crustafur

Hey all! I've been lurking for a while. A lot of reading between builds, current conversations & old dated materials. So I thought i'd get my de-noobing out of the way finally.

I'm a 30-something son of a mechanic, a mechanic who didn't want his son to become a mechanic when he grew up. So I had to find my own way to cars and working on them. Don't want to go into the whole life story here, but most you guys seem genuinely interested and helpful if someone isn't just here to get their stupid questions answered. So I thought i'd divulge a bit of background.
The itch for a project car started a few years ago. I wanted to get a home (with a garage) purchase out of the way before I picked up a money pit project. I started with dreams of a 1G or 2G DSM, and then I realized I don't need that much power and definitely do not need that much headache.
I don't remember exactly what pointed me at the Miata, I think it was a friend of mine that has an NB2.
Long story short, I purchased an NA8 earlier this year and was just chipping away at maintenance stuff before I put it on the road when I realized that I liked the NB body much more. So I sold the NA8 and picked up a black 2002 LS that I've been working on. Mostly un-******* PO's mistakes and poor workmanship along with general clean up. I'm shooting to tag it/start driving it on the road by end of year. Nothing really crazy wrong with it, just chipping away at things I see and want to improve upon.
Goals are (planned in this order, but obviously some things can shift around):
-to get behind the wheel & address the inevitable problems of a 15 year old car + maintenance stuff.
-really get to know the car and learn how to drive it with stock power.
-suspension upgrades (still learning)
-wideband (AEM UEGO)
-Megasquirt (MS3x unless something changes by the time i'm ready for that)
-injectors (FF obviously)
-drivetrain (clutch/flywheel)
-MKturbo gloriousness

Just gonna kind of go from there and see how far down the rabbit hole it takes me. Not sure if I'll post much as I'm still learning a lot plus I won't be doing anything anyone else hasn't and we all know what Miatas look like. But i'd like to participate in all the awesomeness around here.
Thanks for the wealth of knowledge you guys keep here!

concealer404

iTrader: (3)

Marry me.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I will be down in Orlando October 19-21th. I can deliver a setup then and help with the install. Lets do this. I can even hook you up with a sweet 949 Big Grip Kit also. Knock out everything you want to do in 3 quick days. Might also be able to throw in an FM2 clutch.

What I am trying to say is, I can bring down every part you need, to make your car what you want, and all you have to do is hand a big stack of $1 bills for me to blow at the strip clubs in Orlando. I will probably even splurge on bottle service.

crustafur

Aww, shucks. Like I said, I've done a lot of reading. No use in making the same mistakes others have learned from and posted about it here. Your builds threads entertain me btw

crustafur

Haha, I'm picking up what you're putting down. However I am nowhere near ready for that. You'll definitely get a stack of my dollar bills at some point! I lurked around your booth and display a decent bit at Miatapalooza this year. Had to drag a friend over to convince him yours was the path to go down instead the aids he was trying to buy.

What are you coming down here for?

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

All you have to do to be ready is say YES. It really is that simple. Pulling out the Visa also helps. In 3 days I think we could install a clutch, install some Xida's and sway bars, and install a MKTurbo setup and get it up and running on a MSPNP-Pro.

Possibly delivering a setup to a customer in Daytona. Then actually going to some concerts in Orlando.

ryansmoneypit

iTrader: (6)

Holy **** man, take Lars up on his deal. It will NEVER be easier than that. You will know everything about the install ( because you are helping ) and it will be 100x's less headaches.

It sounds like you are going to make the jump eventually, so just get it over with. One and done.

crustafur

Why you gotta do this to me?!? Haha, It has been REALLY hard to not buy the fun stuff car parts while I've been trying to buy decent body panels and replace interior pieces that were either missing or destroyed. Among other replacement parts. The time will come when my Visa card number slides into your order page, no doubt.

Safe to assume you're going to see the Descendents?

crustafur

I know, I know! And i'd save on shipping (assuming). I'm really trying to methodical about this and do **** in the right order. Ballsdeep in the modified Miata will have to wait!

Also, I cant figure out multiquote so apologies for all the single replies, guys.

ryansmoneypit

iTrader: (6)

hit " Multi+" first, then just quote on any others you want to include.

crustafur

Thank you, sir!

rleete

iTrader: (21)

This one appears to have done his homework. Only thing missing is cat pics.

Welcome, crustfur.

crustafur

Thanks! And I still have a lot to learn. So I'm not done.

Here are my cats. They bork. A lot. The white one might be mentally challenged.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

What Interior parts do you need? Want a nice RED 93LE interior. I have a few of those I could sell off. Would look pretty sweet swapped into a NB2.

You are correct on the Descendents being one of the bands I am seeing. $50 off my price. Guess the other one correctly and I will take another $50 off.

No saving on shipping unfortunately. Just a free install. It will methodical. You order a setup tomorrow. I place the orders for the MSPNP-Pro, wideband, and injectors. You get those next week and install them. Get a ok base tune going. Then you get the car up on jack stand with the exhaust, driveshaft, wheels, shocks, sway bars, and a few other things removed. I show up and we install shocks and sway bars. We then swap in the FM2 clutch, and install a new RMS. Then trans goes back up and in. Then exhaust goes on. Next is drilling and tapping the oil pan and installing the feed line. After that we throw on the manifold, turbo and down pipe. Then quickly install the IC. Start up your car your car and enjoy being low and very not slow. Then take home a stripper after we have that bottle service.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

I may want to talk to you about the Xidas if you are coming down and your new friend doesn't want them. I'll install them myself so you get more time with Tatiana. Or Lily. Or Carmen. Tampa Bay has more strip clubs than any other city in the US. And breweries. thebrewerybay.com

thumpetto007

iTrader: (15)

There is nothing wrong with a sick xida setup, but, knowing what I know now, and how the car drives, and how little track time (never) the car sees....

I would have stuck with the stock suspension, and just decent grippy tires. Just my 2 cents.

crustafur

Lars, you are quite the salesman. As awesome as that all sounds I really wanna do this step by step and learn (plus not blow my load(cash) all at once) . I really have collected most of my interior parts at this point I think, aside from off the top of my head a driver side door handle. LE stuff would look pretty sweet inside an NB2 I agree there.

My other guess for a band is gonna be Between The Buried and Me?

I appreciate the .02. Car was purchased with Megans on it, so this will be addressed after I put some road time in. I rode in a friends car on Xidas and I understand the hype after that.

Agreed on Tampa for the strip clubs. It's still full nude there, correct? The only brewery I make it to over there is Cigar City. I'm really not much of a drinker these days.