I figure it's time to make a formal introduction. I bought a bone stock 97 Classic Red Touring Package early this year with fairly low miles (76k) to get into autocross. Baselined it, added an RB hollow FSB and 99 Sport 15x6's with 205 Rivals, and ran in ES all summer.

At the same time I picked up a Saab 92x in need of love and nursed it back to ~280 awhp health. As fun and comfy as it was, I liked the Miata way more so it rarely got driven. I was also done with the work and bored, so I looked at options for another project and settled on an Exocet. Dropped the deposit, sold the Saab, and started donor hunting.

Found another 97, this one a Montego Blue base model that had been STS prepped and came with literally a van full of extras. As much as I dreamed of an ugly 94 for $1k, they never pop up around here (aside from the $#%#% one last week that sold in less than an hour before I could go over waving benjamins) so I perhaps overpaid a bit and brought it home. I promptly decided that it was too pretty to strip, so barring another cheap local donor, I'll be tearing down the red one in the near future. The blue will be my autocross car while the Exocet is being built.

Exocet chassis should arrive in March, teardown is coming soon. I also picked up a 4.10 Torsen to swap in. Long term I'm surely going to turbo it, it's already a tube chassis car so why not go bigger. Not sure on how yet, I like the FMII kit but I've got plenty of time to research.

 

Nice intro.

Pics plz. I love me some Montego Blue.

 

gl21133, congrats on signing up at the best site on the web!

 

I'll get some pics up at some point, it's currently buried in shipping boxes as I prep for the teardown on the red one . Also, the #%#%@ craigslist gods smote me again last night, barely missed a $350 hard top.

 

Welcome to the forum. Did you get the full cage version or the rollbar style Exocet?

Planning on track days or just auto x?

 

I did the sport version, which is the middle one between the base and race. As I understand it the cage can be added later without much fuss if needed. I ordered the frame bare and I'll be painting it, not powdercoating it.

There's no track up here, I hear rumblings of one possibly opening in the future, but I'll believe it when I see it. Miller is 4-5 hours away, some of the other PNW tracks aren't too far. I have a trailer and a tow rig so hopefully track days will happen when time allows.

 

You're on the 92-x forum! Glad to see you're enjoying the miata world. You should move that build thread over here for all to see.

As an owner of both, do you have any personal insight on the 9-2x as a second car? I was thinking WRX but then I remembered the saabaru and it looks and sounds much more refined from what I've read. Also not likely manhandled by the swag bros. The linear might not even be a bad option considering I have a turbo miata already lol. What say ye?

 

Indeed I am on there. Have been for too long. What's your username over there?

I've had a pair of '05 92x's. They're not bad cars but I'm not a fan of the EJ205. I spun a rod bearing at 19k on my first one (thank god for warranties) and have been leery of them since. The second one I had was at 150k and still going, but I'm thinking the kid I sold it to may have already blown that one up too. Just a bit fragile and with a big turbo, man the boost hits late. I didn't like revving that engine as much, I'll happily take the 1.8L in the Miata to redline without hesitation, not so much in the Saab.

If you're looking at one (and can find it) I'd suggest a 2.5L. Smoother, happier, and of course nearly impossible to find . Or buy Kornfeld's 207 swap, that's a nice car. A local autocross guy runs a 207 and it's just a much happier motor. Take all that with a grain of salt though, I have my own biases. And don't forget that body panels are getting hard to find.

Finally got a pic (after unburying from the boxes). Don't mind the slight tilt, they say we had an earthquake here recently, I think it's still affecting me . Red is the donor, blue will be hoisted back up onto stock springs, quieted back down with a stock exhaust, and beat up in ES this summer.

 

Thanks for the comments. Same username as here, literally signed up today so I can access the forum's info better.

Keep us updated!

 

Whereabouts in Ada county are you?

 

Meridian oddly enough . Near Linder and McMillan. You?

 

Just 3 miles east of you near McMillan and N. Locust Grove. Shoot me a PM and I'll bring over a case of beer.

 

I don't have enough posts to PM yet, I'm still a n00b. Shoot me an email, gmlodal at gmail dot com, I'm sure I can help you with that beer .