This young man is a man of culture i too would buy any car that appeared in initial D also miatas are amazing unfortunately there aren't lots of them here in the middle east
Mad props to the young gentleman for buying his own car with his own money and learning to work on it. Such a rarity these days. Go forth and conquer 💪
The Miata up to the NC is the only car that I have ZERO fear working on. Me, with limited mechanical knowledge. The engine bay is super friendly and easy to navigate.
Good morning Casey , being a long time subscriber the most refreshing thing about you and your channel I have found is your honesty & the honesty of your platform . Thanks again
Watch the torque values on the crank when you change the timing belt. The 1990 Miata has a long nose on the crank, and if the bolt isn't installed correctly, the crank nose can fail catastrophically. I did a failure analysis on a 1990 Miata crank and published the results (you can google it). The manual is not much help, as it has two different torque values. Use a new bolt & washer.
holy shit you're right, you have a good eye. had to re-wind and look at the crank pulley. looks almost like they painted the badge lettering red for some reason or even stranger, put a 1.6 in a 94-97 miata maybe I'm just tripping tho
Kudos Gene you are doing a very intelligent thing. And kudos to you Casey for making sure he had somebody who knew what they were doing and was willing to let him have both garage space in the use of your tools.
Hi Casey! So you mentioned the A-pillar is super strong. Actually I heard the complete opposite - as far as I know it's hollow. I've seen many pictures of them flattened like a pancake. A roll bar is the first mod I did after buying, before even registering the car and getting insurance. I'd highly recommend it to your student, for his safety. Even if the A-pillar is sufficiently strong, my roll bar made a massive difference in the rigidity of the car and improved handling a lot.. the chassis twists a bunch because there's no roof. So I'd still recommend it, even if you only consider it to be a handling mod. Have a good one mate!
I just got through doing a respray job on a similar age Honda Prelude, clear coat had failed much more badly (I suspect a lifetime of street parking), my initial effort to just sand out and clear coat patch sadly brought me only a year or two before it just happen elsewhere. Once i started seeing surface Rust i bit the bullet, borrowed a car from my parents for a month, (And the shed that usually housed that car ;p) Sanded back the lot, primed and resprayed. Having never done anything more complicated then Airbrushing models before that. And while the paint isn't perfect, it is lightyears better then that pachy chalky peeling clearcoat look. :) Have a go people, much of this work is much more forgiving then people make it out to be :) (though make sure you have access to that other car, it sure as hell isn't a QUICK job. XD)
Reading your comment reminds me that I really want a shed , garage or any other place I can work on my car and not have to work on it outside. My car needs a respray, but I cant afford it at the moment as I am currently building an engine with all the not cheap parts. I currently have engine parts in the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom and the trunk of the car, So a shed would do nicely. Congrats on the respray. It might not be a car show perfect result, but I can picture the improvement in my head.. That also means you can drive your car without worrying about every dust particle in the air in front of you on the road. Anyway the joy of figuring out how and then fixing something yourself is wonderful, extra when it is something most people are afraid to try doing themselves. It might sometimes be hard work and take more time then expected, but it is always(usually) worth it when you are done.
Thanks, and best of luck on the Engine build! and yeah, lack Shed/working space is a major hindrance to alot of people working on their own cars nowadays.
Looking forward to future updates on his maintenance care and builds on the NA. I recently purchased an NB2 with my own money, thinking it will be a fun car to learn how to turn some wrenches when in reality, the only thing slowing me down from fixing the problems are lack of tools and spaces. I'm pretty sure he is very thankful for you to lend him the tools and space he need.
The first car I bought that was mainly used to transport and to get parts for projects was a Volvo 850R Wagon in around 2001. First sporty car was an ST204 Celica GT-Four I got off an estate sale that was sold as a regular old Celica with faded paint. Probably what got the obsession started, since then I added a couple "finished" project ST204's. One RWD I did with a turbocharged 1GR V6, the other a FWD turbocharged 2AZ; all together I have AWD, FWD, and RWD so I'm happy to call it. My first bike I bought at 17 was a Honda CB400 Super Four. I'm happy I decided not to sell it when I got a different bike. The US models have gotten so pricey at this point it would be unreasonable to replace. None of them were perfect when I bought, but I knew enough to fix them right at the time and save some money in the process. Respect to him for buying his own car and learning to work on it himself. Respect to Casey for being an amazing role model by taking on students and taking care of their interests and growth. Figures like that are becoming more and more rare as time passes on.
