IT is a really EASY process... Just time consuming.
If I were you, I would find your local Miata group.. They will likely HELP you with the install for Beer and dogs. We do that a LOT around here.

Try this guy...
Chesapeake Area Roadsters (CAR)

Christian LeHew
PO Box 91
Laurel, MD 20725
410.549.3519
president@chesapeakeroadsters.com

Explain you are a New Miata owner, looking to join a club and would LOVE some wrenching help on your car. I am betting you will finda few folks who are more than willing to come help.


Me, I would NEVER spend $1500 on a Miata repair But I would spend $2500 on a new part to install myself

[This message has been edited by 8Ball (edited 07-21-2011).]

Ughhh, well we negotiated with the guy, and got him down to $1300, and have him put a front main seal in as well. My dad said he'd pay $300 as a grad present, sooo....I guess I'm satisfied. I should have just done it myself while it was on jackstands

Well.. Look at it this way.. you will be driving and enjoying her again soon!

I plan to buy another Miata myself in the near future. They are the greatest corner carvers you can buy for the money! Hell they are the best corner carver you can buy for less than $45k!
And truth be told... The chicks love em I got hit on more in my Miata than in any other car.

Actually, now I need a new block.

WHAT????

Ok, you obviously need a better Mechanic.. What is going on? Give me the whole story....

You can get a complete Miata engine ready to drop in for less than they wanted to charge you to replace your gasket..

Well, the main problem was the rear main seal. They had it up on the lift, and showed me the bolts holding it on. First bolt- new, second- new, third- new but going in at an angle, fourth- old. There was also RTV gooped onto the rear main. So obviously the PO let his 5th grade son do the rear main, and when the bolt snapped in the 3rd hole, they drilled out a new hole, hitting an oil passage. THAT is where the leak was coming from. I had them fill the hole with JB Weld, and just do the bare minimum to get it on the road, and the bill came to be $575. Now, I'm trading it to a dealer for an 2002 6 speed, with beige interior and british racing green paint. Also comes with a hard top.

Ohhh baby!!! You will love that NB!! Those are my favs

Well I am glad you got away from that last one.. it sounds like dumb and dumber owned it!!

<---- Just bought a '91 complete with hardtop for $1700. Has a bunch of mild performance mods/parts on it. It's a blast to drive!

My old neighbors brother had one that he highly modified. Full chassis, Ford 9" diff and a 4.0 litre Lexus V8.

Miata update!
I just sold the "old" one for $2,200, to a guy dropping either an LS1 or a 5.0 into it. I also got $800 from the dealer I bought it from as pity-money. For a grand total loss of a mere $1,500ish. Thats not that bad I guess. And heres the one I'm picking up today:







Pro's-
-6 speed
-color combo
-Double din Bose sound system
-Hard top
-New soft top
-Un-used convertible boot
-2 remote key fobs
-Loaded
-Relatively low miles (105,XXX)

Cons-
-Paint isnt perfect
-Neither are the wheels, but I should be able to resurface them
-Damn-near $8 grand!!!!


But I regress... After the POS I bought last time, I figured I would splurge a little more for a serious daily driver for a good while.

Lookin good!!! Too badyou couldn't have bought big gulp from me.