WTB Used Bilstein HD [NB Miata]

I'm looking to buy a set of used Bilstein HD shocks to replace the blown out 164k mile OEM shocks on my beater Miata. I am trying to keep the car eligible for 24 Hours of Lemons in the future, so I'm on a bit of a tight budget that seems to rule out even the cheapest of new replacement shocks.

My Miata is an NA, but it would be awesome to get the extra travel from the NB's Bilstein HD shocks. Since I'm on the Lemons budget, I would plan to fabricate my own NB top hats out of scrap metal if I can't find a set on the cheap.

Thanks!

I've got a pair of NB rear shocks. I can get you part numbers off the shocks, but I'm pretty sure they're posted on here in another FS thread.

If you're fabricating your own upper mounts, you have control over your travel.

Yea if you can make the top hats then NC bilsteins will work. In fact I just picked up a set of rx8 shocks on CL that I think can work on an NA with custom top hats. Be aware that you'll have to soild mount the fronts and might have to grind out the bottom pockets for the rear.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Ahh, that would be correct. I've been trying to absorb so much info about suspension design & Miata suspensions over the past few days that it's tough to keep it all straight.

In reply to Sil80redtop:

I found the post you're referencing. I am unable to send a PM at the moment, likely because I'm a very new member of GRM. I've contacted an admin about that & will hopefully be able to contact you soon.

In reply to Sil80redtop:

Could you PM me about the shocks & then we can respond via email? That's probably easier than me waiting to get approval to send PMs. Thanks!

In reply to Stampie:

That's an interesting idea. Solid mount might actually be better than what's on my car now.

I just went & read your challenge car build. I might actually try to do something similar to what you ended up with. It would be great for winter, then I could switch things up for summer & track use. A rustbucket Miata on winter tires with this ride height sounds like way too much fun for snowy Michigan winters. Your build thread was really useful for helping me visualize what you were suggesting.

Look on the Open Classifieds board. A guy has '99 Bilsteins in his "Random Parts" thread.

In reply to frecks:

It ended up handling well with the stiffer springs but I only had an inch of travel in the rear but nothing that a custom top hat can't solve. Bet it would be fun in the snow.

In reply to Duke:

Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks for all your help guys! My set of used Bilsteins from a fellow GRM member should be here sometime next week.