Sixstring's Miata Discussion/Build Thread

[Stephen]

Get some stock wheels, they pop up regularly on miata.net for sale. Keep everything stock and just get it in good running order. No reason to modify.

 

[sixstringsteve]

While I do like the way my stock miata drives, I definitely miss the handling of my last one. They're changing the rules for SOLO 2 stock class in 2014, so stock wheels won't end up being an advantage next year. I think my 16" wheels will be legal in that class.

That being said, I'll never be at the top of my class, so I'm building it more for a fun canyon/dd car vs the most competitive car in its class.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

It's about friggin time BFG came out with a 225/45r15, thanks for posting that link, time for new tires. I ran 2 through sets the G-force Sports about 7-10 years back and loved them, I hope these new tires do as well in the rain though.

 

[Stephen]

That being said, I'll never be at the top of my class, so I'm building it more for a fun canyon/dd car vs the most competitive car in its class.

Thus the reason to keep it stock.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thus the reason to keep it stock.

Except I've driven stock and modified, and I find modified far more fun to drive. If I wanted to be as competitive as possible, I'd put R-rubber on a stock rig and modify it as much as I could and still stay in the stock class.

 

[sixstringsteve]

It's about friggin time BFG came out with a 225/45r15, thanks for posting that link, time for new tires. I ran 2 through sets the G-force Sports about 7-10 years back and loved them, I hope these new tires do as well in the rain though.

They're supposed to be fantastic tires. I don't think they're meant for wet conditions. They're more for aggressive street/track use. They're not R-compounds, but they grip more like an R-compound than an all-season. I wonder how they do in the wet.

 

[Kiel]

saw a 99 at tear a part today, if you needed some parts. Looked pretty complete, except the front end and engine wrapped a pole

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thanks for the heads-up. Was the soft top still there?

 

[OB1]

While I do like the way my stock miata drives, I definitely miss the handling of my last one. They're changing the rules for SOLO 2 stock class in 2014, so stock wheels won't end up being an advantage next year. I think my 16" wheels will be legal in that class.

That being said, I'll never be at the top of my class, so I'm building it more for a fun canyon/dd car vs the most competitive car in its class.

My son has the 10th Anniversary Miata and I think it cam stock with 16" wheels.

 

[sixstringsteve]

sweet. The current rules are that it has to use the wheels it came with from the factory. In fact, if it has leather seats, I'm not allowed to replace them with fabric seats. Kinda funny.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Thanks for the heads-up. Was the soft top still there?

I checked it out today, it was a silver automatic with tan leather interior, top was torn pretty bad. Engine is toast. About the only thing you might be interested in is the Bose audio system in it.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Cool, thanks for checking for me.

I had a bose in my last miata, and I wasn't impressed. Plus they run at different ohms, so they're not interchangeable with aftermarket speakers or head units.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I just ordered a new tan canvas top from moss miata. Christine was extremely helpful in making the right selection. The top should be here tonight, then I can begin the install.

 

[sixstringsteve]

next up will be wheels/tires, then some XIDA Club Sport coilovers. Then lots of driving.

I can't get over how much fun this car is. My wife and I look for any excuse to go on a drive, it's so much fun.

 

[sixstringsteve]

With all this rain we've been having, it was getting annoying having a leaking top. I ordered a new Robbins canvas top.

I removed my torn up, leaking soft top on my lunch break today. Removal was super easy thanks to Kent's writeup and this video. There's some good info here too.

When I removed the carpet and the sound deadening mat, I was met with this wonderful surprise:

The drain holes were nice and clear.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I took a wire wheel to the panel and found some rusty patches.

So I removed the panel, and found mold underneath on the sound deadening mats.

I tossed the mats and cleaned the entire back with borax to ensure the mold was dead and gone.

 

[sixstringsteve]

The rust ate through the panel in several places, so I decided to repair the holes. I had a few options:

1) replace the panel (still an option)
2) bondo (yuck)
3) weld it up (not likely with how thin this metal is)
4) reinforce it with more sheet metal (I'd rather replace the panel)
5) patch it with aluminum tape

I hit it with some self-etching primer and covered the holes with aluminum tape.

Then I hit that with some more self-etching primer.

Then I hit it with some black paint. Good enough.

 

[sixstringsteve]

That evening I installed the new Robbins top on the frame. It was pretty straightforward except for these rivets that weren't even close to lining up.

compared to the original:

I drilled a new hole about 3/4" further down, and that solved the problem.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Mounting the frame and new top to the car wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it'd be. Kent's instructions are very well done and made the entire process way easier.

I put it out in the sun to stretch so I could eventually latch it.

After an hour in the sun, the top closes. I know the tan tops aren't everyone's thing, but I love it.

 

[Spork]

I like the tan top, looks great Steve.