Maisonvi's Never Ending Build Chapter 2: Miata

As many of you know, I had a bit of a fire at the track a few months back. Car was a total loss. My plan at the time was to take all the money I had saved for re-doing my LeMans from selling parts that I made (shift knobs and various other projects) to buy something. It wasn’t a lot, but it might get me something that I could start with. Then Nator came together and generously gave (and I wont ever be able to say thank you enough) me a check that let me buy something I can actually use safely on the track.

So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen I present to you my new track toy.


This, much like the speed, will be an ongoing never ending project. I cant help but tinker and this car will be no different. The goal here is to have this be a track car (that I can legally drive to and from the track). No more dual duty car, I will figure out something else fun eventually for DD life.

Details on the car as it sits when I got it. 99’ Miata with an Ecotec motor swap out of a Pontaic G6. Motor is bullet proof, and even if a failure happens long blocks are like $400. Car’s paint is ROUGH, but it’s a race car, so Im telling myself not to care. Has a harddog roll bar, some cheap crappy seats and that’s about it.


Things I have already got going for it:

Step 1 was de-sticker


New wheels and tires. Picked up a set of Konig Dekagrams and 225/40R15 RS4s.


New set of 6 point harnesses (they are brand new but expired, which is nbd for me, so I got them on a steal).

New seat is on order; going with an OMP First-R after sitting in my buddies and loving it. Going to be a few weeks before I get it though.

And last but of course not least, all new safety gear: Fire suit, HANS, shoes, gloves, balaclava, socks, and a new SA rated helmet. Have to give a big shout out to OG racing for hooking me up with a killer deal on all this. They have been super helpful getting me in some gear so Im not gonna die if there is a fire again. (lets hope not)


Still left to go is, fire extinguisher, and of course I need to make a new shift knob for the car. That pretty much eats up the entire budget, so Im gonna hop on selling some more parts to build funds back up to make things happen.

Im going to try and keep this page updated with progress, as well I have started an Instagram where I will probably keep a lot of the random pics: maisonvi_mx5

Looking forward to see where this one goes eventually!

 

Looking good there buddy!! Man.. all that space in the engine bay... it's like it's asking for an LS in there.

 

Hell yea Ken. I know you're going to focus on seat time but when the time comes definitely look at getting an E85 tune, those things can brush about 200whp with corn. Also, I'm sure it's been pretty thoroughly gone through but pull as much weight as you can, that washer tank can go (you don't realize how little you use it until you take it out), gut the trunk (if it isn't already), brake ducts can go in lieu of those fog lights, smaller coolant overflow tank are what I see off the top of my head.

Let me know when you plan to get out on track with it, I'll try to make it up. Oh, and let me know if you're still interested in that shifter, I can bring it up for you to try.

 

Yeah for now the goal is to get it track worthy (tires, pads, seat and belts) just to get out once or twice. Gonna try and convince the wife I think to let me keep it in the garage all winter (sucks only having 1 spot) but I would like to do a bunch to it in the off season

 

How deep is your garage? I park my Miata sideways at the front of one spot and the wife's GTI can still use the rest of the spot during the winter. I just bought cheap HF wheel dollies so I can wedge it in.

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Its decently deep, 16x24' but with my wifes car being a 4 door wrangler I dont think there is any space to put the car where I could actually work on it. Also as you can see in the pic, it has a door in the back that would be completely blocked off.

 

Simple solution, time to build a polebarn in the backyard. I've seen adds for small ones that can comfortably fit 2 cars with work space for like 10k

 

Lol there is a back garage, but the front one is heated and insulated. And the back garage stores the LeMans over the winter. The plan will be eventually here to buy/build a house with at least 4-5 cars worth of garage space (2-3 attached, 3-4 detached)

 

Just get rid of some of the junk and the Miata and the Wrangler will both fit.... I will take that Mazdaspeed neon sign....

 

I'm glad you're back into a race car! Definitely looking forward to see the direction you take for this car. I have a feeling you'll find (or have already found) that there are limitless options when it comes to modifying a Miata.

Does this have any frame stiffening yet? I definitely noticed large improvement with my Flyin' Miata frame rails and I heard the butterfly makes the frame strength even greater.

 

Lol I paid a whole $20 for that sign! Granted its broken, was quoted $100ish to fix it.

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I've heard that they arent all that. Interesting. If anything I could make my own pretty easy I think. Just need time to measure the car

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The rails got rid of ~50% of that rattle you get whenever you go over a bump on the highway for me. The difference people reported between rails only and butterfly wasn't large enough for me to justify the extra cost/installation hassle.

 

Super stiff motor mounts and BSD on this car, it vibrated like nothing I've ever felt

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The NB is a good amount more stiff from the factory than the NA

 

Glad you came out of the closet

 

If you need your hair styled, just give me a call.

 

If I had enough hair left to style I certainly would.

Currently rocking a"my hair is too dark and grows too fast to go full on Mr clean homemade number 2 clipper"

Funny side note the Mr clean originally used in print ads is my third cousin

 

I won't be needing any hair styling services either. I already own an NB

Did you locate the hairdryer holster in the back? Or had previous owner removed it?

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Figured, per the usual, I would make my own