The Long Road Back

[— Phatmiata —]

some of the local guys here removed their sway bars for autocross. at least it shaves some weight

Glad to hear the car is driving again Bryan.

[—Bryan—]

Good info! That does help a lot

BTW...Watanabes on an NB is a brave choice. I dig your choice in wheel finish!

Need to check out more of that build thread!

[—Bryan—]

some of the local guys here removed their sway bars for autocross. at least it shaves some weight

I remember Loren, a dude I think from down near you, did some research on running with no sways.

It's been amazing to feel like I'm actually enjoying the car again. When I first fixed it, I was so nervous about EVERYTHING (even if it had been done well for the most part). Now I actually feel I actually likebeing in the car and not just the idea of having it.

[JamieH]

I vote to keep the MSM lip. If nothing else so I can show my friend yours to tempt him to do the same on his Laser.

[—Bryan—]

I vote to keep the MSM lip. If nothing else so I can show my friend yours to tempt him to do the same on his Laser.

Wait...you have a friend with a Laser Blue? Will they be at MATG?!

A guy in the Ohio Miata Owners FB group just bought a Laser and is planning to bring it. Having three LB's in the same place at the same time is practically a record event!

Also: if he is going to be there, I might be persuaded to sell him the lip. Because it didn't come from the factory, it doesn't have the OEM screw fastening holding it to the upright part of the bumper mouth, so it's basically held in place by stock plastic bumper fasteners.

[JamieH]

Yep, I do.



Seeing The Tick in person back in '17 at MATG helped to spark his love of the color.



He's undecided. But I'll definitely let him know.

[—Bryan—]

OH MY GOODNESS GET HIM THERE.

(Though embarrassingly, my car looks easily the worst of the three)

[R4bbit]

Hey that's me...I do love the color!!
My Laser NB (2).jpg

[—Bryan—]

Dang...that thing looks pretty good. Much less molested than The Tick was when I bought him (11 years ago ).

You should come on up (or is it "over"?)!

FWIW, depending on your plans, the MSM front lip might be worth your time, especially if you also opt for the rear bumper treatment also.

[—Bryan—]

In other embarrassing news...

Put MSM bar back on...took two hours with some distraction


Passenger Front Shock at Full Droop by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr


Somewhat regretting that I didn't do a quick fix on the RB bar, but I am trying to go a little more low stress on mods.


Racing Beat 1.25in Sway Bar and Bracket by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr

[—Bryan—]

Here's some closeups of the failed clevis:


Mount Side of Failed Motor Mount by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr
Failed Lower Clevis on V8 Roadsters Motor Mount by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr


I spent an evening jacking up each control arm, loosening, tightening, then torquing each bolt I'd undone on the suspension:


Bonding Experience by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr

[—Bryan—]

Once I finished with the suspension, I put the undertray back on, and The Tick was good to go! I've been driving it for about a week now.


20190628_093220 by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr
20190628_093305 by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr

[chiefmg]

Seeing The Tick in person back in '17 at MATG helped to spark his love of the color.

Uh oh, someone caught me in a picture. Have to change my appearance now.

Glad you have rekindled your love of The Tick. I just had a reminder today that it was a year ago that I last helped you out getting things together. Let's try not to make that an annual event.

[— Agent☣Orange —]

Uh oh, someone caught me in a picture. Have to change my appearance now.

Yeah, if that were 1972.

[—Bryan—]

Drove the car all the way out to Bloomington, IN for a short vacation with my wife, kids, and my in-laws to Jellystone Park. Drove home solo as well. On the highway, the car is bearable, but ear plugs are an absolute must to be in the car for any more than about an hour--ESPECIALLY if the top is ever up. Holy cow

20190630_160321 by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr
20190630_172218 by Bryan Wyatt, on Flickr

Only REAL complaint is that the front end sometimes hobby-horses over big bumps. Any thoughts? Bouncing off the bumpstops?