240_to_miata

iTrader: (2)

vash i love your build

i hope to see you at the uconn spring car show. i will be helping out running it with the other Uconn Car Club guys.

maybe ill be boosted by then

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I just got a new video camera for Christmas, so for sure there will be video of everything. I like to play with the car nightly.....when it runs. I took it longboarding the other night and took like 20 videos. I already anticipate dropping it at some point.

Thanks man! I'll tell you what, I was thinking about this today. This past spring/summer when I was working on the car, time was well spent and went by fast. I had something to do everynight after work and enjoyed every second of it. I may have missed an entire year of driving the car, but I know this spring it'll be worth it. Best part, take pictures of everything.

For sure bro, how big is the show? Is it early or late spring? I really hope this year to take it to limerock. But I definitely need to hit up a couple shows.

Limerock was just repaved this past year. We actually had the bid in to do the concrete work on the track. ******* of course we were too busy to take the job, I know the guys that did it though, lucky ****.

http://www.limerock.com/files/pdf/Lime_Rock_-_Basic.pdf

Vash-

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Great stuff in this thread. LOVE your car.

georgefury1

Well I guess I will jump on the "Vashs build thread rocks bandwagon". I just did my first Miata turbo install and your thread was bookmarked for its wealth of detail and pics. It gave me a huge jump start on my project seeing how you did it. Great job man!!

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Thanks you guys, I really appreciate the compliments! Its cool to know that someone used some part of my thread to help do their own turbo install.

So I don't have much of an update picture wise. I haven't been by the bodyshop in weeks now in fear of what the car looks like. I know they've been having trouble with the autokoncraption hood and the CF bucket headlights. If I could go back in time.....ohh well too late now to think like that. I have no doubt in my mind that the end result will be dope.

I have decided my next project to keep me busy will be headwork. I have a spare head I got off ebay for something like $30 years ago thats just been sitting. I am going to start doing my research on headwork, get what I need, and do it. I will however make sure I dyno the car the first time with the stock head so I can compare numbers. I will have an awesome update Sunday afternoon. I don't want to **** this up so I will be quiet for now.

Vash-

240_to_miata

iTrader: (2)

vash the show is mid april usually. we fill the parking lot every year (500 - 700 cars i believe). ill post up here about it.

I really hope to get to limerock this year too, but i might just stick with autox because boosting miata = no money for new slicks or bigger brakes.

lets see some more pics

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

So I was on ebay last week and I put a bid on a black hardtop for $200. Couple hours later it was up to $500, and then I got a email from the seller. He said that the shipping is advertised as $4 and that was in error, so don't think I'll ship it for $4. I emailed him back saying I kinda figured it was a mistake and that I planned on picking it up anyway (he lives in NJ, I'm in CT). He sends me back an email saying $550 cash and he'll close the auction now, deal?

So you get the picture, got this *mint* black hardtop w/defroster off a 2000 miata for $550 cash. Left today at 10:30am, got there at noon, and was back by 1:30pm. Only issue is the rear chrome covers have been made gold, I'll probably spray them black anyway.

And get this! He says she also has these covers and doesn't know what they are for, but you can have them. I took a quick look, didn't matter as I have a rollbar anyway. I planned on selling them once he asked if I wanted them. I get home and check them out, 2 brand new tonneau covers for a audi tt. Ohh well, she didn't want them, and said take them. I'm gonna check ebay right after I post this to see what they sell for, then probably list them right after that. lol

I still cant believe I picked up the hardtop for under $800, this is the 6th or 7th hardtop I've been interested in and I'm glad I waited. I was really after a CF hardtop, but after some reading and discussion this seemed like the best idea. I'll update this week
with the bodyshop mayhem pics.

EDIT: You can also see my leg springs behind the top. I still have yet to master them though.

Vash-

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I'm going to go ahead and order a set of the Beatrush hardtop latches. I hear they work easier with rollbars and I like the idea of being able to lock the hardtop to the car. Looks like I will also need to get a defroster relay and the switch. Hopefully these Audi softboots bring in some cash!



Vash-

18psi

iTrader: (76)

thats an awesome deal man. congrats

thesnowboarder

iTrader: (15)

Nice deal! Whats wrong with the oem latches? If you want safety why not go with spec miata side brackets?

<-- Is as excited as everyone else too see this done!

