Pics of the dp?

 

Pictars by the handful.























I spent Saturday creating additional heat shielding out of aluminum plate. I did some yesterday as well. After a 30 minute drive, I'm very happy with the differences in heat between the hot and cold sides of the shielding. It is dramatic.

Sunday I built the smaller heatshield. It has a 90* bend at the bottom and goes up under the heater hoses to protect them from underneath.

Note the slovenly downpipe action.

 

Quick summary recap:

The Miata started as an upgrade from my well worn FC RX7, but it just didn't handle well out of the box. And my business was suffering a downturn in '07 when I acquired it so I didn't do much in the way of modifications initially. When I couldn't stand it anymore I started making changes.

I installed a Mishimoto 52mm radiator, an ACT HDSS clutch upgrade, braided clutch line, and Hawk brake pads. Pleased with the results, I continued to watch for good deals on useful parts for the eventual jump to turbo. I bought a blown up '93 turbo parts car, some manifolds, used turbos, injectors, and other goodies along the way. Money got even tighter as I took a pay cut in addition to my commissions drying up, so I denied myself the pleasure of upgrading for awhile, but was still able to sponsor Miatas at the Lake 2010 up at the lake house to try and enjoy some camaraderie with my Miata brethren.

During the summer of 2011 I decided I had neglected my desire to get out on the track for long enough and started down the road of preparing my car. I bought a used Hard Dog rollbar, used Bilsteins off CL, some Kirkey seats off craigslist, used FM sways, and a pretty new set of harnesses.

Getting onto Sebring with NASA was even more fun than I had hoped for and caused me to invest in some used 450lb front springs and 275 rears. Road Atlanta only showed me I needed more powah, so I installed a used MS1 built by Brain, installed a chinese 2870 turbo, used FM manifold, and the intercooler and 3 inch exhaust from that old '93 turbo parts car I had stripped.

Between selling parts off of the parts car and scrounging wherever a cheap part could be found, I have pieced together a reasonably well behaved turbo Miata. Just today I upgraded to 550/350lb springs and did some radiator ducting and heat shielding work in preparation for the next big track day at Sebring in two weeks.

 

how are the 550/350? what sway bars are you running?

 

Awesome Six! I agree with the lack of power. Mid Ohio was pretty frustrating. Everyone was hitting 130 - 150+ on the long straight that I was doing about 110 - 115.

Man I can't wait, next month is my first even of the season!

 

when did you go to mid ohio?

 

Last fall with Nasa. I was there for the Championships albeit, I'm just an HPDE still. I want to try to get my comp license at the end of this year if I can.

 

next time your out there, let me know. im about a an hours drive from the track.

 

They are fine. I really can't say that they are any different than the 450/275 combo other than the rear end doesn't travel quite as far when going over undulations in the road at higher speed. It feels more controlled. It travels a bit less under compression due to the spring rate being stronger and the Bilsteins handle it all in stride.

I am running the Flyin' Miata sway bars front and rear. It was very neutral previously. I'm looking forward to trying them out. I may need to adjust my sways a little for balance as necessary.

For those of you just now following my progress, the factory '00 Hard S Bilsteins are awesome with stronger springs than stock.

For anyone else that is interested in picking up a set and converting to coilovers, here's a quickie lesson.

You need to remove this collar.



Then you will see this little tab that you will carefully need to grind off.





Then you need to add something to take up the space so things don't rattle. I like tape.



Then slip over the adjusters.



And then the 2.5 inch wide springs. These are the 450lb/inch springs that are 8 inches long. My new springs are 550lb/in 7 inch in front and 350lb/in 7 inch rear.



Well, that's the tough part.


Yeah, I was catching beemers, and assorted eurotrash in the corners but not able to keep up on the exit as we broke out onto the straights. No keepy-uppy, no pointy-by. And it sucked. It sucks to be a better driver with a better designed and prepared car and not get your point by. No longer. Turbo fired vengeance is mine in a week and a half.

 

I installed a little black turbo blanket from CXRacing tonight. Heat management will be the deal breaker on twenty minute track sessions at 90*F plus. We'll see if this one is any good.