Further polishing the turd that is the $200 Miata

"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
10/07/2018 at 23:41 • Filed to: $200 miata, Decay's Beaters, Miata

A friend’s Miata was involved in a crash last week, so I did the honorable thing and stripped out all the useful parts I could get my hands on before he sent it to the junker.

Picked up some sunshades that were missing on mine, a protection panel in the trunk for fuel components that I’d never had, and a few other bits and pieces.

Oh, and a whole rear end assembly c omplete with a torsen LSD...

... And a running 1.8 swap

I’m excited, the 1.8 starts off with more power and torque and has a much stronger aftermarket if I decide to go that route. Te swap itself doesn’t appear to be too difficult and a lot of others having completed it already with good documentation.

DISCUSSION (22)

The Snowman > Decay buys too many beaters
10/07/2018 at 23:48

Did you pull the headlights?

someassemblyrequired > Decay buys too many beaters
10/07/2018 at 23:50

1.8 is a huge upgrade. Enjoy!

Decay buys too many beaters > The Snowman
10/07/2018 at 23:53

No, headlights were still there, just an aw kward angle on the photo of motor removal.

Decay buys too many beaters > someassemblyrequired
10/07/2018 at 23:55

I’m more excited abut the diff TBH, I’ve already broken a 1.6 diff and my current one is starting to make noise aft er a year of launches.

someassemblyrequired > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 00:04

A working Torsen is a very nice thing. And worth a lot of $200 Miatas...

Decay buys too many beaters > someassemblyrequired
10/08/2018 at 00:09

Lol

Funny you mention that, among my car friends we often talk about cost of parts and projects in terms of how many “ Decay’s Miatas” it could buy.

someassemblyrequired > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 00:16

It does seem like an easily understood unit of measure, which is important for such things.

AestheticsInMotion > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 00:16

So can I just trade you Miata parts for use of your garage or... How does this work exactly?

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion
10/08/2018 at 00:21

Hmmm...

Like long term use? O r like a weekend of access to a lift use? I usually just charge in beer... but a M iata parts based economy is intriguing.

AestheticsInMotion > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 00:25

How long would it take to do an engine swap if I knew about 15% of what I was doing ?

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion
10/08/2018 at 00:33

My first one took about a month, but I wasn’t on a tight time-frame and get frustrated easily Ż\_()_/Ż

Would this be a miata engine going in... or other?

AestheticsInMotion > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 01:04

If I see a nice NB engine for sale I’ll be jumping on it. Unfortunately they don’t seem to show up as often anymore ...

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion
10/08/2018 at 01:28

Oh yeah, a friend of mine just did that swap, it’s great.

Look for rear ended NBs on copart, they turn up pretty often. Annoying because you have to dispose of a shell, but you get everything needed in one go.

AestheticsInMotion > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 01:46

Ohhh good idea. Copart wasn't even on my radar

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion
10/08/2018 at 10:41

Just make sure you factor in auction costs, they are not insignificant . An $800 car quickly becomes a $1100 car after fees.

The Snowman > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 13:34

I would like the let headlights out of it if you still have access I will gladly pay you shipping and a bit more...

NojustNo > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 13:39

I bought $150 car on Copart. I had to use a broker in my state (a utobidmaster). The broker added a 250 buyers fee, $150 yearly membership fee and also required that a wrecker or delivery company pick up the car. all in it was over $8 00.

Best bet is to buy direct from copart in a state that doesn’t require a broker for salvage cars like Oregon.

Decay buys too many beaters > The Snowman
10/08/2018 at 14:59

Just the bulbs? Or the whole assembly? Unfortunately the passenger side is what took the hit.

Kinja'd!!!

The Snowman > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 15:09

Ahhh, I thought you were parting the red car lol I want 7" led headlights

Decay buys too many beaters > The Snowman
10/08/2018 at 16:04

Nahhh, she’s my baby

Fwiw they were $60 shipped from ebay

CaptDale - is secretly British > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 16:28

Lol nice!

daender > Decay buys too many beaters
10/08/2018 at 18:52

Don’t forget to get some chassis bracing to help tight up the body, especially with that noticeable bump in power! NB front shock tower braces fit with no clearance issues and I think you add later NA/NB rear end bracing if that assembly didn’t come with any.