Hey folks, just figured I'd throw up a newb/meet/greet post here, even though I've been registered since '12...

I'm beginning to be a veteran to the MX-5, even though I'm still on my first one...

I bought this thing in late March 2012...



Then I took it on a trip, where the HLA tick started to annoy me, so I did this:



Then, instead of doing the easy thing and replacing the HLA's, I decided to get a case of wainrights disease, and did this instead...




Then I waited for parts. Shiny parts. They arrived in their own time, as they are wont to do...

Some had to wait...


Some did not...




And soon enough... with:

Polybushed suspension
3.9 Torsen Diff
MK2.5 Bottom End
BP4W Head
New Transmission
Refurbed Sub-Frames
BEGI coolant Reroute
JDM square top intake
MK2.5 injectors

and no mechanical experience other than changing a clutch on a Mercedes... it was all good... Except my SD card decided half a picture was what I was getting:



But, there was a problem...



So, off to the body shop she went. And it being England, and Winter, that means I didn't take any photos because rain and dark. Regardless, it is what it is...

She went in for new brakes and rotors, got a her alternator rebuilt, and her starter motor done as well oh, and tires. Much tires. Afterwards, I got pictures.





Then I decided I'd check my handiwork, which was flawless, of course, in prep for a turbo kit...



(That's not good.)

So... I checked the head, which looked like it had been recently done...



HAHAHAHAHA NOPE. Exhaust was worse. (That's 5W20, and they were all that bad)

So...

Saw a MK2 (NB) engine for sale an hour away, had one slightly faulty cylinder. (No pictures cause... I'm workin dude)

Locals apparently were mystified about rebuilding an engine that didn't go into a tractor, or mini-cooper, so I took my business elsewhere, and came back with:



Then I got to bolt bits onto it. My favorite part. I'd been busy. Or rather, the powdercoater had been busy...




Meanwhile, parts continued to roll in left, right, and center... Some made it on the car, some are still in the garage.


(P5 Puredrive rebuilt coilovers)




And as she more or less sits today (with less rear camber, fixed that soon as I could)








And as soon as I sort some fiddly bits, I'll be able to dust off the garaged items, and start working on them!

Just wanted to say thanks to the entire community here. I know you're harsh on newbs, which is probably why I lurked so long.

cd..

 

Excellent intro. Fantastic car. Welcome to the site.

 

Nice car.

Those BBS wheels would fetch decent coin over here -- although good 14" tires are becoming hard to come by.

 

Welcome, Calmdown!

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Awesome car, love the look of the softop delete on NA's. Really makes the back of the car look great with the rollbar there (though I may be biased).

When are the awesome turbo goodies and MS going in ? I'd recommend going MS first, then bigger injectors and tune, THEN turbo parts.

 

Well, I hate to disappoint, but I'm dropping the hardtop and going back to a soft. The U.K. isn't a great place to say "lets leave the top here, and drive way out there, and oh, look... rain..." I thought about going the bikini top route, but a well fitted and cared for soft top matches the look of the car...

Re: Turbo... Funny you should ask that. I thought sooner rather than later, but... due to some cam carrier scoring, the engine is coming out tomorrow to be checked over. Depending on any subsequent damage that may put me in the business of breaking in a "fresh" motor... I'll start in March.

The MS is certainly going in first (with a set of COPS), then tuned, and tweaked and fiddled with... then I'll get the turbo in, and book some time in down south to tune it in past rough/butt/street tuning.

This'll be the fourth time I've had the motor out of that car, and the third motor I've had in it, but that's a saga for another time.

cd..

P.S. The wheels: Well, they held air, and I took them to a local refurber, who said they were more or less curb shredded beyond feasible repair. And I trust this guy enough to leave him alone in a room with a set of mid-90's AVS model 5's, so I binned them, and kept the center caps. I don't like passing down **** parts to folks, because I've been on the receiving end of it. So they're gone.

 

It looks much better