SKARs Pursuit of Happiness

[SKAR]

I bought my Miata nearly two years ago when I was really as more of a motivation to be happy/ look on the bright side. I went with as a Miata as I wanted a DD that I could also autocross and would be fun stock. The whole being sick and unemployed living at home situation didnt suit the loan payments. I took a job to finish my apprenticeship at a GM dealership. Found out techs make surprisingly decent money.

Pictures tell the story and I will attempt to put together a mod list. This build will never end, never had any goal or "vision" for the car. Just entertaining myself.

The whole story of buying a Miata started on my way home from this (I went to just hang out, parents were out of town and left their keys)

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/32491_449596525504_635150504_6168210_6775831_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/32491_449596225504_635150504_6168181_6740063_n.jpg

Ended up coming 13th out of 20-some cars (mental note the volvo, you will see it again)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/32491_449596265504_635150504_6168185_3973869_n.jpg

On my way home myself and a friend (volvo) stopped at a shady used lot due to 2 seemngly identical Miatas sitting out front.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/30909_411570353472_513208472_4432142_7479204_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/30909_411570343472_513208472_4432141_1242784_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/30909_411570313472_513208472_4432140_1499029_n.jpg

(I buy a better camera later on)

I wanted the other at first but after driving both settled on the one above due to overall condition. Both cars were rust free brought up from Florida. (big selling point) I ended up paying $4950, car had 69k on it and was all original.

After a few days it was at its new home

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/30909_411765693472_513208472_4437007_4227978_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/30909_411946053472_513208472_4442102_3101319_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/31259_412342968472_513208472_4457709_2656083_n.jpg

First thing done was removing the beige pin stripe and clay barring it.

(slightly better camera)

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/31259_412421053472_513208472_4460443_6882079_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/31259_412421533472_513208472_4460456_2866351_n.jpg

Decided to paint the wheels on it, couldnt stand them at all.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/34052_415977748472_513208472_4554220_5117539_n.jpg

If you notice the car covered in the back ground, it was my old project which I miss.

Quick before and after with it, my first money pit. Got a bare shell for free from an old friend

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/5900_116577783472_513208472_2274569_2635014_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/23657_392605568472_513208472_3967597_4646291_n.jpg

Back to the Miata pic dump....

[SKAR]

Bad picture

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/36132_417746018472_513208472_4604222_5755846_n.jpg

Made a Miata suitable shift boot

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/34594_422613538472_513208472_4729592_3683614_n.jpg

I ended up with a clean Miata

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/37511_428063833472_513208472_4874783_1533596_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/37511_428063843472_513208472_4874784_1646212_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/37511_428063848472_513208472_4874785_3259251_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/37511_428063853472_513208472_4874786_2888586_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/39027_429675628472_513208472_4918629_3436395_n.jpg

Last time those wheels will ever be on it again.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/46384_439930303472_513208472_5197227_7696982_n.jpg

Found a set of 16x7 Momo Arrows for iirc $250. I told the guy I wasnt a fan, He said $180 and I took them home.

(volvo lurking)

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/47894_439930343472_513208472_5197228_7791709_n.jpg

[SKAR]

Took some pictures

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/47077_440237393472_513208472_5204640_7354076_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/44389_440237468472_513208472_5204642_6987048_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/44389_440237473472_513208472_5204643_589155_n.jpg

First sticker

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/59999_446069083472_513208472_5322960_7655928_n.jpg

Had a roll bar made (wet paint makes it look weird)

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/60251_446861548472_513208472_5338447_2574103_n.jpg

did that fun stuff

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/61354_446861583472_513208472_5338448_113119_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/58628_447063093472_513208472_5343113_5797061_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/63552_447167688472_513208472_5345083_8000403_n.jpg

Used it in two autocrosses during the last few pictures, frist one before roll bar

This one would of been right before getting the momos

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/36001_418591078472_513208472_4626270_3276125_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/36001_418591118472_513208472_4626278_1720363_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/36001_418591128472_513208472_4626280_7223080_n.jpg

The second solo after roll bar

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/60184_447436893472_513208472_5352774_2573299_n.jpg[img]

[img]http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/58913_447438248472_513208472_5352820_7040475_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/58913_447438253472_513208472_5352821_6766961_n.jpg

And another event I forgot about

Removed all the ac stuff and air bag stuff from the car first

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs192.snc4/37956_458412338472_513208472_5570165_4718101_n.jpg

I didnt take pictures of that even besides the above

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs830.snc4/69069_10150268527585316_674275315_14888911_8088066 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs773.snc4/67341_10150268527430316_674275315_14888907_4290082 _n.jpg

That brought me to about the end of 2010

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs700.snc4/62066_447490283472_513208472_5354814_4913794_n.jpg

Car was parked for winter

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs597.ash2/154991_483306983472_513208472_5937954_4607390_n.jp g

[imperfekt]

nice :)

[SKAR]

Im not one to leave things alone, this begins the end of my cars reliability and what little practicality it had

