No 56k: My '91 MX5 (Miata)

Nocturnal

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2008
Messages
695
Location
UK
Car(s)
'88 Toyota MR2 NA + '92 Mazda RX7 FD
This is a looong read, so I apologise in advance. It does read a little strangely too, as its essentially copied and pasted from my project thread on another forum, so just bear with it! :D

So, in the beginning...

After my 200SX died quite spectacularly, my other half, Leanne, took me to a fairly local garage to look at a UKDM Mazda MX5 1.6i, because shes always wanted one. I laughed at first, then pondered whether she'd found my old spice girls album and was questioning my sexuality (I bought it for the pictures...honest!). We arrived, and there it was, sat in all its poncey gayness in someones garden.

I sat inside, and was disappointed to realise that it was actually damned comfortable. And I quite liked everything, even the way the window was seperated from a little front-quarter window on the door. The salesman, who as you may be able to see from the pic had a fair few MX5s, reeled off all the reaons why I should buy it. I ignored him and started playing with things, then took the roof off. He shouted at me that Id done it wrong because Id left the rear window up, but hey, it wasnt my car.

http://img88.imageshack.**/img88/8798/84311656ey4.jpg

I smiled. Unfortunately, Leanne had noticed. I gave her the look you give your mum as a child when she catches you masturbating, one of those ''deer in the headlights'' looks. I stopped smiling. The guy took me out for a test drive, and let me drive it back. I wouldnt have admitted it at the time, but good God did I think it was cool. I felt like I was in a '60s Lotus, everything just seemed so retro.

Finally coming to rest, I came out of the closet and handed him ?500 of my hard earned, hoping my friends would never find out. Unfortunately, they did. Largely because I turned up to my mates house in it, in retrospect a schoolboy error. After the laughing had died down, we headed to York dragway. There was more laughter. In my friends yard, parked next to his Fiesta, I could hold on to a modicum of pride. At York, surrounded by chavs and Supras, I was ashamed. I parked out of the way.

http://img80.imageshack.**/img80/9669/oldjv5.jpg

I got home and started browsing the net. There must be some way I can stop these feminine jibes. I found MX5nutz, and soon my cash started disappearing. To start, I bought my favourite wheels of the time, Rota GT3s, wrapped in parada spec 2 tyres. The wheels themselves were 15x7J with an offset so feminine it made Michael Barrymore look like shaft. However, once fitted, my car was sat incredibly high. The kids would still laugh as I drove past. So I bought some Spax RSX adjustable coilovers, and dropped the ride height.

Rusty goodness, and with one snapped spring too.
http://img85.imageshack.**/img85/2415/23335292uo3.jpg

After some elbow grease and harsh language:
http://img80.imageshack.**/img80/8620/70650778zw9.jpg

I also buggered about with the headlight wiring (thats a technical term), and this was how she sat:
http://img85.imageshack.**/img85/8925/10585652wa2.jpg

The car was now bumpier than hell and tramlined everywhere. So onto google I went, I took some geometry settings from a chap on ClubRoadster, and read up on suspension. Then I messed about with the damping until I found a setting I was happy with.

The kids no longer laughed, but my friends still wouldnt look me in the face when they talked to me. So, I found a Garage Vary front splitter for sale, and bought it. I then got some bonnet spacers.
http://img80.imageshack.**/img80/3518/10bc0.jpg

My friends booked to go on our new-found annual tradition of the Nurburgring. Selfishly, my brother decided to get married around the same time. So I booked a track day at Blyton, and bought a custom roll-bar off a friends MX5 for ?30.
http://img80.imageshack.**/img80/3980/15je3.jpg

So, with no real prior track experience, and with plenty of run off space, I drove like a tit. This lasted 3 corners.
http://img80.imageshack.**/img80/4596/38214169mj1.jpg

It would appear that tyre pressures and smoothness are important. It would also appear that tyre boundaries are stronger than fibreglass lips. Shit. I believe I saw Mr NickD driving properly too, scaring me quite shitless by drifting near my beached car.

