DoubleYellow's NB2 Adventures

[DoubleYellow]

Hey all! I've been enjoying my NB2 Miata for a while now. Here's the progress since February 2011. :)

7/10/2011

I suppose I've been putting it off long enough... it's time for a build thread! Through the influence of my hot new avatar or by some deep wish for recognition, I hereby create one. To begin: I'm an ex-Mustang owner. Yes, it's true... sad, but the truth hurts sometimes. My previous DD was a '99 Mustang GT 35th Anniversary Edition, and I absolutely loved it. However, rising gas prices and less-than-perfect reliability led me to sell it in the second semester of my freshman year (March 2011). It's all good though -just as I'd had a Miata in mind for my first car, I still had a Miata in mind for my second.

I sold the Mustang for about $1k more than I bought it for and went to find an NB. After realizing there was a facelift in '01, I narrowed my search to NB2s with factory appearance kits and the LS package. I found what I wanted 3 weeks later - a bone stock '01 LS with 114k, all maintenance receipts, and Torsen. This is the day I brought it home…

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0213111930-00.jpg

A couple of weeks later my rollbar came in – a Hard Dog Hardcore Double Diagonal Hardtop. I installed it and was pretty thrilled.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0312111319-00.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/0312112312-00_01.jpg

I then found a hardtop locally for cheap… with PERFECT paint that just happened to match my car. Super awesome. I slapped some Rennenmetal brackets on and went autocrossing in the rain.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0320111237-00.jpg

Then the low came… :twisted: in the form of Flyin’ Miata V-Maxxcoilovers from yes, you guessed it, Flyin’ Miata. I put them on and set them to just shy of 12”.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0329111925-01.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0329111931-00.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0407111027-00.jpg

After making a hard mount for my 7" GPS, I went down to LA for a weekend with a friend and took the long way back (Hwy33 to SLO, 101 home). It was awesome. I then had a small incident involving a lane change and a gentleman in a Nissan Versa.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/0413111522-00.jpg

I got that fixed with PDR since the paint was still good, and I just took off the factory large mudflaps since I didn’t like them anyways. After painting my housings Midnight Metallic black and installing 6000k HIDs / 3000k Nokya fogs / clear side markers, I settled down to a comfortable ride height of 11.25”. This is when I went to my first Sac meet evarrrr. I had a gay ol’ time. :fab:

http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g407/Zoom3QT/Sac Crew Meets/IMG_3108-.jpg

I recently did:

-DIY home-soldered LED footwell/overhead lighting and switch panel
-GarageSTAR bracket-bumper cutout

I also started using an old 35mm Pentax K1000 SLR. As of 6/10/2011, this is where I'm at! My goal is a nice mix of sexy looks and autocross/track functionality.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/R1-08633-021A_1.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0620111542-02.jpg

(^^cell pic)

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/R1-08633-002A_1-2.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/R1-08633-019A_1-1.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/R1-08633-010A_1-1.jpg

More to come this summer. I need to find a better job so I can finance my mods. 6ULs are coming... that's all I'm going to say. :)

7/11/2011

Today's exhaust update: When I first got the car I sawed off the muffler and bolted up a glasspack. Eventually the tone started bothering me, so I took it off and just went without an axleback. I loved that, but now my hearing is starting to bother me since as the exhaust exits under the trunk and creates horrible drone. I had a spare D&D CBR600 exhaust lying around, so I bolted it up to a flex pipe and tested it out yesterday.


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0711111329-00.jpg

It sounds like shit. Utterly horrible, like the car wants to be a motorcycle but can't make up its mind. I went to a muffler shop on Franklin today and they quoted me...

45 for to weld the stock exhaust back on
45 for a custom straightpipe axleback
45 to weld whatever muffler I bring in to the stock midpipe.

I need to find a muffler! :D (or put the stock back on...)

[DoubleYellow]

7/18/2011
Well,it's been about a week, so here's the update.


