I've been thinking about my next project. I've always wanted to build a car from scratch, and I want to get better at welding. I've also been learning CAD and stress analysis.

I've been looking at space frame builds (eg rod millen, rob dahm, but way smaller budget). I've been thinking about cutting the front and back off a rusted out fb shell, restoring it, and giving it a roll cage and pipe frame. I'd run a 13b, and I'm definitely not going to dabble in any AWD shenanigans... maybe next one can be an AWD 20b once I hit it big...

This got me thinking: if you could have any suspension/brakes/steering in your 1st gen, what would you choose? A few rules: parts car bits preferred for budget reasons, and I want to keep the car looking fairly stock - don't want to go bigger than 15" wheels or cut a huge hole in the hood. Hopefully I would still be able to drive it on the street, but it would definitely have more track weapon tendencies.

As for me, I'm thinking nb miata hubs/coilovers/diff. Lots of aftermarket options that way, like a willwood 4-piston big brake kit I have my eye on.
I also love the idea of swapping FC bits into it instead of miata, but they seem to be hard to find and I don't want to rip apart a nice one.

Just thought it was a fun daydreamy discussion!

 

Na or nb Miata suspension, tons of aftermarket, and Miatas are plentiful. Find a rusted or wrecked one, take what you want off of it and part the rest out. A nb Miata is 66.1 inces in width, and a FB is 65.9. So when it comes to the bodies themselves the FB is just .1 inch smaller per side. So the width with original geometry would not be a problem. Just an idea, one thing I do know is that it will be a decent amount of work no matter what.

 

can i one up you, and say ND miata?