Saving a 94 Laguna Blue (build thread)

[AnthonyS]

Anyone around here interested in a build thread. I'm attempting to rescue a salvage title Laguna Blue 94, semi-restore and autocross it stockish for a year. I am already gathering parts for a 5.0 conversion, and I already have the engine with AFR heads and a pretty stout cam (I may go milder actually).

Anyway the car was a real beauty, garage kept, well maintained, and then the newest owner got rear ended shortly after purchase. The insurance company of course issued a salvage title since they didn't want to repair it. The car was so minimally damaged and so clean I bought it for 2k. I'm going to be about 2k into repair work including some extra repair and paint work to a few other areas. I also have a harddog rollbar, a blue Robbins vinyl top, new Koni shocks and bump stops and a Racing Beat front sway bar on hand for E stock fun. I immediately installed a Voodoo knob as the stock knob sucks. I also have some 99 15x6 wheels and Federal RS-Rs for them which will be installed on the wheels tomorrow. I also have new shoes for one of my other cars.

So if anyone is interested, I have tons of pics of the car already including every step of the repair process, and will have tons more as things move along.

[sammm]

Good looking Laguna....keep the pics coming.

[POS Racing]

Good looking Laguna....keep the pics coming.

+1

[Miat4]

That's a nice looking Laguna. Any new updates on the build?

[AnthonyS]

That's a nice looking Laguna. Any new updates on the build?

As a matter of fact, I picked up the car yesterday and it looks way better than I ever though it would. I had the fading above the windshield fixed too and she's really pretty.

Next up the new top, roll bar, new shocks, bump stops and a front sway bar and some autocrossing and track days. She should be ready to autoX in June and hit the track some too. Work is sending me on longish trips right now and we are preparing to sell our house and move later this summer too so I'm super busy.

Here are some photos after the repairs. I will get more in a week after this next trip. I will also get all of the legal paperwork done to obtain my rebuilt title and start driving it regularly.

[gabkwong]

Nice! Did you have to buy a new bumper skin and finish panel?

[AnthonyS]

Nice! Did you have to buy a new bumper skin and finish panel?

I took a good used finish panel with the car and the bumper cover was saved. Mark said he fears it will spider web in a few years though. It’s still the nicest looking Miata I could get for what I have in it.

[gabkwong]

It’s still the nicest looking Miata I could get for what I have in it.

All blue Miatas are good looking Miatas! Yours looks like new!

[AnthonyS]

All blue Miatas are good looking Miatas! Yours looks like new!

I’m blown away by how great she looks for the money spent. I can’t wait to get other things done and start having fun with this car.

[gabkwong]

I’m blown away by how great she looks for the money spent.

Mark is very reasonable $ and best of all he dose good work and a very nice guy! I am hard pressed to know if it was damaged by looking at the pictures!

[AnthonyS]

Mark is very reasonable $ and best of all he dose good work and a very nice guy! I am hard pressed to know if it was damaged by looking at the pictures!

I’m the very proud owner of a very clean well cared for inexpensive Laguna blue Miata. It is the perfect canvass for my Monster dreams. I’m going my to do some needed things and auto cross and track it as a 4 banger for a bit too I’m order to improve my driving.