2002 Miata Project

[concealer404]

AJ, you need this.

http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/forumid/65/threadid/408046/scope/posts

 

[AJ]

Big thanks to Dan & Hayden today for helping out with the roll bar! There is no way to do this without helping hands, wow is it a task!

Couple pics of current state, all bolted in:

 

[JohnnyT]

Looking good!

 

[AJ]

I have to admit, with this added, the suspension in, I can see this car doubling in fun value once I get some real tire on the car and add some power. Dan and I tried talking Hayden into "borrowing" (lol) his RS3s for the Caterbury weekend on 9/10 &9/11.

 

[AJ]

Small update. I picked up a modified slider for aftermarket seats to bolt right into the Miata as well as now have one onf my 2 planned sets of tires on the way this year.

 

[AJ]

This is what the car looks like today

The current mods are just an intense upgrade in the suspension. Full XIDA Club Sport coilovers (750/400 spring rates) with the dual spring system. The TRMotorsports C1M's (15x7) are now wrapped in 195/50/15 Toyo R1Rs while the 205/50R-15 Kumho Ecsta SPTs sit in the garage for daily duty when the summer months are over.

I also have a set of 949 Racing 6ULs in black (15x9) waiting for some 225/45/15 Hankook RS3s to arrive. The 4th set of tires awaiting duty this year is a set of Hoosier A6 225/45/15s. Just waiting to find wheels for those. Other than that, I have a FSB fulling installed, end links on the way, and the car is currently fully aligned and corner balanced. I LOVED driving it today. This is nearly my favorite car I have ever owned, and I've owned my share.

 

[escort1991]

This car looks pretty badass.

 

[AJ]

Thanks!

And what should be the final mods of the year (only things I'd do this year yet would be wheels for slicks, STB, and video system), new drivers seat, harness bar, and harness are on the way.

Went with the G-Froce 5-point camlock setup, and a Momo Start seat. All of which could make it here before the week's up for the May 20th event. This also completes the car and put it legal for every track event I can think of that I'd do with it. As far as safety goes... I'm good.

 

[AJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hNUzho_Tr0

Good video of the car during M1 - Tom, find the GAP!

 

[AJ]

current status: 225/45/15 Hankook RS3s mounted on 15x9 949 Racing 6ULS.

Car goes in for adjustable end links tomorrow and will have a final review of the setup before CVSCC's auto x in WI sunday.

 

[mndsm]

Wheels could probably be at least 1/2" more flush and then you could get 235's on it.

 

[AJ]

Car was super fun this weekend and I had a new co-driver for this event. Got smoked by a solid 2 seconds which really shows that the car is competitive in it's current trim and I have a lot of work on driving. I was very consistant from the start though. My first run of the day would of been my best had i not tagged one cone.

 

[YSOSLO]

Srsly....this car looks so badass in the rear and so wimpy from the front (sorry, just not a fan of the front of this particular generation). If I saw this thing coming up behind me I be shaking my head, yet seeing it from behind...I'd be afraid to go up against it, and I'd probably feel that way even if my car wasn't as slow as I know it is...lol Great job turning this toy into a real racer, AJ!

(p.s. lots of broken picture links on page 1 of this thread that would be cool to see again)

 

[007CobaltLS]

Would love to see all those pics since I never got to see them in the first place.

 

[AJ]

This is going to be brought back to life. I've decided to keep the car for at least another season and will be starting some winter plans. Going into next year I will have the following for tires set up:

1 set of Toyo R1Rs
2 sets of Hankooks RS3s
1 set of Kumos

Tires, check, enough for not only local events, but as of right now I'll have Mr. Dizzle as a co-driver for the 2013 season and we'll be taking on the competition at larger regional events and then also going to Nationals.

In addition the car will see some dress up as I begin to take some things off for powercoating and will see power mods, LSD, and tuning with a potential shift to corn fuel. My goal it to get this car dyno'd at 130hp at the wheels. It was at 113 this fall at the dyno day.

 

[Adam777]

Nice. Pretty simliar goals as me. I've go Steve co-driving, I'll be trying to hit at least one regional and also hit nationals, work schedule permitting. Also re-doing the suspension and hoping to get over 120 hp at the wheels.

What are you powdercoating?

 

[AJ]

I'll be doing a set of my wheels, and possibly the roll bar, though i may pull that out of the car for weight savings if I dedicate the car to 100% auto x. Form there just some dress up under the hood. And I need to read the rules more about doing something like an intake.

I like the fact we get to keep the pixie dust tire as well.

 

[Adam777]

I have a few events left in my Toyos and I hope they last me long enough to figure out if the Toyo is still the hot tire. Lots of good potential coming down the pipe. Should be fun to see shake out.

I would recommend against powdercoating the 6ULs and go for paint if those are the ones you are changing color. 949 highly recommends that you don't powdercoat them and voids the warranty if they are. I'd stick with paint personally.

FYI, if you haven't seen it, there is a thread going on Miata.net right now discussing legal STR intakes for the NB. It's in the autocross forum under the "Driving" forum.

 

[AJ]

i would PC my TRM wheels that I have for my toyos, I love the 6ULS as it, woudn't touch those.

I'm gonna go check out the intake thread, thanks!

This weekend I'll finish tucking the car away for the winter since i don't need it streetable any longer and pull the exahust, intake, and rear end off.