WASABI...British Racing Green.

[WASABI]

I have wanted to a build thread for some time, but kept putting it off, because it seems daunting. Screw it, you have to start somewhere!!!

Brief history: I have owned a red '91 Miata since 2005, purchased from the original owner. $2500.00 with 79,000 miles and a hardtop. I love the car, and drove it year round. This was not so smart in New England...but freakin' fun none the less.

Painted daisy wheels and rebuilt 1.8 calipers.



I had fun working on her.



ALOT!

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Nice Red Baron sticker

[psulja]

About time you make a build thread!

[WASABI]

In 2010, I saw an ad in Craig's List. A 1991 SE British Racing Green in Northern New Jersey for $1600.00 with 95,000 miles. I called and talked to the owner nervously over a couple of days, as he said there were other people calling about the car, possibly coming to look at it....and I was 250 miles away. I told him I wanted it, and I would pay through PayPal if that would help. Not seeing the car in person, only these seven pictures.









The seller told me the car had been sitting in his driveway for 4 or 5 years. It was his wife's car and she didn't drive it much after buying an S2000. I felt something for the car, and thought for the price, hardtop, bbs wheels, and being a BRG, it was worth a gamble.

[psulja]

Didn't know that's what your car started it's life as! Looking forward to updates

P.S- put more in your posts and stop being such a tease lol

[WASABI]

So I took a day off from work, borrowed a truck and rented a full trailer from U-haul. A fellow Miata enthusiast joined me for the day long trek from northern Massachusetts, to New Jersey to buy my second Miata.
note: Told the wife I would sell the red one...just didn't tell her how quickly!

I didn't think to bring a camera with me the day I bought it, but it was in rough shape, having sat so long. Tires flat, brakes rusted solid, rear springs rusted through (both rears were broken). She DID start after a couple of tries, and after beating the hell out of the brakes with a sledge hammer, we got her to roll...it was stopping that was impossible. Especially on the trailer!

The deal also came with a brand new tan top w/glass window, hardtop, & 16 rims....(4) '95 M BBS, (4) daisy, (4) steelies, and (4) 15X7 Panasport. I paid a total of $2100.00 for everything. We loaded her on the trailer, and drove her back to Massachusetts. I put her up in my friend's garage, because he had more tools, and I told my wife it was in better condition that she really was (to get permission), so I needed to get her running (drivable).



This was the first night in my friend's garage.

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Can't believe this is how it started. So cool!

[WASABI]

The interior was in great shape (with the exception of the previous owner's smoking habit). All the parts were there, albeit, slightly dented, a little rusted, and smelling like a smokey bowling alley. I saw the potential in her, and bonded immediately.



Here was one of the rusted springs. Shocks were crap, and the a-arms? Well....



I removed all the a-arms; the shocks too! I had another set of a-arms in great condition and put those puppies in



New lower ball joints, outer tie rod ends (r package / for lower ride heights), and Racing Beat sway bar ends.



Vacuumed the interior, conditioned the leather seats, and fresh shifter boots & turret oil.



She wasn't registered, and stayed at my friend's garage for two months.

[oldcafe]

wow, awesome story !!!

[WASABI]

You can't have new shifter boots, without new black leather shift gaiter...with tan accent stitching!



I then refinished the factory Nardi shift knob



The Touge Run front lip (Group Buy)









A clean set of Bilstein shocks from a '99 NB sport (hard), paired with Tein lowering springs.







Oh, AND a new set of calipers all around, that I had powder coated a warm yellow, evoking a "Lotusesque" feel.



I had the valve cover done at the same time!!!!



I also painted under the brake booster, because of a leaky master....speaking of, that another story!



Then get her registered.

[Sarah]

Good read so far, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the story.

[etikoner]

Loving this!

[WASABI]

wow, awesome story !!!

Good read so far, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the story.

Loving this!

Thanks guys!

So to this point: Maintenance items
oil change
fuel filter
new spark plugs
new spark plug wires
air filter
differential oil (Royal Purple Max Gear 17W-90)
transmission oil (Motocraft full synthetic)
turret oil
shifter boots
brake master cylinder
new brake calipers
new brake pads
new brake fluid (Super Blue Racing)
newer set of a-arms (new lower ball joint, r-package tie rod ends)
new tires (a brand new set of KUMO, all seasons that came with the car)
new-ish 1999 Bilstein shocks (hard sport)
Tein S-Tech lowering springs
Racing Beat hollow front sway bar
Racing Beat solid rear sway bar
Racing Beat adjustable end links
Freedom Design strut brace
New alignment bolts

So to this point: Esthetic items
new seat belt receivers (clean unfaded release buttons!!)
refinished Nardi shift knob
black leather w/tan accent stitching - shift gaiter, e-brake cover, center armrest, seat belt receiver sheathes
tan door cards from a '96 M (with factory tweeters)
swapped out tan door handles for a set of black ones
new black floor mats
replaced tombstone (original was brittle from years of sun)
cold air intakes
powder coated windshield wiper arms

[WASABI]

Then almost two months to the day, I started her up, put her back on the ground, and ready for a test run! Face to face with my red '91.



One last pre-road check...hey the lights all work! BONUS! Back on the road after 4 years.



Everything worked great, so I took her to work the next day! About a 50 miles total.



And a full tank of fresh gas.



The next day, I put the hard top on (because the original top a toast) and took her to work again.



And did a quick photo shoot.



I was a little embarrassed about the dented front fender, and horrible paint, but she was running!!!!

[shane]

Nice project, looking forward to see your direction on this