Project Free

[AntiochOG]

It started with a text message from a friend, "I just got offered a miata for free. It doesnt run and the owner doesnt know whats wrong. Should I take a look at it? owner is a good friend of mine and was like i will sign it over to you if you want it or want to take it."

So we went and took a look. The car was owned by this girl's older brother. At just a hair over 100,000 miles something happened; he parked it and never drove it again. It's been sitting for three years with the back window unzipped and the driver's window half down. The car is in rough shape, faded paint, leaves all over the interior and a puddle in the driver's footwell, a man-eating spider under the hood, and a few good sized dents.

Still the opportunity was too good to pass up, so we came back a few days later to get it. Right now I'm not sure what the plan is. We are currently tossing around these three options in no particular order:
1. Fix it and sell it
2. Part it out
3. Fix it and rally cross it

Once we figure out if we'll be able to get it started or how nicely it will clean up we'll figure out what we're going to do. For now we're just happy to have a fun project to work on.

[AntiochOG]

The tow truck arrived to take the car to my house. As he started pulling it onto the flatbed we realized that the front driver's side wheel doesn't want to turn. He was still able to drag it up onto the truck and we headed to my house.





The tow truck was unable to back down my driveway due to the median in the road, so he had to drop it on the street, pick it up with another truck and then back it into my carport.

The first order of business was to get rid of all the bugs that were living in the car, including that man-eating spider I mentioned earlier. It was literally the biggest spider I have ever seen. I have no interest in coming face to face with something like that while I am digging around under the hood or the dash. We covered the car with some plastic sheeting and put a Raid fogger under the hood and in the cabin. Each one is good for 20,000 cubic feet, so two should work nicely in a Miata.







We're keeping the car covered over night, and come morning we'll start to really dig in and see what we have to work with. As of right now the trunk won't open so if anyone has any tricks for that feel free to share.

[WASABI]

Wow, very cool project! Sucks about the missing window, but it doesn't look that bad... and free is free!

[—tsingson—]

You gotta take pics of the aftermath of the fogger if any....

[I<3flippyheadlights]

You gotta take pics of the aftermath of the fogger if any....

yes yes yes yes yes yes


Anyway, free is awesome. I look forward to seeing updates on here!

[blenderblast]

agreed with the aftermath fogger pics. I should have taken some pics of when I did mine, it was horrid!

[moerdogg]

Whew, that thing has seen better days! Good luck with the work.

[— Agent☣Orange —]

Gotta love a project thread that starts with Raid foggers!

[AntiochOG]

Wow, very cool project! Sucks about the missing window, but it doesn't look that bad... and free is free!

I don't think the window is missing. It looks like it just never got zipped up and is under a pile of leaves.

[WASABI]

I don't think the window is missing. It looks like it just never got zipped up and is under a pile of leaves.

What?!? Sheez, these people don't deserve the car, if they couldn't put up the window! Glad that your saving it...subscribed.

[JonnyD]

Nice deal, looks like it could use some work but should be a good project.

[iamdallas]

I wish I could get a free Miata! Awesome.

[psulja]

This looks like it could be a great build! I vote for option 3: "Fix it and rallycross it"

[LunchboX]

This looks like it could be a great build! I vote for option 3: "Fix it and rallycross it"

This, definitely.

[iRoadster]

Shit just got real.