Identical to mine, owned 25 years. Wheels, yes, keep the Daisies. Mk1's are at their purest with the original lightweight Daisy wheels. Congrats new owner, they are great fun and far better than the other car you mentioned.
Those hard point the roll bar was attached to were for the factory hard top. All gen one MX5s came with a factory hardtop. Unfortunately most of them were left at the dealerships never to be used. You can still find OEM ones if you go looking as well as aftermarket hardtops.
Learned everything I know from mine, when I bought it I was paying for oil changes, they also make you learn a lot about driving! One thing I would add is going to a 15x7 wheel gives you better and actually cheaper tire options, 195/50/15 is a really good size for options like pilot sport 3s
Had same year and color, loved it! Don’t forget the nipple of death! Left me stranded one time… unused coolant port plugged with cheap rubber nipple (protege application?)
I run Spec Miata in SCCA and I hate how much I love how it drives. I was never a Miata person but after running in Spec Miata for a little bit I’m almost tempted to get a road car... as long as the E30 market stays stupid high
I enjoyed this video on the Miata, also Congrats Casey🍾🎊🎉 on you & your students hard work & completion on the Lykan HyperSport🚗project. Keep up the great work helping & educating your students who want to be engineers & designers in the automotive world, because of your nonprofit organization, & making it reality for them. Thanks again Casey! 😎👍
Casey. Have you ever considered talking about the pros and cons of sidewall flex vs rubber bands? As someone who has spent most of their driving life in extremely rural Britain I dislike low profile tyres. I believe (please correct if wrong) that on uneven surfaces higher sidewalls give more consistent grip than low profiles. Low profiles will grip, skip, grip a lot more. When they suddenly grip that second time they pretty much high side the car and shoot it off at an unexpected angle.
I have a 92 that I have owned since 94 and it’s bone stock. I’m taking it in for a repaint soon and fixing some under door rust. Otherwise it’s a solid car minus the battery needing replacement every other year.
Cool first car, my first car is a volkswagen karmann ghia and its still with me, i was thinking of getting a miata years ago but lots of unfinished cars prevented me from getting one😁
That's a great car to start with. My first engine rebuild was a '91 300ZXTT. It did not end well. As far as desirability goes: I can get an entire set of wheels and tires for a Miata for the cost of a set of brakes - just rotors and pads - for my C6. If it had 200 more horsepower, I'd be on board. (Also, I like the short format. I don't often have time for a 23 minute video.)
One issue I worry about is the cooling of the engine. Maybe not this Miata , but others have had to have the engine gone through from the rear most piston going south . It looks good for a starter to enjoy soon enough after proper work.
i always found miatas cool, but never saw one as a grown adult up close. Today while driving my civic coupe i pulled up besode one and realised how small they were…
Cool little car, good to see he appreciates what it is even though it is ' slow '. Always a little strange hearing them called a miata - here in Australia they are an ' MX5 '
besides the good handling the fact that it's a non-interference engine is the reason why I want a first gen Miata as a 2nd project car, I was going to get one but got the Mustang because despite being double the price all of the Miatas in my area were clapped out at the time
I LOVE my miata. She's not fast, but on tight twisty roads it keeps up with much more expensive cars. They have become over priced though. Check the condition of that rain rail and clear the drain holes. That's usually what causes the rust.
I'm young and I've got two classics who are down and not running due to ambition now I'm planning on making one a daily just to enjoy instead of a crazy hotrod so I can get to point B being realistic back to point A is asking too much as of now
I always wanted a mk1 MX5/Miata but I have missed the chance. Circumstances and I don’t care for cars that I am worried about scratching. Maybe a battered and bruised donor car will fall in my lap one day.
Any tips for care and maintenance of an ND3 for a new manual driver? husband and I just got one and are learning together. I had always wanted to learn manual anyway. I think he wants to lower it a bit once the warranty is over, what do you think of that?
