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It is finally time to start my build thread. As some of you may have read I was deciding between a Fiat 124 and the NC, but the NC won out because ultimately I fit in it better and really wanted the hard top. So lets start with the car first!
The car I picked up is a 2014 Grand Touring with 9200 miles on it. (now 10,300 and climbing as I am using it as my daily).
Last edited by daytona675; 04-12-2017 at 08:44 AM.
Now.... On to the current mod list and what is to come.
The first day I got the car I did the GordyM seat mod to lower the seat down to the carpet. That was not quite enough so I then took it upon myself to do a foamectomy. I used a cutting knife like everyone else and I also then replaced some foam with memory foam to ensure the seat is still comfortable.
Blue foam is the now memory foam.
Here is the seat finalized. Not perfect, but I fit well under the hard top now with room to spare. I then did not love how the back of the seat was so I pulled out the metal "springs" and then put some foam behind the metal bar behind the seat.
I also put all the heated seat components back in there, and recovered it using zip ties to hold the cover down where it should be. Pretty happy with the way it turned out.
Other mods that I have already completed:
Installed nite-lite module from amazon so that I now have automatic headlights. Works great and I never have to worry about turning the headlights on or off. Go in to a dark garage and they turn on in about 2-3 seconds. Wait about 20 seconds of sunlight and they automatically turn back off.
Also installed the smart-top and cannot tell you how many times I have already used it. Great so far.
Mods to come:
Begi/Moto-East turbo kit.
High flow Fuel Pump
550cc Injectors
Garrett 2860RS
Garret FMIC
MotoEast full piping with upgraded BOV
Moto-East full tune with ECUTEK
Fidanza lightweigh flywheel
ACT HD Clutch
ECUTEK bluetooth module to see/log all parameters of the tune from my phone.
Einkei 17X9 RPF1's with the new Hankook RS4 245/40/17 tires.
Fender Roll
Ohlins DFV Road and track.
Window Tint
Clear Bra on the front as I do a lot of highway driving.
I am sure there will be more... but that is all that I am currently waiting to put on the car. I am building this car RIGHT! The turbo miata that I have always wanted to build. Looking forward to continuing this weekend by installing the Ohlins. Will also be posting up pictures of the installs and the parts as I am putting them all on the car over the next coming weeks.
If there is anything you guys would like to see, or would like to know more about the build let me know.
Well see about the 2.5 swap. This motor only has 10K miles on it! So I am not looking to do a motor swap any time soon. Not unless something happens with this one. Initially I am looking to make conservative power as I want it to just be my daily. I already have toys to play with on the weekends so this one is to make me smile to and from the way to work. So I think the stock kit will be running about 8PSI. And from there I will see how happy I am with it. I am thinking with the way the setup is it should be around 250WHP or a little more.
Eventually I plan on dynoing it, but we shall see as the build progresses over the next few months. Wheels show up today, Ohlins tomorrow. And then hopefully I will get the tires by the end of this week. That and the window tint are the next things that will be going on the car.
SWMBO DD's a '13 Club PRHT, and it's eventually going to get some attention under the hood. I really like the idea of an LFX swap, but turbo/supercharger is definitely a lot easier...
Yea. 17x9 and will be trying out the new Hankook RS4s 245/40
Those will be delivered to my buddies shop tomorrow. But won't be installing until next weekend. This weekend I will be putting the ohlins in and rolling the fenders in preparation.
The lady is trying to make me move onto a new daily...a clean NC are cheap nowadays, been looking at them if I can talk her into one. Most miata.net posts are...lacking. Any input on that front?
The turbo business and 300whp+ numbers make me excited.
I love it as my daily. Top down all the time or as much as I can and nothing else I drove has as much of a go kart feel. I was worried the big wheels would make it grip too much but hoping my right foot and the turbo help out there.
cant wait to bolt it on. Wait about a month and I will be bolting everything on!
It's a huge step up from an NA as a daily, but it's no BMW. It's still a raw, basic driving experience, but modernized and subdued compared to an NA. Stock suspension is very soft, but you can get around in a hurry if you're smooth with your inputs. Aftermarket suspension really wakes up the NC. Powerwise, stock is much better at keeping up with traffic than an NA, but still only ~130 at the wheels. A 300hp NC should be a seriously fun car.
Oh, the PRHT is awesome for a daily, but sucks for track due to the issues with installing a useful roll bar.
I have had two NC's. They are vastly better as DD's than the previous generations. I never had a PRHT, because I would want a roll bar in something fast, but I was very tempted.
Eventually I have thought about doing the hard dog transformer bar. But I didn't want this to be a track car. Just Autocross fun. If I want to go to the track I want it to be something that is dedicated and that I could stuff into a wall and not care about. Not really something I would be able to daily. So it's all good . Would t give up pressing a button and having the top be down.
^ Same. They looked so boring to me a couple years ago, but I guess that is the same for a NA. Totally standard suspension and wheels they look like a tall piece of soap. Coilovers and wheel wells full of tire they look great to me. NC is a similar story.
Good to hear they are a great step up from a NA in terms of daily driver and that they AREN'T a BMW. I like that raw feeling but toned down just a bit from my NA sounds good. I remember summers where the NA was almost a burden to keep getting in and out of with a sweaty bum.