My 1999

[MoD_Scotty]

Current mod list:
Enthuza axle-back exhaust
Flyin' Miata mid-pipe
DIY cold side intake
CX-Racing aluminum radiator
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
Hard Dog M2 Sport Double Diagonal roll bar
Swift springs
Tokico HP shocks
Rota Circuit 8 wheels in bronze (15x6.5")
Falken Ziex 912 tires (205/50-15)
JDM-only cloth seats
Hard top (and soft top removed)
NB2 gauge cluster
NB2 Nardi steering wheel
Racing Beat rear sway bar w/Racing Beat adjustable end links
eBay strut tower bar
CDM-TYTE #1 4-2-1 Header

Coming soon:
Torsen diff - NOPE
NB2 headlights w/HIDs
NB2 "surf board" side skirts - NOPE
GV lip? OEM lip? - NOPE
Paint the car blue to match the passenger fender and hard top! - MAYBE
Replace the OEM 135,000mi clutch? - Hopefully soon

The story:
(I posted a lot of this on IA, but I figured I'd put it here as well)

After buying a 91 240SX as a DD, and then immediately swapping in a SR20, my DD soon became project car #2. I had the 240 from 2005 until about a month ago, when I decided that I needed something that was newer, got better mpg, was more comfortable, and more reliable. I was originally going to buy an 09 Fit, but I decided that another car payment wasn't one of the things I was looking for! (The payments for the wife's Mazdaspeed3 were enough)

So I started looking for an NB Miata. I knew I wanted a little more torque (you look for this kind of thing when you weigh 260 and want to drive a tiny car), and I wanted a car that wasn't TOO old. After almost buying a car in Orlando, I found a '99 about 1 mile away from my house. I talked the guy down to the KBB for "fair" condition...$4625. When I got it, it had a CEL, broken antenna, bigass dent in the fender, a torn up driver's seat, two non-working windows, and a few other annoying things.

I replaced the antenna, then addresses the CEL. Turns out it was EGR-related. After doing some research, I decided to take apart the intake mani and clean it out. Sure enough, after that and replacing most of the vacuum lines under the hood, the CEL went away! The car drives like a champ now.

I picked up a set of JDM seats from JHOT for a whopping $170. They're in mint condition, and I've never seen anything like them on a US car.

I've already installed a front strut tower bar, and ordered a bunch of other little things. As far as real mods, I'm planning on getting a hard top, and then upgrading the springs and shocks. Otherwise, the car will remain stock, and I'll get back to work on my '89 Mirage Turbo. EDIT: BWAHAHAHAHAHHA! Stock my ***.

Anyway, here are the pics:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000001.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000003.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000004.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000006.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000008.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000010.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000013.jpg

[MeFryRice]

Welcome!

[RotorNutFD3S]

Welcome! Sounds like you're going all Mazda in the family. lol

[jesseealexander]

i wanna see the mirage lol :)

[thx712517]

Good looking car, man. How was it dealing with JHot? I'd like to add a few trinkets to my own car.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Clean car, I do like the steering wheel quite a bit more than my own.

[MoD_Scotty]

Thanks everyone!

I've been dealing with JHOT for years (my wife actually worked there for a year, too). Gabe and Diana that work in the front office are friends of mine, and are easy to work with. The only crappy thing is that the prices are set by the owner (currently runs the TX store), and IMO, is pretty much a ******bag. But since he lives in TX, I never have to deal with him personally.

They almost never get Miata parts though. If you have a Civic or a 240, you're in luck!

[MoD_Scotty]

i wanna see the mirage lol :)


Sho nuff!

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/dumped2.jpg

(Not me with the hose, I'm in the driver's seat)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/DSCN2470.jpg

(Not me standing next to it, I'm taking the pic)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/dynopic.jpg

Here's the Galant VR4 RS 4G63T w/16G turbo that's about to get dropped in:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/MoD/0828081625a.jpg

[Otto]

hey, its my car with a spoiler!

