Matt in CO Race Build #130

[mdizz7]

Apr 6, 2015 0:05:09 GMT mazdaracer said:

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.

Thanks! that is great input. That's very interesting, the issues you're having with the 8" wheels. I didn't even consider that running wider wheels with spacers would have that much effect on the dampening but the additional leverage point makes sense. I'll be running 15x8 -12mm offset or -19mm offset so I think I'll be in the same situation. I was considering putting stiffer springs in but didn't really think of swapping out the sway bar. What sway bar are you running or what sway bar would you recommend?

[mazdaracer]

Apr 6, 2015 1:04:32 GMT mdizz7 said:

Apr 6, 2015 0:05:09 GMT mazdaracer said:

Thanks! that is great input. That's very interesting, the issues you're having with the 8" wheels. I didn't even consider that running wider wheels with spacers would have that much effect on the dampening but the additional leverage point makes sense. I'll be running 15x8 -12mm offset or -19mm offset so I think I'll be in the same situation. I was considering putting stiffer springs in but didn't really think of swapping out the sway bar. What sway bar are you running or what sway bar would you recommend?

I started with a solid 22 mm (.87 in), thinking the lighter car would not need the same bar as my full body car, but now I have the solid 25mm (.94 in) one off my 96 Miata. I think stock is .75 inch (19mm). The larger bar stopped a lot of the tripoding. No bar in the rear.

[dietcoke]

The larger bars just allow for more traction transfer. To be honest, you can run a larger bar on a lighter car then a smaller car if the rest stays the same - since you are much less likely to lose all traction on any given corner.

[mdizz7]

Said farewell to the body and the garage got a little bigger.

[einy]

Now the REAL fun begins!

[gwnwar]

Next Gunk and pressure washer for the whole thing. Makes working easier..

[mdizz7]

Well, got the skateboard cleaned (at least round one, Engine will definitely see the pressure washer again) and discovered a leak at the valve cover. Took it off and found I needed to scrape 2 sets of gaskets off the head. Plug wells were full of oil and a leak in the rear of the head. After some cleanup, new gasket, MSD wires, new plugs, and a coat of VHT Cast Iron paint worth at least 10-15 hp for sure . It's stating to look good. I inspected the timing belt and it looks almost new so I decided not to worry about it for now. Next on the list is shifter rebuild kit, brakes, bushings and start painting the control arms and subframes.

[mdizz7]

Anther chassis find a good home Time to get to work!!

[mdizz7]

Been a few weeks but keeping busy and making progress. The chassis is painted, rear brake line is run, gas tank is mounted, steering and pedals are mounted. Next is to route the fuel lines and wrap up the brakes and clutch.  NRG Steering wheel and quick release will be arriving next week. Wheels are on back order but I'm in no rush. Looking forward to seeing how it looks with the wider wheels and tires with -12mm offset. If anyone is curious I'm getting the Bassett lightweight steel racing wheels 15x8 4" offset. 17lbs and ~$80 each. That way it I bend one or get some road rash it's easily replaced.





Mounted the gas tank using:

4 - 3/8" coupling nuts
8 - 3/8" Grade 8 bolts
16 - 3/8" fender washers

[mdizz7]

Wanted to throw this up there in case anyone is looking at wheels that use backspacing vs offset. I'm going with 15x8 with4" backspacing which is equivalent to -12mm offset. 

[mdizz7]

Quick update of the build. Got wheels and tires this weekend, fuel lines and brake lines are done. New steering wheel, and quick release (NRG) mounted, and pedals mounted. I have a new radiator coming next week so I can get that wrapped up and then start wiring. 

Quick question about fuel lines. I ran the return and feed lines. For the canister vent I plugged the intake vent and was planning on putting a canister at the back for the tank to vent. That way I don't have to run the third fuel line.  Any ideas if not having a vent at the intake will cause any issues?


Here's some pics with the wheels and tires. Wheels are 15x8 lightweight Basset racing wheels. I wighed them on my bathroom scale and they are 17lbs. Wrapped them in Dunlop Direzza DZ102's 205/50. Need to paint the weights and hubs but I like the way they turned out.

[mdizz7]

Wow it's been forever since I posted. Things have been going along smoothly. Started at the back and moving forward. The rear is done, fuel pipe cut down and rear tank cover mounted. Completed the wing this evening. Fabbed up a wiring tray and currently working on getting everything tucked away. Soon I'll mount the hood and get the exhaust sorted. Hoping to start the registration process in February and get this thing on the road! Here's a few pics of the progress.

Custom Wiring tray




Hazard and USB hub




Tank Cover and Tail Lights and Fuel Filler


Head Lights - 4.5 inch motorcycle headlights. DOT approved and uses h4 bulbs





56" Aluminum Megan Racing Wing ($800+ wasn't in the budget) with Exomotive APR mouints. --Needed to move the mounts and orders some 4" radius rods for the adjustment/supports.



Threw the hood on back in Sept to get an idea of the final result.

[thestig]

Do you have any more pictures of the wing on the car? Also what did you end up using for the fuel filler?

The car looks great.

[gl21133]

What'd you end up doing with the fuel lines?

[mdizz7]

Jan 20, 2016 17:43:28 GMT thestig said:

Do you have any more pictures of the wing on the car? Also what did you end up using for the fuel filler?

The car looks great.

Thanks! Been crazy busy with work but I'll try to get some more pictures of the wing while I'm in the garage today.