miata.net and my new toy

berettafan · 10-02-2009, 11:28 AM

Have spent a bit of time on miata.net which, as far as i can tell, is the closest thing to Pelican for those cars. I gotta say, we have it awful good over here. Not even remotely impressed with the brain trust on that site. I'm sure there are some great folks but as a percentage of active posters i'd have to guess miata.net has about 10% of what Pelican has.

Tried to read up on wet spark plug boots (pretty sure i have a leaky cover gasket) and i end up in a thread where the best way to prep your cam cover for red paint is being discussed.

Tried to buy some el cheapo parts which would involve me pulling them with the owner and i got an invitation to stay overnight. seriously.

I guess the fact that the cars are so cheap and have a cross appeal to ricers means that you are always going to have a low percentage of honestly knowledgable and helpful people involved in any particular discussion. Surely is quite different over here.

On a separate note after putting a few miles on the car i wish i had bought one long ago. might not even own the 911 if i had. it is just that good of a car. definitely will be looking into S2000's some day to see if they are similarly sweet (and less gay).

At a minimum this car has reinforced the idea i have that if Elise used values ever approximate the value of my '70 i might be doing some test rides.

Dueller · 10-02-2009, 11:40 AM

As they are getting cheap, especially for a roller, this really interests me:

480HP aluminum SBC LS-3 wedged in there...

Dyno of above car compared to a stocker...

berettafan · 10-02-2009, 11:52 AM

that is pretty crazy right there! i don't know how you'd get enough tire under the car to handle that. watched a 5.0'd miata and every time the guy even thought of juicing it he was sideways.

not sure i'd be willing to give up this transmission though. 2-3 upshift is like 'push and think of the number 3'. it is perhaps the best part of the car.

strupgolf · 10-02-2009, 11:57 AM

I didn't buy a Miata, but I test drove one and it was a blast, a 2001. It seemed to very well built and the seating and shifter worked great. It would have been a blast to own, and I'm not gay. I did end up buying a BMW and have the same impression of their board as you did with Miata.org. The brain trust is very lacking, compared to Pelican. There are lots and lots of ricers on the BMW board and the language used is so high school. I've talked to many and many Pelicans over the years and can really tell the difference,much more mature. Oh well, I love my car and there still might be hope.

Scuba Steve · 10-02-2009, 12:02 PM

Which forum have you been on? I've been searching the NA board recently and it seems *kind of* active. Maybe about like the 944 board here?

scottmandue · 10-02-2009, 12:02 PM

Somewhere out there is a kit to put a Ford 4.6 in a Miata... I think the end product was sold turn key as a "Miata Monster"

Saw one in Palm Springs at a VARA event.

Me want...

masraum · 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Somewhere out there is a kit to put a Ford 4.6 in a Miata... I think the end product was sold turn key as a "Miata Monster"

Saw one in Palm Springs at a VARA event.

Me want...

The first swap of the sort done was with a Ford 5.0L. Now there are kits for the Ford small blocks and small block Chevies.

Miata.net has their board much more separated (suspension, engine, body, brakes, etc....) Since they have it split into so many categories, it doesn't seem as active, but they are quite active on many of the boards. There are some very knowledgeable folks there, but you have to be willing to separate the wheat from the chaff (which is considerable). Yes, since the cars are so cheap, you have a very wide array of folks from 16 yo kids, to 80 year olds, folks that are hardcore about performance and folks that are mechanically clueless.

There's good info to be had, you just have to dig.

berettafan · 10-02-2009, 12:09 PM

the 'Monster Miata' dates back quite a ways and started with 5.0 (ok, really 4.9) mustangs. i think the logo was a godzilla.

scuba been digging through the 'na' forum and several others as well. it's frustrating because i like to overload myself with info when i get a new toy and you really have to dig to find good stuff there.

another example, i have access to a lot of free parts from a 20k mile '99 nb car. so i dug around the na forum looking for what i was sure would be a ton of examples of people having done just this. thus far have found one reasonably useful thread but there is still some confusion. have more reading to do and hope to get the concrete answers soon but wouldn't you think this would show up pretty quickly?

