1995 Miata V-6 Checkbook Build

In reply to: A post like this then no updates in 3 days, blasphemous I say! He might be out driving it!

No I am not out driving it. I am frustrated by how looooong over the original estimate the swap is taking. It's now a almost a month past the original goal. Emailed BJ at Superfastmiatas today working on making plans to go to Royston and pick up the car late this week or meet them somewhere inbetween here and there. Super nice guys and it's not a huge problem being overdue, but stuff in my life is seeming to converge on the end of this month so I'm ready to get this done.

I think NOHOME is close to reading my mind....they may be doing/experiencing more test and tune issues than anticipated. And I now it's a fairly new process with kinks to be worked out.

I wonder if they will be offended if I offer some input on customer service/sales issues. In today's world I really think someone could text me a picture of progress on a weekly (or some) basis. Why do I feel like I am in the dark and talking to you guys. If the shop was right down the street I would be there everyday checking on progress/problems. As it is I am resorting to email and phone calls. I don't want to be a pain to them but any delay past this week will have the potential for trouble for my schedule, so c'mon I'm ready to play.

Then I think: If I had done this myself I would have been in the garage till midnight and probably not near as close to a running car as they are. I may have swapped doing the work for the angst of waiting.

It seems like I've been on the sidelines for months.

Just talked to BJ. Car runs. They having to replace power steering hose before driving. I wasn't 100% sure the car had power steering. Should have pictures shortly.

On another front....The 94 I bought for a parts car has leather and power windows and 5-speed and from what I read on the the Interweb those add up to a Torsen differential! That's worth the cost of the car by itself.

BJ called right before lunch. Car is done. Last fix was the power steering hose.

We made plans to meet up on Friday for me to get the car. He sent me two pictures of the installation. I will put them up shortly.

Mark

Awesome! Can't wait to see what your initial impressions are

Ditto that. And please post video!

Today, being a beautiful day and all, I drove the $300 Copart Special Miata to work. My brother and I are discussing dedicating it to autocross. Pay no attention to the damaged, unrepaired, painted over fenders. The discount was worth it.

We really need to get you onto how to share images.

Try using imgur.com

It's dead simple to upload images there and it hands you a link for just about any situation.

Update pictures of the conversion:

<img src="" />

This forum is a pain sometimes, but it's also not quite obvious how the Imgur thing works either.

Just take the Imgur "Direct Link" and then cut and paste that into the dialog box you get when you click on the camera icon here that appears in the "Your Comment" box.

You can also just directly cut and past the Imgur "HTML" example too. This would be without using the camera icon.

Example:

So, "Direct Link" paste that into the camera icon dialog box. "HTML" you just paste directly into the comment box.

Tomorrow is the day. Nice chat with BJ this afternoon. We made arrangements to meet up in North Carolina tomorrow for lunch and delivery of the car. He detailed (and will bring list) of items like oil (Castrol GTX 5W-30) and donor vehicle. I will bring $. He did note that during test drives the car needs suspension work, but that's in the plan. I have TEIN set to be installed next week along with new brakes.

Pretty excited to see the end result! I had to register on this forum. Been following your thread and titus thread. I just bought a na Miata - 92 model. Rough around the edges but should make a good project car. I'm thinking a turbo setup since funds are limited for me...sure would love a Honda v6 though. Such a smooth and wonderful engine - great driving dynamics and I imagine paired with the competent Miata chassis should make for a great daily driver / track car!

OK, you have had the car since Friday around lunch time. Still no report on the finished goods.

Spill the beans.

YES!!!! I need to see some Honda v6 Miata goodness soon or I will have to build my own!!! lol

Not the Share Link, huh.

Finally it pops up........

The story of Friday follows.....

That looks like a pretty clean install. Almost factory.

Last Friday my friend Johnny and I've traveled from near Knoxville across the mountain to Sylva North Carolina and met BJ with my Miata. BJ was nice enough to trailer the Miata from Royston to Sylva and saved us about an hour and half trip. And initial once over really looked good and those impressions were confirmed as I started home. Returning from Sylva we Took the road North to Clyde and then I 40 back across the mountain. I was excited to have the new car and tried to discipline myself to learn its personality before I used its full potential. I found quite a difference in decision-making and planning versus the more stock 1.6 Miata that I have. The stock Miata requires constant planning for hills sharp curves and traffic ahead. The red Miata (superfastmiata modified) takes downshifting almost completely out of the equation. At 70 miles an hour on the interstate a press on the accelerator shoot you ahead to the open spot you see. In 45 miles an hour traffic the looming big hill is an easy climb and 5th gear. The car performed flawlessly on the hundred and 25 mile drive home and while parked in the clean spot in the garage not a drop appeared. I am very pleased with the conversion.

My son drove the car Friday night and reported that he felt that it was as quick as his modified 350 Z.

My wife drove the car last night and reported that it appeared to have a lot of motor for a little car.

I drove the car to work today.

Last night I did a couple of slight modifications to the car to start the process of upgrading the suspension, upgrading the brakes, and revamping the interior. I patched the bolster of the driver seat where it was worn from entry and exit with a piece of unbacked automotive carpet.

When my wife was driving the car and I was riding I noticed the shake was worse than I remembered from driving the car. I had on hand a set of the Delrin door blocks from GarageStar. Installing them make quite a difference on the 1.6 Miata so I went ahead and installed them on the red Miata. They certainly made a difference that I could notice when I drove the car to work today.

I will post a recap of costs as soon as I put them together.

Going for a ride now. Talk to you later.

Very clean looking install.Looking forward to continued reports as you put a few miles on the car.

Excellent.

Wow. Looks like it's supposed to be in there. I can't wait to see details on the cost.

jimbob_racing wrote: I can't wait to see details on the cost.

Same here.

The two catches for me doing it are cost and will it still be street legal in NC.

I actualy have the money saved up but if i did the v6 swap before the wife gets new kitchen floors and cabinets i have a feeling i will be sleeping in the garage.

Looks good. What sort of power is that motor making?