Post by chomtt on Aug 4, 2006 16:04:54 GMT -5
Hello all another newbie to correct and yell at to go search. Bare with me this might get a bit long, but its going somewhere.
Names Tom, a youngin compared to most of the Miata crowed (23), but I quickly picked up my love for this car. Learned to drive as a ricer in my Integra, bought myself a TT stealth, upped the snail size and supporting mods and for most intensive purposes learned to be a mechanic (Mitsubishi making everyday people mechanics since ww2
) . Stealth got some time up at sears point when I lived in norcal, but became a weekend car since its not reliable. I moved back to San Diego, moved to Escondido and the night after I did my 130k tune-up the Integra got stolen and totaled. I only had 4k for a new car. Wanted a lightweight balanced rwd manual roadster, and couldn’t think of a better match in my price range. Dad used to own a Sprite and I always wanted one, but the mx5s reliability and mpg had me sold.
I purchased my 91 red Mazda Mouseshoe with hardtop for 3.8k 4 months ago.
I feel comfortable in this car, but I want to be able to push her harder. Whether or not you agree snap over steer is a real phenomena or just driver incompetence, I don’t think many will argue there is a hell of a lot of body roll on the older stock models and it is not hard to induce this “snapping” effect. I am hoping tightening the body will resolve this issue, and I can come out of a slide without worrying I am going to go flying off the other side of the road. Even better, I don’t slide unless I really want to. I have been spending many nights reading miata.net and learning. This is also my daily driver now and with high mileage my focus is on handling over speed. Plus for the first time I really want to place my driving ability over blowing by people in the straights. I’ve yet to post, but I think I am ready to suggest a setup and would appreciate some input.
---------
struts are old.. might be orig. at over 150k I need to be doing them. I was thinking the KYB’s are plenty good for me, and I don’t mind a bumpy ride. Many seem to be running level 3 all around, I saw one guy with 3 in rear, 4 in front to help reduce under steer from his sway bar. Something I suppose I will just have to play with to find what suits me.
I’m not sold on the idea of shock mounts. The car is old, and im going to lower it.. But seriously. Is it worth it?
Springs I am unsure on.. The H&R’s and Intrax I have been very pleased with on other cars.. Teins did nothing for me, then again, different cars, different response. This is also less of a drop then those sold by FM. At the same time, FM has a pretty good deal if you buy them all together. Ideas?? Input?
Chassis looks like it was well taken care of.. I think I can get those FM frame rails on without much backache. It seems most are very pleased with the improvement it offers. Please let me know if you think otherwise, I don’t want to add much weight, but these seem worth it.
Sway bars. I think I have decided on the Addco bars since all the others I have read have complained of under steer from too much rigidity. No complaints I’ve found and a decent price.
I bought some decent kuhmo’s for the rear with Junkers in the front. I would like to get myself something stickier, but I am not too concerned as I am keeping power stock and improving handling. I have seen a huge range of alignment setups and since I don’t need to be blowing through rubber I think only a degree of neg. camber past stock to the rear will suite me well.
Roll bar- I drive like an asshat, so I should probably be considering one of these. So many options. Is it better to stiffen the car here, or through the strut towers in the trunk? Also don’t really want to ditch my spare tire.
----The fm package looks great. But I’ve learned better to take a salesman’s word for everything its worth. I am trying hard to do this project right, as I have made some expensive mistakes on past ones. Should I just give in and stop trying to mix and match the best setup. Or is this the best setup?
---Finally- My engine looks beautiful, or did. IT was cleaned very well, but I don’t know if something corrosive was used. I have blown 2 coolant lines at the clamp since driving this car. Easy fixes, but I don’t know if it is over pressurized, it was the cleaner, or its just 16 years old. Is this common? I run the car hard, and you all know its freakin hot, but the car hasn’t been overheating as long as its filled.
Please if you have any suggestions or alterations, throw them at me.
I look foward to meeting some of you, a run up palomar mnt would be a good time.
thanks
Names Tom, a youngin compared to most of the Miata crowed (23), but I quickly picked up my love for this car. Learned to drive as a ricer in my Integra, bought myself a TT stealth, upped the snail size and supporting mods and for most intensive purposes learned to be a mechanic (Mitsubishi making everyday people mechanics since ww2
) . Stealth got some time up at sears point when I lived in norcal, but became a weekend car since its not reliable. I moved back to San Diego, moved to Escondido and the night after I did my 130k tune-up the Integra got stolen and totaled. I only had 4k for a new car. Wanted a lightweight balanced rwd manual roadster, and couldn’t think of a better match in my price range. Dad used to own a Sprite and I always wanted one, but the mx5s reliability and mpg had me sold.I purchased my 91 red Mazda Mouseshoe with hardtop for 3.8k 4 months ago.
I feel comfortable in this car, but I want to be able to push her harder. Whether or not you agree snap over steer is a real phenomena or just driver incompetence, I don’t think many will argue there is a hell of a lot of body roll on the older stock models and it is not hard to induce this “snapping” effect. I am hoping tightening the body will resolve this issue, and I can come out of a slide without worrying I am going to go flying off the other side of the road. Even better, I don’t slide unless I really want to. I have been spending many nights reading miata.net and learning. This is also my daily driver now and with high mileage my focus is on handling over speed. Plus for the first time I really want to place my driving ability over blowing by people in the straights. I’ve yet to post, but I think I am ready to suggest a setup and would appreciate some input.
---------
struts are old.. might be orig. at over 150k I need to be doing them. I was thinking the KYB’s are plenty good for me, and I don’t mind a bumpy ride. Many seem to be running level 3 all around, I saw one guy with 3 in rear, 4 in front to help reduce under steer from his sway bar. Something I suppose I will just have to play with to find what suits me.
I’m not sold on the idea of shock mounts. The car is old, and im going to lower it.. But seriously. Is it worth it?
Springs I am unsure on.. The H&R’s and Intrax I have been very pleased with on other cars.. Teins did nothing for me, then again, different cars, different response. This is also less of a drop then those sold by FM. At the same time, FM has a pretty good deal if you buy them all together. Ideas?? Input?
Chassis looks like it was well taken care of.. I think I can get those FM frame rails on without much backache. It seems most are very pleased with the improvement it offers. Please let me know if you think otherwise, I don’t want to add much weight, but these seem worth it.
Sway bars. I think I have decided on the Addco bars since all the others I have read have complained of under steer from too much rigidity. No complaints I’ve found and a decent price.
I bought some decent kuhmo’s for the rear with Junkers in the front. I would like to get myself something stickier, but I am not too concerned as I am keeping power stock and improving handling. I have seen a huge range of alignment setups and since I don’t need to be blowing through rubber I think only a degree of neg. camber past stock to the rear will suite me well.
Roll bar- I drive like an asshat, so I should probably be considering one of these. So many options. Is it better to stiffen the car here, or through the strut towers in the trunk? Also don’t really want to ditch my spare tire.
----The fm package looks great. But I’ve learned better to take a salesman’s word for everything its worth. I am trying hard to do this project right, as I have made some expensive mistakes on past ones. Should I just give in and stop trying to mix and match the best setup. Or is this the best setup?
---Finally- My engine looks beautiful, or did. IT was cleaned very well, but I don’t know if something corrosive was used. I have blown 2 coolant lines at the clamp since driving this car. Easy fixes, but I don’t know if it is over pressurized, it was the cleaner, or its just 16 years old. Is this common? I run the car hard, and you all know its freakin hot, but the car hasn’t been overheating as long as its filled.
Please if you have any suggestions or alterations, throw them at me.
I look foward to meeting some of you, a run up palomar mnt would be a good time.
thanks