The car with which I hope to give every weenie a heart attack with

[FooSchnickens]

Also known as my BRG.

It all started in January of 2007 when my Red 91 met an untimely end when I hit a tree. The front passenger corner was fubar'd. At the time I was in and out of the country doing network installations for a hotel chain in France so I luckily didn't need to have a car 24/7.

I already had ITBs on it along with Tein Flex so it was pretty well set up and all these parts could swap over.

ahKpMVn3Uww

That video is a pretty good indication of the sound these thing make. I still had a stock exhaust at that point so that's really all motor making that. I need to make a new video for the BRG like that now...

Fortune was on my side, however, because only a few weeks later I discovered a peach of a BRG mere miles from my house. Needless to say I snatched it up.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_1603.jpg

If was a fully loaded car with all the available options: hard top, full cockpit tonneau, soft top boot, etc. I even have the newspaper clipping where the previous owner bought it from the original owner a mere three months after it came off the showroom floor.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_1611.jpg

I immediately got to work swapping over parts from my old car. First up was the roll bar which should be EVERY Miata owners FIRST modification.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/PICT2487.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/PICT2485.jpg

After the roll bar went in, it was off to France again for a month. While I was there, I picked up a couple parts online so they would be waiting for me back home.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_1732Large.jpg

I picked up a vinyl stripe kit off ebay to help me determine if I would like the look on the car before I shelled out for a paint job. After I got back I slapped it all on and also put on some wheels that Joe gifted me because he knows you gotta roll right, and stock daisies aren't how to do it.

At this point my work in France was over with so I could dedicate more time to working on the car. I was also able to land a job at RSpeed helping them out get the website updated and doing shop work during the week.

It was during this period that I discovered that I didn't need to do any emissions testing on the car until the following year since the previous owner's registration took place within a certain time period from when I would do my own. I decided to take advantage of this time and install my ITBs.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/PICT2483.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/PICT2480.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/PICT2481.jpg

The second time around was a lot easier and I got them installed in a day and running the next. Naturally, they started the first try:

JQnoHFfvct4

Joe's the worst narrator ever :lol:

[FooSchnickens]

Anywho, with the ITBs in I could focus on bigger and better things. Like seating!

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_1960.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_1964.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_1968.jpg

I was able to get these seats from a ClubRoadster member at a super price so I had to have them. I might be selling them because i'm really too tall for them. Most of my height is in my legs, so I really need just a hair of extra travel that these seats can't provide. I'm considering getting some Elise seats and reskinning them to match the tan interior, but before I make that move I want to test drive some to see if they're something I'm willing to do.

Things settled down for a bit after that and I started to get nit-picky about small things. Taking a cue from my Honda years and smoked my turn signals to even out the front of the car. It's a small mod that made a big difference, I think.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2626.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2644.jpg

I also added in the extra parking light that the european and japanese Miatas get for a little added visibility.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2633.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2643.jpg

Shortly after doing this I was off to Japan to attend the Karuizawa Meeting, the largest Roadster gathering in Japan. This was a blast. Not only got to see some of Japan but got to see more Roadsters in one place than I've ever seen before. I also grabbed some cool swag while I was there, too.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2674.jpg

I got a ZOOM Engineering radio surround piece and installed my AEM UEGO in preparation for getting the megasquirt. It really enhanced the look of the interior and gives it a nice retro feeling like the older 280z.

After the trip, tragedy struck once again, this time in the form of a Ford Econoline van.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/PICT3634.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/PICT3633.jpg

It was all fixed up good as new and time rolled on.

[FooSchnickens]

After I recouped from the wreck I got the Megasquirt along with a couple other goodies to install:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3182Large.jpg

RS Products Smith-Style gauge faces, RS Products headlight/hazard switches and some new air horns.

The air horns went on first, followed closely by the gauge faces.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3191Large.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3189Large.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3212Large.jpg

Marty approved!!

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3213Large.jpg

I also took this time to pull my dash in preparation to refinish the black crap that comes on it from the factory. Mine was starting to bubble up and look like ****.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3211Large.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3210Large.jpg

Some time later, my power window switches started giving me fits, so instead of cleaning them, I replaced them!

