new guy from NC
 

Good evening,

Just thought I'd stop by and introduce myself and my ride.

My name is Wes. I'm originally from Ohio, but now I live near Fayetteville, NC. I've been a car guy for a long time, but I've just recently gotten into actually modifying them. My other ride is a '07 Honda ruckus that I use to get around. It's loud, it's stretched, and it gets me from point a to point b.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1421711340

My car is a 2004 mazdaspeed miata. Yeah, I know, I cheated by not turboing it myself. Now I get to un-fuck everything they fucked up when they made it. Plus everything the PO broke. First order of business; replace the fucked up top!

Anyway, I'm going to be replacing intake/IC/downpipe/exhaust shortly, then adding a MS. That's actually what drew me here, the MS's built by brain-e-whatever-his-name-was, and revenant. I'm aiming to keep it reasonably sleeper-ish and reasonable on the wallet (hah! Who am I kidding!). The exterior will remain stock, besides a set of lambo hinges, some sw33t stick3rs and 20"s.

That's it for now, I'll make sure to annoy the crap out of y'all later with bad jokes and stupid comments.

Thanks,
MG_Miata

P.S. I'm joking about the stickers, but some 20"s would be sick.

Welcome to the site MG_Miata, thanks for joining up!

Welcome! The replacing the top isn't too bad, buy a robbins brand top with a glass window though. The top will be with you for a while, so it's always a good idea to buy name brand.

Get a top with a rain rail already installed. Always replace the rain rail with the top because the stock ones get brittle and leak into the car.

Welcome to the forum. My little brother just PCS'd from there to Hawaii a bit ago.

Thanks for they kind words! I've taken the first step towards straightening out this car by removing the broken aftermarket cruise control the PO installed. I also discovered that they also installed an aftermarket alarm/remote. That might explain why the auto locks don't work/blow fuses. They did a crap job, looks like I'm going to be doing a lot of time contorting under a miata dash.

Pic of the previously mentioned cruise control:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1421776641

I keep trying to convince myself to get the Robbins. but with the name brand comes big money. Do you guys have any leads on cheap tops? I've been doing a lot of research, and the one I'd want, with the defroster and such, is like $500. I'm also contemplating a top from convertibletopguys.com. It comes with the rain rail, wires, glue, and is about $300 shipped.

Cheers,
MG_Miata

ive used the ebay cheap tops with good luck. welcome btw

I have used the cheapest eBay tops to the most expensive Robbins tops. Both work, Robbins will just be of a better quality.

It is the lambo hinges and 20's that make me shake my head.

alright, decided to go be a cheap-skate and ordered this top. I'm hoping that it works out, it has the heated rear glass & a rain rail attached. and I picked up a set of cables too.

So two questions:

1) Has anyone ordered from the Partsgroup? I know they're junk yard parts, but there are some fiddly bits that I could use to repair some stuff.

2) Would it be a better idea to do all the work and order a megasquirt from you guys before intake/exhaust? or after? I have a feeling that I'd want to invest in the cheaper thing first, then build up.

Oh, and does any one want some racing harts? I'm going to swap them for something lighter.

Edit: oh and h8rs be h8n on my swag.

Parts group is fine. You can also check out Panic Motorsports, they are in SC and Steve the owner is a great guy.

Get a MS before you do anything else. There is better bang for the buck then it. You can search for the dyno Ben posted of a MSM with just their MSPNP and see the huge differences it made. Intake and exhaust on the stock ECU won't get you anywhere near what the MS gives you.

Pics of Ruckus? :D

Welcome to the forum! There seem to be a lot of new MSM's recently.

Haha, yeah, I think they've dropped enough to be easily purchased. I'll snap a pic when I get off work.

>Woo! The new top came in!
>crap it's raining!
>mother@#$&er, the included rainrail wasn't actually attached already.

Pic for posterity:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1422064555

Oh, and I forgot to snap a new pic of the ruckus, but here's an old one:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1422064555

It's been changed around a bit, since that pic I fixed the handlebars, switch to handlebar end mirrors, new battery box. Performance wise I installed a B&S muffler on a br header, got a mnntbx intake and installed a polini variator. After rejetting I topped out at 47 mph, but only because I'm bouncing off the rev limiter. I need to get an unlimited CDI. Neeeeeeed moooooore speeeeeed!

Woot! I got the top swapped out!

I snapped a few pics for posterity:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1422225552

... yeah... that's a chihuahua, it's my buddy's dog, and it LOOOOOVED my miata.:facepalm:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1422225552

Seriously, it hung out in my miata the entire time.

Oh! and guess what I found under the seat!

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1422225552

yup! that's a cheapo steel case for a .308. :squint:

anyway, after a long struggle, a little bit of cussing, and one busted finger. I got the damn thing installed!

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1422225552

Wait... that looks a little droopy...

:facepalm:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1422225552

I got that unfucked and finished up.

I should really just start a build thread at this point.

There's always a gotcha.