After reluctantly selling my 79 a couple years ago so we could have the money to get my wife a new car I finally have another SA!

Details...

-1980
-Aurora White
-Wine interior
-One owner, yes I'm the 2nd owner
-90,000 miles
-Engine rebuilt in 1996, 20,000 miles on the engine now
-One inch thick stack of service records in a folder
-Original window sticker and bill of sale
-Freshly professionally rebuilt Nikki
-All the important bits have been replaced in the past 4 years (Alternator, starter, spark plugs, wires, brakes, clutch master and slave, brake master, brake rotors and pads, wheel bearings, fuel pump, new battery etc.)

I got it for a steal! $600.

Now here are the pictures...

 

The body is in fantastic condition. Paint is great. There are 2 rust spots that will be dealt with. On small one on the rear half of the driver side rocker panel, and one semi big spot on the passenger rear quarter near the muffler. That one may require cutting and welding. Ignore the non period correct PLUS wheels. I will either do waffles, or a 15x7 wheel soon. All the exterior needs is the windshield trim painted and new front and rear MAZDA badges (they are very weathered).

 

The engine...

20,000 miles on it. Runs great. The car is truly a turn key go anywhere kind of car. All stock except the heat exchanger was replaced with a cat in 1994. That may be gutted soon... My plans fr the engine are...

-RB exhaust (duh...)
-RB intake and filter kit
-Air pump removal and ACV block off
-Dual alternator pulley
-2gdfis




My plans for suspension and chasis...

-RE Speed coils (if I can find a used set)
-If not then RB coils
-OEM replacement type shocks and inserts
-Stainless clutch and brake lines
-Tie rods, maybe bushings

 

The interior...

I'm not sure I'm diggin the Wine interior... I may have to switch to black. Sort of worn out and faded s I don't know if I'll go through the trouble and spend the money on it.

Wine interior restoration needs...

-Dash cap
-carpet, front and rear
-floor mats
-Burgundy s3 seats (leather?)
-new interior door cups
-repaint a few hard plastic parts, rear plastic, A pillar, Console plastic.
-Miata cup holder


What would you think of a two tone? Black dash cap, black carpet, black seats, keep the door panels, bottom half of dash, arm rest/ console red?

 

Very nice! The white is fantastic and I like those interior colors, excellent condition for the age and original to the car, makes it worth more than any refinishing can be.

Nice find!

 

How in God's name was that only 600..

 

Nice, Looks great in white!

 

I have 2gdfis black box out of my car and a two belt alternator pulley I will sell you. I got the box from jeff20b a few years ago, it worked fine when I removed it.

Sweet ride though. I hope I can find one at that price when I go searching for my next 7.

 

nice car! i'd keep the stock interior, as things like door cups are available and cheap...

under the hood, the upper radiator hose is backwards, the wiring harness is routed wrong, sloppy work!

 

No you didn't. You're thinking of a guy named Kent. Not sure what his forum name is anymore. He's the guy who made the little black boxes. Look up "transistor trick".

After a few years and a few ignition upgrades, I can only recommend DLIDFIS these days. Works perfectly for me every time. I can't say the same for other setups as I lack first hand experience on them.

 

Helluva score for 600, awesome find. I don't like that interior either, I prefer Grey or Black, but for that price and that condition.... Wow.

 

You are correct. Sorry. I remember now. But if I recall you did contribute some vital information to the process. Thanks for correcting me. :-)

 

It was a completely unanticipated splurge at $600. I've been driving by the shop it's been parked at for 6 months. I just on a whim stopped by to look at it and noticed the for sale sign with a number. I called and talked to the guy. Without even naming a price he blurts out random prices starting at $1000. The longer I talk to him he keeps taking off $50 and $100 at a time. Then he says I'll throw in spare plus wheels and put a new battery in it so I jumped. I sold a few things on craigslist and a couple days later it was in my garage!

Lol at the radiator hose. I knew it was fishy looking from day one since it touches the intake snorkel. The hoses will all be replaced soon. I haven't looked closely at the wiring yet.
I did however notice right off the bat the sloppy backyard AC lines... The missing radiator panel, and it appears as if a mechanic leaned on the fan shroud while the engine was running and ground a chunk out of it.

I want to repair the wine interior since it's so rare. Bottom line is some hard plastic pieces need to be painted, the front carpet is shaggy looking (but good shape), rear carpet looks like an out door rug cut into shape( custom race car engineering), and the dash is toast. The seats are in good shape, but they need to go.

 

I'm thinking most likely I will paint the faded bits a wine color. I'm leaning towards Racing Beat black seat covers, and new black carpet. Mazdatrix sells a maroon dash cap. Do you think it will match the Wine ok? I think the black seats and carpet will look good with the Wine door panels, A pillars,dash, center console, and rear trim. I plan on getting a new shifter surround with boot.

Also just to be different... What would you think of Aurora White waffles?? Painted high gloss with a spray gun.

 

It also looks like the oil cap is cracked. I'd replace it for fear it will drop a piece into the pan.

 

what a GREAT car for the price!!! you got an awesome deal on that car! are you going to put a set of waffle wheels on the car?

 

That is a great looking SA, what a great base for making a clean classic. It's so nice when you start with all the pieces basically intact, good find :-)

 

Update!

I picked up a set of waffles yesterday. Soaked them in 100% strength simple green and scrubbed them with a stiff brush. They look much better than the plus wheels!

I also painted the window trim with a matte black paint.

My process and products used...

-blue 2 inch masking tape
-1 can rustoleum self etching primer
-1 can rustoleum matte black automotive paint
-simple green degreaser
-120 grit dry sand paper
-newspaper

First I washed the car with dawn dish soap. After that I completely masked the whole car abover the black side moldings off with blue tape and newspaper. Next I sanded the trim up to get the loose paint off and give it a good scuff. Then I wiped it with lint free rags and simple green. After that I sprayed 3 light coats of self etching primer. I let that dry for about 45 minutes before the matte black paint went on. I sprayed on a thick coat of black then let it dry for about 10 minutes and sprayed a light coat over it for the matte look.

I'll post pictures soon. It made a huge difference!

 

Excellent price and it runs!

I agree with Jeff, go with a DLIDFIS setup, the 2G setup works but eventually frys the stock
ignitors. Also upgrade the ignitors to more modern ones like HEIs.

Yeah thats not a stock AC setup. The condensor and reciever/dryer are not the right location
or size from what I can see. Those hoses look questionable as well.

 

ok, can't wait to see the new pics with the waffle wheels and the repainted window trim!!

 

I agree, a nice set of waffles is going to make the car.

I'm not sure about painting them aurora white though, kind of radical. If it were me I'd stick to the original stock color(s).

Aren't they usually silver, but there was a special edition set in gold? Gold might look pretty good with the white.

 

Agreed. Your stock J-105s aren't really the best to use either. I think the 1980 distributor is compatible with GM HEIs. Just reverse the pickup signal wires (G and W on the HEI).

 

Don't use the 1980 dizzy for the HEIs. The signal is marginal and you will get poor
performance. Get an 81+ dizzy and it will work just fine. The 81+ dizzy redid the
shape of the reluctor so that the signal is much better and more compatible with the
HEI inputs.

See the thread in my sig for the gory details if you want.

 

I agree. I should have just told him to find an 81-85 dizzy.

 

I ran 2gdfison my 79 for 4 years without a problem. I'll probably just go that route again. Cheap, easy, and I'm familiar with it.