Modifying Cars

  • Building a Track Car – a Very BIG Weekend

    This weekend’s work on the Miata really was a milestone for the project.  Last weekend Doug lent a hand and changed out the timing belt and the water pump.  Two very important components on this car with over 150,000 miles… Continue reading

  • Building a Track Car – have a seat

    The factory Miata seats were pretty well worn out and a replacement set was received a while ago.   They are not true “race seats” as I am watching my budget and this is an HPDE car, not a race car.  The replacements have… Continue reading

  • Building a Track Car – Lighting Failure

    It was with great anticipation that I opened the large carton with the ORACLE Flush Mount Headlight Kit in it.  It seemed like the perfect solution to the barn door pop-up headlights that came on the first generation Miatas.  Advanced… Continue reading

  • Building a Track Car – Hardtop acquired!

    One key component in this project that has been missing is a hard top.  While I could run on the track sans any top, having a hardtop installed simplifies compiance with safety regulations.  I chose the Hard Dog roll bar… Continue reading

  • Building a Track Car – Completing the front end and the brake system

    The car has had its rear suspension completely rebuilt and the rear portion of the Good-Win four-wheel brake upgrade installed.  The front suspension needed much the same.  An earlier post went over some of that process, but left off with… Continue reading

  • Building a Track Car – Rust remover

    Some day I should invest in a CARFAX report and find out the history of this Miata M-edition that I have.  From the VIN it looks like it started out in NC as well as ended up in NC for… Continue reading

  • Building a Track Car – Drive Shaft

    Yes, in a previous entry I talked about a road trip to pick up a replacement drive shaft for the Miata track car and then left you  hanging.  Well, here is the tale. I had found out that the Driveshaft… Continue reading

  • Building a Track Car – Attending to small projects

    Most of these entries have covered portions of the track car preparation that take hours of time and often a modest amount of engineering.  But there are many other things that need to be worked on that don’t really take… Continue reading

  • Building a Track Car – Brace yourself…

    For those of you that have forgotten – the Miata is a convertible.  It is a two-seater, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive roadster.  And as such it has an inherent weakness of most convertibles and that is a flexible chassis. But there is a… Continue reading

  • Time for a Field Trip!

    Yes, we needed a break from all the work on the track Miata and fortunately there are some really interesting places to visit around Raleigh if you like cars. Today a friend of ours joined us on a ride over… Continue reading