The silver sleeze

It's been a couple years since I sold my last miata. 99 green in my signature. Of course, like everyone on here it didn't take too long to start itching. I was riding my motorcycle a couple weeks ago and just wanted to be out of the wind. I realized I was thinking about a miata so I set about hunting a cheap. It needed more features than the green (base model). I found the Sleeze.



It is all kinds of crusty and the top is ruined, it wouldn't even go up. I'm really not a fan of the tan interior and set out to find a black.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Of course, I began stripping it and cleaning what I could prepping for the interior.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

A nice local guy was selling a ton of NA parts. I have been able to piece together a full black interior and and dash without airbags.

However the day I went to pick it all up he had actually picked up an NB interior for me from a friend. Sadly he wasn't able to get the carpet or seats, so for now I'm going to run NA seats and carpet.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Ironically it was all (except the sills) from a 99 green base model being stripped.

Would anyone know where to get decent plugs to use in the door panels? I'm not quite ready to try a rewrap.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0.

Oh! I totally forgot to mention that me wifee decided to pick up one herself. She found a little white NA to fix up.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Got both wedged into the Garage for now! For sure time to reorganize.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Will update with photos asap.

Generic soft top w/attached rain rail arrives soon and carpet this weekend. Tune ups for both next... Thanks

I see you are in TN by the license plates. I know this interior swap routine. ;) You can see what I did in my build thread.

When you pull the dash, I highly recommend replacing the heater core and o rings as preventative maintenance.

You could pull the old carpet, power wash it, dye it black, and reinstall.

LRB makes some nice aluminum replacement covers for that rusty gas tank cover.

https://lrbspeed.com/wp-content/uplo...97-600x400.jpg

https://lrbspeed.com/product/nb-miat...l-hose-covers/

There's something therapeutic in bringing stuff back to their former glory, and it seems you are very much on the right path. What are the overall plans for it?

The covers Randy posted are super nice and might help shed some weight off. I always wanted to re-make mine out of carbon fiber (every bit helps!) until I realized the large one had some pretty hefty reinforcement welded on the backside (04 NB2) which presumably helps with stiffness.

What a great looking starting point! Congrats on the find.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kung fu jesus

I see you are in TN by the license plates. I know this interior swap routine. ;) You can see what I did in my build thread.

When you pull the dash, I highly recommend replacing the heater core and o rings as preventative maintenance.

You could pull the old carpet, power wash it, dye it black, and reinstall.

---

Thanks for looking out. I will absolutely do that heater core. I am indeed TN, Tri-cities area. I have looked through your thread many times. Thanks for the quality!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Phatmiata

LRB makes some nice aluminum replacement covers for that rusty gas tank cover.

---

This, this makes me sad. I actually just got some used OEM ones off of ebay for so close to that price my soul hurts. That is what I get for not doing enough digging.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HarryB

There's something therapeutic in bringing stuff back to their former glory, and it seems you are very much on the right path. What are the overall plans for it?

The covers Randy posted are super nice and might help shed some weight off. I always wanted to re-make mine out of carbon fiber (every bit helps!) until I realized the large one had some pretty hefty reinforcement welded on the backside (04 NB2) which presumably helps with stiffness.

---

I have always wanted to try my hand at taking my time going through a car and just fixing things. I started to get a feeling for it with my green Miata, but the mileage was too high for me to sink into it. This seems to all be there just neglected. I will do my best to fix and restore what I can. I am a big ole fan of the OEM+ vibe but not exactly sure what that means except moderation with the mods.

Thanks for the responses all!

Got some generic clips and plugs. 1 inch seems to fit the window crank hole. It looks like an odd door belly button.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

I don't think a plug will fix this one.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Finally for the night. Here is a shot of my wife's interior. :shock: (phrasing?)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Also, This has been a big inspiration for me over the years.
https://forums.nicoclub.com/m-tr4nch...h-t330340.html
https://image.ibb.co/j32CSv/DSC00248.jpg

This is a whole level more, but the B-movie Hallmark version for me... You get it.

I like restoring cars similarly.

When I was picking up my carpet yesterday the man offered me a frame rails/butterfly brace set. NIB for $350. Good deal?
Would you?
I'll be under there for my carpet anyway?
When I searched for a comparative price I just found a bunch of version 2.0 combos. I'm pretty sure this is version 1.0. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

I have begun getting parts in to go through everything and clean up.
My soft top came in.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Clips for days, I might even have enough.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

We began cleaning and sorting the garage out for 2 miatas. The doors can now be opened. This led to a late night and a fire. Good times now that everything is heating up a bit.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Finally, weekend ended with bringing home the now spare NA interior. Figured why not get the dash and door panels since I was taking the carpet.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Wires and filters should be in by the 5th. Good times!

Anyone want to make suggestions on fluids? I plan on doing all and usually go with whatever is available locally for ease of replacement, but I'm trying to better ya know!

Thanks for taking a look.

Never been a fan of the butterfly brace.

Use whatever fluids are available to you and fit the requirements of the car. Unless you are using the car outside usual parameters, not much need for exotic stuff.