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Old 02-19-2013, 02:16 PM
  #661  
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how about this: you send me what I need to build one, I'll put it together, test it out, and ill let you know if I want to pay for it or not after my 5 year trial.
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Old 02-19-2013, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by cordycord
I visited a friend yesterday who is doing a "resto-mod" to his fastback Mustang. I told him that the Catfish kit price was $13,900, and he told me that he paid more than that for just his Mustang suspension.
Your friend must be using Detroit Speed parts or equivalent.

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Old 02-19-2013, 04:05 PM
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First off, let me tell you, crow is pretty tasty with proper seasoning. I just finished a portion.

Props to you for bringing this to market at that price. You will be very busy.
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Old 02-19-2013, 04:08 PM
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I'd love to see parts being able to be purchased for example just the frame.
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Old 02-19-2013, 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Braineack
how about this: you send me what I need to build one, I'll put it together, test it out, and ill let you know if I want to pay for it or not after my 5 year trial.
Let me guess; you work for the government, soliciting bids from military contractors.
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Old 02-19-2013, 04:24 PM
  #666  
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Originally Posted by triple88a
I'd love to see parts being able to be purchased for example just the frame.
Purchase the frame for $13,900 and I'll throw in the rest of the kit for free. You haven't been the first person to bring this up, even this week.

Seriously, it doesn't seem to be a business model that any other company has followed--be it FFR or Superformance or anyone else, as it undercuts your core product.
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Old 02-19-2013, 04:27 PM
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Reality is everyone can rig a frame body of some sort whatever is by taking parts off the donor miata or another car and making them fit or adding random sheet metal. Anyhow the body can be made however the frame on the other hand, you make that wrong you got issues.

Last edited by triple88a; 02-19-2013 at 04:40 PM. Reason: Wrong word. body, not frame.
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Old 02-19-2013, 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by triple88a
Reality is everyone can rig a frame body of some sort whatever is by taking parts off the donor miata or another car and making them fit or adding random sheet metal. Anyhow the body can be made however the frame on the other hand, you make that wrong you got issues.
My issue is that anything that goes on top of a Catfish frame becomes associated with the company. So if it's duct tape, cardboard and some chicken wire, that's a Catfish. Don't want that...
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Old 02-19-2013, 05:27 PM
  #669  
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Originally Posted by cordycord
My issue is that anything that goes on top of a Catfish frame becomes associated with the company. So if it's duct tape, cardboard and some chicken wire, that's a Catfish. Don't want that...
So, who is going to be the first to slam a catfish on 12" wheels with 30° negative camber, huge wheel spacers, and under-body neon?
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Old 02-19-2013, 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe Perez
So, who is going to be the first to slam a catfish on 12" wheels with 30° negative camber, huge wheel spacers, and under-body neon?
....Hating you right now Joe...
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Old 02-19-2013, 05:38 PM
  #671  
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cord, any pro tips on free suspension design software other than suspension calc?
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Old 02-19-2013, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by cordycord
....Hating you right now Joe...
Oh, and I forgot about the stickers. Since there's no glass, they'll have to go directly on the body.

A couple of these:



Couple of these:



You've gotta have a big one of these on the hood:



And then this little fella on the fuel-filler:




I think they'll work swimmingly well on the pearlescent color-shifting (purple / orange) paint job.
Attached Thumbnails Cordycord's epic tube frame build-sticker-375x360.png   Cordycord's epic tube frame build-jdm.gif   Cordycord's epic tube frame build-free-no-fear-sticker-more.jpg  
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Old 02-19-2013, 06:08 PM
  #673  
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Originally Posted by cordycord
I visited a friend yesterday who is doing a "resto-mod" to his fastback Mustang. I told him that the Catfish kit price was $13,900, and he told me that he paid more than that for just his Mustang suspension. Add in the introductory offer, and I think it's a smokin' deal too.

I can imagine so. I drool over Detroit Speed's Aluma-Frame front and Quadra-Link rear suspension for Mustangs and they are $9500 before options and shipping.
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Old 02-19-2013, 07:41 PM
  #674  
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Originally Posted by golftdibrad
cord, any pro tips on free suspension design software other than suspension calc?
Hi Brad, I've seen some freeware stuff that has been put out by FSAE teams. They make use of Excel and so forth, but it was essentially a computer copy of the "old school" graph paper with a scaled copy of the suspension. Here's one I found on a quick Google search:

racing aspirations » Suspension Geometry Calculator

When you're dealing with stock suspension, the best thing you can do is take out the spring and cycle the suspension, full droop to full compression. You can do the same w/o the shock too, as it can help determine the proper shock body size.

