-- My '96 Miata : The Road to Victory --

[06tiburonofdoom]

Since I love overly-dramatic titles and making build threads, I figured I'd FINALLY start one, now that I feel I've got enough going to make it somewhat interesting. :3:

Well, it all started on May 20th, which was the day I picked the car up. Since my other 2 cars are not suitable for some college daily driving, I knew I had to have a Miata. It was a totally stock '96 with the leather package (obviously), two-owner, all records, and right at 100,000 miles with all services done, including a new clutch. :mrgreen: Not perfect, but pretty damned clean! So here's the first pic I took of it. This is like an hour after getting it at my friend's house, cell phone camera ablaze:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6500923491_066c6f5fcc_b.jpg

A day or two later, I got down on the detailing action. There were some dull spots, but I knew I could bring 90% of it back to life. And I was successful! The finish panel and mirrors were the only thing that didn't totally shine up (as usual).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6500930047_3906fba8f5_b.jpg
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Over the next couple of months, I pretty much just drove it and enjoyed it, in between moving things to my new place by my college. I purchased a couple of little things to make it a bit more fun, but I was just loving having an easily drivable car. One day I was taking pictures of my Civic, and then I decided to throw the Miata in a couple for fun. Here's one of those...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6500944727_1c3cc00dfc_b.jpg

With winter coming up, I decided to pick up a hardtop. I hated the tan soft top, anyways. So within a week, I found EXACTLY what I was after: one of the earliest tops, with no headliner and no defrost. PERFECT! Only thing was...it was in terrible shape. Cracks, chips, missing pieces, mind-fucked tint...the whole 9 yards. So I bought new EVERYTHING (seals, hardware, gaskets, glass, etc.) for it, along with some Rennenmetal brackets, and then my body guy worked his magic on it. It came out better than I could've imagined! I also had him shave and paint my faded-ass finish panel, so the ol' Miata was lookin' fly after that. After like a month of having that stuff done, I FINALLY got some more decent pictures:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6500958505_077b7600d6_b.jpg
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Throughout December of 2011, I began collecting a stash of parts to get things off to a good start. Here's the result of that:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6500952663_00ec9c0881_b.jpg

Pictured:
-14x7" +19 RPF1s (perfect, until I do a crazy setup)
-185/55-14 SS595s
-949 valve stems
-4.44 ring and pinion (equivalent to a 4.6 with the tires)
-Maruha 4.6 FD speedometer gear
-Stance GR+
-5" 10 kg/mm Swift springs
-MegaSquirt PNP
-Energy diff bushings
-MiataRoadster lower diff mounts
-MiataRoadster rack plugs
-OEM P/S delete bracket
-iConcept tie rods w/ spacers
-Super Now! tie rod ends
-Zeromotive e-brake handle
-RevLimiter HVAC panel

[06tiburonofdoom]

SO...now it was time to install some stuff! I had already installed a Racing Beat intake, rear sway bar, 949 endlinks, and an M-Tuned high flow cat, but of course that can't even be considered the tip of the iceberg. First, I got the MSPNP hooked up and rocking strong. After that, I ordered up some Work lugs, so I had a little time to mount up my tires while I waited for those.

Once those arrived, I put on the coilovers and got everything set fairly decently, then got an alignment. But I couldn't have the wheels putting my car's paint to shame, so I also had several parts on the car fixed up a resprayed. All of that led me to this:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6921734215_b26493bd5a_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6775624140_6319903372_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/6775601968_0b04f51778_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6775604968_6f8f78d171_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6775608104_5a55af0543_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6775611528_75d2407027_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6921729005_6e9af03883_b.jpg

...which is how it sits right now. The plan is to lower it a bit more, then do a bit of an overhaul to get a lot of maintenance done, along with getting most of the new parts on. :)
And yes, it desperately needs a front lip! They just need to be in stock again...

Hopefully I'll have more updates soon!

