I've always been into cars, ever since I grew up in my dad's Foxbody, then later his '03 Cobra. Though, given the first Fast and Furious movie I saw in theaters was Tokyo Drift, it was always going to be a given that I had a heavy lean towards the JDM scene - and by consequence, drifting, too. Before I knew it, Tokyo Xtreme Racer Drift 2 had joined my stable of PS2 games, and from then on my fate was really sealed. Though, it wasn't until high school that my on and off affairs with Miatas began. After seeing the prices of S13s and AE86s in 2014 (I know, I know), I wound up with a red NA8:
It was cool, but not cool enough - with my attention then drifting over (pun intended) to time attack, I soon found myself purchasing what is to this day still my favorite car I've owned - a Splash Green NB2.
It was while I had this car that I started doing media for several events, Pro-Am and grassroots alike in Southern California, and it was then the fire of drift was relightened. My dumbass however sold that car, and got an IS300 Sportcross with the guise of needing a more responsible car for my budding photography career (which later turned into some journalism features, thanks to MotoIQ). Said Sportcross was a piece of shit, so I wound up with a DC2 Integra trying to get myself to go to VtecClub. Never happened. Sold that, and got an LS400. Left Southern California for the real-life purgatory known as "Fresno" for A&P school. Then covid hit. And life hit next. Three moves, two of them to new states, two jobs that require I travel for most of the year, in the span of three years. Finally finding a moment to breathe last October, I found myself bored, and with a fire season's pay in my pocket, I said "Screw it." Enter my third Miata:
This post is already getting to be a mile long, so I'll cap it off here: The car's a 99 with damn near every option, including the ones I don't like - the Bose audio, for starters. I'm not entirely a fan of the 5 speed and 4.3 set up either, since being spoiled with the 6 speed and 3.9 of my NB2. Additionally, it's mechanically clean enough, but the previous owner did quite a few old-manisms. Door panels were ratty and had velcro stuck to them for various things, the passenger side floor mat was cut in half and stuck underneath the pedals, the deadpedal was extended with a rag and duct tape, the works. Did I mention the interior is tan? Because it's tan. 🤢
But hey, for a running, driving, clean title NB Miata with full Roadstersport exhaust and a matching hard top in today's market? I couldn't complain.
Okay, but, seriously, when's the last time you saw this? I don't think I've seen it since I was playing NFS Pro Street.
I finally grew tired of looking like the sideshow 350z we have at home with no front bumper and all, so when I saw Down Shift Auto Parts got a mildly damaged NB2 in, I was quick to buy a bumper and a straight bracket - of course, this required drilling and riveting.
Ta-da. Eagle eyed viewers may spot something in the passenger's seat. Which I got one of those too, just a cloth OEM NB2 seat, but neglected to take any pictures of that. The day after I put the bumper on, of course, I spotted an incredible deal on an OEM big tupperware kit. Sure, it was a four hour drive one way, but the Miata had a full tank, so...
Yes, I actually drove four hours home like this when I have a Suburban in the driveway. Though, this entire thread is more an archive of my poor decision-making than anything else, so take it as you will.
It really wasn't until I needed a 2x4 turned on its side and a part of another 2x4 to hold up the skirt that I realized just how high the car was. I promise to lower it once the kit's on, I figure I could grab another two inches or so if I pull more camber in the front and get the sidewall away from the fender. This post's bonus image:
Been a bit, so I'll keep it short and sweet.
Six speed swap. Wao. Did an 8lb Fidanza flywheel while I was in there.
3d printed a socket to put the centercaps on my Weds. Technology.
Grabbed an OEM spoiler off of marketplace for 40 dollars. Threw it on. OEM+.
Got a rear bumper bar. Rigid.
A hand wash and a push into the sun has done her well.
Bonus: As the hours and beers add up, mistakes occur.
Did you stop by Bonneville?? Car looks good, those weds are really cool.
I got my hardware! And a Works Bell tilt hub for the fast food parking lot car meet street cred. And while Montana is cool if you're into hiking, hunting, or meth, it wasn't for me. And because I'm a masochist, I arranged my move so that I'd be driving the Miata down, which led to probably the coolest picture I've taken of it so far.
With the lifespan of my undercarriage successfully shortened, it was time to keep going.
I wasn't at my new place for a week before I picked these Type-Cs up though. The butthurt in me wants to do that 3 piece upfront, 1 piece in the rear style, but that's not happening until I get spacers.
With that out of my system, it was time to really crack down and get done with the things I've had waiting to go on the car for ages, starting with the NB2 headlight conversion, and, while I'm in there, install the bumper bar I've had since last year.
Anyone got an Easy button around? Anyways, with that out of the way, it was time to finally replace the factory mirrors that had been bugging me for so long.
