One of my Miatas... (updated w new pics 1/13)

[dickie]

As promised, here are pics of the second Miata I picked up. I have had it for just under a month, I suppose...







As you can see, the car has a little paint issue. The previous owner was a car wash in Dallas that decided to use it to demonstrate what their competitors' machines would do to your car. Looks to me like a sanding disk, maybe 80 grit straight down to the bare metal. Within a couple weeks of being in the garage, surface rust started to form.

Tomorrow my friend Nick and I will be sanding the car down and prepping it for a temporary spray bomb job until I decide what color I eventually want it. I know what color I will be using tomorrow, but that's a surprise (not flat black).

As for the blue Miata, it will be stripped and sold to fund this project. My goal is between 200-250 rwhp from a 13b na. There is a rotary specialist shop nearby and I personally know a guy that has been messing with 13b and 20b swaps into all kinds of cars that I may enlist for help.

Flame, bash, deride and ridicule me all you want, I got a damn good price on this bisch and I have some plans for it. Hopefully everything comes together before I have to take the Cressida down for engine/transmission swap.

[eazye2000]

Haha, that thing gow raped!....and remember to NOT go to that car wash.. Geez man..

Good Luck with the project! I'm always down for a swap! ....no, not 'that' kind of swap

[stopatnothing]

That looks awesome, just clearcoat and keep it like that...

[Dittoz7]

I Say Strip All Of The Paint A Leave It Stainless Looking... Thats One LITTLE Paint Problem...Either Way GL With The Project

[dickie]

couple people actually recommended that... but as artistic as the guy with the grinder was, i feel like what i have planned is slightly cooler.

bare metal wouldnt work because i would have to paint the plastic to match or contrast... and that wouldnt look as good as if the car was completely metal.

[stopatnothing]

I'm holding my breath until I see it

[DeXteR]

I Say Strip All Of The Paint A Leave It Stainless Looking...

strip it, buff it, polish it, clear coat.

[dickie]

bare metal wouldnt work because i would have to paint the plastic to match or contrast... and that wouldnt look as good as if the car was completely metal.

[skydragoness]

Wow. It has a hardtop too, those aren't cheap to come by.

I think it's a great start besides the massive paint work it needs.

[dickie]

both my cars have hardtops, which is weird because i knew they were kinda rare. i hope it enhances teh resale value.

[Mc57127]

Nice project car.

I know the big thing to do with Miatas a few years ago was to drop in a 5 liter ford V8 and mustang drivetrain. Never really saw the point though, as the heavy engine would cause a lot of understeer, ruining the miata's nimble nature.

I'm sure they were fast as hell though :

[dickie]

thats why i decided to go rotary. this 1.6 is on its last legs, still runs strong but for how long?

[crackler]

<---Wishes he had one hard top

A good used hard top is worth anywhere from 750 to 1k. If you paid less than that for either car, then even with the hosed paint, you got a good deal.

d!ck is the 1.6 a long or short nose crank???

If it is a short nose, you might be in trouble, if it is a long nose and it compression test good I wouldn't worry about it too much. My chassi has 210k on the clock, but it had a long nose swapped in by one of the PO's. I have no idea how many miles are on it, but it still pulls hard. I need to check compression, verify timing, and replase the CAS gasket to fix that damn oil leak.

Good Luck on the project.

[DeXteR]

bare metal wouldnt work because i would have to paint the plastic to match or contrast... and that wouldnt look as good as if the car was completely metal.

PFT. Do it to the top too! Might as well do the same to the bumpers and everything. It'll contrast just fine. Raw Miata.

..., ruining the miata's nimble nature.

[accent=redneck] I tell you what! When yer goin' in a straight line, you don't need ta be nimble, ya hear.[/accent]

[Mc57127]

[accent=redneck] I tell you what! When yer goin' in a straight line, you don't need ta be nimble, ya hear.[/accent]

Well said.

[Mc57127]

thats why i decided to go rotary. this 1.6 is on its last legs, still runs strong but for how long?

I hear ya there.

Will you be AutoXing it? Please excuse me if you've allready stated this as i am far too lazy to scroll down and check.

[xekushnr]

Uh, wow. I've never seen a car wash do that.