Picked up a 96' 1.8 with 70k on it for $400

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1365.snc4/163740_10150095449228473_513208472_6350396_3754220 _n.jpg

random unneeded stuff

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs776.ash1/166646_10150098929483473_513208472_6396559_3261928 _n.jpg

empty bay

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs884.ash1/179217_10150101074708473_513208472_6427789_5107730 _n.jpg

This is the point where I had to wait a month and a half for a well known Miata company to ship my clutch (I mean the fast shipping I paid for was worthless due to them having to order it themselves)

Parts started showing up

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/168301_10150107632618473_513208472_6519647_3241132 _n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/168301_10150107632623473_513208472_6519648_3767124 _n.jpg

I finally dropped the 1.8 in

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/183425_10150109900033473_513208472_6537978_870251_ n.jpg

Had a manifold made

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/188317_10150132480008473_513208472_6748972_2409449 _n.jpg

More parts

Chinese turbo goodness

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/180364_10150106429238473_513208472_6502042_7170279 _n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200169_10150134390003473_513208472_6769264_5161391 _n.jpg

more stuff

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207128_10150171591958473_513208472_6928130_4195302 _n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206847_10150171591988473_513208472_6928131_7461192 _n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206590_10150171592003473_513208472_6928132_4459262 _n.jpg

Schoenfeld "muffler" (6" glass pack) Magnaflow spun cat and a 3" cut out

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/216969_10150171592023473_513208472_6928133_2196095 _n.jpg

Bought a used mspnp for $400

synapse bov (the best if used properly)

http://ludeatic.com/ebay/16001A%205.jpg

and an aem wideband

http://www.fuzionetics.com/sparktecebay/30-4100_5.jpg

[SKAR]

Things ive forgotten to mention, Its a stage 5 compclutch, injectors are 850cc somethings

I think this is when I first got it running

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/224184_10150180038508473_513208472_7009485_7392652 _n.jpg

first start, it had like 3 signals 2 run off of, was surprised it started

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in24slxmM9g

first time driving it after a bit more work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcZBYZhIZPc

Drove it across town to a friends shop to do exhaust

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/218196_10150180037663473_513208472_7009475_4362715 _n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/224084_10150180035943473_513208472_7009448_8024523 _n.jpg

First actual drive, crappy video but thread is only for those with nothing better to do, if you have made it this far congrats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hQ-b_A0ElE

I like the "yep, hasnt blown up yet, sounds like it wants to" and the epic fact that I forgot to refill my tranny meaning the vid was taken with maybe .5L of fluid in it.... Filled it later, seemed fine

In order to put my hood on I needed hood pins, settled with aerocatch latches. Would recommend.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/230834_10150185364288473_513208472_7061630_4042610 _n.jpg

Did a ton of tuning, buttoned things up, drove it a shit ton

vids from on the way to an autox last spring

Not even 8am trying to eat breakfast on the highway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BdWky034vY

my first run (off course) and my first time flogging it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23ZoXXSdc9g&feature=related

Not long after that I bought a 6spd from an 03' off ebay. Took like 4 days to arrive and an a few hours to throw in.

First drive with it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG56XIvykag

and that ends that chapter

[SKAR]

but thats not all

May 24th 2011 on a Monday afternoon on my way home from work

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/Tyler-K/103_1804_tn.jpg

More pics provided by the volvo owner who was first to the scene

Me being proud

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/Tyler-K/103_1802_tn.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/Tyler-K/103_1805_tn.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/Tyler-K/103_1808_tn.jpg

its trail

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/Tyler-K/103_1813_tn.jpg

I had JUST sold my winter beater s/c'ed regal and was now stranded

this was just one of five holes

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/254165_10150280187665505_635150504_9501294_1678824 _n.jpg

Im not a fan of down time

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/248490_10150220204508473_513208472_7370311_3037070 _n.jpg

I sourced another complete bottom end from a wrecked low mileage car. Sent it out with the new forged insides....

Has it bored .020 over, crank sent out to be knife edged and polished, then sent the rotating assembly with clutch to be balanced. Machine work ended up being $900 at cost due to my work being a big customer at that machine shop (guy is a very well known mopar small block engine builder here and is said to be one of the best, he seemed hesitant with doing a mazda 4 cylinder at first)

Very busy machine shop and having to send it out twice resulted in about a month of having an engine less car sitting here, boredom leads to things

ordered wheels, of course Rota Aleicas that I had to have the second it were announced they would be made

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqV,!jEE2nkD!lu!BN3yR,I)kQ~~_12.JPG

car still torn apart I had the new wheels ready to go

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/254941_10150221810518473_513208472_7385079_6638723 _n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/259986_10150221810583473_513208472_7385080_3756509 _n.jpg

[SKAR]

Pink wheels on a red car, wasnt feeling it

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263560_10150228826353473_513208472_7454956_7468635 _n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/261493_10150228826298473_513208472_7454955_5207629 _n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/254950_10150228850363473_513208472_7455173_8002335 _n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/261998_10150229323528473_513208472_7461352_7842725 _n.jpg

got cheap ebay marker lights

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263836_10150230225138473_513208472_7471335_715302_ n.jpg

