Redheaded Stepchild Build Thread

[6PAK72]

Well, thanks to Tom Cannon for flagging the black car to us, Rachel from Audi Club and Jeff Wasilko for connecting me to a red hard top, the new car is in the driveway. Thanks to Steve, Alan and all who sold the pieces, and who volunteered to help.



Car has 161k on the drivetrain. Plan is to kill this engine, then put in our very happy 110hp 1.6.

Car's transmission is in tough shape, and the clutch slips in 2nd under WOT, so the trans and clutch from Smurf will go in PDQ. The diff does not transfer load, so I need to get into that, probably put in the one from Smurf. There is a rear axle bearing that is grinding.

Over the past week, I've been stripping Smurf of the easy bolt-on stuff. I'm pretty much down to drivetrain parts now. The antisway bars and end links are undamaged, the coilovers are undamaged.

The radiator and fan is already swapped, along with fresh hoses and a thermostat. Mazdaspeed bushing master kit, engine mounts, diff mounts and trans mount should be here by Wednesday next week. Front hubs are on order. Spare injectors are at Marren. Rear valance and bumper cover should be here next week.

I've got a local shop to do the bushing replacement, and at the same time I'll have them put in the shocks. That should be done next week.

So since the entire world is running Lemons this weekend, I think we're aiming 2 weeks out for the mass swap party - perhaps the 21st.

[StephanAlfa]

Very cool Jeff (and Liz) now just take an extra closer look to the OEM wheels eh?
I also think it will add a "personal" touch if you leave the red hat and paint the body :" smurf blue.
Any suggestions for a name for your new racer er... Mmmmm... (I am having toruble saying this as you can appreciate ) Mmmmmm iata. phew!

[TroyV]

Yeah Jeff......maybe wrap the roof in that CF vinyl stuff.

At Mosport Jeffw and I were parked together at his truck......someone asked him what the name of our race team was. Jeff's pick was GFY racing...

Then at US customs, the border guard asked why the cars were both black with red roofs. Jeff spent a good ten minutes talking out his ass on why.

...and the oscar goes to...

[StephanAlfa]

Yeah Jeff......maybe wrap the roof in that CF vinyl stuff.
At Mosport Jeffw and I were parked together at his truck......someone asked him what the name of our race team was. Jeff's pick was GFY racing...
Then at US customs, the border guard asked why the cars were both black with red roofs. Jeff spent a good ten minutes talking out his ass on why.
...and the oscar goes to...

Ha! We have a new nickname for Mark S.. Here is our story at the US border.
Caravan was Mark S. Rob R. and myself. At the border he car line was slow and Mark leading the caravan made a bee-line to the truckers line. That kind of pissed the officer a bit and the questioning began. I was the last one so I asked what happened. He said: "Your friend, Mr. IMPATIENT should have taken the car line ... and then we ALL had to get our cars and trailers thru the X-ray tunnel, etc. Then Rob's Miata's registration was not to be found and of course more questions. Took over one hour until we all got released... A story to be remembered ... and someone is getting a new nickname

[paultg]

Jeff, glad things are working out. If I can answer any other questions for you about the car history feel free to contact me any time. - Paul G.

[nateh]

Jeff, I wish I lived closer so that I could offer some help. Anything I can do to help short of actually being there?

[chaos4NH]

I can appreciate the Mr Impatient story, but I believe Mark learned that from me. I pulled the same thing, but over in the VIP lane (Special sensing device required) going up a couple of years ago. Pissed off Canadian Customs guy comes storming out and told me to back up. Ha! No way, by that time there were 10 or so vehicles lined up behind me! Long lines so they cursed and let me through!

[breakaway500]

^Sam,that was your northery border crossing for Mt.Tremblant in '08......as I was right behind you.....they were rippin.. ...

GFY racing...ha! I know a guy who named his ship "ARRGO.."

[John F]

I did the same thing the first time coming back from Tremblant! Pulled right into the empty line that said "trailers". He was pissed,but got over it after giving me a hard time for 15 minutes. Glad I had the plates on the cobra and the registration in my truck

[cuda6666]

Not a good idea to piss off those gallic nosepickers. I remember one year (before passports were required) when I was held up for 30 minutes while I played 20 questions with some provincial moron who was trying to get me to tell him why I should be carrying my passport even when it was not required. He was saying sh*t like "what do you always take with you when you go on vacation" and I would reply "my toothbrush?" I ended up filing a complaint against the jerk when I got to Montreal. Of course, that was back in the days when American tourists were being punished by Canadian customs after Bush accused them of letting the 911 terrorists into the US. Of course, it was US customs who did that

[WillM]

Hey Jeff,

What are your plans for a roll bar or cage?

Have you called Chris Howard? His contact info is: (508) 429-6717 or email 5drew@comcast.net

Chris also posts on these forums. I believe his user name is zChris.

The red/black Miata color combination is strong with this club.

[TroyV]

Jeff,

I have an extra set of brackets to bolt the roof onto the car if you need them. I have some other 1.6 specific parts you can have as well. I sold the header, but I do have a flyin miata hi flow cat, and a stock exhaust. I also may have some tires that I can donate. You can have the entire lot if you need any of it.

[6PAK72]

As of today, here's where the build is.

1. Will, thanks for the contact info I needed that.
2. Steve has sold me his K-1's and a fresh set of NTO-1's.
3. Car is at a local shop getting SpecMiata bushings pressed in. He'll do the subframe mounts and swap the diff.
4. Smurf is pretty well stripped, all that is left in is the powertrain.
5. I think all the needed new parts are here, and I'm re-using about 90% of Smurf.
6. Next week will be the telltale week, I'll know how the build is going. At that point I'll cry out for the help we need.

We may just make it for Mem. day. In either case, we'll be there. Jeff W has offerred his car, silly boy....

Thanks again everyone. What a gang of great people.

[CP]

I've got some new 3" 5-point latch-lock GForce belts at the store that I'd be happy to donate. They're good for at least another year and your old ones are probably stretched after the rolls. Lemme know.

[chaos4NH]

Jeff -

Brian Springman and I are not impressed with your "local shop". For the nitty gritty call me. will PM you with the #.

Sam