November 10, 2004:

I took over a lease on a 2002 Focus SE for a "winter beater" and now have the Miata off the road. I've been rather busy, but have started some initial tear down.

December 8, 2004:

Have now removed exhaust, drive shaft, radiator, sway bar, rear bracing, intake & air box, clutch master cylinder, coolant overflow, washer fluid resivour, electric fans, and misc other pieces. Making progress now.

December 28, 2004:

Spent the last couple of days finishing up the labelling and disconnecting of wires. As of last night the 1.8L Miata engine is now removed from my Miata.

February 9, 2005

The firewall is cut with plates welded and painted, hubs removed, transmission tunnel cutting is done, coil installed, and more wiring work done. Just waiting to get the k member from Martin and have to move the brake and fuel lines a bit.

May 15th, 2005

Lots of progress made since the last update. The differential, half shafts, hubs, and brakes have all been installed. All of the in-car wiring is done, new KYB AGX shocks with custom springs have been installed, the front suspension with Martin's modified K-member are in the car now, and this week the engine should find it's new home in the car. Here are a few pictures to update:

May 18th, 2005

The engine is in the car now. I fixed the brakes with a new line and a bleeding with the help of a friend. Now just fine tuning the fit in the engine bay to make sure I can close the hood with clearance everywhere else.

May 27th, 2005

It's been a busy week but more work got done today. The hood now closes after shaving 3/8th's of an inch off the lower intake and after purchasing the March A/C Delete bracket that relocates the stock tensioner to where the Power Steering used to be.

The upper intake has been installed, all wiring and most vacuum lines has been hooked up, and the flywheel has been machined and put back on the car.

June 22nd, 2005

The car is ready to go to the exhaust shop. I have now bled the brakes, adjusted and bled the clutch, found my wiring problem (at the fuel pump relay), and installed the interior again. The car now starts and idles like a charm and sounds evil through the open headers! Now just need exhaust and to zip-tie a few wires out of the way...and then she's ready for the road! Wawho!

July 11th, 2005

Well I'm down to just some small annoying things to finish off. I've been having a crank wobble and lack of firing in cylinder #2. This is still a concern, because even with a new balancer and pulley there is still some run out on the crank and with new plugs, wires, rotor, and cap I still have nothing in cylinder #2. Tomorrow will be a compression test so I'll be keeping my fingers good and crossed...hope it's just a stuck injector.

Here are some pictures of the car completed...has exhaust and almost everything in the engine bay and interior cleaned up.