# 1991 Mazda Miata build (yeah, go ahead and laugh) **URL:** \ **Category:** Builds\ **Created:** [November 6, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019 "2008-11-06T20:27:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![avionator](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avionator/32/6439_2.png) [@avionator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/avionator)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/1 "2008-11-06T20:27:56Z")
my grandparents rocked a pair of red miata’s until my grandmother went blind and my grandfather died. my sis got my grandfathers car and i got my grandmothers. i always thought that miata’s are a bit on the girly/chic car weak sauce side of the automotive spectrum. **and then i drove one** _The angels didst sing and the bluebirds didst lay bountiful eggs. tree’s did thus produce fruit and the sun didst shine triumphantly on newborn livestock. the livestock henceforth had a shimmer of hope in their eyes, and were spared the slaughterhouse. grass did grow, insects did chirp. dust lifted from the soiled and the blind could see once more._ the miata of revelation had come. turns out this car is pretty sick, even in the base model stock form. quick enough (room for improvement, of course) and handles like you wouldn’t believe. not a bad first car for a 16 year old. however, i had to deal with two years of constant ridicule from highschool jerks, who were mostly driving beat up trucks and rusted out cavaliers. car was shaving creamed twice, countless snowballs thrown at me while driving, and once moved out of it’s spot and into another. throughout all that, i remained in love with the car. my plan with the car has always been pretty simple. improve handling and power with reliable results. looks come last. of course, i eventually want to go forced induction…but i’m not sure i’ll do that with this miata. maybe another one. car started super stock. mods are listed in chronological order, with my favorites in bold. replaced dead stereo with kenwood unit replaced crap door speakers with 6 3/4" kenwood 3 ways **Stainless cat-back Borla exhaust Stainless 4-2-1 headers** eBay cone intake (imitation K&M) upgraded plugs/wires (christmas present from my bro) **hardtop (beat up! polished it a bunch)** painted valve-cover dual 10" Sony Xplod P5 woofers with 1600 watts running through them eBay 3 1/2" speakers in headrest (two each) eBay tweeter on doors deletion of 10" Sony Xplods… woah to much! **Tokico HP handling kit (shocks/springs, aprox 1" drop)** cheapo Maaco respray to last me until i’m out of college and can do it right (christmas/birthday gift from parents) incident with a guardrail at 50mph leading to a rebuild of certain parts **AAC flush mount carbon fiber Hella headlights** “Wizdom” style (ebay knockoff) body kit moss turn signal intakes trunk lift kit and electronic trunk release (key entry destroyed by accident) **16" wheels from 2nd gen miata (free!!!)** replaced crap eBay headrest speakers with siiiick 3 1/2" pioneers **kenwood “wOOx” powered subwoofer** **replaced soft-top with glass window soft-top** some random e-tape on the drivers fender. wtf is that about. ok, for some pics. this is the earliest pic of my car that i’ve got. you’ll notice my sisters car in the background… ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0894.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0894.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0898-1.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0898-1.jpg) here’s what $500 bucks gets you for a miata hardtop (most run closer to $1000) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0411.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0411.jpg) that doesn’t do justice to the scratches and gouges in it. it looked as if somebody stored it upside down on a concrete floor. after a bit of polishing… what a difference! ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0414.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0414.jpg) some suspension bits: ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0914-1.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0914-1.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0916.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0916.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0922.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0922.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0917-1.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_0917-1.jpg) fully installed: ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_1094.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/100_1094.jpg) OH NOES!!! ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/Picture004.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/Picture004.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/Picture007Small.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/Picture007Small.jpg) a couple of rebuilding pics… (for all of them see my photobucket album linked in my sig) jacks can be used for many things… ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2419.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2419.jpg) this is supposed to be straight… ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2433.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2433.jpg) some test fitting. my my, that wheel gap simply won’t do. (undersized wheels make gap much larger…) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2469.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2469.jpg) hai guys loo0k!!!1! ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2547crop.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2547crop.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2552.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/100_2552.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/n14001812_30745171_9723.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/n14001812_30745171_9723.jpg) oh hey, thanks for the free wheels mister, think i’ll put them on my car! ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/n14001812_30816433_7081.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/n14001812_30816433_7081.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/ghettocrop.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/ghettocrop.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/S7303083.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/S7303083.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/S7303101.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/S7303101.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/S7303102.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/rebuild/S7303102.jpg) doez this means i gots a hoodride? ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/S7303488.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/S7303488.jpg) ![http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/S7303490.jpg](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b254/skiboyjake/car/S7303490.jpg) just pretend there’s a picture of the new top. it’s kinda like the old one. cept the rear window is all hard and stuff from being glass and whatnot. future plans: fab a functional front splitter. hack into rear bumper and add a custom diffuser (i’m thinking about fiberglass? if anybody has any skillz they’re willing to donate, i’d love to hook up sometime and we can hack into my car and make one). make a ski rack for it. distant future: strip body kit, replace with something nicer (undecided). go FI. chuck the Tokico shocks/springs for full coilovers (mayhaps some Teins). pull fenders and throw in some 15" zero offset wheels and start up some autoX. ---
**Author:** ![Hooked\_on\_240](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Hooked\_on\_240](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hooked_on_240)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/2 "2008-11-06T21:26:02Z")
If i were you. Ditch the stock motor. go for a new gen 1.8 or somthing lose the body kit and front lights After that i love it ;D didnt mean to be a dick but your going to hear it anyways im sure. talk to archie (oshiNA6) or vlad (altho hes a noob :tong vovchandler or w/e …lol) ---
**Author:** ![slwrthnu](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/slwrthnu/32/6296_2.png) [@slwrthnu](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/slwrthnu)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/3 "2008-11-07T00:09:59Z")
lsx + low offset wide wheels - that body kit = win ---
**Author:** ![GranMassaX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/granmassax/32/6299_2.png) [@GranMassaX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GranMassaX)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/4 "2008-11-07T04:48:54Z")
lose the body kit, lower it more, rivet fender flares, wide wheels/tires, new motor… Awesome! I may have missed it, but did you say if it’s auto or manual? ---
**Author:** ![MX-5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mx-5/32/6336_2.png) [@MX-5](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MX-5)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/5 "2008-11-07T05:08:23Z")
you got those NB wheels for FREE?! Those were always my favorite style of OEM rims. Nice build so far ---
**Author:** ![JClark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jclark/32/6309_2.png) [@JClark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JClark)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/6 "2008-11-07T05:18:06Z")
Drive wheels off it. ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/7 "2008-11-07T05:22:31Z")
that stance looks terrible, its draggin ass. are you going to put coilovers on the front? ---
**Author:** ![MX-5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mx-5/32/6336_2.png) [@MX-5](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MX-5)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/8 "2008-11-07T05:27:43Z")
waiiiiit a minute avionator, I’m pretty sure I know you from miataforums ---
**Author:** ![psi2high](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/psi2high/32/6320_2.png) [@psi2high](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/psi2high)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/9 "2008-11-07T06:08:47Z")
I use to see this car every day when I left Albany med. Looked nice. Do stock bumpers, better suspension and some light weight 15’s with sticky rubber. Then go to a road course and drive the shit out of it ---
**Author:** ![smithsteg](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/smithsteg/32/6379_2.png) [@smithsteg](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/smithsteg)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 6:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/10 "2008-11-07T06:11:58Z")
get rid of the kit nice build keep up the work ---
**Author:** ![avionator](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avionator/32/6439_2.png) [@avionator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/avionator)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/11 "2008-11-07T08:30:47Z")
> [@smithsteg](#): > > get rid of the kit nice build keep up the work dunno if any of you noticed… but my future plans include ditching the kit :ssh in terms of better suspension: my future plans include ditching the tokicos for coilovers all around so i can corner balance wheels: yes, i want to go smaller, lighter, wider. at which point i’ll pull my fenders. on [clubroadster.net](http://clubroadster.net) there’s a car with pulled fenders (the owner actually unfolded the fender lip, and bent it out into a flair), and i think i like it better than rivet on flairs. i’ve thought about the 1.8 motor, and might go that route _if this motor dies_ bossfrog makes a kit to drop an lsx motor into the miata, and i may do that someday with another miata. miata’s are super simple and very fun to work on. i probably won’t do much for now, since i have zero moneys. i’d still be rocking steelies if it wasn’t for those free wheels! i found them on the side of the road. a local NB owner was ditching them for some very nice konigs. > [@IROC](#): > > waiiiiit a minute avionator, I’m pretty sure I know you from miataforums o rly? > [@GranMassaX](#): > > lose the body kit, lower it more, rivet fender flares, wide wheels/tires, new motor… Awesome! > > I may have missed it, but did you say if it’s auto or manual? course it’s manual. silly not to be. ---
