Ted7 Build thread... ok, more like some history...

[Ted7]

Once upon a time, there was me. I was a little bit sad to leave my Super Seven in Belgium and I wanted to find something not really similar, but as fun to drive and at a very reasonable price.

So I bought that Miata in San Diego after seeing probably 20 other Miatas all around SoCal... I wanted a clean one and I found the one I was looking for at a very reasonable price :

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4008/4461725866_30740cfc49_o.jpg

The interior was very clean...

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4065/4461725778_d648fe48c4_o.jpg

and also very stock Miata!

I didn't know at that time I got an STO, and I didn't really care... the car was clean, and had something like 89,000 miles. I paid $3,550 for it, which was a good (fair) price.

The only cons were two dents on the driver's side and a "scar" on the top.

It took me almost a year to start working on the car for real...

So first I wanted wheels that remind me my old Super Seven... so I got a set of Chapparal at RSpeed

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5202/5361879831_bddbabeffd_b.jpg

Ok, they're a little heavy but the look is killer, and I wanted to give my car the vintage spirit of an English roadster...

First thing I modified inside was... the vent rings... silly heh, but I love those shiny rings

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5281/5362491466_52d4e4e355_b.jpg

I also added that old style gas cap (or whatever you call it, remember, I'm Belgian)...

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5249/5371491210_d63303060f_b.jpg

Later on, I decided to move one step forward and I added a supercharger (JR SC M45) when I rebuilt the engine.
I'm very happy with it, whatever you might think against superchargers (some), I love the way it pulls and I love the way it sounds...

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-vwBbdLG/0/XL/1010077-XL.jpg

I also powder coated the valve cover, added a Koyo Rad and lowered the car with Eibach springs and KYB AGX adjustable shocks (not very happy)

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-6dcrQLz/0/XL/1010070-XL.jpg

Got blue Magnacor spark plug wires now by the way

I wanted to make the brakes look and feel good, so I got a pair of Wilwood, which I was not that happy with (too much noise)

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-DN7nqcZ/0/XL/DSC02665-XL.jpg

Didn't like the BP10, got a set of Carbotech, even worse, noisy and horribly dusty... I changed that thing later...

I also designed those stripes, because it reminds me of the early Elan... oh I love the Elan...

Back to the inside, I decided to go vintage there as well with a polished 350mm Nardi, MG style gauges and the KG Works cluster... I slept in the car the day I installed it...

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-3x3MjBd/0/XL/1000895-XL.jpg

Got VDO gauges to complete the cockpit (I know it says turbo but this is all I could find), an A/F wideband gauge hidden in the glove box, and a Nardi shift knob to match the steering wheel...

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-kD3rhJD/0/XL/1000889-XL.jpg

Then comes the time to get rid of the girly wind blocker and get a roll bar. Double hoop boss frog was the best thing to buy. I followed my friend Matt (Marsupial... whatever) and powder coated it in the same (well almost the same) color as the car...

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-wg32nLS/0/XL/P1050037-XL.jpg

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-smKZkxQ/0/XL/P1050061-XL.jpg

I love it... except those seat belts that are not going back anymore...

Small detail... I love that logo, even if it's not the same as the original, I don't care, I love it...

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-QfdHxN5/0/XL/P1050017-XL.jpg

Then came Christmas... and for once I received something I really wanted as a gift, from my wife...

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-PhcpTMw/0/XL/P1060814-XL.jpg

A friggin' cool G-String bikini top from Project G !!

That's my wife since 1988, she's awesome; she deserves to be on that thread :p

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Food/Sandrine-Cuisine/i-bR56RJs/0/O/5493153500529826573902681079n.jpg

and most of all she can cook, especially waffles, and she has a Miata as well :p

I got a Racing Beat exhaust as well, beautiful sound

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6573659111_dfa476fc32_b.jpg

Ok, where were we... oh yes, here

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-CJ8Lv7P/0/XL/DSC04160-XL.jpg

So we got the wheels, the brakes, the shocks, the cluster, steering wheel, Racing Beat front sway bar, R-Lip, bikini top, supercharger, radiator, stripes, badge, Boss Frog double hoops roll bar, rear mud flaps, R1R Toyo (OMFG I love those tires!!!!)...

I also needed a new top, so I went for a vintage look (again) with a three window top

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-ngFgQCK/0/XL/DSC02671-XL.jpg

Last thing I did was to remove 99% of the door dings I had on my car, I removed the Wilwood brakes (I know, don't yell) and replaced them with MSM sport barkes all around with Hawk pads, and believe it or not, I'm more than happy with that !!!!

