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 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.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/attachment.jpg

I had fun working on her.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/attachment-2.jpg

ALOT!

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/back.jpg

[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.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/mail-1.jpg
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/mail-2.jpg
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/mail-3.jpg
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/mail-4.jpg
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/mail-5.jpg
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/mail-6.jpg
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/mail-7.jpg

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.

[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!:teehee:

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).

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-1.jpg

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.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-2.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-3.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-4.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-5.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-6.jpg

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!

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-7.jpg

I then refinished the factory Nardi shift knob

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-8.jpg

The Touge Run front lip (Group Buy)

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-9.jpg



http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-10.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-11.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-12.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-13.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-14.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-15.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-16.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-20.jpg

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!

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

[WASABI]

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-21.jpg

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.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-22.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-26.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-27.jpg

And a full tank of fresh gas.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-23.jpg

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

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-24.jpg

And did a quick photo shoot.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-25.jpg

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 :)

[afc2112]

The yellow calipers & valve cover look great!

What happened to the Panasports or the BBS?

[sss1987]

hi buddy is your current ride height with the nb bilstein + tein s techs?

[psulja]

So do you have some more updates for us or is that it up to now?

[WASABI]

The yellow calipers & valve cover look great!

What happened to the Panasports or the BBS?

I sold the BBS to a good friend, for a reasonable $450.00

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-41.jpg

The Panasports are currently being refinished... I haven't made a decision on the spoke color yet.

[WASABI]

hi buddy is your current ride height with the nb bilstein + tein s techs?

Yes, the pictures up until now, are with the Bilstein /Tein S combo.


So do you have some more updates for us or is that it up to now?

Sorry I haven't added to my build....June's MOTM lottery motivated me. :) So far, I have only covered the first few months back in 2010. There is more coming.

[WASABI]

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-28.jpg

I started to really enjoy my new toy!

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-29.jpg

I am lucky to be able to take a road along the coast of New Hampshire on the way to work.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-30.jpg

I then installed my newly powder coated valve cover.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-31.jpg

Still far from clean...but getting there.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-33.jpg

It's good to have a spare, just to double check your work.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-34.jpg

Looking much better.

[WASABI]

Since the soft top was toast, I was driving to work for the first couple weeks, with the hard top....I liked the look, but, I couldn't put the top down when the weather was nice, on my ride home from work.
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-35.jpg

Time to put the new top on. The car came with a brand new tan soft top (with glass window)

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-36.jpg

All I had to do was figure out how to put it on.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-37.jpg

I was happy to find a clean parcel self. Hey, no rust.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-38.jpg

It was easier than I thought. Took about three hours.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-39.jpg

Letting her stretch out in the sunshine.

[WASABI]

Of course I have changed all the fluids...with these quality products.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/was-42.jpg

[I<3flippyheadlights]

Your red miata must be so jealous. But you really have basically rebuilt this car. Its basically stock with a nice touch and I love it. Everyday I check for a miata on the cheap to do what you did.

[Benbrg]

This was the first modified brg I saw on miata.net when I was starting out on mine. I never knew it was in such bad shape. Great work Jim. :)

[moerdogg]

Don't know why it took me so long to get to this thread. Great work, Jim!

[sss1987]

whats your ride height with the NB bilsteins + Teins? hows the ride? im thinking about this to replace my LE billies

[etikoner]

Awesome car.

[roy obanion]

I think there is more to the story, don't hold out on us, Jim. :)

[Heyitsryan]

How does the car look now, great build thread!

[Doward]

Crazy ironic story behind this. We picked up an early Sunburst car in similar shape, for similar cheap. The fiance wont let me keep it with the 94m around. It would have ended up just like this, OEM+, minimal modifications, but lots of maintenance upgrades, nb bilsteins, nb 15" sport wheels, no rollbar, more of a nice weather street cruiser.

Give us MOAR!!!

[WASABI]

Alright, let's update this thread!

After installing the new top I took her to New Hampshire Speedway to see my first Spec Miata race.

First we went over a friends house who was prepping a Spec Miata car.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/build-0.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/build-1.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/build-2.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/build-5.jpg

Sat in my first Spec car. Sheez, that's a tight fit!

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/build-3.jpg

They let us take our own cars out for 5 laps! Damn, that's fun... almost addictive.
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/build-4.jpg

[ZQQMIN]

update!!!

[EdWhiteSpace]

Just caught this one, James. Getting a bit of the bug to drag out the M and do some work... I may be flooding you with questions. Meanwhile, UPDATE. ;-)

[Pantsoffstanceoff]

Any progress on wasabi or has cherry bomb been hogging all your time?

[Adam]

Always great to see someone give an NA new life, sure is becoming a neat car.

[Tabasco]

Hello Wasabi,

When you made the caliper rebuild, do you remember exactly which area of the caliper where taped or protected before powdercoating.

On the picture below you will see the hole of the slider pin, I guess that this area was taped or something like that?