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3336Large.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3337Large.jpg

Home depot SS wall plate + toggle switches. Cheap AND effective! :D

[FooSchnickens]

After a bit of time passed, it was once again time for the Karuizawa Meeting so I once again trekked out to Japan to soak it all in. We got to stay a bit longer this time around and as a result I was able to find some nice wheels from a friend of mine over there:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/IMG_0596.jpg

I was able to get them all back with me on the plane (thank goodness for 9lb wheels) and installed them post haste.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_4313.jpg

I also grabbed some wheels from a customer after he upgraded for kicks and giggles because they had a funky retro look to them:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_4305.jpg

When my red car got totaled, the front passenger corner suspension was trapped in place so I was unable to get the coilover out of there without doing MAJOR surgery. I was able to source spare parts through various sources and got the Teins installed again on the BRG, this time with some DP6061 rear top hats:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_4331.jpg

I also installed a St May exhaust that I got off a friend in Florida and installed it at the same time.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_4323.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_3574.jpg

The sound is awesome. Really deep, burbly idle/overrun and absolutely no rasp. If only all exhausts were made like this.

[FooSchnickens]

In preparation for a trip to the gap, I polished the hood installed a Carbing STB and a new steering wheel from a japanese Eunos Roadster.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_5105.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_4324.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_4328.jpg

https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo13/b3/8f/647359baf139.jpeg

https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo35/97/41/24d9f275ed31.jpeg

Finally I realized my low-profile dreams and sourced a set of RSActive headlights.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/20090123165622.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/20090123165603.jpg

And that's pretty much how things stand now. I've got a header coming that should be installed in the next week or so, and that'll be it for a while until I get more money :lol:

Also boo 10 images limit.

[mustangtomiata]

"it's either gunna start up or theres gunna be a big explosion" ROFL

[caseyfoster]

Wow sick car, stupid fords. Fix Or Repair Daily. After looking the thread over again, you defiantly have a unique style.

[LagunaRoadster]

I definitely like where your going with the car. Not a big fan of the remander of the stripes on there, but other than that it's pretty solid. Sweet write-up, thanks for sharing here :) History of a car is always intriguing.

[FooSchnickens]

Yeah, still on the fence about whether to paint the stripes on it when it gets resprayed.

Vinyl's a ***** to peel off, btw :lol:

[LagunaRoadster]

Yeah, still on the fence about whether to paint the stripes on it when it gets resprayed.

Vinyl's a ***** to peel off, btw :lol:

I'm sure someone knows better than all of us...

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l281/teamFBG/0086.jpg

...from when the vandals removed all of that.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Foo, I like the headlights! Car has definitely changed since I saw it last. You were right when you told me I need to make my way back out to the shop again. lol

[RotorNutFD3S]

I'm sure Mike knows better than all of us...

IMAGE HERE

...from when he removed all of that.

HEY!!! That was vandals that did that, and don't you forget it! :lol:

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Nice journal man. That's a real classic roadster look.

[Roadster]

HUGE fan of the vintage track car look and all the nods to the Elan. Trying to pay homage in a similar vein with my own brg. Looks like there's a significant difference in budget, though. :lol:

Nicely done. Love the wheels too.

[LagunaRoadster]

HEY!!! That was vandals that did that, and don't you forget it! :lol:

*fixed.

[RotorNutFD3S]

ROFL!!!

[jesseealexander]

i like the hood. i was gonna polish my hood on my red NA, but there was some kind of weird primer that i didnt wanna sand off.

[LagunaRoadster]

sorry for hijacking your thread. in return, I offer pictures of your own car:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/SIDEWYS/CR%20at%20TG%2008/20081018_6367.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/SIDEWYS/CR%20at%20TG%2008/20081018_6378.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/SIDEWYS/CR%20at%20TG%2008/20081018_6436.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/SIDEWYS/CR%20at%20TG%2008/20081018_6440.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/SIDEWYS/CR%20at%20TG%2008/20081017_6269.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/SIDEWYS/CR%20at%20TG%2008/20081017_6299.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/SIDEWYS/CR%20at%20TG%2008/20081017_6304.jpg

[FooSchnickens]

Yay somebody else wuvs me.

