Just realized I never introduced myself....
 

I just realized I never formally introduced myself.... I normally don't feel my ideas/projects are all that helpful so I tend to not post much. I do however greatly appreciate some of you that have helped me out along the way with you amazing build threads and comments.

About me...
I had a 90 miata back when I was in my early 20s and loved the car despite all the crap I got from my friends and co-workers. Now I'm well into my 40s, I decided to get another NA6 and make it a machine that would embarrass the bulk of the Vette boys out there. Started with a $500 donor car with the intent of completely rebuilding it myself while swapping in an LS. The toughest part was all of the body work since I knew NADA about body repair.

I changed my mind along the way to the LFX over the LS. Not sure why other than I like to be different most of the time. Came across @portabull 's build on there and off I went. Then came @ThePass build and I quickly realized how utterly inadequate a build thread of my own would be so I just kept quietly building.

Again... thanks to all of you who have helped me along the way and I hope I can return the favor one day.

-Griff

I'd also like to add that I just moved back to Houston, TX so if anyone in the Houston area would like to see an LFX swap PM me and I am happy to answer any questions you may have. It is a great swap for these cars and a blast to drive. Most of the "tough" stuff has already been figured out by the pioneers so quit thinking about it and just DO IT!

:useless:

I like the attitude, sit quietly, read and learn from others, ask for informed help when needed. More info and pics on the car please.

Some pics of the car.
 

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...e49c2d3bdc.jpg
From that, to today...
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b3c8da0471.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...f764161a7c.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...bed54ffdd9.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7d6429ffdf.jpg


Sorry for the messy garage. We had just moved at that point and all I had time to do was paint the floor before I shoved everything in the doors.

Now working on finishing up the interior a bit before I add a rear mount turbo and e85.

What an awesome transformation. That paint color looks great. What is it? I want that for my cage color now.

PS The garage is clean by my standards.

Welcome (back) to Houston. If you have a Facebook and haven't joined yet, you should join the "Houston Miata Club", over-all, people here are pretty friendly.

The color is Dark Charcoal Grey Metallic by hotrod flatz found here. Pics don't do it justice and in the sun the color looks pretty cool with the flat metallic. For a cage it would be great but for an exterior a flat kinda sucks. The texture is very rough so it picks up everything off the road. I could slick it down with a clear but then there goes the flat look. I'm probably going to sand it all down and glass on some wide body fenders at some point so I can put some wider tires on the car. I think I will try Audi Nardo grey next time around.

Thanks man. I don't go on FB very often but I will look them up.

Audi Nardo or Porsche Stealth Grey are very similar - all expensive paint colors but nice.

I was considering S4 AVUS color but that's too light in my opinion for the tub and cage.

I'll try the TCP Global paint you referenced. Thanks

Nardo only looks expensive. I think I paid $240 for my gallon of base (2 gallons sprayable). TCP Global is cheap, but you can do better without having to go PPG/3M and get wallet raped. Check out the Southern Polyurethane forums for their base paint guy.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...ae70a693a1.jpg

And griff - how did you get your bulge (no homo) for the hood?

Is that your NA bud? If you went Nardo I will have to pick another color. LOL

Thanks for checking out "my bulge"! ;-)
I cut a hole in the hood and then put a sheet of plastic over the engine. Closed the hood with the motor sticking through and threw a bunch of potters clay on top. Moulded the clay to the shape I wanted, not 100% happy, and glassed over the clay. Popped the mould off and glassed it to the hood.

Not the "right way" but it worked relatively well.

It's a good looking color, no doubt - I chose it because it's also a non-metallic non-pearl so would be easy to spray since this is the first car I ever painted. And Rustoleum's rattle can Dark Machine Gray is a pretty close match - so I can buzz down to bare metal and weld in the engine bay. And since it was my first paint job, I've got some mistakes to go back over and respray once it warms up again - and probably respray my brothers 94M. Middtenn also has a very close to nardo gray NA as well - https://www.miataturbo.net/local-mee...g-97149/page9/ . And there isn't a right way of doing things if they work. :)

Base coat paint | Southern Polyurethanes Forum I used the Motobase LV (and SPI epoxy primer / filler primer / clear coat).

How much paint do I need to spray the interior and cage and gutted doors? I am also new to spraying and will be using LPLV gun as my compressor is HF and can't pull 9cfm.

Where can I purchase the epoxy primer you used ?

I still have 1/3rd of a gallon left over of the base, just 2-ish coats (plus a couple of resprays). Clear - most panels have 2 coats, a few have as many as 5. Southern Polyurethane has a lot of fans for the DIY crowd - I've texted with the owner who provides support and the forum is incredibly knowledgeable. I shot the epoxy and primer with the harbor freight purple gun - don't bother with it - it's good for farm equipment but not much else. The silver HPLV gun is waaaaay better. HPLV is a bit more efficient in paint distribution.