+- Madison Motorsports (https://forum.mmsports.org)
+-- Forum: Technical (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Member's Projects (https://forum.mmsports.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=12)
+--- Thread: At Long Last: My '92 Miata (/showthread.php?tid=11645)
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - jmwhtzl - 03-08-2018
So, roughly a month ago I sold my first car. It was a Sonic Blue 2002 Ford Focus SVT with 116k miles on it. I loved that car, it was stupidly fun to drive and looked great (in my opinion); it was perfect. Except when it wasn't, which was all the time. Evidently a previous owner had fooled around in the engine bay and had neglected to do anything important to the car, resulting in everything failing. I did have it fixed and everything was fine, but only after a mountain of repair costs that left me not wanting to own it anymore. A few weeks passed following the repairs and the Focus departed from my life with a tear or two shed, and then the hunt for a new car was on.
Even before I bought the Focus, way, waay before I could even own a car or drive, I knew I wanted a Miata. I had never driven in one, let alone sit in one before, or interact with one in any way whatsoever, but I craved one. I could never find one, though, and months of scouring classifieds had left me defeated once, so I hadn't had much hope the second time around. Sure enough, I couldnt find anything, anything, in my price range. I began thinking about other cars that I could settle for when I started chatting with a guy at my school (I'm in high school) named Brandon (who recently posted up his new z31). Somehow we discovered that we both shared an interest in cars, and that we were both on the hunt for something new. Brandon's suggestion to buy Miatas together soon after reinvigorated me, and after he introduced me to the MM forum and showed me how he had found a nice miata by posting a thread on it, I decided to give it a go. Incedentally, Brandon's Miata fell through, but he referred me to the guy he was talking to, who happened to post a reply on my thread a few hours later. He said he had a crazy nice base model NA6 Miata he picked up from the original owner, and directed me to a thread about it. I was sold. A few days later, I drove to Sterling and met Taylor, who was more than enthusiastic to show me his NA6 and tell me everything about it. We came to a deal and a few days after that, I picked it up and drove it two hours home. I laughed the whole time.
A week has passed since I bought the Miata, and I couldn't be happier. It needs a some things to be in tip top shape; the paint isn't perfect and there's a dent in the front right fender, and its been stalling on me. But, I'm making progress. Brandon and I put on a new soft top today, and I've got a Hard Dog M2 rollbar waiting to be put on. I don't know what else I want to do as far as modifications to it, but it's going to be my daily, so probably little things here and there. We'll see. In the meantime though, I'm going to enjoy blasting around my town and its surrounding backroads.
Also, huge thanks to Brandon and Taylor, who have been helping me a ton with the Miata. Brandon, thanks for being a great car buddy and an all round good friend, and Taylor, thanks for all the support and hospitality. I really appreciate it.
![[Image: 9dc4716532cc324b3fda09a3b16daeba.jpg]](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180308/9dc4716532cc324b3fda09a3b16daeba.jpg)
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - Senor_Taylor - 03-08-2018
Use imgur to host your photos, or upload directly if you're using the tapatalk app on your phone.
Glad you made a thread and I'm super happy/impressed you're making such progress! Great pickup with getting the roll bar already. Please reach out before you pull the trigger on any parts! Hopefully I can help you find good deals.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
RE: At Long Last: My '92 Miata - jmwhtzl - 03-08-2018
Okay, thanks, I'll do that!
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - BrandonBoww - 03-08-2018
Nice post, and of course man I got you! Also here is the pic from last night
![[Image: a4295c0add683dc5dd65a75b2c6fb7cc.jpg]](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180308/a4295c0add683dc5dd65a75b2c6fb7cc.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RE: At Long Last: My '92 Miata - Jake - 03-08-2018
Wait, now two high-schoolers on the forum before most students?! This is madness, and fantastic.
Welcome welcome, you will enjoy that Miata. Joey and I got to flog it a little bit before Taylor sold it and it's a very good example of a NA6.
![[Image: 27993697_10216598780871584_4752899300061...e=5B4A2008]](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/27993697_10216598780871584_4752899300061231348_o.jpg?oh=6be286297c0fcbb5c7ec66a2c296ce3c&oe=5B4A2008)
You'll find that a lot of us old fogies have owned Miatas, and some still do (Scott, in particular - races a Spec Miata and owns about 19 others). Definitely ask if you have questions - we've got you covered between street and track use. Enjoy it and be safe!
RE: At Long Last: My '92 Miata - ScottyB - 03-08-2018
jmwhtzl Wrote:I don't know what else I want to do as far as modifications to it, but it's going to be my daily, so probably little things here and there. We'll see. In the meantime though, I'm going to enjoy blasting around my town and its surrounding backroads.
great to hear you snagged this one, its definitely a diamond in the rough but seems like it was really well cared for. i know Taylor was excited about it.
sounds like you're taking the modification path slow and steady which is great. they're fun cars as they are, and i'm sure you'll be able to enjoy it to the max this spring with top down in the mountains!
RE: At Long Last: My '92 Miata - WRXtranceformed - 03-08-2018
Welcome to the club, great to see these cars staying in the MM family. It would be awesome to try to come up with a comprehensive list of all of the cars that have been bought / sold among members here over the years.
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - jmwhtzl - 03-08-2018
Thanks, everyone! Also, suggestions for simple mods are welcome and greatly appreciated.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
RE: At Long Last: My '92 Miata - Jake - 03-08-2018
(03-08-2018, 10:19 AM)WRXtranceformed Wrote: Welcome to the club, great to see these cars staying in the MM family. It would be awesome to try to come up with a comprehensive list of all of the cars that have been bought / sold among members here over the years.
We've done it among NASA Mid-Atlantic (and other "east coast" regions) before. It's insane. My open trailer is on NASA M-A owner #5, my green E36 is on NASA M-A owner #4, etc.
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - Senor_Taylor - 03-08-2018
Simple mods.
Redo the brakes. Changes the whole car.
Trans and diff oil. Changes the whole car.
Paint correction and detail.
eBay front lip.
Repaint wheel center caps
Flying Miata / Jackson racing intake - Makes the car sound REALLY good
New Speakers + Rain guard mod for speakers
Seat Foamectomy
Get a cheap head unit and install the sub I gave you
Eclipse HVAC vent Mod
Exhaust (I liked the cobalt cat back, but you can't go wrong with a racing beat)
Cheap suspension - Zach got his cheap and it's pretty decent
Racing beat sway bar
Delrin door bushings - stiffen the car up
Shock tower brace
Seat belt tower brace from an NA 8
CAS timing increase to move torque down in the rev range
Replace CAS o ring
New plugs and wires
Third brake light blinker mod
Turn signal intake ports
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - jmwhtzl - 03-08-2018
How loud would the racing beat exhaust and an intake be? I don't mind the noise, but I know my family does.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
RE: At Long Last: My '92 Miata - Senor_Taylor - 03-08-2018
Not very loud if you keep your cat and use a resonated pipe. It's just a little more noise and tone.
Go double check, but I think NA6 exhausts unbolt before the Muffler like NBs do, so you can just buy the muffler instead of the full cat back like I had to.
Here is what my cobalt sounded like. I believe it's a little louder than the RB exhaust. Cheaper.
Or if you want to be a terrible person and just unbolt the muffler, then melt your bumper from the exhaust gases
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - jmwhtzl - 03-08-2018
Hm, maybe I'll do the cobalt. No way I'm just taking the muffler off though, lol
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
RE: At Long Last: My '92 Miata - Jake - 03-08-2018
A cold air intake is only loud if you're really standing on the throttle. Like 50% or more input. At startup/idle you can hardly tell anything is different, and there shouldn't be any drone around town or on the highway unless you're actively accelerating.
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - jmwhtzl - 03-08-2018
Cool, drone was the one thing I was concerned about most.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - Senor_Taylor - 03-08-2018
I second the intake. Looking back, I'd rather have the intake than the exhaust. No drone and honestly a much cooler sound. I know it doesn't sound plausible, but a Miata with an intake sounds so cool. I love the way James' and Zach's sound. Almost an exotic note.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - jmwhtzl - 03-08-2018
Okay, I'll look into an intake. It will probably be a little way down the road, though.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - Senor_Taylor - 03-08-2018
Just remember NA6 uses a vane style MAF. So I don't think you can use an intake for a 94+.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
At Long Last: My '92 Miata - jmwhtzl - 03-08-2018
Okay, I didnt know about that. Thanks for the heads up.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk