The Road-Stah
 

My newest project:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...o/cdd4cec8.jpg

Good stuff:

Slotted & cross drilled brakes w/ stainless steel brake lines
Racing Beat cat-back exhaust
Hardtop
Aftermarket parts that I can sell on eBay, including springs & shocks, mufflers, and a second set of stock wheels w/ racin' rubber on them.

Bad stuff:

Cat-back had no muffler installed and mufflers I was given would need flanges and hangers welded on them to install.
Tires on car are dry-rotting
Radio has no faceplate
Radiator had more leaks than W's first Administration
Needs a good washing
Rear brakes needed calipers
Cracked windshield

But none of that matters because I got it for $1000. Big deal, you say? Consider this: that hardtop alone sells for a grand, so even if this car's a total turd where I have to take it out back and shoot it, I'll still get something out of it just by popping the top and putting it up on eBay.

But she runs good so it's staying. A good set of shocks and springs are on the way so it doesn't look like a 4x4, I just put a muffler on so it sounds nice and mellow (but it doesn't add 6 hp), and I'm deciding on what wheels to go with:

A.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...6178254762.jpg

or B.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../Big_DR-26.jpg
(they make them in red too)

As for the Ugly Betty project, it's been officially terminated. Two weeks after I left for D.C., my sister called and told me the basement got flooded from a broken pipe and soaked all of my parts. Most of it was salvageable, but new job and no garage down here to do my wrenching, I just don't have the time to do what I wanted to with that car, so I sold everything off and now I'm using the money on this heap.

So I'll fix her up, enjoy the top down weather, dodge a few cones, cruise a few roads, and just have fun. She gets a nice gift for next summer:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...aGT28RSjpg.jpg

Stay tuned, folks.

what happened to the trueno ugly betty?

I love the short throw on that stubbly little shifter. Very fun to drive.

lot of potential there...good luck with it.

I think the polished 6 spokers would look real good on the car. Seeing how I love turbos, that's a great mod for that car. I've always wondered what a turbo Miata would drive like on the track...twisties, that is.

Basement got flooded, ruined everything. Project canceled. The shell's for sale if you know anybody looking (sold the hatchback, picked up a coupe that was in much better condition).

Miatas are great. Get a nice new aluminum radiator to go with that turbo to solve the leaks and keep it cool. I'm sure it'll be great fun even without it though :)

So a whole host of repairs was made:

- New radiator
- New windshield
- New muffler
- New suspension
- New wheels & tires
And a good wash and waxing....

The new and improved Road*Stah:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...IMG_0554-1.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...IMG_0553-1.jpg

Now it's just regular maintenance to keep it going for the rest of summer. The turbo project starts this winter.

looks like fun!!!! take the top off!!!!

Oh it comes off when the sun's out. It's so worth it just to hear the exhaust at full throttle.

Looks nice! Time for the turbo soon? Does/did it have a trailer hitch or something on the back there?

wow, nice job cleaning that up...it looks great. I would lower it about a couple inches, but I can see that riding a bit higher can be more practical.

I thought the springs would've lowered it more than what they did, but I'll probably leave it were it's at since the ride and handling is so good where it's at. A lot of folks have told me to be careful about how much I lower the car because it screws with the camber and you run the risk of hitting the bumpstops. I think the springs might have settled and lowered it down a bit, but nothing crazy.

It probably did have a trailer hitch mounted at one point, and I thought about getting it reinstalled so I can have a trailer to carry a set of track tires for autocross, but I have nowhere to keep a trailer.

Turbo's coming this winter. I want to enjoy it before I break it.

Cool. I believe you can get/make a simple rack rather than a trailer that will just barely fit the tires (or could be 3 plus one in the seat).

looks pretty nice. The miata is on my short list of cars I'm interested in once I get enough money saved up to start looking.