[redrumracer]

welcome!!

[MoD_Scotty]

HARDTOP! Sorry for the crappy cellphone pic, and the car and top are dirty as hell, but you get the idea. It's actually a blue top, but from a distance (and in crappy cellphone pics, it almost matches). I'll paint it eventually.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/0930081720.jpg

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

hell yes! banana banana

[MoD_Scotty]

I'm totally removing the soft top this weekend, I hate hearing it bounce around back there. Also, does anyone know what it takes to mount striker plates by the seatbelt towers in an NB? I'm going to pull off the plastic trim pieces to see if I can just screw them in. The top fits really securely with just the top latches and the frankenstein bolts, but I'd like to make use of all four latches.

BTW, I LOVE the extra visibility of the hard top's window. That huge blindspot is totally gone! Good times.

[MeFryRice]

Looks a lot better with the hardtop!

[RotorNutFD3S]

Hardtop FTW!

There are threaded holes in the sides for the side striker bolts, best way is to see where they are at, and then cut the panels appropriately to allow the striker plates to be mounted, and that's about it. Just don't make the hole in the panel too big, or it will show when you mount the plate over it.

[Doppelgänger]

I once had a emerald 99.....nice cars when they're cleaned up!

[MoD_Scotty]

Awesome. I may knock that stuff out this afternoon.

[MeFryRice]

Mind saying how much you paid for it?

[metalman]

Mind saying how much you paid for it?


I'll sell you a clean 99 if you want. :whistle: :)

[MeFryRice]

I was referring to the hardtop. Thanks though. :)

If I were to buy an NB, it'd have to be that ugly *** color, EVO orange. :D

[MoD_Scotty]

The hard top was $550. It came with the side striker plates, too. No defroster though. I can live with that.

[MoD_Scotty]

Just got done installing the side striker plates for the hard top, as well as removing the visors and swapping on some block-off plates. I'm tall enough that the visors just get in the way. I also put on a strut tower bar the other day.

Anyway, here are some pics:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000030.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000028.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000027.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000035.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000033.jpg

[RotorNutFD3S]

Looks good! I love how much a hard top improves the look and feel of the car.

[MoD_Scotty]

Fo sho!

So I drove the Miata to Columbia, SC this weekend (about a 70 mi trip, each way). I was driving in a group of cars that all wanted to haul ***. So I ended up averaging about 85mph. I've never owned a car with such crazy gearing. I was probably around 4500-5500rpms the whole time! It was really painful to do that to the car, but I didn't notice any issues, and I didn't want to get left behind.

Anyway, the car handled it just fine. On that trip, I only got 28mpg though. The previous tank (all city driving), I got 25mpg. I think that if I keep it to 75mpg, I should get over 30mpg on the highway.

[RotorNutFD3S]

My g/f's '00 is the same way going down the freeway. Both of us go to shift to the next gear, forgetting it's already in 5th. Doesn't seem to hurt it and the mpg is always good, so who cares.

[MoD_Scotty]

Today I got halfway done installing shocks/springs and wheels. Only halfway, because UPS didn't get here til after 5pm with the shocks. So the front is totally done. I'll be waking up relatively early tomorrow to finish the back half of the car.

Here's the details of the parts I'm installing:
Tokico HP shocks
Swift Sport Mach springs
Rota Circuit 8 15x6.5" in sports bronze
Falken Ziex 912 205/50-15

After the install, I'm going to give the car a bath and take a bunch of pics. I'll post em soon.

[MoD_Scotty]

Alright, my camera REALLY sucks (I'm about to buy a new one), but here are some pics of the car with the new suspension and rims:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000047.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IM000049.jpg

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

:clap: what'd you put on? It looks really smart, the wheels compliment the colour very well. Good example of an NB.

[MoD_Scotty]

Thanks!

