Almost missed this one.

It still feels pretty open. Basically the same visibility as say a roll bar but now you have a bar in close proximity to your head. It makes blind lanes changes a bit difficult but no worse then top up. Having everything above your head open gives a good feeling of freedom. Now that I have a hardtop bolted down it defiantly feels pretty tight. But I love it.

 

Looks great! Wish I had the time and space to do the same overhaul/revival of my car. It's not anywhere near where your was but definitely got some rust growing underneath.

Awesome work! A+

 

Superb!!!! This is great! I though my rebuild was tough but, damn, I don't have near the work to do that you did.

Thanks for the inspiration and keep up the work!

Oh and thanks for closing the deal on the street cage for me, I am for sure getting one now

 

Like everyone already said, great job..amazing work...blah blah blah. You have me somewhat speechless. a couple of questions. Did you run into any problems when you powder coated the front upper a-arm? (upper ball joint the pressed in fitting?) The rubber seal and grease would melt in the process. did you just repack with grease and replace the boot after it was done? When you bought the car was the the soft top on it? In the first pictures it looks like there was plenty of leaves and weather getting inside the car... if so, you really did an amazing job breathing new life into her....so for a "free" car, what do you think was your finished build cost was?
Kudos!

-Cheers,

Jim

 

not only did you bring it back from the dead, you made it BADASS.

Very nice work man

 

Good work.

 

Kyle likes ----







I kid, I kid. I can say that this is a man of extreme attention to detail on his build, being a good friend of mine. I can't believe it's been a year since you started on that basketcase Kyle, time flies. There's a few pieces from my car in there too

 

I pressed the balljoint out and and back it after the process.

 

Very nicely done. The car and the thread. If I send you my Miata, can you make it look like yours?

Seriously, job weel done.

 

Sorry was in Orlando all weekend, I got like 5 minutes on the computer and quick replied.

The car didn't have a top at all. I got the soft top second hand off a friend who totaled a car. The stock seats were rotted out as was most of the interior. So I got seats from a wrecked '99.

Oh and Andrew,
Thanks for the kind words... LOL

 

I believe the proper response to this thread is simply

APPLICATION FOR BALLER STATUS APPROVED.

 

+1 for cost analysis. And, job well done!

 

Definitely got me even more excited about shopping for an NA. I hope to find me a good deal on a white one just like this and work from the ground up on it.

Basic cost rundown? Thanks for all the replies and answers to questions so far. This kind of stuff truly is the bread and butter of car forums

 

I never kept tally. I would have to venture a guess of around $8k thus far.

 

Can I ask where you had it painted?

 

yeah, where? I want to know how, especially if it was DIY too.

 

Bringing this back from the dead again..... Really debating the switch to white.

 

Sorry bout missing all this. No I traded some labor for a friend of mine and had him paint it. I just did all the prep work myself.



So a little update... More to come when I get good pics and get some other odds and ends done.

 

The front roll bar points added in are SWEET. I assume it all comes out so you can still pull the dash?

 

Nice intake manifold.