So, I grabbed a few passenger laps with Dave, P5s Phil and Richie, and saw the lines they took, where they applied power. I thought ''balls to it, I can do that''. Amazingly, I could!
http://img152.imageshack.**/img152/7564/78124875jg4.jpg

I wasnt setting the world on fire, but by the end of the day I felt I was in control of the car, and I had at least lapped a few cars. I got home, and decided to continue my racing career by painting my roof. I bought it cheap so it was buggered.
http://img156.imageshack.**/img156/9629/11cw7.jpg

But I got it sprayed, and the guys from Ripspeed asked me to put the car on their stand atthe Japshow. So I did.
http://img89.imageshack.**/img89/7141/28838182aq8.jpg

I then treated myself to an Apex'i cat-back exhaust.
http://img215.imageshack.**/img215/5576/19bp0.jpg

Leanne then polished it for me.
http://img105.imageshack.**/img105/3227/22dn9.jpg

Et voila, 15 minutes later and Id got rid of the farting/blowing OEM backbox.
http://img233.imageshack.**/img233/403/36zs9.jpg

Eventually, the poor offset of my wheels got to me, and I ordered some more masculine ones. Sportmax 002, 15x8J ET0. Front Sportmax, rear Rota:
http://img164.imageshack.**/img164/1225/27zd6.jpg

Although one of the easiest jobs, this became a nightmare due to my ride height. I hadnt adjusted it once in the last 10'000 miles, and boy was it a bastard to move. Plenty of skin-loss and blood later:
http://img215.imageshack.**/img215/3968/11mo0.jpg

Then, the legend that is Leannes dad repaired my Garage Vary lip for me:
http://img218.imageshack.**/img218/3498/12125702wt3.jpg

Perfick. My friends liked me again, kids quietly uttered that they liked the car, and all was well with the world. I then bought a ?3 Mountney steering wheel. I had offered the boss ?30 for this, but he wasnt keen, so checked the computer for the proper price. Result.:
http://img222.imageshack.**/img222/1434/34qx9.jpg

The scrubbing of my tyres now meant I had to drive like Cliff Richard everywhere, so I hired an arch roller and set to it:
http://img230.imageshack.**/img230/6941/41dq8.jpg

I then bought a MK1 MR2. We sold it to my friend, who then promptly put in a field less than a day later. Here she was in her glory:

http://img84.imageshack.**/img84/9724/42km2.jpg

Then, I bought a 4-2-1 manifold because mine was buggered. This was another easy job:
http://img91.imageshack.**/img91/2449/58oe5.jpg

And I removed the mudflaps, to make my car look wide again:
http://img91.imageshack.**/img91/710/60ux5.jpg

Fitted a silenced de-cat pipe a while ago after mine died and started rattling. Sounds awesome with the rest of the exhaust, and the pops and bangs are fantastic. :D

Also, bought a Carbing roll cage, and set about fitting it in the yard. Seats out, and the all important childrens refreshments in place:

http://img372.imageshack.**/img372/3796/42076429vj7.jpg

Quick test fit:
http://img372.imageshack.**/img372/7571/49292939db6.jpg

Lots of space-checking and removing/refitting of cage later
http://img66.imageshack.**/img66/563/53264697cb5.jpg

Finally all in place and bolted in:
http://img384.imageshack.**/img384/1913/64468672qk9.jpg

http://img66.imageshack.**/img66/993/35355075bn6.jpg

http://img134.imageshack.**/img134/47/cageyn7.jpg

Then, the harness (Sabelt Clubman)
http://img379.imageshack.**/img379/4892/13kn0.jpg

Quick pic of my shift light:
http://img185.imageshack.**/img185/9532/15xv6.jpg

Tow hook/ strut brace fitted:
http://img520.imageshack.**/img520/8577/22bo5.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.**/img151/5263/24va7.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.**/img176/7619/23le9.jpg

http://img520.imageshack.**/img520/3897/25mq3.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.**/img176/4998/26uz2.jpg

And, most recently...
Been itching to getting round to spraying my roof for a long time now. So bought some spray cans and some sand paper, and set to it. Most important tool:
http://img357.imageshack.**/img357/9463/46938365la8.jpg

Sanded down:
http://img171.imageshack.**/img171/3714/34702102xr5.jpg

And some paint:
http://img357.imageshack.**/img357/320/12002716vi6.jpg

Leannes genius 'paper roof' masking:
http://img357.imageshack.**/img357/9082/93067378pw2.jpg

First coat of black:
http://img518.imageshack.**/img518/461/10ng5.jpg

Some patience and a few coats later...
http://img357.imageshack.**/img357/1350/11jk1.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.**/img518/3384/12qu3.jpg

Finish isnt perfect, but roof looks tons better than it did before. :)

Also hitting the Nurburgring again on the 28th of August for a week with some friends.

