E Stock Miata

[TodB]

Hi F.A.S.T. members, I have a 1994 miata R w/150000 miles, runs good and looks good. I would like to make a competive SCCA E stock auto-x car. I know a lot of you have a lot of experience making miata's fast.
So far all I've done is buy some ajustable Konis and swapped the stock seats for stock 1999 seats. Any input would be helpful . Thanks Todb HK racing

[Loren]

You talking SCCA E-Stock?

If so, you need to put the original seats back in.

The hot stock class for the R-package used to be custom-valved Konis and... well, that's about it. As much camber as you can get in the rear, half a degree less in the front. Caster to make you happy, 5-6 degrees or more is possible, but steering is HEAVY with a manual rack... I found I liked less than 4 degrees, feather light, but almost no self-centering. (steer in, steer out!) Zero toe in the rear, and zero toe in front for street... but as much as 1/2" total front toe for autox (I knew guys who would just adjust one tie-rod when they changed their tires to get the toe out, then dial it back in for the street).

Not much you need to do to an R for stock class. You could do some option deletes to get the weight down. Remove AC if it has it, radio, speakers, but not much else. Factory R bar is 1mm larger than the standard one, as I recall. You might like a larger front bar depending on your driving style, but the car doesn't really "need" it.

You can do a cat-back exhaust and free up a very few horses. Hardly worth doing IMO.

Lightest factory-size wheels you can get (94-97 "hollow spokes" are around 11 pounds, 14" BBS are like 8.5 pounds) and the best rubber you can get to fit.

Then... drive it like you stole it!

I guess with a Miata that old, you should probably think about bushings. But, Spec Miata guys like to leave the "aged" stock bushings in because they are stiffish, sort of like poly bushings. DO consider a fresh set of factory bump stops, though. There used to be a couple different versions available, but I think the only ones you can get now are the "later" ones, which were the ones used on the R package. Stock sprung Miatas corner ON the bump stops, so this is important for good predictable handling.

What did I forget?

[TodB]

Thanks Porfessor,

I can only get -1.2deg. in the front, I had the rear at -1.9deg. and did not like it. But it may have been good if I had toe out in the front,that sounds like a winner Thanks !

Last time I had custom konis it took 3 months to get them back! But I will check that out .

I always drive like I stole it :shock:

Thanks HK-Racing Todb

[Jeremy]

S2000 too fast for you?

[Jamie]

I always drive like I stole it :shock:

According to the Sarasota police, there's a reason for that....

So I understand you sold the S2K? Or just loaning it out?

[Loren]

I can only get -1.2deg. in the front, I had the rear at -1.9deg.

Thats pretty typical.

and did not like it. But it may have been good if I had toe out in the front,that sounds like a winner

Be specific, what didn't you like about it?

Last time I had custom konis it took 3 months to get them back! But I will check that out .

As I recall, the hot setup was to degas them (if you've ever changed really old worn out Miata shocks with stockish replacements, you know that the gas pressure in the shocks can make the car ride 1/2-3/4" taller!), and give them about 20% more rebound damping than the standard Konis.

But, if you go with Koni, those guys will KNOW exactly how you need to be setup for a stock Miata.

I always drive like I stole it :shock:

I know you do!... and you know that's the most important part of the equation.

[TodB]

Be specific, what didn't you like about it?

I like a loose or over steer car , that helps to rotate the car to me. With -1.9deg camber in the rear it wanted to push or under steer. If it had .25deg toe out it may rotate better. It may take more than one try to get the car where I like it. Some people can make any car fast but I got to work at it.

So I understand you sold the S2K? Or just loaning it out

I sold the H.K. Honda to Bob Tamandli or should I say the Honda formerly as Helly Kitty Honda . Bob was looking for a car... I got one thats not driven much ....the deal was made. I'm sad to see it go but it went to a good home ... I ask Bob " Hey can I drive your new car sometime ? " His respnose was "hahaha heck NO ! "

S2000 too fast for you?

Anyone can be fast in a S2000 ........ it takes real skill to be fast in a Miata

[Loren]

I like a loose or over steer car , that helps to rotate the car to me. With -1.9deg camber in the rear it wanted to push or under steer.

Gotcha. Yeah, the typically recommended camber "split" is .5 degrees more in the rear. If you were running .7 degrees more, that was way too much. If you like the car loose, you might even want more like .4 or .3. (and some people have been known to run equal camber all around... it all depends on the rest of your setup and your driving style)

I'd set the rear to about -1.8 and try like hell to coax a little more camber out of the front. Reducing caster will free up some static camber in the front, btw. You should be able to get to -1.4 in the front if your alignment tech knows what he's doing and tries really hard... and nothing's bent.

Anyone can be fast in a S2000 ........ it takes real skill to be fast in a Miata

Do I need to say it?

[Jamie]

You should be able to get to -1.4 in the front if your alignment tech knows what he's doing....

We need to get Dan and a good alignment rack in the same shop again.