**Author:** ![GranMassaX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/granmassax/32/6299_2.png) [@GranMassaX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GranMassaX)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/12 "2008-11-07T08:32:06Z")
> [@avionator](#): > > course it’s manual. silly not to be. well they came from your grandparents so if wasn’t a sure thing. good to hear though 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![avionator](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avionator/32/6439_2.png) [@avionator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/avionator)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/13 "2008-11-07T08:33:31Z")
> [@psi2high](#): > > I use to see this car every day when I left Albany med. Looked nice. Do stock bumpers, better suspension and some light weight 15’s with sticky rubber. Then go to a road course and drive the shit out of it yeah, i go to the pharmacy school and used to live in the dorms (i was an RA). so my car was always parked in the holland suites lot. i got sick of the RA job and live off campus now. woot woot. ---
**Author:** ![avionator](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avionator/32/6439_2.png) [@avionator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/avionator)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 8:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/14 "2008-11-07T08:36:02Z")
> [@GranMassaX](#): > > well they came from your grandparents so if wasn’t a sure thing. good to hear though 🙂 you clearly didn’t know my grandparents ;D my grandfather was quite the driver. he taught me how to apex when i was 12. they’ve had a two seater convertible in the family since the late 60’s. MG, Triumph, Fiat, Aston Healy, all classic cars like that until the miatas, which they said have been their most favorite cars. just wish my grandfather was still around to help me out with it. ---
**Author:** ![GranMassaX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/granmassax/32/6299_2.png) [@GranMassaX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GranMassaX)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/15 "2008-11-07T09:02:21Z")
> [@avionator](#): > > you clearly didn’t know my grandparents ;D my grandfather was quite the driver. he taught me how to apex when i was 12. they’ve had a two seater convertible in the family since the late 60’s. MG, Triumph, Fiat, Aston Healy, all classic cars like that until the miatas, which they said have been their most favorite cars. just wish my grandfather was still around to help me out with it. def sounds like an awesome guy ---
**Author:** ![plaf713](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@plaf713](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/plaf713)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/16 "2008-11-07T09:05:04Z")
the body kit doesnt look bad, you did a good job, just need to tighten up those body gaps ---
**Author:** ![avionator](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avionator/32/6439_2.png) [@avionator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/avionator)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/17 "2008-11-07T09:08:31Z")
> [@plaf713](#): > > the body kit doesnt look bad, you did a good job, just need to tighten up those body gaps yeah, it’s an eBay kit. nice lines, terrible fitment. i think i could’ve made a better one myself without even looking at the car! in terms of stance, i know that the back drags a bit… would something like this help? [Universal Twist In Spring & Coil Spacer, Booster](http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/twinspbo.html) or is that just a bad idea? alternatively, maybe i could use compressors on the front springs? i just don’t really want my car lower than it is… ---
**Author:** ![MX-5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mx-5/32/6336_2.png) [@MX-5](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MX-5)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/18 "2008-11-07T09:21:42Z")
haha, yea I do know you. I’m the guy you were talkin to about that Mazda meet a week ago on AIM, haha I’ve got the silver auto 90 and the red 90 I just picked up for $200 ---
**Author:** ![avionator](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avionator/32/6439_2.png) [@avionator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/avionator)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/19 "2008-11-07T09:31:53Z")
yeah, i gave you a shout-out in readers rides, plus i recognized your IROC handle. once again, thanks for pointing out this site. ---
**Author:** ![MX-5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mx-5/32/6336_2.png) [@MX-5](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MX-5)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 9:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019/20 "2008-11-07T09:41:17Z")
welcome dude, glad to see ya on here [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1991-mazda-miata-build-yeah-go-ahead-and-laugh/240019.md?page=2)