Chassis stiffening - which parts are good?
08-29-2009, 05:43 PM
#121
$500 for open track day with maybe several 25 min runs
vs.
$25 for local open auto-x with maybe 3 60 sec. runs.
You can easily spend all day at an auto-x event and come away with maybe a total of 6 minutes driving. That kind of blows. So ultimately, for seat time, it really comes down to budget IMHO.
I personally don't have that much fun sitting around waiting at auto-x.
Conversely, it can really blow going off track or making contact with other people on an open road course. Don't kid yourself, it is only a matter of time before this happens (unless you are a ***** corvette owner doing 40% throttle parading around with other ***** corvette owners).
With the current economic slump (I think generally there is a 25% reduction in traffic/business at tracks across the country), many open track days are cutting prices... yay for us!
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08-29-2009, 07:42 PM
#123
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Join Date: Aug 2008
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Just to try and help the OP.
I have all the listed bracing (except the BullFrog bars - Christmas
). Best feeling change was with my rollcage install, its Hard Dog Hard Bar Sport with Door Bars. Comparison in driving from stock to now is like night and day. Stock it had plenty of bounce and kick in its step while playing on the back roads but now she sits, squits and growls through the bends. According to my PerformanceBox with no power modifications I am just slightly faster over airfield circuit. It would seem bracing has increase cornering speed but acceleration has suffered.
I have all the listed bracing (except the BullFrog bars - Christmas
). Best feeling change was with my rollcage install, its Hard Dog Hard Bar Sport with Door Bars. Comparison in driving from stock to now is like night and day. Stock it had plenty of bounce and kick in its step while playing on the back roads but now she sits, squits and growls through the bends. According to my PerformanceBox with no power modifications I am just slightly faster over airfield circuit. It would seem bracing has increase cornering speed but acceleration has suffered.
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08-30-2009, 01:21 AM
#124
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 741
Total Cats: 20
Hm.
$500 for open track day with maybe several 25 min runs
vs.
$25 for local open auto-x with maybe 3 60 sec. runs.
You can easily spend all day at an auto-x event and come away with maybe a total of 6 minutes driving. That kind of blows. So ultimately, for seat time, it really comes down to budget IMHO.
I personally don't have that much fun sitting around waiting at auto-x.
Conversely, it can really blow going off track or making contact with other people on an open road course. Don't kid yourself, it is only a matter of time before this happens (unless you are a ***** corvette owner doing 40% throttle parading around with other ***** corvette owners).
With the current economic slump (I think generally there is a 25% reduction in traffic/business at tracks across the country), many open track days are cutting prices... yay for us!
$500 for open track day with maybe several 25 min runs
vs.
$25 for local open auto-x with maybe 3 60 sec. runs.
You can easily spend all day at an auto-x event and come away with maybe a total of 6 minutes driving. That kind of blows. So ultimately, for seat time, it really comes down to budget IMHO.
I personally don't have that much fun sitting around waiting at auto-x.
Conversely, it can really blow going off track or making contact with other people on an open road course. Don't kid yourself, it is only a matter of time before this happens (unless you are a ***** corvette owner doing 40% throttle parading around with other ***** corvette owners).
With the current economic slump (I think generally there is a 25% reduction in traffic/business at tracks across the country), many open track days are cutting prices... yay for us!
I go to to open track days too - to practice. Apples and oranges ...
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09-01-2009, 01:17 AM
#127
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Knowing what I know now, and knowing what my REAL goals are, my next Miata will be done right the first time. Start with roll bar and door bars, Hardtop, seam welding, frame rail braces, Frog Arms and maybe the triangulated diff brace. I will probably do an NB since its already a little stiffer from the factory. Knock it out all in one big push, and probably spend under $1500 if I find a cheap used hardtop.
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09-01-2009, 07:24 AM
#129
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Join Date: Aug 2008
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You can also try the "drifting" engine strut unit to help with the transmission wobble. Not sure about its bang/buck rating though.
Its basically two mountings (one on engine crane hook part and one under strut tower brace) with a damper unit. Noticable change according to a friend (I'm gonna try to bodge it ).
I'll post up a link when one comes on fleabay again
Its basically two mountings (one on engine crane hook part and one under strut tower brace) with a damper unit. Noticable change according to a friend (I'm gonna try to bodge it
).I'll post up a link when one comes on fleabay again
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09-02-2009, 02:29 PM
#135
He doesn't believe in adding weight and seam welding is the only one that doesn't?
Of course my aluminum triangular Carbing strut tower brace only weights a couple pounds and does a ton for stiffness and steering response and didn't take tearing the car apart to do it.
Of course my aluminum triangular Carbing strut tower brace only weights a couple pounds and does a ton for stiffness and steering response and didn't take tearing the car apart to do it.
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09-02-2009, 05:32 PM
#136
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 263
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FWIW,
The sort of expanding foam in a can is open-cell, which means it will hold onto water like a sponge if it gets wet. This might not be a problem for a track car, but you can bet your *** it will be an issue for a street car. If you choose to use expanding foam, get nautical foam, the sort that is used to make boats. It is closed-cell, and will not hold on to moisture if it is exposed. For more info, look here...
VWvortex Forums: Expanding Foam, Part Deux...
VWvortex Forums: Expanding foam in key places?
The sort of expanding foam in a can is open-cell, which means it will hold onto water like a sponge if it gets wet. This might not be a problem for a track car, but you can bet your *** it will be an issue for a street car. If you choose to use expanding foam, get nautical foam, the sort that is used to make boats. It is closed-cell, and will not hold on to moisture if it is exposed. For more info, look here...
VWvortex Forums: Expanding Foam, Part Deux...
VWvortex Forums: Expanding foam in key places?
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09-02-2009, 08:48 PM
#137
FWIW,
The sort of expanding foam in a can is open-cell, which means it will hold onto water like a sponge if it gets wet. This might not be a problem for a track car, but you can bet your *** it will be an issue for a street car. If you choose to use expanding foam, get nautical foam, the sort that is used to make boats. It is closed-cell, and will not hold on to moisture if it is exposed. For more info, look here...
VWvortex Forums: Expanding Foam, Part Deux...
VWvortex Forums: Expanding foam in key places?
The sort of expanding foam in a can is open-cell, which means it will hold onto water like a sponge if it gets wet. This might not be a problem for a track car, but you can bet your *** it will be an issue for a street car. If you choose to use expanding foam, get nautical foam, the sort that is used to make boats. It is closed-cell, and will not hold on to moisture if it is exposed. For more info, look here...
VWvortex Forums: Expanding Foam, Part Deux...
VWvortex Forums: Expanding foam in key places?
I am interested in people who have actually done this to a miata
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09-03-2009, 09:38 AM
#139
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Shitty small pic, but best I have right now. If you want more, I can take some.
It runs across where a subframe brace would go, and has a plate that attaches to the bellhousing. That plate is attached to the main brace via two rubber snubbers/vibration isolators.
EDIT - it is still on my desk, not installed, so no first hand report on its worthiness...
It runs across where a subframe brace would go, and has a plate that attaches to the bellhousing. That plate is attached to the main brace via two rubber snubbers/vibration isolators.
EDIT - it is still on my desk, not installed, so no first hand report on its worthiness...
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09-03-2009, 09:40 AM
#140
I want one!! ^^^^^
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