What is necessary to prevent lift at speed?
 

I have a '91 that I'm trying to keep as stock looking as I can, but at the same time I don't like the idea that these cars generate front-end lift at speed. I'm not trying to build some high downforce track car, just prevent a dangerous situation where I get front-end lift at speed if I want to have some fun.

Will an R-Package style front lip do that, or do I have to get more involved? What's the smallest change I can make to eliminate lift? At what speed do I even need to worry about front-end lift if I leave it unmodifed? Right now the car's exterior is completely stock, except it's about 1 inch lower.

How fast are you planning on going? I've had my Miata over 110 on track, stock aero, hardtop, no lip, and have not had an issue with excessive lift. More downforce would, of course, be preferred but it hasn't caused any dangerous situations. If I was taking a corner at 110 it might be a different situation, but then you are definitely going to want a LOT of aero.

I'm not planning on going that fast, 100 seems really fast to me since it's primarily a street car, but at some point I'd love to get on a track with it. However that would be purely for fun and not lap times. Really I just want to get to a point where I don't have to worry about lift no matter what I do with the car. It's more for that peace of mind than any specific need.

So...just don't worry about it? When it becomes a problem (which will likely be never) address it then if you want to stay close to stock.

If you want to do something though, a lip may help a little. Haven't seen any empirical testing on that though. Hood vents would probably be more effective, as they are placed in those low pressure areas of the hood (which I forgot to include that I have those in my previous post) with the added benefit of increasing cooling capacity.

Having extensively tracked a modded NB8A street car over many years without body add-ons (ie standard shape), regularly competing at Phillip Island, Bathurst Mt Panorama and Eastern Creek/SMP, all of which have 160kmh (100mph) or more corners, I can absolutely positively assure you that you do not need to worry about lift. At all.

Be at peace my friend.

(On the track, you work up to high speed cornering - if someone says thats a 100mph corner, you start at 85 and build up to where you feel the car is on the limit, whether that is 95 100 or 105. The good instructors will tell you not to drive faster than you feel comfortable, and that leads to you slowly building confidence in the car and its capabilities, and your speed increasing and lap times falling.)

Hey, data!

https://hanchagroup.wordpress.com/20...esign-is-best/

According to their simulations, a stock NA Miata has ~100 pounds of lift at 100MPH. Not going to cause problems. Lowered NA had less lift, but more drag.

Thanks, this makes me feel much better. I'll leave it as is.

I've heard that hood vents, like the Singular vents, reduce lift.

It sounds like he's trying to keep a stock look.

OP, usually air dams, flat bellies, splitters, and wings are all things you'd do to combat the lift generated on a stock miata. None of those things I'd put on a daily though. I've seen it on 8th gen civic sedans, and I'm sure it's on other newer cars as well, but they have a rubber/plastic skirt back about a foot from the front bumper. I'm assuming it's the same principle as an air dam, slightly less affective, but doesn't scrape on driveways. You could try adding a skirt on the splashguard, but I haven't tried it and don't have any evidence to say it'll help. With all that said, stock lift isn't as bad as your making it out to be, don't sweat it.

Don't do anything, just drive it.

Stock bodied Miatas drive at insane race speeds places like Daytona with stock aero while bumping and shoving.