines the NB version though...
|
Hey all, just realized other than my funny sticker I haven't updated recently so here goes.
After the last pic I plastidipped the rims all black: Black and silver https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...9mrmr7OiChjH4w With paint stripper https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...EL8y9aqiUfOUuA Raw metal https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...7xXiMFGqGdxwiA When it was done I took a nice pic with the tonneau cover on. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...dpIReF3hUJ3oqA Tint all the glass! https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...epIQmjfxDDSlDQ Freshly tinted and how it sat for a while. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...UM-0vrMUjUWfWg Then came the turbo bug. Some bits: https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...b_9M1ebB_eFKcg https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...x4LnEyh2ecXeVg https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...OceSiXNxKjEWVg https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...jBxevuarg37MEg https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...Eyl7hGwiLUOEsQ https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...KXskqI3-ZtHeog Fitted the intercooler first. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...vuV71gLnXJdRgg Next to big bro (gonna be turboed later too) https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...5sBtbrqKuW4r1Q An R-package front lip to complement the look. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...Dh2M5sdMWpQoRw After some fab work: Manifold and downpipe shot. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...OVVlgbw1udSkkA Side shot from intake manifold. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...UXrfTam_iOra_g Front eye level shot. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...EjTx6MsQQoiBmw Front bumper level shot. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...NwPPVF0Qp1N9YA How it looks at the moment. https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Photo...Oy6SVUuDlMSSIw As you can see I went for an unorthodox mounting position. As it sits the inter-cooler piping is quite simple, although the turbo intake required some creative thinking to ensure it's efficient. I'll show you guys how I did this in future posts. What's left to do: wastegate piping, finish welding manifold and exhaust, oil and coolant lines, weld intercooler piping and put in iat sensor, tidy up engine bay and re-tune. And that long winded post brings everyone pretty much up to date. Cheers. |
Originally Posted by that7guy
(Post 1194016)
Nice build. Funny, I just got that same sticker in the mail today! Mines the NB version though...
|
So awesome that you were willing to put this much work into! Cant wait to see what happens next. I want to respray my nb. But we will see..
|
Originally Posted by boostedchicken
(Post 1197723)
So awesome that you were willing to put this much work into! Cant wait to see what happens next. I want to respray my nb. But we will see..
I've learnt so much reading through build threads, and saved time and money as a result :party: Make sure whoever does the paint job on your car takes off as many panels as possible during prep, I discovered rust from a shoddy repair when my car was pulled apart to paint. Replaced all the bolts with stainless so now I never have to worry about bruised knuckles and broken bolts from those parts again. |
I'm sorry I missed your introduction initially. Welcome to the forum. I've been a few places in the East Indies but not Barbados. I'm afraid that the Mount Gay Rum distillery might keep me from leaving if I ever made it there. Great work on the car. I'll bring some turbo parts down in exchange for some aged rum sometime of you are interested...
|
Originally Posted by sixshooter
(Post 1197814)
I'm sorry I missed your introduction initially. Welcome to the forum. I've been a few places in the East Indies but not Barbados. I'm afraid that the Mount Gay Rum distillery might keep me from leaving if I ever made it there. Great work on the car. I'll bring some turbo parts down in exchange for some aged rum sometime of you are interested...
You should definitely plan a trip here if you can, we have some of the best beaches and weather you could ask for, and I would gladly be a tour guide for any mt.net member. Funny enough my office is in an adjoining warehouse to Mount Gay's distribution centre. Thanks, I can't wait to be finished and get some track time in. Haha, I would gladly trade you some rum for car parts as I'm not a heavy drinker. |
Please tell me what tracks are available to you on the island. I'm very curious.
|
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:16 AM. |
© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands