Project '99 Miata Sport

[Nis01]

Swapped out the shifter boots and found the lower one to be completely mangled but the top boot to be in good shape but replaced it regardless. The turret was almost completely empty so went ahead and filled that up which should help with shifting. Next step is to swap out the transmission fluid which I'll get to within the week.

Here is a great tutorial I found in case anybody else comes across the same issue: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.blueridgemiataclub.org/technical/tranny/">http://www.blueridgemiataclub.org/technical/tranny/</a><!-- m -->

Looking forward to picking up some new goodies for the car here in the next few weeks.

[Jake]

Hey Jake,
Thanks for the response, the outside of the top is in great condition, almost brand new looking... the previous owner must have kept the top down basically ALL the time because the inside appears to be a bit sunburned and part of the back top has come undone at the seems where it comes around the rollbar. It doesn't seem to affect the performance of the soft top, more of just an eye sore so I'd like to do something with it but I'm not sure if I will or not. Do you think that goop would hold a vinyl flap to the remainder of the top without coming lose? There is a very tiny hole around the window that I planned on using some RTV on, but it doesn't leak at all.

Hmm... looks like you have the top's boot cover, which is a good thing. The inside of these tops are not "sun-proof," so the UV from the sun can do funky things to the underside. My NA top may be a little different from your NB, but I have two metal bars that are exposed to me when the top is up.

One bar is right above my head, the other is farther back (perhaps where your roll bar is?). My top material is attached to these bars - it's more or less glued. There is some vinyl-y stuff wrapped around each bar. Is that what has started to separate?

[Nis01]

Its a littler further back. More or less the vinyl right over the window, around the edges. Like I said, really doesn't effect the performance of the top, just a little bit of an eye sore. I've pretty much forgotten about it already, so I probably won't do anything else with it until it needs a new top. I have a feeling the extra stress of fitting around the rollbar would just pull it apart again, it doesn't seem to be ripping anymore than it has. The PO gave me the top boot which is in brand new condition considering it was never used, hence the sun damage to the inside of the top.

[Nis01]

My stock radio has some issues with losing function on occasions so I'd like to replace it with an old Eclipse unit I have had sitting in a box for years. Any electronic experts have some advise on what I need to install it or can give me a hand at some point? I really have never dealt with car audio... I can take pictures of all the parts I have on it. It seems to still have a harness on the back from previous install. Let me know if anybody can help me out with this one. :bow:

EDIT: Big thanks to Justin, all we needed was the harness and it went right in. I'm amazed that it actually still worked. :thumbup:

[WRXtranceformed]

Usually there are car specific harnesses that you can buy for each particular brand of head unit. It makes it a lot easier. My IS300 however did not have a wiring harness available so I had to cut and splice all of the wires from the stock harness. It's a pain but it's not hard if you have a wiring diagram.

[Nis01]

Finally got around to installing some of the parts laying in the garage. Started with suspension bits and will work on brakes later in the week. Still breaking in the shocks so reviews will have to wait for a bit. Overall pretty simple install, getting the Brace Kit installed just right after snaking the sway bar through the front A/C lines was probably the most tedious bit. Really love the quality and adjustability of the TEINs and got a great price on them with the custom spring rates. I'm looking forward to testing their performance but even full soft the handling performance has already dramatically improved over stock.

Installed:
TEIN Flex 9k/6k
Racing Beat 1.125 Front Sway Bar with Brace Kit (Not Pictured)
949 Racing End Links

Stock 'Hard S' Bilsteins:

Shock Comparison:

TEIN Front Damper:

Sway Bar Comparison:

Sway Bar + End Links Installed:


More to come in the next few weeks...

[.RJ]

Nice looking endlinks.

Dibs on it when you sell it. Damn I miss mine.

[Goodspeed]

So JDM ballin'. Nice upgrades Shea, I need another ride along...I actually had my first driving impression recently (Jake was kind enough to let me pimp his otter a bit) and it opened my eyes a good bit :lol:

[kcook]

im so jelous. shea will you let a fellow scoob driver drive your miata. i sat in the new 09 miata at the autoshow and i really liked it. now i just need to drive one

how does the car handle with that new swaybar? night and day?

[Jake]

Looks nice Shea!! The sways help quite a bit, don't they? I have a set from Flyin' Miata on my 'otter (yeah thanks Goodspeed) and the difference was night & day. The stock bars are puny as hell - at least the NAs are. Your NB bar looks a little more substantial.

Are you planning to meet up with us at Verona for the AutoX in March?

[Nis01]

Haven't really had a chance to test out the suspension much but just in the short break in drive I was pretty impressed with the neutral handling characteristics and composure around turns. Looking forward to really putting these to the test as grip has already improved dramatically on cheapy 205 all-seasons.

The Sport model NB came with a slightly larger bar than the base model, I was actually pretty surprised with how beefy the front bar was in comparison to the rear. The Racing Beat bar is a hollow tubular design so it weighs even less than the stock bar and with the bracing kit is significantly more stable. With my current springs rates, stock sport RSB (12mm) and this FSB it should in theory be a very neutral setup with quite a bit of adjustability.

I'm hoping to make some Verona events and I am definitely going to some VMP events in Richmond, which I recommend you guys come down for. I'm patiently awaiting some new wheels that I just ordered so I can have some decent rubber on the pavement... there arrival will kind of dictate when my next events will be. :?

You guys are more than welcome to ride or drive the car once its a little more together. Its definitely a fun little car to toss around.

Teaser of wheel choice:

^^ Not quite gold but it will do. :twisted:

[JustinG]

if it looks anything like the pics you showed me your miata is gonna look very good.

[Ole]

The trans issue is probably due to the synchros going. If it is occasionally hard to get into reverse, that would be the issue. Not a big deal.

Nice looking car. Those wheels look nice as a choice.

My 99 has everything the sport model has except the rear spoiler. The torsen diff is a huge advantage and sells for 1200 as a used part. I actually prefer the cloth seats vs. leather.

More pics when you get the wheels.....

[ScottyB]

sweet mercy.

[flintster55]

Nice. 949 Racing 6ULs right? My buddy just put some 15x8s of the same wheel just in the nickel finish on his miata and they look great. I still miss the Aspen/Gold though :lol:

[Chris]

awesome Shea, keep up the good work!

[Feersty]

Coolio dude

[kcook]

Nice. 949 Racing 6ULs right? My buddy just put some 15x8s of the same wheel just in the nickel finish on his miata and they look great. I still miss the Aspen/Gold though :lol:

just 3-4 more weeks and ill be back to white on gold finally

[Nis01]

They are the 949Racing 6ULs. I'm awaiting the arrival of the Version 2 which should be in production soon.

Kyle, about time you learned. :wink:

[kcook]

haha learned(i see the wink face)? Ive had 3 sets of gold wheels bra lol