Thought I'd put up some pictures of the miata since I haven't yet. Bought it a couple months ago and have been preparing it for autocross. Sunday was the first Indy Region event, would have been its first time out, but the event got cancelled half way through due to lightning. Frankly once the rain started my day was over cause my race tires won't work in the rain. However changing back to street wheels/tires in the pouring rain wasn't fun either.
Here are a few from Day 1 to as it sits now.
Day1: Car is a 1990 Miata. Bought it from a guy 15 minutes away. Sold the Cavalier for the same price I purchased the miata the very next morning. Car had some pretty bad oil leaks. First two weeks it was on jack stands while I fixed those issues.
Fixed the crankshaft with loctite, yeah, that's how miata guys roll
Installed a new top as well
Did some ricer mods, aka painted the valve cover black, the intake was on there when I bought it, apparently it's some $155 K/N setup, frankly whoever thought installing an intake that sits right on top of the headers was a good idea really amazes me. That will be replaced soon.
Race wheels and tires. Shaved Bridgestone re-01r's on Rota Slipstreams. These will be replaced with new shaved re-11's by the time the national tour rolls around.
Oh HAi! there Mr. Honda
Indy Region SCCA Annual Tech Inspections / Dyno Day
And yes that is a 2.0l S2000 motor in that D-Mod Lotus 7
Trying not the break the dyno , the timing was apparently waaaay too advanced, I was running regular unleaded and the car was knocking baaad the first run. The next one we turned down the timing and gained 3 more hp. I finally set the timing to where I wanted it at home and started running premium the car runs A LOT better now, probably right at 100hp now.
As it sits now. Ground Control coilovers installed. 600lb springs in the front and 400lb in the rear. It's at a 13in ride height right now. So I can stay off the bumpstops, the progressive spring rate of the bump stops really effs you up if you hit them mid turn in an autocross. I might lower it a bit more once I get better bumpstops, but my spring rates arent high enough to get it much lower and stay off the bumpstops, we will see these cars apparently due weird things if you go too low, camber curves get all screwy. Oh and put on the Mazda Contingency Decals and my buddy's company. There will be some more stickers going on soon. I know I'm a ricer, but I don't mind. Also installed an Ultrashield Pro Road Race seat on the drivers side, the passenger seat is an Ultrashield Rally Sport seat, but it's not mounted in the picture just put it in for the picture which is why it's so much lower. Also running a 7lb jet ski battery. Woot
And Finally how it looked sunday before the rain hit.
__________________
2009 Honda Civic Si
1990 Mazda Miata
My wife had a 92 Miata. I borrowed it one sunny day in Texas and on the way home was in a 45mph collision that totaled the Miata. An older lady pulled out in front of me and came to a dead stop to make a left hand turn. I never even touched the brakes. The car performed excellent. The engine mounts sheared and the front of the Miata absorbed all the impact. I was wearing a seatbelt (non-airbag car) and walked away. The lady I hit was almost killed. She didn't have on a seatbelt and hit the windshield. A very bad wreck in rush hour traffic.
Enjoy your miata and be assured it will take alot of punishment. If I had been in my old 73 MGB that day...I wouldn't be here now.
Also, I did the FIPK intake on mine. Wrapped the headers with header tape from JEGS and someone was selling a shield that bolted between the filter and header pipes to reflect the heat. Not really a good way to do a CAI on that one, but I have seen some hood intakes that help direct air onto the filter that look really good and are effective on the Miata.
Good Luck!!
__________________ 2002 BMW 330XI
1988 Porsche 944
My wife had a 92 Miata. I borrowed it one sunny day in Texas and on the way home was in a 45mph collision that totaled the Miata. An older lady pulled out in front of me and came to a dead stop to make a left hand turn. I never even touched the brakes. The car performed excellent. The engine mounts sheared and the front of the Miata absorbed all the impact. I was wearing a seatbelt (non-airbag car) and walked away. The lady I hit was almost killed. She didn't have on a seatbelt and hit the windshield. A very bad wreck in rush hour traffic.
Enjoy your miata and be assured it will take alot of punishment. If I had been in my old 73 MGB that day...I wouldn't be here now.
Also, I did the FIPK intake on mine. Wrapped the headers with header tape from JEGS and someone was selling a shield that bolted between the filter and header pipes to reflect the heat. Not really a good way to do a CAI on that one, but I have seen some hood intakes that help direct air onto the filter that look really good and are effective on the Miata.
Good Luck!!
Nice good to know. I'm going to be putting a jackson racing header on, with header wrap, and a racing beat intake, and then probably having a shop build the rest of it.
__________________
2009 Honda Civic Si
1990 Mazda Miata
Some pics from Indy Region points event #3 at Grissom Airforce Base in Peru, Indiana I'll be at a divisional in Toledo on Sunday then doing some last minute prep for the National Tour at Grissom next week. All while working and doing summer school classes.
Here's some of the autocross trailer as well. I get a lot of funny looks between the copious amount of stickers and the trailer.
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2009 Honda Civic Si
1990 Mazda Miata
"Girl Car Content" - WAIT - I thought the Z3 Roadster was the girlie-car...
Nice job with the Miatta. Be safe and glad to hear they've taken some punishment and you're doing some safety upgrades as those cars have always scared me as to safety. I hope the weather improves next time out so you can run her.
__________________ 2005 Dinan ///M3-S3R - 6-speed, Dinan SC, intercooler & more. 0-60 in 4.23. 473 whp, 330 lb-ft torque. 2002 Z3 Roadster 2.5i - VF Supercharger, 5-speed, coilover kit, Brembo BBK, & more. Turkey ///M Car Fleet Commander
TINA FAN CLUB PRESIDENT
Last edited by RoadsterMadness : 07-27-2009 at 01:43 PM.
Thanks for the comments guys. The car is a blast. Recently put a big front sway bar on the front and a pimp header. The A/C, radio/speakers, and power steering have also been taken out. Over the winter I'm going to find another motor to rebuild probably get the head done by a local race shop, and have the block cleaned up. Also will be sending the shocks to koni to be revalved and will probably get stiffer springs all around. Maybe if I have the money get a megasquirt and a tune. The megasquirt ecu is something that has only recently been made available to the miata in the class I race it in, I have a feeling most people will have it next year so i don't want to be left out.
To answer your question I'm still into bmw's and I'm still a fan. The miata however is a great cheap fun autocross car and I see myself having a lot of fun with it for the next couple years.
__________________
2009 Honda Civic Si
1990 Mazda Miata
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