I guess I got off on the wrong foot by asking q's before establishing myself. My name is Chris Spalding, I'm a 7 year engineering student at The University of Alabama Huntsville. I work in composites research for the school. I've been on and off lurking for a few months as I fought a genetic need to tinker on my daily car (Dad's owned/ modded/ raced all manner of neat stuff, to include an immaculate 60k mile 92 SE). I currently drive a Silverstone 91 stripper. Roll up windows, cloth, etc. Somebody has loved this car at some point. The last 3 owners are all local SCCA autocrossers and/ or road racers, and other than the Konis (that came off of GRM's doner car for their Project Locost, incidentally) none of them did anything to the car except change the oil and drive it, but some owner before them put a viscous diff in it along with a 94-up rear subframe and associated braces along with some other little knicknacks. I have put on a set of 6ULs (obviously) with 225 Hankooks, redone the stereo (just new speakers/ deck; it's a street car, after all)

The car:


I have piled up some cheap turbo parts (college life sucks), mostly leftovers from other projects. Megan manifold/dp, DSM T25, a 2.5" Magnaflow cat, etc. I only NEED fuel stuff, but instead of bolting it all together and asking for parts to break, I'm going ahead and doing brakes, clutch, cooling system, etc.

I've autocrossed on and off for that last ~7 years, and I'm trying to really get back into it this year, but the local schedule is pwnin me. Hopefully I'll be able to make it to more events now that work is finally getting normal again.

This is my first Miata, but I've owned all sorts of stuff: Honders, Fox Mustangs, F Bodies, sport bikes, etc. Right now I just have the Miata and a 69 Ford F100 that needs to get out of my driveway with a fierceness.

 

Hey Chris, welcome to the forum. The car is looking good!

So; you're a professional student?

BTW, I think you're going about it the right way with your car.

 

Looks great with those wheels. One of these days I am going to have to overcome my cheapness and get some of those 6ULs.

 

I'm a total professional student. I'm only on year 5 of 7, but I'm working on spending the largest portion of my life possible there.

 

Wish I have the knowledge to piece together my own kit. Welcome, from another noob!

 

I think Tex is right; those ULs look really nice on your car!

Welcome.

 

I like them a lot. Wouldn't have bought 6ULs, but I found em used for $500 with the tires. Unfortunately one of them has Hawk rust all over it. One of these days I'll get around to trying some rubbing compound on it. I've heard that thats the only way to get that garbage off. I only wish somebody made a 245/40, or at least that there were more options in 225/45. My next set of street tires may be 225/50s.