Gene's build

[jgilbert]

See, tell the PC what to do and it does it!, very nice looking build.

A few more photos please.

[miatagr]

I think I'm getting close, picture wise... I'll try some more....... Gwnwar.... I was pit crew on a FF in 68 when they had to run in FB for a year because there was no FF class. Autocrossing since 65, SCCA member since 67. Currently treasurer of my local region for the past 19 years.. Have owned and raced/autocrossed, Bug eye, Datsun 1600, DSR, RX3, RX7 Miata, F500 and now, 87 Toyota Carolla F-16 Chump Car. An EXO soon, I hope

[driver]

Sorry to hear gwnwar

[miatagr]

Since I haven't been updating because I'm a dunce with anything more on the computer than email and facebook. I'll try to fill in what I have done and am doing.

I'm a sort of self taught mechanic. Rick (Vegas Build) and I raced each other since the 80s in RX3s and are close friends. He had a dad that taught him everything from building houses to mechanics, My dad, while a great guy, thought checking the oil was major mechanical work. Ricks build will be perfection to rival the others on this site. Mine will be more along the lines of a rat rod. Rick has a job and can only build on weekends, I'm retired so can get out in the garage every day but it takes me ten times as long to do something. I have to think about it a lot and I'm not methodical, like with a list... I'll start one thing and see something more fun to work on...

Now... When Rick and I ordered the cars in Dec, I started tearing the donor apart right away, Rick kept driving his. We got our EXOs 22 weeks later so I had plenty of time to lose parts around the garage, etc. I cleaned and painted the suspension and drive train, Installed an NA lightened flywheel and competition clutch, filled the trans with red line MTL and the diff with red line 75-90. I rebuilt the hubs with red line grease and new seals, new brake/clutch master and slave/calipers. New ball joints and tie rod ends, rear axle bearings and seals. Water reroute kit, new aluminum racing radiator and hoses. Extended lugs. I bought the complete braided brake line and fuel line from exomotive. New fuel pump. New shift lever parts including an aluminum cup. Tubular ajustable A arms. God speed coilovers. Racing beat 1 1/8" front sway bar, 5/8" rear bar with whiteline end links. 15 MM wheel spacers. Hoosier R6 245-40-15 tires on 15X8 Kosei rims. Recaro seats with G- force 5 point harnesses.... I just now started on the wiring and the car started right away.

I mentioned on Rick's build that I had some problems with the fuel and brake braided kit. Kevin was very good to explain their reasoning but I still feel they should ask the buyer if they want to build to their own length and send the parts to do that rather than making the rear across brake lines and drivers front permanent. My pictures will show you what I mean. Kevin said I was the first person to give feedback and he is always working on producing a better product.

Phew,,, Now to take some pics and try getting them on this site.... Thank you to all the builders that have been sharing..It has helped a lot... Gene

[miatagr]

I'm building this car as a fun project for the exercise. I hate sitting in front of the TV or computer and get aches when I do. I intend for the car to be an autocross and track day car that I can use for  fun and instruction of students. It will be streetable so I can also drive it to shows. I ahve some young friends that are excellent drivers and I'm anxious to share it with them and Rick and his grown kids, of course. Here's a shot with the big tires. A friend that got the suspension, wheels, and tires says that I will be on two wheels if I'm not careful. Hence the big sway bar. I'm planning to put another small bar in front of the radiator to catch cones and fabricate some kind of screen. I think the body panels are a long way in the future and that doesn't bother me at all. I'm a pragmatist and I like the bare car just the way it sits.

[miatagr]

Front suspension with the adjuster at the end of the lower a arm.

[miatagr]

A better view of the adjuster.

[miatagr]

Rear A arm

[miatagr]

My routing problem with the driver side brake line.

[miatagr]

Fuel tank. The exhaust was one off an ald spec miata that I had in the back yard. I need to shorten it to tuck it under the rear.

[miatagr]

If I could, I wouldn't have riveted the front panels in. I'd have put them in with rivnuts. I did the rear panels and the transmission cover that way. Unlike ricks, the trans cover fit nicely to the front panel but I notice that it sits a little cockeyed. That's just the way it came out when I got both sides on the rails.

I'm working on the wiring now to eliminate the extra stuff... I think that's going to take all week.......

[mazdaracer]

Holly crap, when you said you were changing a few suspension parts, I did not realize you were changing everything! Sure looks nice, but now how many adjustments are there? Like 10 cubed or some other large number... I get in enough trouble with what Mazda gave me:) Glad you got the photos working, nice to see where your at.

Was thinking about a legend car bumper for the front to push those pesky cones out of the way?

What everyone's thought on that?

Rick in Vegas

[miatagr]

as usual... good idea Rick.... gonna take some trickery for me to attach it since my welding is so poor

[miatagr]

Trying to get rid of the extra wires today. thought I'd start with the two wires that go down the drivers side and hooked to the smog stuff. I've removed all the smog stuff, front and rear. What could go wrong... traced and got rid of all the wires except one white with red. It joined some other white/red wires. I cut the one I was following at the junction and then set off to see if I could cut the rest. One went to the main fuse box and I just figured it was power to smog. Luckily, I had the engine running and cut it first about 10 inches from the fuse box. Engine immediately dies. An auspicious start to my wiring day. Every wire I cut after that was with the engine running. Making headway but a lot more to go. Some of the wiring manual that's recommended on here is impossible to read. Some of the pages just have too much info on them and even when I enlarge them, the writing is blurred. Anyone know of any other manuals?

[gwnwar]

Try this one www.miataforumz.com/miata-wiring.php
pick your year after it comes up use the -/+ at the TOP of first page to enlarge comes up clear for me..
these are Black / White..
Think you cut power to fuel pump..
If you go to www.mellens.net/mazda/ and click 1999 wire (1/2 down page)
These are in Color using the Ctrl and + keys enlarge clear..