My Questions About the Answer

I think I'm buying a 1993 Miata. It's not the prettiest one around, but it runs and drives fine and the price isn't bad for today's used car market. My reason for buying is to make it my new Gambler 500 car. I don't plan to copy anyone else build, but if something I see makes good sense I'll do it. I've been a 90's Honda guy and a 2000's Porsche Boxster guy, but I know absolutely nothing about Mazdas or Miatas. Right now I have an agreement with the seller and I'm just waiting for them to find the title or obtain a duplicate one before taking ownership.

As a Gambler 500 car speed is not important. I don't plan to spend much money on aftermarket parts or keeping anything about the car stock or looking 'right'. This is about taking junk that I find and using it to make the car durable and reliable enough to do a 500 mile cross country navigation & obstacle course while my wife sits beside me reasonably comfortable and somewhat happy.

I need to give it a lift. This car already has trouble scraping the belly on unpaved roads. Aside from the undercarriage in general are there any weak points or components underneath that I need to consider protecting?

It will be crossing deep water. What do I need to keep dry? What electronics are vulnerable? What will be impossible to clean after going through a deep mud-pit? Can the manual transmission survive for long if it is submerged? Strip the interior or make the door seals water resistant?

How durable is the stock suspension? With wheel spacers and all terrain tires am I going to need to replace the bushings and wheel bearings frequently? If so, how bad a job is that? For a wider track and lift, does it make sense to modify or replace the control arms? Are there any cross-compatible parts from other cars that will improve it?

What wear items and weak points do I need to look at on a 175,000+ mile car?

I will have many more questions and things to figure out. For now I don't even possess the car to look at it.

This needs a Paco lift kit, for sure.

I think this has the VLSD vs the Torsen. The viscous LSD sucked, in my opinion.

An Edit rather than 'bumping' the old thread: Just to update and close out, it didn't work out. I think that I would have enjoyed the Miata, but the seller didn't come up with the title and I grew tired of waiting. Also Mrs AAZCD was never happy about the idea of a Miata for a Gambler 500 car. Too cramped inside for two to spend a whole day traveling on rough roads. For now we are getting a 1998 AWD Honda CR-V ready to run our next few Gambler events in. I kind of feel like it's cheating, but the Mrs is a lot happier.

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In reply to Brett_Murphy (Agent of Chaos) :

Up to now I haven't had much interest in reading Miata builds. In the last 48 hours I have read through the Paco "Off-Roadster" article and "Another Lifted Miata" thread. I'm part way through Accordianfolder's "トマト Miata!" thread. Some good info and pictures. I like the Paco kit and design. I might go with it if I end up liking the car enough to spend money on it. Initially I plan to go a little more chalkboard & junk yard than CAD and aftermarket bolt-on.

I had it in mind that 15" wheels and tires were the way to go, but I just found an ad on Craigslist with a 'Prerunner Miata' that has some nice 14s. I have a few sets of 14" 4x100 wheels around and like the BBS 14s that are currently on it. I think I'll go with the new 14" tires.