First days labour on the Miata

New Miata for me... Yeahh!!!!

However, I wish the previous owners hadn't painted it. Now I know why Maaco has a bad name. The shop that painted this car did a HORRIBLE job. I don't think they taped anything off at all......

For the record, not all Maaco's are bad. I have a friend that owns one, and he does some bad ass work. My last car came out fantastic... this car will eventually be getting a paintjob from Thomas.

Anyways-- I fogot to take my camera, so phone pics will have to do.

Half way through--
Drivers side front and side markers and and headlight are done, havent touched the passenger side in this picture... can you see the difference?
The Car next to the Miata is car #3, my 1991 Escort GT. Some of y'all are probably familiar with the engine ;)
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/1...smalik0.th.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/2...2smapc2.th.jpg
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/301...2smagj4.th.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/1...smalpg9.th.jpg


I tried cleaning the overspray off of the headlight surround, but to no avail. Solution... paint them to match the car. Color is pretty close, and I think they came out well. I thought I had a can of clearcoat... but I didn't. So, I'm going to let them cure for a while and I may shoot some clear over them.

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7...mallno3.th.jpg

I also removed the mats and trunk carpet and washed them.... there was a river of brown coke looking fluid running down the driveway... gross. They look good now though. I didn't get around to pulling the tail lights, tail side markers, and tail high mount brake light. That will be the next step.

Oh! I also removed the sun visors.... MUCH better. It makes the cockpit feel a bit bigger. They were kind of useless anyways. I know i've seen blanking plates somewhere, but now i can't find them... help anyone?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sxk122

Oh! I also removed the sun visors.... MUCH better. It makes the cockpit feel a bit bigger. They were kind of useless anyways. I know i've seen blanking plates somewhere, but now i can't find them... help anyone?

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Looking good. Here are the visor blanking plates. IF you want to go back to black headlight surrounds, let me know. I think I have a set or 2 and will sell them for cheap.

I kind of like the white so far...... do y'all not like the look of the white?

Thanks for the link to the blanking plates.. i was searching moss because thats where I had thought I'd seen them... i'm just blind, lol

The guys at Grassroots Motorsports removed the carpet and seats then pressure washed them outside the car.

Yeah... i used a hose adapter that made it a "jet".
Honestly, I was kind of surprised at just how well it came out. I was initially worried 19 year old carpet would disintegrate. The Japanese make some darned good carpet... same goes for the rest of the car it seems...

finally took some pics of the car.... its 90% clean now.... just gotta fix the header...

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/4...urchaz7.th.jpg

Got most of the overspray off, and got the seats cleaned up some. Noticed a hairline crack in the dash though, behind the drivers side dome. Any thing i can prep that with to prevent it getting worse/ I was thinking using vinyl adhesive......