I really need to go hit the Dragon again before warmer weather comes around.

[RotorNutFD3S]

I just need to hit it period. The Miata has not seen it once. And I haven't been there since I had an RX7. :(

[LagunaRoadster]

lets do it. i'll start an interest thread.

[Pitt]

Sweet BRG. I love the new instrument guage face panel and those headlights rule! Is that a kit or did someone figure out a way of putting firebird headlamps in there? Got a link?

[FooSchnickens]

It's an old kit made by RS Active. Unfortunately they hardly make any parts now :(

[MoD_Scotty]

Wow. I love all the hard-to-find parts on this car. I think it's definitely one of the more unique Miatas I've seen. High five.

[FooSchnickens]

Tanks. It's certainly taken me a while, and contrary to popular belief on MT, I actually never have any money when I NEED to do work on the car :lol:

[jesseealexander]

i think the only thing the car is missing is a good drop. plans for lowering it more anytime soon?

[Jecht]

I saw you the other day I was in RSpeed getting my shift boots. I really like your car; too bad I didn't get to hear it. I didn't know it had ITBs. lol

[FooSchnickens]

i think the only thing the car is missing is a good drop. plans for lowering it more anytime soon?

:|

I don't know what things are like in dacula, but I scrape on EVERYTHING as it stands, any lower and my exhaust will fall off pulling in and out of my driveway.

I saw you the other day I was in RSpeed getting my shift boots. I really like your car; too bad I didn't get to hear it. I didn't know it had ITBs. lol

I thought you looked familiar, but didn't want to say anything :lol: Come out to the dyno day and you'll get to hear it.

[FooSchnickens]

Little goody came in today just in time for the dyno day tomorrer:

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2578/136/50/23201941/n23201941_35265903_4339821.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs028.snc1/2578_571498899693_23201941_35265553_1983701_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs028.snc1/2578_571522103193_23201941_35266365_2886108_n.jpg

Car sounds awesome(r) now and I definitely feel a bigger kick down low. Should be interesting to see what it puts down tomorrow. :) Better pictures to come.

[RotorNutFD3S]

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs028.snc1/2578_571498899693_23201941_35265553_1983701_n.jpg



I didn't know your Miata was a 3-cylinder. :lol:

[FooSchnickens]

Lol you funneh

[FooSchnickens]

Time to flip the tires. Already rotated them front to back, now I gotta flip 'em around to get them to wear evenly.

Stupid camber...

[mustangtomiata]

Time to flip the tires. Already rotated them front to back, now I gotta flip 'em around to get them to wear evenly.

Stupid camber...


I feel you on that. When I bought my car it had like -3 or -3.5 somethin stupid in the rear and raped tires and didn't handle right. It always looked like something was messed up.

[FooSchnickens]

Mine may look silly but it grips oh-so-nice in the twisties :mrgreen:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/gap3.jpg

[Pitt]

So...how much more horsepower did you have at the last dyno day?

[FooSchnickens]

I'm guessing close to 20. It was kinda difficult to tell with the dyno being the way that it was, so I'm hoping to either get back to DIY or dynolab soon to get some more consistent numbers with what I had previously.

[jesseealexander]

:|

I don't know what things are like in dacula, but I scrape on EVERYTHING as it stands, any lower and my exhaust will fall off pulling in and out of my driveway.



really? i guess daculas not so bad. theres some speedbumps that im afraid of, but deerawk drives his car every day and never has any bad problems. you just have to learn to love the scrape, embrace it, BE THE SCRAPE!!! :lol:

look in my members' journal thread on page 2 in a few minutes, you will see how low his car sits.

[FooSchnickens]

Well, it turns out the slow leak I had in my passenger rear tire was because there was a 4 INCH NAIL STUCK IN IT. No damage to the wheel, thankfully, but damn that's the biggest thing I've ever had stuck in a tire. Ever!

Good thing I decided to check it today. Maybe I'll get that alignment done while I have the car over at the tire fixer upper place...