[sss1987]

I got to say buddy..WOW. I think that actually looks perfect the way it is (rideheight wise). OEM lip is a must though :)

[06tiburonofdoom]

Thanks a lot! :) Yeah, it's not too bad, since nothing about this setup is 'extreme'. I definitely wanna dial it all in just a bit more, though! It's hard enough to resist laying this thing on the ground, like my other cars... Haha
And about the front lip... I finally ordered one (OEM, of course)! :) I'll throw up some new pics once I get it put on and make my other minor adjustments.

[sss1987]

Awesome! dont lower it!!! It will look fantastic with the oem lip on!! Just know you have my support not to lower it any further..hahahahaa!

ps bud what wheel nuts are those?

[06tiburonofdoom]

Hahaha, thanks. :)
The lugs are from Work. The RS model!

[sss1987]

cheers dude!

When you fitting the lip eh bud?

[06tiburonofdoom]

Pretty soon... As in yesterday! Haha

Finally got the lip on. Looong overdue, and it feels good to cross it off of the list. :)
Here's a few pics I took in the midst of messing with my buddy's car...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6954601647_f2e6f27ba8_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/6954607711_f3a5c89561_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7199/6808509422_ae237531ae_b.jpg

[fitftw]

Awesome car. Like mine, but red. What lugs are those?

[sss1987]

LOOKs sooooo damn good with the oem lip!!!

[sss1987]

even if you lowered it even more!! see i noticed!

[06tiburonofdoom]

Awesome car. Like mine, but red. What lugs are those?

Thanks! :) As for the lugs...



The lugs are from Work. The RS model!
:P


LOOKs sooooo damn good with the oem lip!!!
Thanks a lot! I'm definitely happy with it. The fitment isn't too shabby, at all! :slayer:
And I BARELY lowered it. Haha It was like 1/5"! The shadows exaggerate it a bit. Still need to mess with it some more. :)

[sss1987]

updates?

[06tiburonofdoom]

Well, it's been a while, but here's a partial update. Since last time, I've gotten a RoadsterSport 3 exhaust, MiataRoadster stock-height short throw shifter, finally got my Zeromotive wooden handbrake handle on, and I lowered the car about 9/16" more (and got another alignment). Other than that, just maintenance, keeping it clean, and collecting a few more parts to throw on when I'm ready!

The exhaust arrived super fast, and looked totally flawless upon opening the well-packed box. (iPhone pic warning)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7316576694_8b9119aafc_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7316573804_d4fa7f8340_b.jpg

I thought the laser-etched tip was pretty snazzy, myself. :) The install was a breeze, aside from having to get a new Bosch downstream O2 sensor, since the other one would NOT budge. I'm running it without a baffle, and it's pretty perfect, volume-wise, for a fun daily driver exhaust. Definitely deeper, and you can feel a little more pull once the RPMs start climbing. It's coupled with a RB intake and M-Tuned cat, so that adds a little to the sound, as well. Very happy with it, overall!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7316571408_370dc413d3_b.jpg

The shifter was a wonderfully put together package, since it had all of the OEM wear-and-tear items, and even Loctite, for the new bolts! Install was as simple as could be (I changed my turret oil at the same time), and the difference it made was far more than I imagined it would be. I didn't think my stock stuff would look too bad, but damn... Those boots were MANGLED. Haha

Then I snapped a couple of pics today when I met up with my mom (she's been borrowing my camera to make a video), so they're nothing special. Just a little update of where it's at! I didn't have time to get the exhaust shot I wanted, but it fits perfectly. I'll get some better shots next time!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7229/7316546402_5c703e25d8_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7316546604_2d09e39854_b.jpg

Just FYI, at this height (3" pinch weld), the camber got set to -3* up front and -3.5* in the rear, which is a hair more than a degree extra from the previous ride height. I didn't expect the camber curve to be so steep! Haha

[friday]

I love that exhaust. Does it drone much?