@@nobodynoone2500 good alternative if you've ever heard of the term enthusiast tax very real thing I live in the middle of the rust belt and a Miata with no frame rails cost $3,000 minimum if it starts 5,000 if it's an NA not in NB was z3 or Z4 is actually a good alternative is the mr20 mr2 as well since tend to be owned by older people who keep them in a garage
you got a blue and white striped nb miata tho lol , i know i know, i have an nb because i cant own that viper is the truth, same guy designed both cars tho
Man seeing this makes me excited to get my hands on my first proper project car. Also, Miata is not the answer when you've got a hand-me-down (if I can fix it) Eclipse. 😋
miatas a great first car. the a pillars are definitely no roll structure, theyll fold flat in the mildest of rolls. so a proper 4 point bar, or at the very least a Harddog "hard bar" 2 point will keep you safe in a roll, ask me how i know. but....bmw z3 is NEVER the answer 😂
I get more attention from attractive women when I drive my NA Miata than when I drive my Porsche. Seriously. I never expected that. Also, just clean up the valve cover. Don't paint it. Also, I had to laugh when Casey said the Z3 was a better car. He should drive them back to back as I did. After doing so, I went to find the best NA Miata I could, even though I currently have 2 BMWs in my stable.
BMW Z3 vs Miata for a budget first car?? That is a no brainer...MIATA!!! An old Z3 is nothing but heartache, tears, and tons of dough for all the plastic engine parts and electronic stuff that break. The onlt reliable aspect of a Z3 is THAT it will (expensively) break. The young padowan choose wisely.
Yeah, though I'd really like one of those squareback shooting brake ones, and always wished Miatas had come as something similar, for that newer MGBGT experience. :) There'd really be room in my life for a little parts-and-errands-runner to scoot around in. That little chunk of 'more utility' would mean 'more driving it,' than, say a little roadster version.
Miata has better suispension, cheaper parts, and in more reliable. Buy a BMW if you wanna waste money to not look like a miata. A better trade-off would be a Pontiac solstace or saturn sky if mazda isn't your groove.
And mr2 is the better miata so there for mr2 is always the better answer. Edit: miata was my first car and I highly recommend it as a forever car for anyone.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
This young man is a man of culture i too would buy any car that appeared in initial D also miatas are amazing unfortunately there aren't lots of them here in the middle east
Mad props to the young gentleman for buying his own car with his own money and learning to work on it. Such a rarity these days. Go forth and conquer 💪
Gene, don't let Casey BS you. The Miata is a straight up chick magnet!
The Miata up to the NC is the only car that I have ZERO fear working on. Me, with limited mechanical knowledge. The engine bay is super friendly and easy to navigate.
Good morning Casey , being a long time subscriber the most refreshing thing about you and your channel I have found is your honesty & the honesty of your platform . Thanks again
Thank you!
Watch the torque values on the crank when you change the timing belt. The 1990 Miata has a long nose on the crank, and if the bolt isn't installed correctly, the crank nose can fail catastrophically. I did a failure analysis on a 1990 Miata crank and published the results (you can google it). The manual is not much help, as it has two different torque values. Use a new bolt & washer.
holy shit you're right, you have a good eye. had to re-wind and look at the crank pulley.
looks almost like they painted the badge lettering red for some reason or even stranger, put a 1.6 in a 94-97 miata
maybe I'm just tripping tho
Kudos Gene you are doing a very intelligent thing. And kudos to you Casey for making sure he had somebody who knew what they were doing and was willing to let him have both garage space in the use of your tools.
The happiest car...in the world! Honestly though, I love the pop ups. I'm so glad my C5 Corvette has them too.
Checking and/or changing all fluids on brakes, transmission, differential and steering will worth doing.
Hi Casey! So you mentioned the A-pillar is super strong. Actually I heard the complete opposite - as far as I know it's hollow. I've seen many pictures of them flattened like a pancake.
A roll bar is the first mod I did after buying, before even registering the car and getting insurance. I'd highly recommend it to your student, for his safety.
Even if the A-pillar is sufficiently strong, my roll bar made a massive difference in the rigidity of the car and improved handling a lot..
the chassis twists a bunch because there's no roof. So I'd still recommend it, even if you only consider it to be a handling mod.
