Why not a Miata front?

[Blindmelon]

I've pretty much lost patience with trying to find a front end for the MX3 that I like so I've started to look at front bumpers from other cars. I'd obviously like something similar so that I dont have to do a ton of mods. The 1999-03 Miata has a similar front end and the headlights are pretty close. I know it's not going to just bolt on without some work but has anybody here tried to work with Miata bodyparts or does anyone have any thoughts as to why this might not work? The width of the Miata is 66" and the width of the MX3 is 66.7". Let me know what you guys think.

<img src="http://www.mazdastuff.com/custom/produc ... ta_big.gif" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://www.mx-3.com/oem/m4.jpg" alt=" - " />

<small>[ March 07, 2004, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: Blindmelon ]</small>

[projectmx]

dude if that works... you freaking rock... i have seen side skirts and some rear stuff i like for the mx3 but no front ends that i really like... i hadn't thought of the miata yet.. been tryin to think of cars withs similar front ends.. i'm sure it will require some work but that isn't too shabb of a find... anyone know how feesable this is?

[atlantamx3]

Well, anything will work if you have the time or the $$ to pay a body shop to mold that kit custom for you. It wont bolt up.

[projectmx]

uhmm i believe the fact that it won't bolt up was established in the first post..

[atlantamx3]

I understand that. The whole post was basically useless because he answered his own question in the same post.

[Basic breakdown of his post]:

Will this fit? I dont want to do a lot of custom work.

I know it won't fit, but its close and I will have to do some custom work.
[/breakdown]

Good grief people! ANY body kit can be made to fit ANY car with some work and some money!

Sorry for the rant, but I have seen like 10 posts in the past month asking what other kits fit the MX-3 besides MX-3 kits. We have a ton of kits out now, and several more coming in the next few months. If you dont like what you see-- buy a bodykit for another car and cut, splice, fiberglass, lenghten, widen, WHATEVER. If its close, well fine! Its still going to take somone cutting up one kit and molding it to another to make it work.

It CAN be done, but for the cost-- I dont think its worth it. Just buy a MX-3 kit.

BTW, Barry, add that to the FAQ.

LOL

[projectmx]

we all ****ing know it will take some work... what the ? was will it be a light mod work or heavy mod work.. i know with my protege some civic / sentra front ends will go on the car with very little extra work... that is the point of this post.... if you have nothing truly helpful to add then dont sit her and flame the guy for asking a legitmate question... he answered the bolt on question himself i'm sure to avoid people hopping on and simply saying oh it won't just bolt on so buy a crappy / ricy looking mx3 kit saving money does you no good if you can't stand how your car looks

[Blindmelon]

I do appreciate feedback both positive and negative. That's why I posted instead of just going out and doing it. Basically what I was after was whether or not this idea was feasible because lets face it, there are some bodykits and pieces from other cars that just weren't meant to fit on certain other cars for whatever reason being size, shape blah blah... I have a feeling that I'll probably take a stab at making something from a Miata fit, and I'll definitely keep you guys posted. Any other thoughts or suggestions, don't be shy.

[Sonicxtacy02]

Just by looking at the pics i can say the front would be higher than stock, and the hood on the miata is shorter than an mx-3. We already know the connecting points wont match. So there are three pretty simple things to fix. Length really shouldnt be a problem.

[marshmallow15]

even if it'll be an easy fit, its still a hard task to do. so either way it'll be a hard project, especially if you're new at bodywork. and mazda78, learn how to use commas and periods wisely. reading your post is making my head hurt.

[Trevor]

The bottom of that Miata front looks like it's just an add on (a front lip)!? Why don't you see if you can get the lip on mold that on to ur stock front. That seems more logical.

[curtklze]

I have seen posts where some one used a civic front end, they said that it fit perfect, all they had to do was cut it along the top and graft on the upper part of the MX-3 bumper so it would fit the hood and lights properly, but the length width and hight were perfect.

[marshmallow15]

Originally posted by Eggo:
The bottom of that Miata front looks like it's just an add on (a front lip)!? Why don't you see if you can get the lip on mold that on to ur stock front. That seems more logical.

i would assume that molding a lip onto a bumper made for a different car would be much harder than just cutting two bumpers and putting them together.

[projectmx]

there is a post concerning cutting up two bumpers and putting them together... the way they were talking it was going to be difficult to make it stay very well....
.... seems like taking a lip and adding it shouldn't be too hard ... pinyo3 did it to his gen 2 protege with a jspec front end.. put a lip from another car and it looked great

[marshmallow15]

Originally posted by mazda78:
there is a post concerning cutting up two bumpers and putting them together... the way they were talking it was going to be difficult to make it stay very well....

that was my suggestion. as long as everything's done right, it'll last a very long time.