ToddN
07-25-2008, 07:25 PM
I'll try not to be too long winded but I started out as a muscle car guy. I won't name them all but several first generation Camaros and Firebirds, Chevelle convertible, 57 Chevy, etc.
My wife wanted a Miata and we got her the 95 in 97 I think. She loved it and we decided to get her a new one around 2001 or 2002. We were looking at new ones when we stumbled on a 10AE with only 16K miles and she liked it better so we got it.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/10aewithtrailer.jpg
The trailer we picked up from a guy with a Goldwing that didn't want it anymore. The picture is in the badlands in SD.
So, we got her a new car and I decided to keep the 95 as a toy for myself. I progressively upgraded, torsen diff, wheels, ground controls on AGXs, KG works dash, hard top, etc.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/TGP.jpg
Middle of last year I took a week off work to do some upgrades on the car and house. I got the car finished and while test driving it blew a head gasket. The upgrades were a suspension rebuild with poly bushings and some other minor things. I am generally pretty slow at projects so I needed something else while I worked on this. Along came the Mini - 2002 Cooper S.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/minicooper.jpg
Now while waiting to get the Miata fixed I knew I wanted to race but I didn't want to have to hold back worrying about hurting the Miata which is what I generally drive daily. (I figured I wouldn't keep the Mini when the Miata was done.) So after some research a Formula vee setup to run FMod looked like a good plan. Another addition to the family.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/driveway.jpg
Here's a garage shot of the miata with the Vee.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/garage.jpg
So I finally got to work on the miata and out with the old.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/oldmotor.jpg
If you look close you can see the new crate motor on a pallet wrapped in plastic at the front of the garage. The new motor is in and I fired it up for the first time this past Saturday.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/newmotor.jpg
Along with new motor I powder coated the valve cover and intake, added 55mm radiator, a Spec stage 2 clutch, ACT street light flywheel, and large oil cooler with remote filter. This is all prep for a turbo in the fall.
This leaves me with one last project. I needed a trailer for the vee. I found a large double axle utility trailer used on craigs list. It is smaller than a standard car trailer but big enough for the vee and Miata. The guy used it for construction and had built up ladder racks and such on it. In this shot I've cut all that off and now just have to build the ramps and tire rack.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/trailer.jpg
Finally waiting in the wings is a throw back to my muscle car days. A 1970 Mustang fastback that needs restoration.
Hopefully I threw in enough pictures to make my story interesting. (I like when people post pictures)
Todd
My wife wanted a Miata and we got her the 95 in 97 I think. She loved it and we decided to get her a new one around 2001 or 2002. We were looking at new ones when we stumbled on a 10AE with only 16K miles and she liked it better so we got it.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/10aewithtrailer.jpg
The trailer we picked up from a guy with a Goldwing that didn't want it anymore. The picture is in the badlands in SD.
So, we got her a new car and I decided to keep the 95 as a toy for myself. I progressively upgraded, torsen diff, wheels, ground controls on AGXs, KG works dash, hard top, etc.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/TGP.jpg
Middle of last year I took a week off work to do some upgrades on the car and house. I got the car finished and while test driving it blew a head gasket. The upgrades were a suspension rebuild with poly bushings and some other minor things. I am generally pretty slow at projects so I needed something else while I worked on this. Along came the Mini - 2002 Cooper S.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/minicooper.jpg
Now while waiting to get the Miata fixed I knew I wanted to race but I didn't want to have to hold back worrying about hurting the Miata which is what I generally drive daily. (I figured I wouldn't keep the Mini when the Miata was done.) So after some research a Formula vee setup to run FMod looked like a good plan. Another addition to the family.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/driveway.jpg
Here's a garage shot of the miata with the Vee.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/garage.jpg
So I finally got to work on the miata and out with the old.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/oldmotor.jpg
If you look close you can see the new crate motor on a pallet wrapped in plastic at the front of the garage. The new motor is in and I fired it up for the first time this past Saturday.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/newmotor.jpg
Along with new motor I powder coated the valve cover and intake, added 55mm radiator, a Spec stage 2 clutch, ACT street light flywheel, and large oil cooler with remote filter. This is all prep for a turbo in the fall.
This leaves me with one last project. I needed a trailer for the vee. I found a large double axle utility trailer used on craigs list. It is smaller than a standard car trailer but big enough for the vee and Miata. The guy used it for construction and had built up ladder racks and such on it. In this shot I've cut all that off and now just have to build the ramps and tire rack.
http://www.theneals.webhop.net/hostedimages/trailer.jpg
Finally waiting in the wings is a throw back to my muscle car days. A 1970 Mustang fastback that needs restoration.
Hopefully I threw in enough pictures to make my story interesting. (I like when people post pictures)
Todd