Have a good one mate!
Miata Is Always The Answer
I just got through doing a respray job on a similar age Honda Prelude, clear coat had failed much more badly (I suspect a lifetime of street parking), my initial effort to just sand out and clear coat patch sadly brought me only a year or two before it just happen elsewhere. Once i started seeing surface Rust i bit the bullet, borrowed a car from my parents for a month, (And the shed that usually housed that car ;p) Sanded back the lot, primed and resprayed. Having never done anything more complicated then Airbrushing models before that. And while the paint isn't perfect, it is lightyears better then that pachy chalky peeling clearcoat look. :) Have a go people, much of this work is much more forgiving then people make it out to be :) (though make sure you have access to that other car, it sure as hell isn't a QUICK job. XD)
Reading your comment reminds me that I really want a shed , garage or any other place I can work on my car and not have to work on it outside. My car needs a respray, but I cant afford it at the moment as I am currently building an engine with all the not cheap parts. I currently have engine parts in the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom and the trunk of the car, So a shed would do nicely. Congrats on the respray. It might not be a car show perfect result, but I can picture the improvement in my head.. That also means you can drive your car without worrying about every dust particle in the air in front of you on the road. Anyway the joy of figuring out how and then fixing something yourself is wonderful, extra when it is something most people are afraid to try doing themselves. It might sometimes be hard work and take more time then expected, but it is always(usually) worth it when you are done.
Thanks, and best of luck on the Engine build! and yeah, lack Shed/working space is a major hindrance to alot of people working on their own cars nowadays.
Looking forward to future updates on his maintenance care and builds on the NA. I recently purchased an NB2 with my own money, thinking it will be a fun car to learn how to turn some wrenches when in reality, the only thing slowing me down from fixing the problems are lack of tools and spaces. I'm pretty sure he is very thankful for you to lend him the tools and space he need.
The first car I bought that was mainly used to transport and to get parts for projects was a Volvo 850R Wagon in around 2001. First sporty car was an ST204 Celica GT-Four I got off an estate sale that was sold as a regular old Celica with faded paint. Probably what got the obsession started, since then I added a couple "finished" project ST204's. One RWD I did with a turbocharged 1GR V6, the other a FWD turbocharged 2AZ; all together I have AWD, FWD, and RWD so I'm happy to call it.
My first bike I bought at 17 was a Honda CB400 Super Four. I'm happy I decided not to sell it when I got a different bike. The US models have gotten so pricey at this point it would be unreasonable to replace.
None of them were perfect when I bought, but I knew enough to fix them right at the time and save some money in the process. Respect to him for buying his own car and learning to work on it himself. Respect to Casey for being an amazing role model by taking on students and taking care of their interests and growth. Figures like that are becoming more and more rare as time passes on.
I bought a 49 hudson for my daily that I need to finish by the end of summer. classic cars are the best.
Identical to mine, owned 25 years. Wheels, yes, keep the Daisies. Mk1's are at their purest with the original lightweight Daisy wheels. Congrats new owner, they are great fun and far better than the other car you mentioned.
Those hard point the roll bar was attached to were for the factory hard top. All gen one MX5s came with a factory hardtop. Unfortunately most of them were left at the dealerships never to be used. You can still find OEM ones if you go looking as well as aftermarket hardtops.
This is a really great High School project and a terrific entry racer.
Learned everything I know from mine, when I bought it I was paying for oil changes, they also make you learn a lot about driving!
One thing I would add is going to a 15x7 wheel gives you better and actually cheaper tire options, 195/50/15 is a really good size for options like pilot sport 3s
Had same year and color, loved it! Don’t forget the nipple of death! Left me stranded one time… unused coolant port plugged with cheap rubber nipple (protege application?)
Pretty sure Casey knows what Miata stands for
Miata
Is
Always
The
Answer
I run Spec Miata in SCCA and I hate how much I love how it drives. I was never a Miata person but after running in Spec Miata for a little bit I’m almost tempted to get a road car... as long as the E30 market stays stupid high
What's spec mean? When someone says spec Miata?
Yes I can 100% confirm that the Miata indeed is always the answer.
Decent first car.
I hope he has really good coats this winter.