Ordered Megan Ez streets, read a lot of good reviews. Needed to roll my fenders, had been done a bit previously;

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267601_10150252313928473_513208472_7626718_2139703 _n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/264871_10150252314573473_513208472_7626729_8253853 _n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/269761_10150252314708473_513208472_7626731_8270026 _n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267954_10150252843688473_513208472_7633083_6016831 _n.jpg

ebay gauges, are meh, worth the $20 as the original ones were showing their age

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/281933_10150255884418473_513208472_7666159_6023462 _n.jpg

Got my fresh very expensive bottom end from the machine shop

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/281386_10150260693688473_513208472_7708684_4697752 _n.jpg

Threw the engine together

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/268152_10150260694338473_513208472_7708692_2827958 _n.jpg

Corksport timing gears that the dowel notched into the gears. Installed fine, soft aluminum? I know 100% they were installed properly and after a few short drives I was having surging, took a while but took them off to find the aluminum had squished.

waiting for the engine

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/285205_10150260694898473_513208472_7708696_520084_ n.jpg

got it back together

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/188380_10150263701293473_513208472_7736454_5344576 _n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/250351_10150263718928473_513208472_7736871_820724_ n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/246746_10150263723288473_513208472_7736938_5527151 _n.jpg

Girlfriend was over and once again boredom leads to things

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/249380_10150270509513473_513208472_7802520_6750254 _n.jpg

hood bombs were all I had planned to begin with, tested the stencil made out of a cheerios box on the tail gate of my truck (which has long sold, waiting to see it in traffic with the bombs on it)

Took some pictures

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262460_10150271040868473_513208472_7809359_4995028 _n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/284256_10150271337268473_513208472_7813611_6108215 _n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/282527_10150279602708473_513208472_7899955_7680888 _n.jpg

[SKAR]

Bought a lip

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308453_10150295602438473_513208472_8057225_7344102 _n.jpg


bored at work

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/298257_10150332668173473_513208472_8295709_1049606 847_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/298257_10150332668183473_513208472_8295710_9163059 24_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/302182_10150332684358473_513208472_8295787_6629618 01_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/302362_10150345042068473_513208472_8373997_1896724 80_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/302362_10150345042063473_513208472_8373996_1117001 005_n.jpg

Last thing done to it in 2011 was a Ractive fart can, 2" inlet 4" tip. Was given to me at work as a joke. Cut the silencer out, removed all of the fiberglass. Cleaned it up, works mint as an exhaust tip and looks better than the chunk of 3"

Started it for the first time in nearly 3 months yesterday, let it warm up first. It was good to hear it, I had forgotten how it shakes the ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll_oNoLsaks

Waiting on a pair of seats now.

[SKAR]

Forgot about these

I had a very close call with a frost hump

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308428_10150328084308473_513208472_8272357_9772208 27_n.jpg

The same volvo as the first post

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/302043_10150371298470505_635150504_10400526_631754 0_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/303518_10150371299165505_635150504_10400532_805953 3_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/310353_10150371299275505_635150504_10400533_752601 7_n.jpg

Epic pic

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308933_10150371298740505_635150504_10400528_411287 1_n.jpg

[JSanker]

Awesome build so far!

Btw, where did you get the shark teeth vinyl from? It does a lot of good things for your miata.

[SKAR]

Thanks, the sharks mouth is a stencil.

[diabeetus]

sick car dude

[SKAR]

Some new stuff that came in the mail

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/407850_10150568929608473_513208472_9248696_8028251 36_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/432161_10150568929963473_513208472_9248698_1596991 443_n.jpg

Picked up a new LF caliper to replace my randomly sticking one too. Also a pair of "Scheel-Mann" seats for $75, drivers seat has a small tear. I can't pick them up until the end of April so more info on them then as well as them being re-upholstered.

[Vegard]

Always thought the shark teeth were cool, now I know the rest is also. A good read, end to end!

[ChrisJuliano]

I love the color of your car!

[SKAR]

Thanks, Ill have to get some pics well putting the bushings in the next few weeks.

[SKAR]

Front half of the car is done with bushings and lines. Going to leave the rear u ntil my differential is ready to go in.

The weathers been nice so it may be out on the road next week, whenever theres another decent rainfall.

Got some better rubber to try to put the power down and have less understeer

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422457_10150634699343473_513208472_9463465_1750711 716_n.jpg

(cars coated in dust)

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/416998_10150634700603473_513208472_9463471_5572898 58_n.jpg

[SKAR]

From a few hours ago after work

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/486494_10150644674253473_513208472_9498700_1156462 965_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/404030_10150644674848473_513208472_9498708_1755363 440_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/295077_10150644675513473_513208472_9498714_9510447 67_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/394788_10150644676103473_513208472_9498717_1478092 165_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/383450_10150644676618473_513208472_9498719_1077204 024_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/423209_10150644677323473_513208472_9498723_6420601 35_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/306123_10150644684648473_513208472_9498760_1944023 859_n.jpg