10258


Thanks ;)

[WASABI]

Hello Wasabi,

When you made the caliper rebuild, do you remember exactly which area of the caliper where taped or protected before powdercoating.

On the picture below you will see the hole of the slider pin, I guess that this area was taped or something like that?


10258


Thanks ;)


Hi Tabasco, a good powder coater will know what to cover. I don't remember everything, but we did discuss how it mounts/works, and what we should leave uncoated.

[WASABI]

The next thing that needed to be replaced was the clutch. I could feel it slipping, and I knew it had to be done, but I had never tackled a clutch before... Thanks to good friends with Spec Miata experience, a bitch'n set of tools, and more importantly, car lifts in their garage, it went pretty easy.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/clutch2.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/clutch3.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/clutch4.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/clutch5.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/clutch6.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/clutch7.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/clutch8.jpg

[WASABI]

Then, I installed my favorite mod, a beautiful black spoke Nardi wheel.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/steering wheel.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/steering wheel 2.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/wheel 3.jpg

Then a wash.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/wash.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/wash 2.jpg

[WASABI]

I enjoyed the Fall of 2010. My buddy and I cruised around in our Roadsters.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/MGB 1.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/MGB 2.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/MGB 4.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/MGB 5.jpg

[psulja]

I enjoyed the Fall of 2010.

Did you go back in time or just reminiscing?

[JamieH]

Well, there's two BRG British sports cars there, so my guess is he did indeed go back in time.

[WASABI]

Did you go back in time or just reminiscing?

Ha ha, this is a "BUILD" thread... so there's a bit of history going on here.

[psulja]

Ha ha, this is a "BUILD" thread... so there's a bit of history going on here.

Thought that maybe in your old age you accidentally typed 2010 rather than 2013. Just checking :teehee:


Also, how the heck did you get 1,000+ posts up on me?

[WASABI]

WINTER 2010/2011

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/winter 1.jpg

Time to tackle those dented front fenders.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/winter 3.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/winter 4.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/winter 9.jpg

Started to work on the Panasports... well, test fitted them anyway.

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/winter 5.jpg

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/winter 7.jpg

[psulja]

I see what you did there!

(apparently you can't type in all caps on here)

[cbaylis77]

Jim, you going to make it to any events this year?

[OnePaintedMan]

LOVE this thread!

Have always wanted a BRG car. Will be checking back for updates (when I'm not on ebay looking for a cheap green garage buddy for Ronin).

[riefdaddy]

Happy days are here again! And I get a back story to go with the return of Wasabi?! Priceless.

Now, on with the show... :popcorn:

[atank]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZk7-1uGmc4

[WASABI]

Jim, you going to make it to any events this year?

I am going to have her on the road this spring!!! When is your 2014 Tech Day?

[cbaylis77]

April 5th. Unless of course it's snowing!
Larz Anderson is June 29th.

[WASABI]

The old fenders off, and the new one's go on... after any and all rust is addressed.
http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/winter 10.jpg

And then the engine bay is primed and painted!

http://www.fagerquist.com/miata/build/update/winter 11.jpg

[etikoner]

That engine bay is soo clean! very nice

[Madaboutmx5s]

Yes that is a very clean engine bay! Nice work.

[Phatmiata]

Perfect time to install some fender braces :whistle:

[Phatmiata]

Jim, did you ever wonder who dented your fenders? It was me!! I was some tagging some stray cat in your yard, and using your Miata as my backboard for more traction! And if you keep it up I will chew up your Hot Wheels, hump your french poodle, and poop on you for talking smack about me in that other thread you elitist swine!!






I Kidd, I kidd................ But not really......



http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9R3god0xyM/UIrllGAfT3I/AAAAAAAAESc/PDY72VEUZ_w/s1600/Triumph-the-Insult-Comic-Dog.jpg

[Tabasco]

WOuld have loved to find a clean BRG...

Mine also deserves a new paint job for the engine bay. :)

[Jeffbucc]

I regret my paint color every time I see a BRG Miata.

[lokirx706]

Great read! There is something special about taking a dilapidated old car that someone has given up on, and giving it a new lease on life. Keep up the great work!

[treeafodo]

This car has come a long way already! Inspiration for my little wreck. :)

[jawolf518]

Damn I have to tackle taking out my brake booster when I change my fluid and lines to clean under the booster where brake fluid leaked :/ Was it a huge PITA??

[WASABI]

Damn I have to tackle taking out my brake booster when I change my fluid and lines to clean under the booster where brake fluid leaked :/ Was it a huge PITA??

No, it was pretty easy, a couple of nuts, and connections. I would suggest you take your time. If you do, then it should be pretty straight forward. It was well worth it to clean up that area.

[jawolf518]

No, it was pretty easy, a couple of nuts, and connections. I would suggest you take your time. If you do, then it should be pretty straight forward. It was well worth it to clean up that area.

I'll see if a couple of the gearheads guys will help me out with it on a tech day. Doing the brake system with all new lines, master, and having to take off the booster sounds like a PITA. Such fun.

Also .... did you have to remove the dash?