Sorry for the huge post!
 
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That's a very nice MX-5! I like what you've done to it!
 
Great looking little Miata. The lowered stance and that lip spoiler really make it look like a serious machine, instead of a hairdressers car ;).
 
Dude, your car looks WICKED.
 
Thanks guys! :D

Two more pics from today...
http://img80.imageshack.**/img80/6177/z2cl6.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.**/img80/2226/z1tj5.jpg
 
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Nice Miata! I really like what you've done with it.

Any more performance mods planned?
 
Very very nice MX5... I love seeing the transformation of cars from stock to how they are now. I'm not a fan of the huge offset though, prefer the original Rota wheels you had :D
 
Nice Miata! I really like what you've done with it.

Any more performance mods planned?

Lots! :lol:

For this year:
-Tyres (Hankook RS2s)
-Brakes (EBC rotors, 1.8 calipers, Axxis ultimate pads, braided hoses, 5.1 fluid)
-Turbo (TD04 or T25, 4PSI ~ 170bhp)

Then, hopefully next year, more likely the year after...
-SR20DET engine swap + mods :mrgreen:

Thanks for all the comments :)
 
Great thread! See Miatas aren't gay, Mustangs are gay.
 
At first i tought ohh no! a man driving a girl car! but when i saw what you have done to it i couldt see why you bought it ;) nice car! :)
 
Just out of curiosity... why an SR20? By the time you buy the motor and fab it to be swapped, you can build a damn powerful b6/bp motor. And please don't tell me because it's All Alumin(i)um/lighter... I promise you it's not.
 
The eventual goal with the car is a place in the UK Time Attack series, Ive been karting for a while now and want to make the next big step into the big league. The SR will not only help me achieve the power:weight necessary to be competitive (its a much, much stronger engine than the B6), but the individuality should make sponsorship easier to attain. :)
 
Wow, a Miata I actually wouldn't mind owning... :eek:

Although I much prefer the black wheels. It makes it look a lot more badass.
 
The eventual goal with the car is a place in the UK Time Attack series, Ive been karting for a while now and want to make the next big step into the big league. The SR will not only help me achieve the power:weight necessary to be competitive (its a much, much stronger engine than the B6), but the individuality should make sponsorship easier to attain. :)

I see. Not a bad idea. I'm not hugely knowledgeable on the subject of sponsorship but I wouldn't go just for individuality, you may want to keep in mind the kind of sponsors you're trying to obtain. I.e. don't throw an SR20 in there then try and then find out that you'd be more likely to get sponsored if you just had a well kitted out BP... which is not likely considering the market for SR20 products are larger than that of the bp stuff I think.

Oh and thanks for posting that clubroadster site :thumbsup:
 
whats a bonnet spacer what are its advantages ? Is that why your hood looks like its been popped open ?
Other than that you sure have come a long way from what you have bought. I think its really great how you do all this stuff yourself, respect man :thumbup:
Though I dont like the offset, I think its a bit too wide, and the exhaust is just huge. Do you find the handling has improved? Has the engine lost any of its power with the wider tyres and new offset ? Now im not that knowledgeable about offset and backspacing and all that, but did you use spacers to achieve such offset ? And doesnt that put a lot of strain on the suspension (wheel bearings) ?
btw, do you let your girl drive it or are you the only one that drives it ?
And please do put some pics like the very first and second one posted, where you can clearly see the whole car from a distance and in daylight
 
whats a bonnet spacer what are its advantages ? Is that why your hood looks like its been popped open ?
Other than that you sure have come a long way from what you have bought. I think its really great how you do all this stuff yourself, respect man :thumbup:
Though I dont like the offset, I think its a bit too wide, and the exhaust is just huge. Do you find the handling has improved? Has the engine lost any of its power with the wider tyres and new offset ? Now im not that knowledgeable about offset and backspacing and all that, but did you use spacers to achieve such offset ? And doesnt that put a lot of strain on the suspension (wheel bearings) ?
btw, do you let your girl drive it or are you the only one that drives it ?
And please do put some pics like the very first and second one posted, where you can clearly see the whole car from a distance and in daylight

The hood spacer is what makes it look propped open in the back. The only thing it does is let air in from off the windshield. I'm personally think they do more harm than good as it's just fighting the air flow through the radiator.
 
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