Love the 93 Viper OG antenna
I enjoyed this video on the Miata, also Congrats Casey🍾🎊🎉 on you & your students hard work & completion on the Lykan HyperSport🚗project. Keep up the great work helping & educating your students who want to be engineers & designers in the automotive world, because of your nonprofit organization, & making it reality for them. Thanks again Casey! 😎👍
Great first car to be fair. It'll teach the kid a lot about driving. Not the fastest thing but they hold speed so well round the bends.
Casey. Have you ever considered talking about the pros and cons of sidewall flex vs rubber bands?
As someone who has spent most of their driving life in extremely rural Britain I dislike low profile tyres.
I believe (please correct if wrong) that on uneven surfaces higher sidewalls give more consistent grip than low profiles. Low profiles will grip, skip, grip a lot more. When they suddenly grip that second time they pretty much high side the car and shoot it off at an unexpected angle.
I agree with you. I don’t like rubber bands.
@@CaseyPutsch This is something I have tried to explain to so many youngsters (god that makes me feel old!).
I have a 92 that I have owned since 94 and it’s bone stock. I’m taking it in for a repaint soon and fixing some under door rust. Otherwise it’s a solid car minus the battery needing replacement every other year.
Cool first car, my first car is a volkswagen karmann ghia and its still with me, i was thinking of getting a miata years ago but lots of unfinished cars prevented me from getting one😁
Those are beautiful cars.
That's a great car to start with. My first engine rebuild was a '91 300ZXTT. It did not end well. As far as desirability goes: I can get an entire set of wheels and tires for a Miata for the cost of a set of brakes - just rotors and pads - for my C6. If it had 200 more horsepower, I'd be on board. (Also, I like the short format. I don't often have time for a 23 minute video.)
One issue I worry about is the cooling of the engine. Maybe not this Miata , but others have had to have the engine gone through from the rear most piston going south . It looks good for a starter to enjoy soon enough after proper work.
You can do a coolant re-route but it usually isn't a problem for naturally aspirated street cars.
@@a7i20ci7y right on
i always found miatas cool, but never saw one as a grown adult up close. Today while driving my civic coupe i pulled up besode one and realised how small they were…
This is the way
Cool little car, good to see he appreciates what it is even though it is ' slow '. Always a little strange hearing them called a miata - here in Australia they are an ' MX5 '
besides the good handling the fact that it's a non-interference engine is the reason why I want a first gen Miata as a 2nd project car, I was going to get one but got the Mustang because despite being double the price all of the Miatas in my area were clapped out at the time
I LOVE my miata. She's not fast, but on tight twisty roads it keeps up with much more expensive cars. They have become over priced though. Check the condition of that rain rail and clear the drain holes. That's usually what causes the rust.
Lets go Jean! that miata looks great.
Love Gene! Great video thanks
WOW he grew up so fast!
I'm young and I've got two classics who are down and not running due to ambition now I'm planning on making one a daily just to enjoy instead of a crazy hotrod so I can get to point B being realistic back to point A is asking too much as of now
I always wanted a mk1 MX5/Miata but I have missed the chance. Circumstances and I don’t care for cars that I am worried about scratching. Maybe a battered and bruised donor car will fall in my lap one day.
About time Mazda Miata!!
YAAYYY KASEY DOING MY CAR
What i find surprising is, the Viper has 300% more torque:) 150 VS 470
Can you use some OEM insulation that's in almost perfect condition, from my '97 NA?
Any tips for care and maintenance of an ND3 for a new manual driver? husband and I just got one and are learning together. I had always wanted to learn manual anyway. I think he wants to lower it a bit once the warranty is over, what do you think of that?
They have a great manual transmission
Oh my, Casey, recently I’m having an itch to buy an BMW and you nailed with the Z3, some people say it’s a Miata in tuxedo
That's the z4
Except with worse suspension. Whats the point of a BMW with corolla strut suspension? Casey is wrong on this one.