Sundaywas Round 5 of the SCCA Solo2 series, so I took my car out. Mywonderful decision to run coilovers bumped me toCSP, so I got my ass kicked... but that's OK! I put down somecompetitive times and beat some really expensive cars, and that'swhat it's all about.


Notpictured: I also got a 2.5" straight pipe bent and welded fromthe stock resonator back to the stock exit location. It does the job(for now) and it was cheap-cheap! :)


Seatsor wheels next. We'll see. ;)


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/tn.jpg

7/24/2011
WHEELZ!


So,I was browsing CraigsList early yesterday morning and, what do youknow, I found a set of TRM 15x9 C3Ms with 50% tread 225/45 NT-01s anda full set of BRAND NEW Hankook RS3s! (Keep in mind these are onnational backorder.) I picked them up yesterday evening.


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0723111935-00.jpg


Icouldn't find my wheel key so I pounded a socket on and the lockscame right off. Here's a sneak preview... they look way better inperson than I thought they would, but they still need 5mm or 10mmspacers and a flat roll.


I'mSO HAPPY. The tires are rubbing right now over small stuff, but thegrip is absolutely insane.


Edit:No mounted pics for me unless they're proper. :)


7/24/2011
Mymounted pic from last night was all grainy. Pic update:


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0724111458-00.jpg


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0724111459-01.jpg


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0724111458-01.jpg
(yes,I need to polish my headlights... again)
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/0724111459-00.jpg

7/26/2011
TheUPS dude brought me an early birthday present while I was at schooltoday! :D


Ourlocal delivery driver recognizes my car by now. He's always curiousto know what's in the boxes. XD

8/27/2011
Quickupdate.


Wentto another autocross in Stockton. I'm now only 2 seconds off of thetop CSP times! :D


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04346_1.jpg


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04345_1.jpg


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04341.jpg


Shownin the last pic are my new foglight brake intakes. I made them atHome Depot for about $14, and so far they have not disintegrated intomy wheels. I like them. No pics of install/construction... I'll takesome later.


Now,today's update... progress. New/used Voodoo meets... bare metal! Theinterior build begins here... talk about a blank slate. ;) Parts willarrive (and be created) slowly but surely over the coming months.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/Temp/DSC04369.jpg
9/8/2011

[DoubleYellow]

9/8/2011

Woot!Shiny under-hood bling! :D


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04405-1.jpg


Thisis the polished K&N Typhoon 69-6000TP intake. It's not as good asthe RB one, but it was almost half the price, doesn't requirechanging the STB mount, is shiny, and has a CARB EO. :whistle:


Opinions:
Installationwas ridiculously easy. It's shiny. I like it. 3.9 HP aside, it'sworth it just for the looks. Decent fit and finish. Nothing missing.Stainless hardware. Butt dyno reports slight gains. Car backfiresless on decel. Doesn't make any difference at low RPMs because myexhaust is so loud, but once you hit about 4.5k-5k it sounds NICE.More throaty, I suppose. Lol. Throaty.


OH!I also did my VC in crinkle black to match my new black wiper cowlfrom Garage Star. More pics when I wash my car and do a shoot(probably tomorrow).


Iguess I'm working on my engine bay now as well. My interior stilllacks carpet and door panels.

[DoubleYellow]

12/11/2011
It'sbeen a long time since an update! A lot of things have happened inthe last 3 months. Little things, but things nonetheless.


What'son my mind right now is the Thunderhill track event I just got backfrom. This was my first time ever on a track, and it was AWESOME. Iran in the B group (slower of the 2 run groups) and started outpretty shaky on the track, not having ever driven it before. By theend of the day I was putting down a damn good pace. Me and a S2000were tearing through the B group pretty decently.


http://i.imgur.com/GAio4.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/f8xK4.jpg


(Thankyou for the pics, Ken!)


Thecar performed better than expected. The brake fluid and RaybestosOEM-level pads from the PO held up great; I not once did I experiencebrake fade. There were a few very obvious things holding me back fromgoing faster.


1.Power. I was wide open down the straights; the faster cars such asEvos and S2k's would pull away, but I would catch up in the corners.


