Ken's 3rd miata build

[Airbrush1]

Well I thought it would be good to start a build thread for my new Mazdaspeed... I've had 2 other Miatas in the past, so we'll start with some backstory on those.

I impulse bought a 2000 base that I fell in love with at work about7 years ago or so, through a bunch of other cars, that was my ongoing project. It left my hands making 292whp with a homebrew turbo, hydra, full 3" driver exit exhaust, as well as a host of expensive parts I'd rather not recount the cost of. It's still around, 3 or four owners removed and in another state.





Then I bought a 1991 with only 13k miles (yes thirteen thousand) and daily drove that for a while before buying an evo and selling it (dumb dumb dumb!)



About two months ago, I sold my Lingenfelter corvette, bought a house, did adult stuff, etc...

[Airbrush1]

On to the New project! I missed out on my mazdaspeed once a year ago, then snatched it up about a month ago when it came up for sale again



I don't have any good pics of the car yet, but its an 04 with Fm's little enchilada, a hdhcdd bar, aftermarket springs on stock bilsteins, and ugly wheels. Only 35k on the odometer, no paintwork other than a front bumper respray, and in overall awesome shape. So far I have added some new interior stuff like redline boots and a new knob, purchased a project hardtop (pics to come), had revlimiter do me a set of one off gauges, and I'll be picking up some work wheels next sunday. I'll keep this thread updated with pics as I get things finished up and installed!

[—atank—]

I just love the NA, and the MSM!!!!!

[Airbrush1]

Thanks! I miss the NA quite a bit!

[Airbrush1]

Picked up an oem hardtop last weekend. Planned to pay 600 bucks for it, ended up paying 500 because the owner cracked the back edge loading it into his truck.



Today I spent a couple hours sanding and repairing the damaged areas, ended up having to remove the rear window seal due to peeling paint traveling underneath it. It's all in primer now, have to block sand and prime again, then drop it off for paint





Im a painter by trade, but unfortunately don't have a home shop. Doing the prep and repair work without air tools in my basement blows! I need a garage and an air compressor asap!

[Airbrush1]

Now that Adam posted his pics of my gauges, I'll add them here as well. I'm super excited to get them installed!

[Airbrush1]

Work on my hardtop is postponed for a bit... Have a new basement resident!

He was thrown from a car and is staying with me until I can find him a good home!

[Airbrush1]

I had an accident with a powerwasher and blew paint off of my front bumper... FML. what I thought was bird crap was a chip Add that to the list of repairs I have to make this winter!

[Demon I Am]

Nice car, cute kitty. I was not aware that the window seal would come off without removing the window.

[Airbrush1]

It's a bitch to get off, requires some cutting and scraping of the remaining seal. Picked up my Works yesterday, I may need to run a small spacer to clear the wheels, and the bfg rivals I want are backordered, so I may have to run the tires on the current wheels for a while

[Airbrush1]

Made some progress this week! I disassembled my Works, and dropped thm off at the hydrodippers

I also finished up my revlimiter gauge install and put some redlinegoods stuff on the car (gauge hood, door pulls), things are starting to come together nicely!





Next on my list is a kg works independent cluster and a smaller steering wheel for some leg room. I still need to have the hardtop painted and fix a large chip on the front bumper at the same time. I took delivery of some federal 595rs in 205/50/15 for the works and did determine that I'll need a 5mm spacer so they don't hit my front brakes. I have the spacers here already for when my wheels are finished and I get the tires mounted. Bring on spring!

[wannafbody]

Keep the cat.

[Airbrush1]

Keep the cat.

I forgot to mention that we are, in fact, keeping the cat!

[Airbrush1]

Ok, yesterday I got in on the miataroadster shifter group buy. Got the tall/angled shifter for the car. I had a shifter extension in my old nb and really enjoyed the shifter placement, hopefully the new shifter will cure some of the vagueness of the msm shifter (I hate the transmission in this car at the moment)

I'm also considering selling off the hardtop to fund some more parts for the car (coil overs), though I have to weigh the cost/benefits of having it painted before sale or selling it repaired and ready for paint as it sits now

[Demon I Am]

I have a good friend with an msm who downgraded to the 5 speed tranny... Couldn't be happier