jcharlet

No, not that NC, but rather the state.


Hello all! My name is Josh, I'm a single dad late 40s. Bought my first Miata in late 2014 right after divorce and kids were old enough to not need full car seats. (insert mid-life crisis joke here) First 2 seater since selling my FB RX-7 I had since college, sold because of wife and kids. Came to my senses and got a pretty cherry 2001 SE out of Va. Both me and my kids fell in love! In 2020 I acquired some ND Club (I think Club) wheels and tires from LRR in Statesville, NC, who was producing the global MX-5 series cup car at the time (super nice guys - parents of Tom Long). In July of 2020 I decided to get another divorce and so of course another Miata. This time a 1990 Classic Red that was destined for the crusher.


The 2001 was extremely well cared for in its previous life. My plans for that car are really just maintenance and preservation, with slight "restomods" (mostly for appearance) here and there. It's my rock solid cruiser. Very clean, in and out. It's with this car that I'm a member of Miata.net


The 1990 is just about completely opposite, and is the reason I am also now a member of MiataTurbo.net.


I acquired it from the PO in April of 2021, and the PO himself got it in April of 2020 from a parts yard, along with 2 other Miatas. He had done some work to the 90 but had a change of plans and wanted the money out of the 90 in order to put towards his 91 BRG with a hardtop. (I found out later it got parted out ... and a little part of me died.) It has the oil, dirt, and grease you'd expect. I figure a lot of that is gone given what I have washed down the sink from my hands face arms legs etc so that should be good for half a second on the quarter mile alone. It doesn't appear to have been abused but it was certainly well-used. New bits between me and the PO are:

- Fuel tank, pump, injectors

- Clutch, rear main seal

- New brakes (all components to the hub + lines)

- VMaxx coilovers in progress

- Starter

- Brake / clutch master and clutch slave

- Windshield

- Sooooo many 30+ yo plastic parts replaced


And most of the stuff you'd expect like all fluid changes, consumable ignition stuff, things like that.


Point of this build is not to be pretty - I have the SE for that. This one, external cosmetics will come last. Priorities first were safety and reliability, and I've still got a ways to go on the "normal stock tune" part. I want all that handled before I start to consider a turbo ... and even then I'm (I think) looking at something pretty light, say 6-10 lbs boost max. After everything is mechanically sound, that's when the fun stuff starts - well I jumped the gun a bit and went ahead with the coilovers. Plans include a big brake kit (either an aftermarket package, or NB stock if that's possible / feasible). But, point being that my approach is that juicy fun power will come AFTER everything else is SOUND (as it can get for a 33 yo junkyard save).


I do intend, once I have the car about where I want it, to first go with the foundational stuff - wideband fuel meter and aftermarket ECU first I think. Best I can tell for the former, AEM is the way to go ... as for the ECU I'm still (way too early) researching. If nothing else, I'd love the benefit of a newer ECU anyway, regardless of forced induction.


So, wanted to introduce myself so I can get down to the business of learning and planning. This will be a multi-year project as time allows, and I'd rather save up / do it right, so the only rule I've made regarding timing is not to let the car sit for more than 3-4 months at a time maximum (ie finish whatever "project of the season" within that time period and get back to driving).


Hopefully I've met a few of you here, as I've been to MATG since 2015, so I'm looking forward to that!


I'll post up pics soon as well.


Thanks for reading if you made it this far, and thanks for the welcome!


Josh