2.Seat and harness. Oh my goodness gracious. It has taken until now toreally understand why a good bucket seat is necessary. It's alittle hard to heel-and-toe when you foot is sideways because yourknees are bracing your body against the dashboard and door panels.


Soyeah, that's what's on the short list now. I need to save for boostand seats – preferably seats that fit in the Miata and fit both me(30 waist) and my dad (34 waist). The brakes will also get a slightrefresh pretty soon.


Now,for the things before yesterday...


Assome may have seen from my noob-style “I hit something, what do Ido now?” thread, I hit a remarkably large pothole downtown. It'spossible it was a curb, but I'm going to just say it was a pothole.It sounds more manly. Anyways. I hit it, bounced up, came down ontoall four wheels, and parked the car to survey damage. Two of myfairly new 225/45 R-S3s had now become very much non-trackworthy.


Tooka nice 1cm x 1cm x 1cm chunk out of the rear sidewall, and split thefront sidewall. Probably okay to run with both of these tires, but Iwould REALLY rather not have my tires explode. Kind of useless asdrift spares too, seeing as these tires are grippy as a gecko goinggaga. Try saying THAT five times fast.


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/Temp/DSC04616.jpg


Igot two new tires from Tire Rack (they actually had them!!!) and gotthem mounted up as rear tires at the local Mexican tire shop. Theseguys are always entertained by how they can't jack up my car withoutspecial provisions. I think they secretly hate me.


http://i.imgur.com/6WI0Z.jpg


Randomcell shot in front of a closed (GRR) Ace Hardware. It was like 5pm.Really now.


http://i.imgur.com/v71J5.jpg


Speakingof hardware... I was actually at Ace finding better hardware for mylatest project, a pair of 1/8” ABS plastic door panels attached toan NA upper door card. These are inspired by ebruner's DIY writeup,foundhere (http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=48999).I even made holes in the upper door cards for the factory Bosetweeters. There are still a few kinks to be sorted out – namelyinsulation on the back and better [matching] hardware. I really likethem so far, though. They give a lot more knee room, and they reallyadd to a decidedly modern vintage minimalist look I'm going for.There's a lot more ideas concerning that theme, I just need more timeand money. ;) For now... door cards!


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04687.jpg


Speakercovers are a work-in-progress. Also installed are thedoor pulls by!n-Joy (http://injoycarlife.com/door-pulls.php), which are AWESOME. Fantastic product.


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04686.jpg


Picturedin the above pictures in a sneak peek at some more interior goodness– NB Version Rossa gauges fromRevLimiter.net (http://revlimiter.net/store/). They're veryquality pieces, and they make me happy every time I look down at thecluster. :)


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04549_1.jpg


Alsoinstalled are a set of vent rings, also from Rev's store.


http://i.imgur.com/Bzb7hl.png


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04578_1.jpg


Alsopictured is the Garage Star 2.75” stainless shift extender. Thisthing is groovy awesome. I can't even explain it – I don't shiftslower, and the car is just way better with it. As an added bonus, Ican now actually drive decently in the rare event that I havea drink in my cupholder.


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04501_1.jpg


Smallnote - I put back my interior. I couldn't take it in the summer heat.Still looking for black carpets and interior parts.


Underthe hood is identical to the last update – black wrinkle coatedwiper cowl from Garage Star, VHT black wrinkle valve cover, andstainless VC allen bolts. I never updated this thread thread with thecowl; here's a pic of the cowl with no wrinkle on the VC.


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04396.jpg


Aaaandhere's the VC wrinkle coated, which is also shown in the previousupdate. If you put them together, you get my engine bay. ;)


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04405-1.jpg


I'vealso been attending local and regional meets and stuff, which is alot of fun. I just turned 121k on the odometer... 11,000 miles in 10months. Kind of a lot. I'm having a really good time, though. It'sworth every mile. Driving all around for work? Significantly less so!:lol:


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04659.jpg


http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l141/FloGreen245/My01Roadster/DSC04522_1.jpg


Moreto come as the car makes progress. :)