I wasn't sure what to expect with these Bomex USA mirrors, so I'll just stream of conscious this next bit - fit and finish is okay at best, where the passenger mirror screwed in like it was factory, but the driver's mirror holes weren't even centered in their dimples, and required quite a lot of hand-fitting. Nature of cheap fiberglass, I suppose. Not sure if it was worth saving the money when compared to the Garage Vary mirrors or the other options, but for what they are, I'm not too disappointed. More importantly, there's a drift event coming up locally in a few weeks, so stay tuned for when my ramblings actually produce some sideways action.
Nothing huge to update with this time around. I got my alignment dialed in where I want it - at least, as far as I could with stock control arms. "While I'm in there" regrets kicking my ass now. Front: Caster: 6.7 Camber: -1.5* Toe: 1/16" in Rear:
Camber: -3.0* Toe: 0
Also got my Vertex wheel in. If only I knew they didn't come with hardware. Oh well.
Wow, another three weeks. Time flies when you're having fun, I guess. If anything, I know I've been having fun. For starters, I got the rollbar done, in which case all the karma I've had saved up from my back issues was finally cashed in on.
I don't have a clue how I didn't smoke anything with that drill, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Now that that's out of the way though, let's sound-deaden this SOB.
Kilmat over damn near every open piece of panel in both the interior and the trunk, with brand new DEI brand insulation up top. Just uh, don't look too hard at the cutouts around the rollbar. Once those were done, the carpet was next.
I don't want to wax prose about sappiness and overcoming trial and difficulty, but to see the car that had spent so long just gutted out and sitting in this state was overwhelming - and I wasn't even done!
With the Weds Kranze Unicorns mounted with tires and balanced, I finally brought down the last box of new parts that had been holding my living room hostage - my Feal 441s. I neglected to take any pictures of the actual installation, of course, but when I pushed the car out into the sun in it's most complete state yet, there was no way I wasn't going to capture the moment.
Again, it really feels surreal to have the car in such a complete state. I've never had a car this 'done up' before, let alone with all the labor and effort being mine. Next up is four points, the six speed, the 3.9, and I get to finally start on the engine bay, too.
"It hasn't been too long since I updated my b-" "What do you mean it's nearly been two months?" It's not you, it's me, I swear. But I also have an excuse in the form of I had a needle in my spine:
And I just up and started getting myself side-tracked on a whole other plethora of stuff on this thing, none of which was what I've been setting up to do since months back. And when you open Pandora's box... You find the monsters inside. Exhibit A:
No, really, I have no clue what this is meant to accomplish.
If anything, the previous owner was decent enough to tap into the wiring before the plugs, so after cutting the stuff out the new tails were still plug and play. Still have no idea why this was here though, my only guess is for trailer lights?? Happy with the end result though, and that's what really matters:
I also got the ball rolling on installing my Hard Dog M1 tonight, though the hardware stores are already closed and I don't have the drill bit I need on hand to finish it off, so that's going to have to wait until after the holiday.
And on the topic of not leaving things alone: This was too normal for my tastes. So with some LazerDash inserts and a set of metal knobs from ebay...
Ta-da. Oh, and I swapped in a black dash at some point too, yet in typical fashion neglected to take any pictures. Next update it is.
Finally, I leave you with my ever growing list of things to do on the car: Now in physical form!
"Sooner", he says, a week and a half ago. If anything, the doctors have finally determined that my issues have been the result of a slipped disc pinning the nerve to my spine, so that's cool, I guess. In more important news though, I got the rest of the interior stripped out, and even went so far as to test fit my Bride Zeta II.
A keen eye may also spot the new radio bezel. There's some quip about OEM+ diehards in there somewhere, but the words aren't coming to me.
While the seat is about as close as it will ever get to not fitting, I was unable to clear the Hard Dog Ace bar I got with my helmet on, so that's now on FB Marketplace and once that moves I've got a M1 on the way.
Replacement mount for the Bride arrived, so you know what that means - I finally actually work on this thing. First things first though, I had to check out how my Car Make Revive shift knob looked in the car.
Pretty neat! Then I was unfortunate enough to go in and look at some of the car's previous owner's "modifications". The rat's nest wiring, it turns out, was only a look into the future.
Yeah, that's a styrofoam pad duct taped to the dead pedal. I have no idea why. My best guess is something along the lines of extending the pedal, as he wasn't exactly the tallest.
Then I pulled the floormats out and discovered that the passenger one was cut down, and placed on top of the driver's mat, which was also cut to put it nearer the dead pedal. This one I don't even have a theory for.
Anyways, this was about as far as I could manage before my leg reminded me that I'm a dumbass and to call it a night. Trying to get this sorted sooner than later.
Had a follow up for an MRI just turn into yet another referral to yet another physician, so I will admit, I did binge a little bit...
The cure for my mood was apparently a set of Feal 441s. Suffice to say, I'm very impressed with the packaging, and hell, these are the first coilovers I've bought that came with individual shock dyno print outs.