It's Swift Sport Mach springs (approx 1" drop), Tokico HP (blue) shocks, and Rota Circuit 8s w/Falken Ziex 912 205/50-15 tires. The only thing I regret is the tire size. I probably should have ordered 195/50-15s instead. I need to just crank up the ire pressure.

Otherwise, the car has grip for days. The ride is incredibly smooth, but the handling rocks.

[MoD_Scotty]

Just consolidating pics...

Headlight clearing
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/newoldboth.jpg

CX-Racing radiator vs OEM
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1000986.jpg

Current engine bay
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010005.jpg

Topless before a cruise
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/IMG00034-20090322-1633.jpg

Replaced crappy fender with blue one (matches hardtop)
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/fender/P1010139.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/fender/P1010135.jpg

Hard Dog M2 Sport double diag roll bar install almost done
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/FPandRoolbar/P1010176.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/FPandRoolbar/P1010176.jpg

[caseyfoster]

Nice progress man, paint it!

[MoD_Scotty]

Nice progress man, paint it!

That's funny. I wish I had the $$$$. If I don't find a job soon, I'll probably be selling a bunch of stuff just to be able to pay my mortgage.

[MoD_Scotty]

New goodies for the rear end:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/sways/P1010184.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/sways/P1010185.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/sways/P1010186.jpg

[RotorNutFD3S]

Nice! Who's adjustable endlinks? (I need to look into a set.)

[MoD_Scotty]

They're Racing Beat:
http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/20-1002.html

[wildfire0310]

nice. How is the 255 pump working for you, any issues yet? I yet to be able to put any real mileage on mine so I figured I would see how yours is going.

[MoD_Scotty]

As far as I can tell, it hasn't negatively effected anything. Drivability is identical. As far as mpg (my biggest concern about using this pump), I've done a little more than 150mi, and am sitting right above half a tank. The first 90mi were on a cruise through country back roads last weekend, the rest are all city. None are really highway. So I'd say I'm on track to getting pretty much identical mpg than what I got on the OEM pump, maybe even better. I was getting 25mpg city before.

You can barely hear the pump at idle, but the rest of the time, you can never tell it's there. I'd like to eventually get an adjustable FPR, just to make sure I'm at stock levels. Being able to lean it out a little would be nice, too.

[MoD_Scotty]

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010246s.jpg

I think it will eventually need more droppage. The Swift springs are decent, but even with taller-than-oem tires, I still have too much gap. It could almost use another full inch of drop.

[RotorNutFD3S]

This is after it settled?

[MoD_Scotty]

Totally. It's even been a while since the rear sway bar install. It's probably leaning a little to the back because it's parked on an incline (but I angled the pic so it looks level).

[RotorNutFD3S]

Yes, needs more droppage then. :)

[MoD_Scotty]

Mod list updated. Also, here's the NB@ gauges and Nardi wheel:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/gauges_wheel_vents/IMG00005-20090623-1533.jpg

[scandmx5]

lol @ 22874 miles
you gonna put those side skirts on or what? you know ill buy em from you as soon as you give the go ahead

[MoD_Scotty]

lol @ 22874 miles
you gonna put those side skirts on or what? you know ill buy em from you as soon as you give the go ahead

LOL! Yeah, I just have to add 107,000mi to whatever that cluster says to figure out my actual mileage.

I have a feeling you can find them already painted red pretty easily...but if I don't find a job soon, I will definitely sell them to you!

[scandmx5]

LOL! Yeah, I just have to add 107,000mi to whatever that cluster says to figure out my actual mileage.

I have a feeling you can find them already painted red pretty easily...but if I don't find a job soon, I will definitely sell them to you!
**** yeh but i know you can sell em better than $356

[mustangtomiata]

Do you still have those old 14's? All four of mine are curbed, asain women drivers FTL, and I would like a clean set.

[MoD_Scotty]

Yeah, Calvin, way less!

Sorry, don't have the stockies anymore. Sold em a few months ago.