400mrunner

THAT IS A F***ING AMAZING car dude

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

So I'm down at the shop working on the spare head and my valves were knocked over by one of the guys. I have no idea the order they were in and frankly I don't give a ****. I guess now I have reason to start ordering parts to build this head rock solid. Any suggestions? I was thinking new valves, springs, retainers, and keepers. I think I'll be ordering a DIY porting kit tonight if we don't already have one down here someplace.

I'm supposed to be making up some beam pockets for a wall we have to pour next week, but instead I'm taking a perk day. Can I just say, I no longer have to click spell check. Mt.net actually made me smarter...

Vash-

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

The IC braces to the bumper cover worry me, if you ever hit anything and push the bumper back, you risk compromising the IC when it might otherwise not be affected.

Your Llama comes from an Abercrombie and Fitch magazine ad BTW.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

When I first saw the brackets I was thinking about that, then I started thinking I hope I never hit anything either. lol

It seems pretty solid when you wiggle the IC, so unless I hit something hard enough to push the steel bumper I have behind the fiberglass, I'm hoping impact would just crack the fiberglass bumper before it damaged anything in front of the motor.

I was actually debating using those brackets to mount an aluminum underbelly. I was going to buy one of the ones they sell online and just modify it to work with my bumper. You think that would be a bad place to mount to for something like that?

The first thing I buy when I have a peice of proerty is a llama. No dogs or cats, just a pair of llamas. The one in my avatar would be ideal.

Vash-

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I stayed a little longer at the shop and got the head apart and cleaned. The plan is to get this head together and slap it on the car sometime in 09'. I'm not sure if I'll **** with putting it on this spring, I kinda just want to drive the car already. I just cant keep idle too long and if I don't start doing something miata related soon, I'll end up dumping money into a legacy just to be working on something.

So it looks like it's roughly $1000 for the following;

• Metal head gasket - $100
• Head studs - $170
• Valves - $350
• Spring, retainers, seats - $350

Is it worth looking into new cams and adjustable gears? I don't want to go crazy here, I just want to have a clean, healthy, reliable, good flowing head on the car. I'm not sure if I'll get into pistons and rods anytime soon, maybe next winter if anything.

I'm also trying to keep some money aside for wheels/tires and seats. It never ******* ends....

Vash-

Der_Idiot

iTrader: (2)

Your cams are fine, get them polished though. Gears aren't mandatory, and unless you like fine-tuning the setup on a dyno, can be more of a pain. But if you are going for the most hp you can get, they'll definitely help

miataspeed2005

iTrader: (3)

yoo joe...its nick with the red miata in ct....i didnt know u were still around! i got back at it a few month ago after my car sitting for a couple of years.....we gotta get back up and go for a ride again

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Nick, whats up bro. Its been a long time man, thats cool you still got the miata. Looks like you've been movin up as far as mods go. I'm totally down to get up....once mine is finally back on the road. lol Then we can go to RI and **** all over Jason's (RAIN) S2000 he just got.

Quick little update. I haven't been in the bodyshop in a long time to see the progress. Back in the field now at work and I really don't have the energy at the end of the day to care. I have plans on putting 6ULR's on in the spring for sure, and maybe a pair of racing seats.

I am amazed at how many views this thread has. I think next to the ebay turbo kit thread, I am #2 for views. Thanks for all the support, I promise more to come around the spring.

Vash-

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

So its been roughly 1 year since the miata has been off the road! Its starting to get nice out and I can feel like something is missing yet again, and yep.....its my ******* car. So I went to the bodyshop to check up and make sure everything is ok and that we are looking good for spring. He agrees that the 1st week of April or so he should be done. Considering the fact he only works on the miata in his free time away from "paying" customers.

So I have been fooling around with the idea of painting the hood, headlights, and windshield frame black. I liked the idea of the CF being exposed at first, but the more and more I see CF on **** cars the less I want it on mine. And now with the black hardtop I think it'll match up nicely. I was also dead set on a set of nickel 6UL's, but now I'm leaning toward the matte black ones.

In any case, someone asked for a picture of a yellow miata w/black wheels and this was posted up.

DSC_1994.jpg

After seeing this I printed it out and will give it to the bodyshop guys tomorrow when I see them. I just remember seeing another members car on here with the same headlights and hood I have in red and hating it. Too much custom stuff up front and all blue will probably kill it. I think the black will give it character and make everything work.

I have kept insurance on the miata this whole time its been off the road, yet I am closing in on 1 year overdue with renewing my license! **** I put things off forever! Hopefully I'll have some pictures soon, then shortly after that dyno runs and videos by the masses!

XCLR8TN

+1