'90 Mazdaspeed Miata Rallycross Project

Are you going to bring your tools with you to NTR so we can install the shocks morning-of?

I'll have to get them in Friday night. Otherwise I would be driving to NTR on my pieces of 4x4.

It shouldn't take more than an hour or two to get them in. Everything else is ready, just need to put the springs and mounts on and put them on the car. Of course now that I said that nothing will go right.

I crossthreaded three fasteners when slamming my new transmission in yesterday, and then found out that this one sounds like a garbage disposal instead of a drill, but it doesn't have the 5th gear shudder and it doesn't pop out of gear, at least. I give it until July before it explodes...

So I guess never tempt fate. Fate loves a challenge and has much more experience than you.

In reply to Knurled: Empty garbage disposal hopefully.

Nothing better than the sound of a garbage disposal with a spoon in it.

The garbage disposal with a spoon in it was from the rallycross that saw Draco's WRX shed both of its bumpers. Chris, I believe you heard that one when I was idling just before leaving, had a lovely clank-clank-clank even just sitting in neutral.

I'd rate it as garbage disposal full of water and potato peels. Nobody dumped a plate of ribs down in there yet.

Good news, it's apparently July!

Time flies! Are you still coming tomorrow?

I love rallycross prep.

I love waiting by the front door for my shocks to arrive.

The mental image of you pacing back and forth and grumbling about stupid delivery drivers is making me giggle.

I've resorted to watching motor trend YouTube videos while glancing out the window every minute.

Just heard a truck drive up but it was FedEx for the neighbors. I need ups!

Did they come yet?

No.

I see the truck!

Stop posting! Go work on the car!

EvanB wrote: Time flies! Are you still coming tomorrow?

Yep. I wasn't planning on competing in my car anyway, because I really don't want to hurt the engine any more than it is. Right now it should be one rotor housing and hard seals and slam it back together, but if it FODs then it gets a lot more expensive.

But I HAVE to be there because wheels. Wheels needed for my new car to be one step closer to finished. RX-7 is my only running, driving car, so I have to make a new car before I pull this one apart.

Shocks are on, just need to torque everything down and adjust the clutch.

So are they all shockey and stuff? Did you drive it yet?

Drove it for the first time since November, had it on the ground by 8. The shocks seem a bit shockey, I just went around the block since it was getting dark and I haven't perfected the lighting. It is either an amazing car or I just have low expectations from driving a clapped out Volvo for the past 5 months.

I may have gone a bit long on the rear bumpstops. I eyeballed it and cut some long ones down. When I got the car on the ground I noticed that when the shocks are compressed 90% of the bump travel is bumpstop. I'll see how it feels tomorrow. At least it is better than no bumpstops.

EvanB wrote: It is either an amazing car or I just have low expectations from driving a clapped out Volvo for the past five months.

Automotive poetry.

My newest (untested) theory of suspension setup says that 100% of bump travel should be bumpstop. So, while I can't say that you're on or off the mark, I will be curious to hear your impressions.

Well, it overheats. I was hoping I would be OK with the new fans and radiator shroud but no luck. Time to put the radiator ducting back in.

With the long bumpstops in the back it hits very hard but doesn't bounce or get upset. I may try shorter bumpstops to soften the rear end a bit and see if the revalved shocks can keep it in check.

Overall a decent first event. I had a codriver who was much faster than me as codrivers often are. I took the hood of for the second heat (roadkill style) but it still got hot and took a bit to cool down after each run.

And here you had me thinking that he beat you in his Porsche...