[MoD_Scotty]

I need to add "new clutch and throwout bearing" to the list, because it sounds like there is a handful of bolts bouncing around the bell housing....which goes away when I press the clutch.

If there was a better motivation to get my Mirage done, I couldn't really think of it.

[metalman]

Do you still have those old 14's? All four of mine are curbed, asain women drivers FTL, and I would like a clean set.

I may have an oem NB 14 or two around.

[mustangtomiata]

How much do you want for these wheels?

[mustangtomiata]

I can put the clutch in for you. :) And these have really noisy throughout bearings anyway, mine makes a ton of racket and only has ~5ooo miles on it.

[MoD_Scotty]

I am seriously thinking of paying someone to do it. I'm so sick of laying under cars, it might be worth it. I have a feeling that this is the original clutch. The throwout bearing was noisy when I bought the car, but I was used to that (my 240's last bearing was even louder). But even before I left for my 2600mi TX trip, it was getting obnoxious. Now it sounds just plain bad. I'm sure it will last a little while longer, but I don't feel comfortable pushing it much further. So an OEM replacement clutch kit will be in the works soon.

[FE3tMX5]

You can get a stick with some grease on the end through the fork hole in the bell. Just unbolt the slave to give you some play in the fork and have at it. One of those led flexible lights helps tremendously to see where you're going with the stick. Just be careful not to pull the fork off the pivot post OR dismount it from the t/o bearing.

[MoD_Scotty]

You can get a stick with some grease on the end through the fork hole in the bell. Just unbolt the slave to give you some play in the fork and have at it. One of those led flexible lights helps tremendously to see where you're going with the stick. Just be careful not to pull the fork off the pivot post OR dismount it from the t/o bearing.

That's crazy enough that I might try it! But how do you get the grease inside the bearing? In the past, when I've packed a throwout bearing, I had to have the thing in my hand in order to really force the grease down into it.

[FE3tMX5]

The t/o bearing is sealed, there's no packing. What's making noise are two things- the t/o bearing on the shaft, and the fork on the bearing "wings/arms". If you get the grease on the shaft and fork ends, and still have noise, then you're bearing might indeed be worn. Of course you'd then face the inevitable. That said, the Miata has got to be one of the easiest cars to pull the trans on.

[MoD_Scotty]

Gotcha.

Well, if I can get the Mirage done soon, then I'll just pull the Miata into the garage and get crackin on it. I need a stinkin lift though. I'm definitely going to invest in one of those bigass race jacks.

[FE3tMX5]

if I can get the <place name of car here> done soon
Is that first time you've said that? :lol:

I need a stinkin lift though.
:clap: me too, and Santa has decline me for over forty years ;)

[MoD_Scotty]

Well, Santa's declined me for ANYTHING for 32 years, so I'm certainly not holding my breath for that mofo.

It's like the 40th time I've said that about the Mirage.

[MoD_Scotty]

Sexy-*** CDM-TYTE #1 OK OFFRIMITS 4-2-1 header

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/header/P1010508.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/header/P1010507.jpg

[MoD_Scotty]

I now haz new clutch, new pilot bearing, new throwout bearing, and Redline MT90 tranny fluid. I still haz obnoxious loud tranny noises :(

No way in hell I'm taking that tranny off again...so looks like it's getting sold with a noisy tranny. At least it shifts fine. Can't win em all.

[MoD_Scotty]

The car is gone. Sold to a retired guy that's going to turn it into a Spec Miata car.

But don't worry...I'm not quite ready to leave the MX-5 world.

[LagunaJames]

what are you up to now? Adam getting rid of his, or are you taking his route?

[MoD_Scotty]

what are you up to now? Adam getting rid of his, or are you taking his route?

Adam wants to sell one of his. Most likely the red '90. But he also has a supercharger that he wants me to help install on it. But he's definitely keeping Shikaka for the GRM $2010. So I dunno.

For me...we'll see.