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Definitely check craigslist for Miata part outs and parts:
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/pts/ http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/ http://losangeles.craigslist.org/pts/
Up here in Mountain View, I just bought the rear arms and hubs from a 20k mile 96 last week. He also has the subframe off his car. And I have a pallet taking up space in the garage. 
I'm starting to reinstall the suspension on this beast, but I'm awaiting the arrival of a pair of new rear hubs.
The rear uprights will be ready to go once the new hubs arrive.
Used Miata hub, 6,784 miles, only driven on weekends. Make offer.
The innermost surface spun inside the wheel bearing and is now undersized.
The front and rear sub-frames, springs and shocks, differential, rear axles, hubs and brake calipers are back in place. My need for authentic tires is getting desperate. I can't bring this thing to Laguna on rally tires! ;)
Engine and trans go back in this weekend--if it doesn't rain. And in a reverse pretzel logic of de-evolution, I replaced the SS braided lines with the original rubber ones. My pack-ratted nature comes to the rescue again!
Today was a good day! The correct engine for the car I'm restoring has been sitting under the hood of a random red 91 Miata I bought 6 years ago. I had to yank it out of there before I could re-install it in the first-win car.
Here's the engine at the halfway point. We were hauling ass to beat the rain because the red car was sitting outside.
That's what I'm talking about! We got the power plant frame, driveshaft, and exhaust downtube back in, too. Just need to connect a few wires, reinstall the intake and plop in the radiator and hoses. I'll have in running soon!
Still looking for tires, though.
Dan
Looking good!
I've run into a wall! I can't get this beast to fire up. I'm not getting proper power to the fuel pump and the fuel system isn't pressurizing. I've started a new thread for this single topic. Please chime in over there if you have some smarts in this area.
Meanwhile, I've bled the brakes and the clutch. I've refilled the trans and diff with fresh Motul gear oil and I've reinstalled the PPF, exhaust system and all of the suspension bits. The radiator is back in and filled with fresh coolant.
Better still, vintage BFG T/A R1 tires are on their way to me. I suppose that tire dictates how I livery the car. (I couldn't find any period-correct Yokohama tires.) I can put the car on the ground TONIGHT with the existing rally tires, but I'm going to wait until the BFGs arrive.
Fenders, hood and doors will have to wait until I sort out the electrical woes and get the engine to do more than crank endlessly and kill the battery.
She's running! I've already started hanging fenders and doors. I'm a bit worried about the BFG tires, however. Sent the $ via paypal a few days ago, but I've not heard a peep from the seller, a member of this board. People get busy. I'm not panicking yet, but a return e-mail status update would be nice.
Dan
So what was the starting problem, a dead pump?
Yep. Dead pump. All better now.
Today was a good day. I found a new RH door (in white) to replace the bashed-in one and a new rear bumper cover (also in white) to replace the cracked and shredded one. No painting required. Got a nice piece of floor carpet, too. I should have the front bodywork installed tomorrow and I'll take it down the block for a test drive.
The tires will be on their way soon.
It's aliiive. Drove the car out of the garage under it's own power and then made a lap of my cul-de-sac.
Still riding high on the rally tires. I'll rectify that soon, I hope.
Lights work!
Bodywork! I need to get this thing over to the body shop to have the rear panel pulled out. It's a long story.
The used door I bought last weekend matches up pretty good, don't you think?
Next steps: trunk panel repair, paint TLC (not too much, want to keep the scars), new old stickers, new old tires, new safety equipment.
Dan
I just got it back from the body shop, where the rear end was pulled out and the paint buffed (slightly) to remove 10 years of outdoor parking neglect and to even out the color. That right-hand door is a "new" old one. Tires and stickers are all that remain. Almost there!
I didn't have the racing scars removed. The dings that were earned over dozens of events are still there, but the chalky white neglect from 9 years of outdoor storage has been removed.
The caved-in trunk (a storage accident, not a racing one) has been pulled out. The dent in the RR quarter-panel stays: it was there for every race after someone leaned against the car in 1989.
Time to get ride of those rally tires and reinstall some stickers. I've got two weeks until Miatas at Mazda Raceway. Things are looking good.
Awesome! Its lookin good.
It's done! And by that I mean the restoration and the Miatas at Mazda Raceway track event. I got really nervous at the end there, but the tires (thanks Corey) and the graphics made it just in time.
In the hot pit lane
On display at the event hotel, the Embassy Suites in Monterey
In the paddock near on-site event registration
And, coolest of all, sitting at the head of the pack in the group photo on the front straight.
Thanks for all the help and encouragement along the way. And thank to those of you who helped me with parts!
Dan
Excellent!
In reply to actualsize:
Impressive! What's the story on how you got the early car from Mazda
Damn it Dan, I've been waiting for updates on this car on your "other" website, and I only catch a whiff of it now and then as it pertains to your other cars. I'm not sure how I've missed this thread for the last six months.
Congrats on such a sweet project!