[wildfire0310]

Well, it turns out the slow leak I had in my passenger rear tire was because there was a 4 INCH NAIL STUCK IN IT. No damage to the wheel, thankfully, but damn that's the biggest thing I've ever had stuck in a tire. Ever!

Good thing I decided to check it today. Maybe I'll get that alignment done while I have the car over at the tire fixer upper place...

Do you guys not have any patch stuff at your work??

[RotorNutFD3S]

Hmmm... that would explain it. :lol:

[wildfire0310]

Hmmm... that would explain it. :lol:


No no he is lying. What is trying to hide is that his poor little ITBs are trying to destroy his car cause they are scared of all the turbos :lol::lol:

[FooSchnickens]

Do you guys not have any patch stuff at your work??

All we have are the little plug strings. I lacked the firepower to fix a hole of that magnitude.

[FooSchnickens]

Not really progress but I did hit a milestone today. I broke my old record of 24mpg city and made 27mpg this past tank. I there's a few more errant cells I can tweak out in the fuel map to get that even higher, but that could take a while.

[FE3tMX5]

That's pretty damn good IMO. What are your afr targets?

[FooSchnickens]

14.7-15 at idle, 13 at WOT and lean under cruise.

[FooSchnickens]

OH NOES MY SEATS ARE GONE

Oh well, guess I'll just have to put these in:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-pJJLs1W30U/ShrDwrAaeAI/AAAAAAAADp4/v_RO9foVuzw/s640/CIMG2791.JPG

MUAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[LagunaRoadster]

nice seats!

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Sexy seats... what are they?

[Sawyer]

Oooh those seats are gorgeous!

[jzilla]

i hate you foo. you go from great seats to... well... great seats!

looks like lotus.

[Bernie]

Very slick... I would say "me wants" but I'm pretty sure my wide azz won't fit in them :butt:

[FooSchnickens]

Haha yeah they're out of a 2006 Elise with the premium package, thus the fancy embroidery. The guy is local and i'm hoping to pick them up this weekend if all goes according to plan.

Then it's up to my fab guy to whip up a few brackets to fit them on the stock rails.

[Stealth97]

those are BDM gangstar

[FooSchnickens]

Fo sho.

Got a pic of them installed in their new home:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/IMG00014.jpg

My buddy Noah bought them and is giving them the royal treatment driving all the way to Texas from Mississippi. He already seems pleased with them and they'll certainly fit him better than me since he's a bit shorter than I am.

Thus ends a saga in my car's life, on to bigger and better things!

[oldgrayfrog]

Taylor, those new seats Rock! I'm definitely gonna come bye the shop and check them out in person. Man and I thought your old ones were cool.

[FooSchnickens]

Here are a couple pics of the new seats. Also installed is some new carpet, it's awesome. Super lush and a nice heavy backing for good heat and sound absorption. The roll bar went back in today, just need to trim the rear carpet to make it all fit nicely back there. I'll take a couple more pics once that's done.

For now, enjoy!

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2412_Medium.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2413_Medium.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2414_Medium.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/BRG/DSC_2415_Medium.jpg

[Sawyer]

Lookin' good Taylor!

Did you not like your old seats or was it just time for a change?

[wildfire0310]

Lookin' good Taylor!

Did you not like your old seats or was it just time for a change?

they'll certainly fit him better than me

They didn't fit him as great as he would have liked.

[Sawyer]

They didn't fit him as great as he would have liked.

Gotchya!

[metalman]

Where did you get the carpet?

[FooSchnickens]

Lookin' good Taylor!

Did you not like your old seats or was it just time for a change?
I loved them, I was simply too tall for them. Plus I was tired of trying to keep the tan interior clean :lol:

Where did you get the carpet?
New product we're working on ;)

[RotorNutFD3S]

Looks good!

[FooSchnickens]

In the never ending process of tweaking, I found a better place to mount my IAT sensor.

Don't know why I didn't think of this before...

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/FooSchnickens/20090818161902.jpg

[RotorNutFD3S]

That works!

[wildfire0310]

that is an amazing spot for it.

[FooSchnickens]

I know right? I was going over things real quick and it just yelled out "HAY I'M IAT SIZED!!!!"