Episode 26

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Published on:

17th Nov 2022

One Owner's Upgrade Path for an NB Miata

00:00 - SHOW OPEN

Insight gained from making a series of upgrades to a 1999 NB Miata

01:10 - INTRODUCE CHRIS FISH - An NB Miata Owner Who Loves To Modify His Car

Chris began his search for a Miata a few years ago and describes how he found his 1999 Emerald Green NB Miata and why he fell for this small, lightweight roadster.

06:45 - WHAT CHRIS DECIDED TO MODIFY ON HIS MIATA

Chris started his research research journey for parts and upgrades on the Miata.net forums and Flyinmiata.com and then went from there to find the parts he wanted.

07:35 - Wheels & Tires

5x8-inch 6UL with Yokohama S-Drive Tires.

08:55 - Hardtop

Stock Miata hardtop found on Craigslist

09:40 - White Gauge Faces

Purchased a set of 2001-model white gauges from an online vendor and used YouTube instructions swap in his odometer to keep the mileage accurate.

11:30 - Nardi Wood Shift Knob and Emergency Brake Handle

Found through online private party ads

13:00 - Nardi Wood Steering Wheel

Found through an online vendor in Japan

13:20 - Faux Woodgrain Radio Surround

13:40 - Upgraded Center Console

From a later model NB Miata

14:45 - Racing Beat Header

16:50 - Racing Beat Cold Air Intake

Chris wasn't sure if this added power, but he loved the sound

17:35 - Flyin' Miata Midpipe and Catalytic Converter and Racing Beat Cat-back Exhaust

18:40 - Adjustable Coil Over Suspension

21:50 - Timing Belt & Water Pump

22:45 - Coolant Re-Route and Oil Filter Relocation Kit

24:45 - Removed the Head and did a Valve Job

25:45 - Mazdaspeed Camshaft

28:30 - WE DISCUSS MIATA ENGINE SWAP UPGRADES

Chris talks about the Rocketeer V6 conversion for NB Miatas and how it was one of his favorite options based on his research at the time (he did not do this conversion, however).

https://www.rocketeercars.com

32:30 - CHRIS TALKS ABOUT THE FAST FORWARD SUPERCHARGER KIT

Chris prefers a supercharger for forced induction over a turbo and the kit he prefers based on research is the Fast Forward Supercharger. We discuss how it works and why he likes it best (this is on his wish-list)

https://www.fastforwardsuperchargers.com

38:10 - WILL CHRIS SUPERCHARGE HIS MIATA?

Great question. He wants to, but he knows if he puts a supercharge on his Miata, he will dig into other projects, so he is thinking maybe the car is good as it sits right now.

40:15 - WHICH UPGRADES WOULD CHRIS RECOMMEND TO OTHERS?

Chris has the time and is one of those guys who loves to McGuyver his way through a troublesome project that might leave the rest of us (or me) throwing wrenches.

42:45 - CHRIS' ADVICE TO OTHERS THINKING OF MAKING UPGRADES TO THEIR CAR

Chris says he probably should have driven his car for a while before jumping into making upgrades. Many people like the Miata "as is" and if you drive one for awhile rather than jumping into upgrades, you might like it "as is" too.

44:00 - SHOW CLOSE - Final Thoughts on Car Mods and Upgrades

When it comes to upgrading any vehicle, my recommendation is to start at ground level and work your way up. That mean's upgrading tires first (those contact patches are all that connect your car to the road), then brakes (you need to be able to stop), followed by suspension (you need to be able to turn too!) and finally horsepower. If your car can't go, stop and turn, adding more horsepower will just make things worse. So start with tires and work your way up.

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About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

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Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!