@@nobodynoone2500 it's a two-door manual roadster with a small engine in it and it's lightweight what do you expect
@@nobodynoone2500 good alternative if you've ever heard of the term enthusiast tax very real thing I live in the middle of the rust belt and a Miata with no frame rails cost $3,000 minimum if it starts 5,000 if it's an NA not in NB was z3 or Z4 is actually a good alternative is the mr20 mr2 as well since tend to be owned by older people who keep them in a garage
One could be fooled into believing that this is in fact Casey's new car. Getting excited like it was the 944 again.
"I have never owned a Miata" yet the first few seconds show a blue hardtop Miata, wink wink😆
Honestly this car may be a good investment
I love my rusty miata.
Don't forget to adjust the Valves...
Miata Go Brrr
A10 go BRRRRRRRRRTTT
@@Bearditwas no pls stop
I’ve replaced almost everything on my junkyard miata 😂.
I wonder what the upkeep costs for one of these vs a Z3 would be; probably affordable instead of outrageous.
Other way around
@@CaseyPutsch You know what, it would be that way. XD
Wait. I think I’m confused now.
I’m trying to say Z3s are affordable upkeep
@@CaseyPutsch Are Z3s Really More Affordable In Maintenance And Upkeep?! I Do Like Z3s, But It Is, A Beamer... 😉
Well considering a miata really is a baby viper
Miata is always the answer
you got a blue and white striped nb miata tho lol , i know i know, i have an nb because i cant own that viper is the truth, same guy designed both cars tho
More miata pls
Man seeing this makes me excited to get my hands on my first proper project car. Also, Miata is not the answer when you've got a hand-me-down (if I can fix it) Eclipse. 😋
Nice!
Its a Viper mini me :)
The lights are probably on a delay
Way cooler than any BMW.
Would like to have one for Autocross, if I could fit.
my first car
Anybody else want to see Casey do a touge run wearing the initial D new balance yard shoes???
Those were new balances
@@CaseyPutsch forgive me... I'm extraordinary tired lol
@@CaseyPutsch *thankyou for the correction
the whole idea of a Miata was to build a relaiable British sports car.
The 1990’s ford escort 1.9 L engines are the same
If you don't take that Miata autocrossing, you're doing it wrong.
Love you
miatas a great first car. the a pillars are definitely no roll structure, theyll fold flat in the mildest of rolls. so a proper 4 point bar, or at the very least a Harddog "hard bar" 2 point will keep you safe in a roll, ask me how i know.
but....bmw z3 is NEVER the answer 😂
Its cool. But cant stand only 2 jackstands.
3…
I get more attention from attractive women when I drive my NA Miata than when I drive my Porsche. Seriously. I never expected that. Also, just clean up the valve cover. Don't paint it. Also, I had to laugh when Casey said the Z3 was a better car. He should drive them back to back as I did. After doing so, I went to find the best NA Miata I could, even though I currently have 2 BMWs in my stable.
After the bodywork dissolves you can get plans for a lotus 7 replica free online that uses the NA Mx5 as a donor car...
BMW Z3 vs Miata for a budget first car?? That is a no brainer...MIATA!!! An old Z3 is nothing but heartache, tears, and tons of dough for all the plastic engine parts and electronic stuff that break. The onlt reliable aspect of a Z3 is THAT it will (expensively) break. The young padowan choose wisely.
Yeah, though I'd really like one of those squareback shooting brake ones, and always wished Miatas had come as something similar, for that newer MGBGT experience. :) There'd really be room in my life for a little parts-and-errands-runner to scoot around in. That little chunk of 'more utility' would mean 'more driving it,' than, say a little roadster version.
Miata has better suispension, cheaper parts, and in more reliable. Buy a BMW if you wanna waste money to not look like a miata. A better trade-off would be a Pontiac solstace or saturn sky if mazda isn't your groove.
Am I the only one who had to google Initial D?
And mr2 is the better miata so there for mr2 is always the better answer.
Edit: miata was my first car and I highly recommend it as a forever car for anyone.
Sorry, a strut car is not better than a car with real suspension. I LOVE the mr2, but it's just a mid-engine corolla.
@@nobodynoone2500 so is a supra…
It may be overpriced, but so is literally everything right now so oh well. At least this overpriced car has character
That car is a Man bag with 4 wheels
Strong words from someone in a corolla.
@@nobodynoone2500 nope not a Corolla. 2018 GT350
Just in time for pride month