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do most of you guys purchase the doner first, to help decide on dimensional info for the build?
If you are trying to build it low cost and use as many donor parts you can, you can't get very far without the donor parts. Yeah, you could rough out the frame in a weekend but then what? You can't build control arms or set the suspension pickups on the frame. You'll need the final tire sizes and wheel offsets to continue the design too. In the most basic case, unless you have the engine and trans (etc) you can't even determine the size frame you will need to fit it all.
So, yes, I'd suggest getting the donor and stripping it down to the parts you will use and parts you might use. Get rid of the rest'cause it will just take up needed space. Then decide on where to go with the parts you have......
Most builders that use the Miata, end up selling off the un-needed interior and body parts and some close to a net-zero or negative cost. That is if thay buy a non-rusted, non-dented donor with a good interior. There are not too many other donors that can claim that. If you buy a wrecked miata for $1k with a trashed interior, then you may not have many parts to sell off. You'ld have to check your local Miata action scene to see if there are any potential buyers.
Another option is to buy a pallet donor from Flyin Miata. It is a bit $$$ compared to tearing down a donor though.
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Chuck.
“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman
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