Very cool though, I'm sure you got a good price for it. Who cares about how it looks anyway, I bet its still fun to drive. So will it be an autocross slut after you get the rotary in?

[dickie]

short nose, the original engine that came in the car. they are both '90s. i wan to drive it weekends only for now and swap it out asap.

also, i may autox it, i may not. plans so far aren't very firm. i may run spec miata before the swap. even though i know i wont be competitive, it will still be a fun learning experience.

[Mc57127]

short nose, the original engine that came in the car. they are both '90s. i wan to drive it weekends only for now and swap it out asap.

also, i may autox it, i may not. plans so far aren't very firm. i may run spec miata before the swap. even though i know i wont be competitive, it will still be a fun learning experience.

Cool, they are fun little cars and i would love to throw one around on a track.

[srpowered240sx]

right on chris, now when does your dress and push up bra show up?

jk, should be a little fun tiny project.....thats small.

[Jesda]

I would totally drive that, as-is. Its a Miata. People assume you're a h0m0, so who the hell cares how bad the paint is when you're having a ridiculous amount of fun driving?

I would definitely rock that car.

[dickie]

jon, right after the tampons and thongs are situated.

jesda, the temp paint job i will be putting on it should be at least as attention-catching, and less likely to make people assume i have a vindictive ex with too much time on her hands.

[srpowered240sx]

jon, right after the tampons and thongs are situated. .

right on, i made an in car vase for my girlfriend a while ago, maybe ill make one for you to go with the miata, really bring out the feminitity of the interior.

[dickie]

sure, i also want to get hot pink zebra stripe steering wheel cover and matching fluffy seat covers. send some to me and i will email you naughty pics

[srpowered240sx]

sure, i also want to get hot pink zebra stripe steering wheel cover and matching fluffy seat covers. send some to me and i will email you naughty pics

oh hell yes, brb........................wait a second.......you mean naughty pics of your mom..........right??

[sensibleS13driver]

Whoaaaaaa there Drift Racer. Just cause it isn't a 240 doesn't mean you don't have to search. I would do some long hard reading before you jump into this project, especially about this:

200-250 rwhp from a 13b na.

and this:

i may run spec miata before the swap. even though i know i wont be competitive, it will still be a fun learning experience.

Both take a LOT of money and forsight and require very different commitments.

[nsrZ32]

General Lee paint job in the works?

Somebody call Cooter!

[dickie]

i know rx7 drivers that are putting out that much hp with a ported na motor. the guy i mentioned before that works with rx7s has a bridge ported car putting around 265 to the ground.

and if i ran spec, i would have everything i need as the gentleman that sold me the car actually owns and runs a shop and drives porsche cup cars and miatas competitively at the racetrack i bought the car from.

my car in current condition will run spec, since its using an unmolested 1.6 and stock suspension. like i said, it would be at the suggestion of the guy to get some competition seat time under my belt with his support.

lol @ your 240sx comment, though. i guess you cant escape prick comments no matter what you drive.

[sbird1]

The previous owner was a car wash in Dallas...

REALLY!?!?!?!?

[dickie]

actually im going to go back, correct myself and apologize for sounding like a douche there.

1. i have been doing nothing but research for the past few months on the car and my goals for it. i was looking at rotary swaps before i even had a line on the car because the examples that cost what i wanted to pay were all early model high-mileage and needed either a complete rebuild or a swap anyway.

2. i have been wanting to get into rotary engines for years now, and i admit there is still a TON of stuff i need to learn before i could get one running where i wanted it to in the car i choose. thats why i have 3 cars now, the money and time to sort it out at my own pace.

3. 256 at the ground sounds high for a big bridge port motor, i think he meant to say at the flywheel. i spoke to him last week and he was excited to hear what i had planned and offered his help. still, i would be happy with the stockish 150-160 i could pull from a fresh rebuild.

4. i want to race spec because i want to drive on the local road course. i am not in any condition to run it immediately, it would take a lot of prep and practice. thankfully, the shop i bought the car from is located right on the track and the guy has tons of experience and parts and a helpful crew. my plans are not anywhere near close to completion, so i have plenty of time with the 1.6 and the car as it sits to get some experience.

5. 240sx owners arent THAT dumb, but even if they were i would hope that youd know we can all improve having come from that car, too sensible.