Next : intercooling the supercharger and finally find a Torsen.

Thanks for the help to "Matt" (Marsupialquadron) who helped me a lot on this unfinished project...

[dustin a]

Hi ted :)

[Ted7]

Oh hi Dustin! Coming to SOCM this Saturday? :p

[WASABI]

Ted, I love seeing what you have done to your car. You have hit so many tasteful vintage notes with all of your modifications, that it transforms your car. Great job.
I really like the Nardi wheel/shift knob, MG style gauges and the KG Works cluster. Makes for an inviting place to sit...or sleep.

[Phatmiata]

Super Clean NA Ted! Love how classy the car looks! Still looks like it came off the showroom floor in those photos!

How about a photo of the wifes Miata, and a photo of these world famous Belgian waffles i've heard about all the way on the other side of the county!! :blaugh2:

[KAL]

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/Miata-STO/i-smKZkxQ/0/XL/P1050061-XL.jpg

This is my favourite interiour (picture) in the history of all time!

[artcentermiata]

This Na is so respectably modded! I love the vintage touches-

I saw it at KINOD, couldnt stop staring!

[dustin a]

Oh hi Dustin! Coming to SOCM this Saturday? :p

I can't this weekend, I will be in yosemite for the weekend :) are you and the rest of the socm crew coming out to kinod 6?

[kung fu jesus]

I love Ted's style. This car is very subtle and well-thought out.

SOCM loves Mrs. Ted7, too. She makes us waffles, muffins and delicious farewell cakes. :)

[Agent☣Orange]

Me too. It is very well done. It's very tricky to add a lot of aftermarket and make it all coordinate.

[friday]

Cool car indeed.

Post the photo from that car hotel. That place was sweet.

[moerdogg]

Man, that car is everything I hope mine can someday be!

Did you make that plexiglass windblocker? How well does it work? I have been considering something like that for my car, albeit one that fits the single-hoop roll bar.

[Grumpy]

One of my favorite NAs. Loving the retro styling.

[Ted7]

Post the photo from that car hotel. That place was sweet.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6512067931_83a769e856_b.jpg

Windblocker is from Boss Frog, costs something like $35.00 and attached with velcros. That thing is absolutely fantastic.

Thanks for all the nice words on Miatated...

[Ted7]

Super Clean NA Ted! Love how classy the car looks! Still looks like it came off the showroom floor in those photos!

How about a photo of the wifes Miata, and a photo of these world famous Belgian waffles i've heard about all the way on the other side of the county!! :blaugh2:

Wife's Miata

http://ted7.smugmug.com/Cars/smurfette/i-tmK768v/0/XL/DSC04946-XL.jpg

Waffles :

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4138/4891498655_3ec0553290_b.jpg

(the white things in it is special sugar you can't find in the US, it's only produced in Belgium and we have to import it ;)

[WASABI]

Wife's...Waffles :

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4138/4891498655_3ec0553290_b.jpg

(the white things in it is special sugar you can't find in the US, it's only produced in Belgium and we have to import it ;)

You can get crack here in the US too. Although, I have never heard it called "special sugar". :mrgreen: Now, I was looking to see big fluffy waffles...but, those look tasty.

[Ted7]

You can get crack here in the US too. Although, I have never heard it called "special sugar". :mrgreen:

It's called pearl sugar and the real deal is the one below. Not to be compared with some Swedish sugar you can find at Ikea :)

http://krisdodopower.canalblog.com/images/sucre_perle.gif

[ashmagash]

Hi Ted :)

[Ted7]

Hi ashmagash; who are you? :confused::confused:

[ashmagash]

Ashley from socm :)

[dustin a]

Haha she is usually with me ted :)

[Ted7]

Haha she is usually with me ted :)

indeed, I recognized her after I clicked the blog link :p

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oTxQftn_Ai8/T5by7kQdInI/AAAAAAAAAEc/qElmbOnCs6Y/s640/P3280907.JPG

[ashmagash]

Oi that's me :P I still have never been lucky enough to have been graced with all of the awesomeness of these so called "Belgian waffles" maybe one day... :D

[Ted7]

Oi that's me :P I still have never been lucky enough to have been graced with all of the awesomeness of these so called "Belgian waffles" maybe one day... :D

Maybe this Saturday ;)