[06tiburonofdoom]

Well, on average, about 75% of my day to day driving is highway/turnpike (cruise set at ~3,700), and I don't think it drones really at all. I can listen to music just fine at the same volumes as before (although I seem to listen to music far less now :) ) and carry on conversations just fine around town and such. Granted, I was dailying my Civic with a test pipe and Buddy Club Spec II (glorified straight pipe) with no complaints, but I honestly find the RoadsterSport to be perfect for daily driving. And if you find it too loud for some reason, there's two different baffles you can use to change the tone/volume! Pretty cool.

[06tiburonofdoom]

Wow, I don't know why I've neglected this thread for so long! Haha
But since last time I've gotten quite a bit done.

-New OEM rear bumper with shaved sidemarkers and R-Package lip
-Shaved third brake light
-Installed iConcept tie rods and rack spacers
-Installed SuperNow! tie rod ends
-New timing belt, water pump, front main seal, belts, idlers, and gaskets
-Installed P/S delete pulley with brand new idler
-PROPERLY de-powered the steering rack and installed MiataRoadster rack plugs
-Installed the Wilwood 11" LBBK from Flyin' Miata (rear waiting for installation)
-Got Nardi Deep Corn Woodgrain with polished hex hardware and Daikei hub
-New braided spark plug wires, valve cover hardware, Garage502 oil cap, and painted valve cover wrinkle red
-Installed Beatrush PPF brace
-Installed Koyo 37mm radiator and cap with black Samco NB hoses
-Installed Jass Performance lo-profile headlights (first set in the U.S.)
-Purchased Jass Performance master cylinder brace
-Purchased Tomei Technical Trax 2-way LSD
-Installed Project-G shift boot
-Purchased Innovate LC-I and Enthuza resonated test pipe

Damn, the list seems so long when I type it out like that... Haha
Anyways, PICTURES!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8474863296_9622b71361_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8474860758_ec9e0cff17_b.jpg
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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8246576191_8c07624054_c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8427598127_ddc6790aac_b.jpg

And in closing, thanks to an unexpectedly glorious tax return, I should have some Works and hopefully V8Roadsters tubular control arms on the way soon. :) We'll see what happens!

[06tiburonofdoom]

Just a small, poorly-photographed update. I had ordered a master cylinder brace from Jass, as well as a resonated test pipe from Enthuza, a few weeks ago, and I finally felt like installing them today.
Of course, I forgot to take pictures of both items before installation, and since I really don't feel like jacking the car back up, you'll just have to imagine a big Magnaflow resonator the length of a test pipe. Haha

First up was the brace (excuse the dirt).
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8535640986_cacb941979_b.jpg
Installation was a breeze, finish on the product is flawless, and the fitment couldn't be any better! I'll probably get a nut to use as a lock against the brace side of things, but that doesn't seem to be an issue at this time.
My impressions upon immediately sitting in the car and pressing the brake pedal were as follows:

"Damn."

WAY less pedal travel, and far more firm and 'secure' feeling. I wasn't too worried to test maximum braking before, but now it hits a lot harder. More like it should be! :)

Moving onto the Enthuza resonated test pipe. Great construction and awesome fitment were expected, as well as provided, so that's about all that matters there. Now, I had an M-Tuned metal-core cat before, which was great, but it had an annoying buzz (albeit minor) in the car at around 3,700 rpm, which is EXACTLY where I have the cruise control set on the turnpike every day going to and from work. Also, this happened somehow:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8535639904_f26f82aab0_b.jpg
...which very well could've contributed to the buzz.
If I had to put a number on it, I'd say the resonator is MAYBE 5% louder so far than the cat was, but it's already a bit deeper and less raspy. Another surprising element I noticed was a little more low-end torque, which is nice.

In other news, I got the new wheels ordered, and I have my 185/55-14 S-Drives waiting for me at work, so I'll be excited to get those in after a few more weeks of waiting. :)
Hopefully I'll get some interior and suspension updates pretty soon, as well! So much to purchase... Haha