Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 65

Thread: WASABI...British Racing Green.

  1. #1
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! WASABI's Avatar
    Drives
    1991 British Racing Green
    Location
    Amesbury, MA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    3,864
    Thanks Given
    6,206
    Thanked 1,464 Times in 795 Posts

    WASABI...British Racing Green.

    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 my 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!


  2. #2
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift I<3flippyheadlights's Avatar
    Drives
    1990 Spirited Green Miata!
    Location
    Tampa FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    4,380
    Thanks Given
    60
    Thanked 74 Times in 54 Posts
    Nice Red Baron sticker
    1990 Miata, she was red but now she is Spirit Green!

    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....d-a-love-story <--- build thread!

    Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IHeartFlippyHeadlights !!! Its a facebook page dedicated to the awesomeness which is flippyheadlights! Not me, but the actual headlights! High time someone noticed how awesome these things are; check it out!

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to I<3flippyheadlights For This Useful Post:

    WASABI (10-26-2014)

  4. #3
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! psulja's Avatar
    Drives
    1999 Twilight Blue/1991 Mariner Blue
    Location
    Windsor, Ontario
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    2,583
    Thanks Given
    62
    Thanked 237 Times in 158 Posts
    About time you make a build thread!
    Paul | IG- @psulja
    Build thread:
    1991 Mariner Blue - Built 1.8 swap, EFR, Fab9Tuning, Tii drivetrain

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to psulja For This Useful Post:

    WASABI (10-26-2014)

  6. #4
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! WASABI's Avatar
    Drives
    1991 British Racing Green
    Location
    Amesbury, MA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    3,864
    Thanks Given
    6,206
    Thanked 1,464 Times in 795 Posts
    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 a Honda S2000. I felt something for this Miata, and thought for the price, hardtop, bbs wheels, and being a BRG, it was worth a gamble.

  7. #5
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! psulja's Avatar
    Drives
    1999 Twilight Blue/1991 Mariner Blue
    Location
    Windsor, Ontario
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    2,583
    Thanks Given
    62
    Thanked 237 Times in 158 Posts
    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
    Paul | IG- @psulja
    Build thread:
    1991 Mariner Blue - Built 1.8 swap, EFR, Fab9Tuning, Tii drivetrain

  8. #6
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! WASABI's Avatar
    Drives
    1991 British Racing Green
    Location
    Amesbury, MA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    3,864
    Thanks Given
    6,206
    Thanked 1,464 Times in 795 Posts
    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 WHEELS....(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.

  9. #7
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift I<3flippyheadlights's Avatar
    Drives
    1990 Spirited Green Miata!
    Location
    Tampa FL
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    4,380
    Thanks Given
    60
    Thanked 74 Times in 54 Posts
    Can't believe this is how it started. So cool!
    1990 Miata, she was red but now she is Spirit Green!

    http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....d-a-love-story <--- build thread!

    Also check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/IHeartFlippyHeadlights !!! Its a facebook page dedicated to the awesomeness which is flippyheadlights! Not me, but the actual headlights! High time someone noticed how awesome these things are; check it out!

  10. #8
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! WASABI's Avatar
    Drives
    1991 British Racing Green
    Location
    Amesbury, MA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    3,864
    Thanks Given
    6,206
    Thanked 1,464 Times in 795 Posts
    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.

  11. #9
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! oldcafe's Avatar
    Drives
    1991 BRG
    Location
    Italy
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    218
    Thanks Given
    39
    Thanked 312 Times in 71 Posts
    wow, awesome story !!!
    Spaghetti Garage Italian Taste

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to oldcafe For This Useful Post:

    WASABI (02-22-2014)

  13. #10
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! WASABI's Avatar
    Drives
    1991 British Racing Green
    Location
    Amesbury, MA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    3,864
    Thanks Given
    6,206
    Thanked 1,464 Times in 795 Posts
    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.

  14. #11
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch Sarah's Avatar
    Drives
    1989 Silverstone Eunos Roadster
    Location
    Edinburgh, Scotland
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    61
    Thanks Given
    2
    Thanked 13 Times in 7 Posts
    Good read so far, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the story.

  15. #12
    4,000 rpm - entering the fun zone etikoner's Avatar
    Drives
    1995 Merlot Mica
    Location
    Miami Beach, Fl.
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    1,511
    Thanks Given
    1,024
    Thanked 296 Times in 211 Posts
    Loving this!

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to etikoner For This Useful Post:

    WASABI (10-26-2014)

  17. #13
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! WASABI's Avatar
    Drives
    1991 British Racing Green
    Location
    Amesbury, MA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    3,864
    Thanks Given
    6,206
    Thanked 1,464 Times in 795 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by oldcafe View Post
    wow, awesome story !!!
    Quote Originally Posted by Sarah View Post
    Good read so far, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the story.
    Quote Originally Posted by etikoner View Post
    Loving this!
    Thanks guys!

    This is what's been done in the first two months of ownership:
    Maintenance items
    • Oil change
    • New fuel filter
    • New spark plugs
    • New spark plug wires
    • New Air filter
    • Changed differential oil (Royal Purple Max Gear 17W-90)
    • Changed transmission oil (Motocraft full synthetic)
    • New turret oil
    • New shifter boots
    • Fresh brake master cylinder
    • New brake calipers
    • New brake pads
    • New brake fluid (Super Blue Racing)
    • Newer set of a-arms
    • New lower ball joints
    • New 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

    Esthetic items
    • New seat belt receivers (clean, un-faded, bright red release buttons!!)
    • Refinished Nardi shift knob
    • New leather interior pieces (black w/tan accent stitching)
    ...- Shift gaiter
    ...- E-brake cover
    ...- Center armrest
    ...- Seat belt receiver sheathes
    • Tan door cards from a '96 M with black uppers map pockets, and factory tweeters
    • Swapped out tan door handles for a set of black ones
    • New black floor mats
    • Replaced tombstone (original was cracked and brittle from years of sun)
    • Cold air intakes
    • Powder coated windshield wiper arms
    • Powder coated valve cover
    • Powder coated brake calipers & mounts

  18. #14
    5,000 rpm - there be torque here! WASABI's Avatar
    Drives
    1991 British Racing Green
    Location
    Amesbury, MA
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    3,864
    Thanks Given
    6,206
    Thanked 1,464 Times in 795 Posts


    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!!!!

  19. #15
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! shane's Avatar
    Drives
    2001 SE
    Location
    Chitaco
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    132
    Thanks Given
    0
    Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts
    Nice project, looking forward to see your direction on this

Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •