Stupid hurts: '97 Chaste White NA8 build

[Stupid hurts]

I've always been into cars and for the longest time, I had never actually owned one. Instead, I had a truck -- a 2007 Toyota Tacoma to be exact. Believe it or not, I actually daily drove this until I got my Miata. It has since become my offroad/camping/parts vehicle.

Started life as this...


Then after an extensive build (more info here), became this...

I then picked up a second-hand 2005 Triumph Thruxton to fulfill my motorcycle fix. Again, I just couldn't leave it alone.

Started life as this...


Then later became this...

Then fast-forward to February 2014, I picked up my 1997 Chase White NA8 Miata as a 25th birthday gift to myself, which was actually suiting because it was also the Miata's 25th birthday in the same year.

I had been looking around for a Miata for quite some time as a new daily driver/project then this one sort of just fell into my lap. My coworker was planning on getting something more practical and told me he was eventually going to sell his Miata. It already had a few things done to it, but most importantly, he had taken good care of it.

When I got the car, it already had the following:

• 15x7 Panasport ULs w/195/50R15 Kumho Ecstas
• Jackson Racing Header
• Racing Beat Intake
• Unknown Aftermarket Exhaust w/Racing Beat Power Pulse Connecting Pipe
• Koni Yellows w/Koni Lowering Springs
• Momo Team 280mm Steering Wheel w/Momo Hub

Then only after owning it for a week, I proceeded to add a Garage Vary style front lip, Feed style side skirts, R package replica rear lip, TougeRun "duckbill" lip/spoiler, and Garage Star front plate bracket in preparation for Project-G's Annual Meet. What better way than to spend my 25th birthday with my friends and my new-to-me Miata?

Since the Project-G Annual Meet, there have been a few big changes. I finally ditched the style bar and replaced it with a Blackbird Fabworx GT3 roll bar, swapped out the Koni Yellows with BC Racing BR Type coilovers, sold the Momo steering wheel and hub and bought a Personal Grinta 330mm steering wheel and NRG short hub + NRG quick release, and more.

Here are some pictures taken by a good friend of mine. More of his work can be found here.

Current Mods List:

Exterior

• Wings West W-Type Full Kit
• Project-G Bikini Top
• Project-G Quick Detach License Plate Mount
• Project-G Tow Strap Mounting Bracket
• Takata Tow Strap
• R Package Trunk Lid
• Static Nine Garage Turn Signal Intakes

Interior

• Blackbird Fabworx GT3 4-Point Roll Bar
• Lotus Elise Seats
• Flipside Customs Lotus Seat Brackets
• Personal Grinta 330mm Steering Wheel
• NRG Short Hub
• NRG 2.0 Quick Release
• JDM Door Cards
• ARC Teardrop Shift Knob
• Jass Performance Drift Button
• OEM Soft Top Boot Cover

Engine/Drivetrain

• Jackson Racing Header
• St. May Dual Shotgun Center Exit Exhaust
• ARC Intake Chamber
• ARC Super Induction Box
• ARC Oil Cap
• Project-G Precision Series 1.1 Plug Cover
• Project-G Precision Series 1.1 Dipstick Handle
• Garage Star Radiator Cooling Panel
• Garage Star Wiper Cowl

Wheels/Tires/Suspension

• 16x9.5 et25 Arcane Legends
• 215/40R16 Yokohama S-Drives
• 15x7 Panasport ULs (TRACK)
• 195/50R15 Kumho Ecstas (TRACK)
• BC Racing BR Type Coilovers
• Muteki SR48 Burning Blue Neon Lug Nuts

Lighting

• RS Active Type I Low Profile Headlight Housings
• Garage Vary Tail Lights w/Garage Woolery Trim Rings
• 5000K HIDs
• JDM Yellow Fog Lamps
• LED License Plate Lights

To Be Installed/On The Way

• ARP Extended Wheel Studs

[Sean5294]

You have the same addiction I have. I can never leave something alone.

[Stupid hurts]

You have the same addiction I have. I can never leave something alone.

It sucks too. Thins out my wallet, but I regret nothing!

[WASABI]

It sucks too. Thins out my wallet, but I regret nothing!

I love your sense of style. Tasteful mods on all of your projects.

[KAL]

That Toyota is off the hook!

[Stupid hurts]

I love your sense of style. Tasteful mods on all of your projects.

Haha, that GIF is perfect! I appreciate the kind words.

That Toyota is off the hook!

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[Stupid hurts]

Just a small update. Swapped out the dummy oil pressure gauge and sender with one off of a '90-'93 NA. It was really straightforward and took me a couple of hours only because it was difficult to get to the dummy sender.

Dummy sender on the left; '90-'93 sender on the right.


Dummy gauge on the left; '90-'93 gauge on the right.


The finished product!

[Stupid hurts]

Installed the Project-G bikini top and St. May exhaust.



A little teaser of what's to come. Getting the car ready for the Nisei Showoff. Showing with my buddy from Wheelflip/Arcane Wheels. Lotus Elise seats, ARC intake chamber and super induction box, 16x9.5 et25 Arcane Legend true 3 piece forged construction wheels, and 215/40R16 Yokohama S-Drives.



Also forgot to mention that I was lucky enough to have the opportunity of picking these bad boys up from Mr. Woolery himself for my Garage Vary tail lights.

[— Grip Driver —]

Looks great with the new exhaust and bikini top!

[Stupid hurts]

Looks great with the new exhaust and bikini top!

Thanks! As soon as I came across the St. May when I first got my Miata, I knew I had to have one and I was lucky enough for one to come up on the classifieds over on CR. I think the bikini top has become my favorite mod so far. So simple, yet changes the look completely.

[Stupid hurts]

Another member over on CR.net spotted my car at the Nisei/StanceNation Showoff last weekend and took these pics. My buddy didn't get his Odyvia ready in time so instead he drove out his customer's bagged, APR widebody S2K pictured next to my Miata.




The Lotus Elise seats weren't pictured because I didn't get my Flipside Customs brackets in time. They actually showed up at my doorstep the day of the show after I had already left.

[—atank—]

Nice and clean!!!!!!!!!!! Those ground effects look great, what body kit are you sporting?

[—Martin—]

Wings West. That's the kit I wanted for my first Miata.

[Slipstreem]

That thing is clean! Very nice. I have to ask though. With those 15x7 rims and 195 tires were the fenders rolled for fitment?

[Stupid hurts]

Nice and clean!!!!!!!!!!! Those ground effects look great, what body kit are you sporting?

Thanks! Like Martin mentioned, it's the Wings West W-Type full kit.

That thing is clean! Very nice. I have to ask though. With those 15x7 rims and 195 tires were the fenders rolled for fitment?

Thanks! Previous owner did roll the fenders a bit.