Fit and finish is very impressive on initial impressions, not a flaw to be found. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get these in the car, but I'm very excited to see that day.
In other news, I'm finally getting close to having everything I need to knock the interior out. I took the new carpeting out of the box, and was disappointed to see the seller had laid it down on their front lawn or something whilst taking it out of the car. Nothing a shop vac couldn't handle though. While I was doing that, the mailman dropped off the new floormats.
As much as I want to get on the car and start yanking stuff out right now, I've decided to wait until the replacement mount for the Zeta II arrives, just so I can get everything done with one bout of getting the hard top off and back on.
Cant wait to see what you have in store for this!
that render looks pretty cool, I wish you a speedy recovery
As previously mentioned, my wacky leg adventure is really holding me back from getting as far as I'd like to be at this car by now. I have a NB2 six speed and a 3.9 Torsen diff just sitting in the garage, waiting to be put in for crying out loud! Not to mention the box with the SpeedyEFI PnP setup, or the black carpet set, or the NB2 headlights waiting to go in too. Though, because I seem to be accumulating parts for this thing as a coping method, it was only natural I wound up with one of these:
I would like to think that it could have been in the car by now, though as my luck would have it, the mounts I had preordered last month came with a manufacturing defect so severe that I was told by the company that they're sending another one out for free - in two weeks, that is. The nearest, and most soon D event around here is in May, and I'm hoping that not only the car is ready, but I can manage to do more than move the thing across a parking lot by then. In the meantime, even though it hurts too much for me to use my Assetto sim rig, I still opted to use it to model where I'd like this thing to end up in the future, and wound up with this:
Of course, as my luck would have it, literally days after I purchase the car and bring it home, I get injured at work. To this day, walking hurts, let alone things like bending over and sitting down. As such, I haven't gotten as much done on this car as I would have liked to, especially since a lot of it requires the help of a friend doing the actual work while I hold the metaphorical (and sometimes literal) flashlight and tell him what to do. That said, I can still manage to sit down on good days, so I've been able to get some stuff done.
First order of business was the ugly and ratty NB1 console - an NB2 console was an easy upgrade, and as always, I found myself struck by the "while I'm in there" bug, so guess who had a one-off shift boot stitched up and Jass window switches installed?
Furthermore, I'm very big on 'doing things right' ever since I started wrenching on aircraft, so naturally I had to cut out the original o-ring, and glue her back in on the new boot. I had a yard of that design fabric left over, thanks to myself budgeting for messing up the boot a couple times. Do you know what else on a Miata is a yard wide?
I was fortunate enough that this hard top came with the factory foam insert 'headliner', so it wasn't hard to pull the foam off, 3M headliner glue the fabric to the front side, tidy up the edges, and glue the insert back in.
With that done and cured, I managed to limp into my apartment's parking lot and guide my buddy into putting the top onto the car.
Pictured here you can also see the 3DP 3G Eclipse style vents that got put in at some point, but I neglected to take any pictures of that. You can also see the rat's nest of stereo wiring that was left over after Missoula wildlife decided they needed my 20 year old Sony headunit. It was time to focus on that gaping hole in the radio bezel. The stars aligned one day when I was perusing FB marketplace, and I came across this ancient thing.
I wound up biting the bullet and paying an audio place to install it, given I wasn't up for sitting in the car that long - let alone getting underneath the dash and bypassing the Bose amp, installing the Kenwood 7 inchers that would replace the factory Bose subs and tweets, and everything else. Nonetheless, I'm extremely happy with the result.
The doorcards that came with the car were pretty ratty, not to mention also being tan. Yuck. Hence their removal at some point - my friend had to do that one for me, so I wasn't about to go and take pictures on top of him doing my bitch work, hah. Though, I already had a plan for the door cards. I'm tall enough that I'm not entirely comfortable in the car with its stock doorcards - especially given my NB2 was partially gutted when I bought it. When I discovered LRB offers an aluminum doorcard that allows you to use the top portion of an NA doorcard, I decided "Why not?" That said, I'm also not so tasteless to have bare aluminum doorcards.
Black vinyl in hand from something else I can't recall doing before I even moved up here, I masked off the holes the NA doorcards mount onto, and let the 3M headliner glue rip again.
Some test fitting of the upper portion on the door.
Both done and 'assembled'. The speaker grills were somewhat interesting, as I was able to use the fabric to reduce the inner diameter enough to where the speaker hole held the grill in, where I then glued it the rest of the way in. I don't have any pictures of this, but the interior side of the cards have BoomMat sound deadening applied to them. Not long after, the stars aligned, and my buddy got to learn how to install LRB doorcards.
In this picture you can also see the black Roadster door scuffs that I got at some point, but I don't feel like they warrant a focus. Though, this post is getting long in the tooth too, so I'll make one last big giant intro post and we'll finally be at present day.