Matt in CO Race Build #130

[mdizz7]

Hey Everyone, I've been looking for a donor for the last few months and finally brought one home. 94 with LSD. It was a 300 mile round trip journey but I finally have a car in the garage to start tearing into.

Just a quick intro, I'm from Denver, CO (born and raised) and spent my most my life traveling around the mid west with my Family racing. My Dad raced 410 and 360 Sprint Cars for 25+ years and I raced 600cc mini sprints (asphalt and dirt) for 4. Needless to say setting up a car to do more then make left turns might be a challenge but I'm looking forward to the project. I have a few ideas for the car so will see if a little circle track DNA is added to the build

[mdizz7]

So after feeling like this for a few months



Here's the result





And my son starting disassembly

[gl21133]

Pics aren't working for me.

[ImprobableConstruct]

Pictures are showing for me.

[mdizz7]

Mar 22, 2015 17:07:46 GMT gl21133 said:

Pics aren't working for me.

Adjusted the links so you should be able to see them.

[gl21133]

Got em now.

[BTD]

Matt, I'm here in Denver too (DTC). Let me know if you'd ever like to come by and see the frame/build or if you want to lend a helping hand!

[mdizz7]

Mar 23, 2015 5:59:46 GMT BTD said:

Matt, I'm here in Denver too (DTC). Let me know if you'd ever like to come by and see the frame/build or if you want to lend a helping hand!

Thanks Dan, I'd love to come by. Shoot me a PM with your info and I'll get in touch. Have you separated the body yet on your build?

[mdizz7]

Let the tear down begin....

[mdizz7]

Quick question for everyone out there. I've been looking for a few days searching forums etc. and I'm struggling a bit with what coilovers to get. The shocks in my donor are pretty well shot so I figured I'd upgrade. I'm not interested in paying $1000+ for Xidas or anything fancy but don't want a pile of s*** either.

I've been looking at Yokana coils (HERE) but they seem pretty new and couldn't find much around about them. New springs are easy enough through Summit for the proper spring rate it needed. VMAXX is ok but a little pricer then what I'm wanting (and on backorder through FM). This will be mainly street with a couple autocrosses and maybe 1 track day every year so I'm not building a full blown track car. Any suggestions circa the $500 budget range?


I'm also not opposed to making my own coil overs but not even sure what shock to start with. I thought about AGX and throwing coils on those but I read they don't work well unless you use stock springs.

[mdizz7]

Tear down is going quicker then I thought. Wiring harness is out and labeled, just fuel lines, sway bars, and a few odd and ends underneath and the body will be ready to take off.  The donor has been very impressive, no rust, rusty bolts or corosion to speak of (sorry UK guys). Cruising right along in this build. Too bad I won't see my chassis until July. But at least I will have plenty of time to get all the maintenance items, paint and upgrades done before it gets here. 

A couple pics of the disassembly

[BTD]

Matt,

I liked how we did it with my donor. Leave the lines attached to the PPF and just raise the body up off it. Super easy and keeps the lines where they need to be.

[mdizz7]

Awesome. Glad that worked. I'll do the same on mine. Tank is now drained, few more bolts and she'll be ready to separate

[BTD]

If you need an engine hoist you're welcome to use mine!

[mazdaracer]

Mar 28, 2015 3:01:47 GMT mdizz7 said:

Quick question for everyone out there. I've been looking for a few days searching forums etc. and I'm struggling a bit with what coilovers to get. The shocks in my donor are pretty well shot so I figured I'd upgrade. I'm not interested in paying $1000+ for Xidas or anything fancy but don't want a pile of s*** either.

I've been looking at Yokana coils (HERE) but they seem pretty new and couldn't find much around about them. New springs are easy enough through Summit for the proper spring rate it needed. VMAXX is ok but a little pricer then what I'm wanting (and on backorder through FM). This will be mainly street with a couple autocrosses and maybe 1 track day every year so I'm not building a full blown track car. Any suggestions circa the $500 budget range?


I'm also not opposed to making my own coil overs but not even sure what shock to start with. I thought about AGX and throwing coils on those but I read they don't work well unless you use stock springs.

Here is what I know. I am using Bilsteins that were on the donor. No leaks, but perhaps many miles? They appear to be the same version on a Spec Miata kit. I have 230 lbs springs on the front and 200 on the rear (50 dollar ebay.). I had to add a 1 inch spacer on the front to level the car. I do not have the spring spacers from Exomotive. Rides well on the street. I have driven Genes Exocet with the heaver Flyin Miata Vmaxx shocks and he also had another brand. His car is definitely stiffer, but he has several other modification that I do not have. Exomotive and our overseas friends recommend 350 in the front and 225-250 in the rear. My car felt great on 7 inch wheels with no spacers(standard Miata). Once I went to the 8 inch wheel and 1.5 inch spacers it appears I need more dampening or more spring due to the increased leverage? The wheels over respond to any surface change and appear to oscillate at times. I have tuned out some of this issue with a tire pressure adjustment and a front sway bar change. I also do not like the change in the steering feel/response with these spacers, but getting use to it. One problem you will find is many of the aftermarket shocks have a larger barrel and will hit the upper arm without the Exomotive spring spacers. Hopefully we can get a few other to respond on what they bought and their feedback.