JonnyD 99 Miata Autox/Track Build

[JonnyD]

I got my Miata a few months ago, it is a 99 with whats left of the factory emerald mica paint, 160k miles on it and came with the factory hardtop, power mirrors and windows. Soft top is in good condition since the pervious owner never used it, always left the hard top on it.

I haven't done much to it yet but working on bringing the maintenance up to date. So far did the brakes - pads and rotors all around, clutch master and slave cylinder, stainless clutch line and flushed the brake and clutch lines. I also polished the headlights so they are not yellow any more.

Next project is a new radiator, flush coolant, water pump, plugs and plug wires, timing belt with all seals and gaskets.

Pics when I first got it.

[Ciotti]

Nice find man, do you have an autocross class in mind for the build?

[JonnyD]

I don't yet, just going to go out and do a couple of events then figure it out from there.

Another more recent pic, I started taking off the oem side skirts to clean it up. I am planning on doing some paint.
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[morr]

Nice pickup! It doesn't look too bad for that many miles and the HT is a plus. Preventive maintenance is always a good idea

[JonnyD]

Well I haven't done an update in a while and I have done some work but I decided to do something a little different and though I would post it up.

After working on the shifter and doing some interior work I decided to leave the center console off for a few days. Turns out I really liked driving without it.
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So I looked around and found some shorty consoles but seeing how much they cost I decided to try and make my own. I used to build subwoofer boxes and car audio stuff with fiberglass so I had a pretty good head start. The hard part was trying to figure out how to create a mold.

Picked up my supplies and got to work.

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I cut the mat into small pieces so I could create smooth corners. They didn't come out as good as I had hoped but I didn't think they would, its pretty tough to get it really smooth. I will have to do some bondo and sand it down.

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Everything has been setup and it is starting to cure.

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Letting it sit in the sun.

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Half way to a finished product, came out alright I am not completely happy with it but I think I can go back and add some layers to fix it up and a little bondo. Need to add room for power window switch and then paint.

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Not sure what I am going to do for paint I was thinking about trying the high temp wrinkle paint, any suggestions? I would like it to match the factory interior as much as possible.

[JonnyD]

Here is a better profile picture of it. Sorry for the crapy cell phone pics my real camera battery is dead.

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[JonnyD]

I added the switch area on last night. The whole unit looks pretty good, I am planning on cutting it down today and see how it fits. I think I might need to cut some sections out and glass over them to make it smooth.

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[Ciotti]

Where do you rest your right elbow without that console?

[JonnyD]

Where do you rest your right elbow without that console?

I don't rest my arm on the console I just rest my hand on the shifter or ebrake.

[—tsingson—]

Where do you rest your right elbow without that console?

I'm the same way. I need something to rest my arm on. But the shorty consoles do look great.

[JonnyD]

Here is my blog post for the center console, it has more pictures
NB Mazda Miata Shorty Center Console

[JonnyD]

This morning I replaced the window guides with the Teflon ones sold on this forum. The package was good and the directions were fine, it would have been nice for a couple of pictures but overall it is easy to replace these. I took my time and it was only about an hour and a half.

I can't believe how bad my guides were and what a difference replacing them made. Putting the window up didn't make a huge difference but putting the windows down is night and day. They drop so quick now I wish I had done this earlier, I really am surprised how much of a difference it made.

Before picture see how dirty the window is...


New vs. Old


Door card off


After the window is nice and clean, no more black lines


Old vs New on the other door.