DanielDudley · 10-02-2009, 12:11 PM

Search is your friend...

Lots of info over there, and of course they are pretty straightforward cars to work on. CHeck over in the Garage section for a valve cover gasket. Very few problems with the cars, and all are well documented.

masraum · 10-02-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

another example, i have access to a lot of free parts from a 20k mile '99 nb car. so i dug around the na forum looking for what i was sure would be a ton of examples of people having done just this. thus far have found one reasonably useful thread but there is still some confusion. have more reading to do and hope to get the concrete answers soon but wouldn't you think this would show up pretty quickly?

What info are you looking for? I'm curious. I've got an NA ('97) and my wife drives an NB ('99).

berettafan · 10-02-2009, 12:22 PM

list of parts pulled and bought to swap springs/shocks from nb to na as well as before/after ride height and alignment issues.

seems like there is an abundance of 'i heard' stuff but not a lot of 'joe did it and has a great 'how to' thread here'.

like i said i'm sure there are some expert diy junkies over there but lord are they hidden beneath a lot of crap.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

did you get your matching purse yet?

hey, somebody had to say it. It's in the bylaws!

pete3799 · pete3799's Garage

It's pretty hard to find a site as good as here.
Been on some Toyota sites looking for info(timing belt replacement) and geez most can't even find their oil filters!
I'm glad we have such a wealth of knowledge here.

dd74 · 10-02-2009, 01:18 PM

There was a British dude I knew, worked at a wine shop, who wanted to trade me his S2000 for my 911. I declined the offer. I still probably would.

As far as V8s in the Miata, I don't know - that's a lot of weight to get pushed in and out of corners.

As far as Nostatic: LOL!

look 171 · 10-02-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strupgolf

I didn't buy a Miata, but I test drove one and it was a blast, a 2001. It seemed to very well built and the seating and shifter worked great. It would have been a blast to own, and I'm not gay. I did end up buying a BMW and have the same impression of their board as you did with Miata.org. The brain trust is very lacking, compared to Pelican. There are lots and lots of ricers on the BMW board and the language used is so high school. I've talked to many and many Pelicans over the years and can really tell the difference,much more mature. Oh well, I love my car and there still might be hope.

OK, you say the lanuage is so high school, but then why did you have to tell us that you are not gay. Isn't that a bit high school. Alright, I had to jump you on that, sorry. Have a great weekend.

Yes, the Miatas are pretty tough and you could beat on it a bit.

look 171 · 10-02-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

There was a British dude I knew, worked at a wine shop, who wanted to trade me his S2000 for my 911. I declined the offer. I still probably would.

As far as V8s in the Miata, I don't know - that's a lot of weight to get pushed in and out of corners.

As far as Nostatic: LOL!

You would be suprise what as S2000 could do. Those lilttle things are a blast to drive and they handle so well. They revy little mofos. You can drive mine when you pick up the roller. Only If I ever dig it out. You can have it if you promise to ride it. Now I just have to and dig for it.

look 171 · 10-02-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

did you get your matching purse yet?

hey, somebody had to say it. It's in the bylaws!

Hey, look sweetie. Oh forgot, I got rid of the matching purse and the car but still have pretty hair.

dd74 · 10-02-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

You would be suprise what as S2000 could do. Those lilttle things are a blast to drive and they handle so well. They revy little mofos. You can drive mine when you pick up the roller. Only If I ever dig it out. You can have it if you promise to ride it. Now I just have to and dig for it.

Winter's coming. The days are getting short. And I was yelled at by a runner at the Rose Bowl last night for not having lights. How the **** was I to know the sun sets at about 6:00 around the RB?

Schumi · 10-02-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

Tried to buy some el cheapo parts which would involve me pulling them with the owner and i got an invitation to stay overnight. seriously.

Wheres that pic of those alternate lifestyle types in their miata?

dd74 · 10-02-2009, 03:47 PM

Yeah. Thank goodness no one's invited me to spend the night in exchange for a ducktail. I guess at that rate, a "two-in-one-out" exhaust would take on new meaning.