Miata updates

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
10/22/2017 at 08:20 • Filed to: None

A ton of body work is being done on my Miata in order to get rid of the rust. Bringing a rusty miata to the west coast would be a damn waste of my time so at least everything is being done right and my car will once again be clean! Since the guy doing the work is a friend, I’m getting an absurdly good rate so it’s actually worth doing instead of parting out and starting new. Yes, a clean slate could be nice but I’m fully committed at this point. And the results are going to be amazing!

So glad to see the rust gone, new metal in place, and all put together nicely.

Drivers side fender will be stripped down and repainted

Front bumper needs replacement with a straighter piece. Hood still to be repaired.

So many welds! This side is getting closer to paint stage

In total including everything but paint (so all of the labor and supplies for the body work) this will cost $800. Now that is definitely a steal for what good work he is doing. Originally I thought that was the cost of doing just my passenger rear quarter. But really he is doing the entire car in order to bring it to back to a fully restored status. I still have to source a front bumper and a trunk lid before we talk about paint. We agreed it would be too expensive to fix my rusty dented trunk lid and the front bumper is just beat out of shape. His quote for painting 100% of the car was $1400. Again a great deal! Figuring out today if he has time for paint before I leave for California at the end of next week.

I also finally put in my harness bar that was custom made by hard dog for my boss frog roll bar. I done goofed by buying a roll bar that was made by a company out of business. But at least hard dog made a nice custom harness bar that fits perfectly. Only issue with fitment was the oem seat belt adapters. Had to shave the harness bar a bit to clear those. Was easy to do though with the car already there in the shop.

Not perfect but it will work

Now my car is ready to safely use my 6 point harness as well as the stock seatbelt. Although I won’t get to hit any tracks until I’m out in California, at least willow Springs should be pretty fun when I do!

It’s been a long month waiting for my Miata but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yeah its a lot of money to spend on a miata but this was too good of a price to pass up. Still unsure if it will get painted in time but I will be spending a ton more later on if I don’t do it now. And at the end of the week, I will be the proud owner of three cars!

“Can’t spell trusty without rusty” miata

Trying to sell “rental car” Neon

SAAAAAAAAAABARUUUUUUUUU

Yes it’s actually happening. Friday I pick up the Saabaru. More details to follow! Gonna have a nice 400 mile road trip to bring it home and then my crazy adventure across the US in the Miata begins.

DISCUSSION (14)

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/22/2017 at 09:23

I’m so jealous that you got that much body work for so little.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jarrett - [BRZ Boi]
10/22/2017 at 09:35

Yeah he said he was charging me approximately $20 an hour. Seeing as I value my own time more than that, this is basically free lol.

shop-teacher > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/22/2017 at 11:16

Man, that’s a good friend!

AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/22/2017 at 12:14

1. Alex from CT, is that you?

2. WTF is Saabaru and where can I get one

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/22/2017 at 12:27

You’re selling the Neon already?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/22/2017 at 14:17

Haha that’s been the plan from the start! I bought it to just tool around with for a month while my Miata was in the shop to then sell for about what I paid and end up having my final cost be about what a rental would be. But this thing has a hell of a lot more character than a Nissan versa!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > shop-teacher
10/22/2017 at 14:18

Yeah I’ve gotten pretty lucky here. It was one of those situations where the car would have been better off as scrap otherwise.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop
10/22/2017 at 14:21

Nope, I’m from NJ. And Yup I’ve been hunting for a Saabaru, I was planning on waiting for a few more months before I gave up and just got a WRX but I’m much happier with this outcome. For how clean it is, $8600 is a great deal. 66k miles, not a spec of rust anywhere, lots of maintenance recently done, and some nice tasteful mods that I would have done myself anyways. And the seller is super cooperative to make it all go smoothly.

shop-teacher > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/22/2017 at 14:37

It’s nice to see one get saved.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/22/2017 at 15:34

I forget, what did you pay for it? I’m Miata-less now but I don’t want to be third-car-less forever...and I’d rock the shit out of that Neon.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/22/2017 at 16:40

I picked it up for $1k and I’ve probably spent like $800 maintaining it. I’m looking to end up with like $1500 for it but now that the water pump started leaking, I think that might be more difficult. But I figured new buyer might want to do the whole timing belt job anyways

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > shop-teacher
10/22/2017 at 16:45

I planned on saving it no matter what someday but I was expecting that to be a long time until I had my own property to just take the thing apart and learn how to weld on it. I’m sure this will be done faster than I would have done it and be a better end result.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
10/22/2017 at 17:10

You’re in Jersey, right? That’s not a bad drive for me from RI...

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
10/22/2017 at 18:41

Yup, I’m in Brick! I am flying to California Friday to buy a saabaru lol. I’ll be back for a day Tuesday next week before I drive out in the Miata. But the neon will be with my parents. Passed inspection at least so it’s legal.

Shoot me a text at 7329489469 if you’re interested!