If you cycle the suspension, you can see where your shock is working in relation to the travel, if your shock piston is properly located in the stroke, and if you're having issues with premature bump (for example). You can also figure out the leverage ratio of the shock to the suspension travel, which helps in choosing the proper spring rates. But you know all this junk.
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Old 02-19-2013, 07:45 PM
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My kids love stickers Joe...I just don't love trying to explain some of the ones you've chosen...


Originally Posted by Joe Perez
Oh, and I forgot about the stickers. Since there's no glass, they'll have to go directly on the body.

A couple of these:



Couple of these:



You've gotta have a big one of these on the hood:



And then this little fella on the fuel-filler:




I think they'll work swimmingly well on the pearlescent color-shifting (purple / orange) paint job.
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Old 02-20-2013, 08:25 AM
  #676  
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Originally Posted by cordycord
Let me guess; you work for the government, soliciting bids from military contractors.






sorta.
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Old 02-20-2013, 08:45 AM
  #677  
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I saw that in my googling as well. I guess i need to dust off what i used for FSAE back in the day and see if i can get it to grumble to life.

I really need to model the springs in my car... I suspect that I'm coil binding. But i may just need softer front springs.


Exciting pricing on your car. I think at that price point your going to kill a lot of Miatas!

Originally Posted by cordycord
Hi Brad, I've seen some freeware stuff that has been put out by FSAE teams. They make use of Excel and so forth, but it was essentially a computer copy of the "old school" graph paper with a scaled copy of the suspension. Here's one I found on a quick Google search:

racing aspirations » Suspension Geometry Calculator

When you're dealing with stock suspension, the best thing you can do is take out the spring and cycle the suspension, full droop to full compression. You can do the same w/o the shock too, as it can help determine the proper shock body size.

If you cycle the suspension, you can see where your shock is working in relation to the travel, if your shock piston is properly located in the stroke, and if you're having issues with premature bump (for example). You can also figure out the leverage ratio of the shock to the suspension travel, which helps in choosing the proper spring rates. But you know all this junk.
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Old 02-20-2013, 10:30 PM
  #678  
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Originally Posted by golftdibrad
I saw that in my googling as well. I guess i need to dust off what i used for FSAE back in the day and see if i can get it to grumble to life.

I really need to model the springs in my car... I suspect that I'm coil binding. But i may just need softer front springs.

Exciting pricing on your car. I think at that price point your going to kill a lot of Miatas!
Thanks Brad, I'm hoping that as the summer rolls along we'll see some new Catfish on these pages.

One other thing--and again I know you know this--a digital angle finder is a lifesaver. I used the Smart Level for years, and use a Sears model now. I also picked up a mini angle finder from Harbor Freight that's used for measuring table saw blades. It's good for tight spaces. The last, most-used tool is my "magic string", which is really just a ball of twine and a plumb bob. I've gotten sneaky with cheap-o laser pointers too, but you end up needing to make custom tools for those so old school is usually easier.
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Old 03-13-2013, 08:27 PM
  #679  
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Well, in order to kick my own butt I've decided to sign up for the Miatas at Mazda Raceway event on April 27-28. And again--as usual--the car is scattered to four corners of SoCal. Before I can get it up to the track, it needs:

--passenger roll hoop
--amended driver roll hoop
--all the SEMA bodywork needs to have the production molds made from them, get pulled from the mold, cleaned up, repainted and re-assembled
--the changes to the car mean that the interior no longer fits. New interior, please.
--harnesses harnessed
--either stock seats will be used (per SEMA), or new seat brackets and new racing seats will need to be mounted
--a motor swap is in order. A freshened 1.6 short nose is waiting
--the 5 lug hubs aren't yet tested, and we're not taking any chances at the track. Therefore a full hub/rotor/wheel swap at all four corners is required. Anyone know a company that makes 15x9 and 15x10 rims with 4x100 spacing?
--other. There's always "other", and it usually takes more time than everything else. I know we'll need to allow for the new roll bars (bodywork holes), paint or wrap, gauges, and a dozen other small items.

Here's the event link:

http://www.miatasatmazdaraceway.com/

--and now my five year old wants to see what happens when I put a bunch of emoticons at the bottom of the page:

:va sh:
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Old 03-13-2013, 08:31 PM
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