Scaxx

I always love your updates and I'm patiently waiting for you to get caught up to Laguna Seca

Chilicharger665

iTrader: (2)

Wow, I came to the exact same conclusion about the engine oil cooler situation that you did before I even saw this thread!

I am picking up an NC in a week and I knew I wanted to add an oil cooler right away. I found that Improved Racing piece just a few days ago and I knew I wanted to use that. I thought about putting it in that same spot too, lol. I will have power steering, though, so it will be much more cramped in that area.

So that Xero Limit piece is supposed to be installed without that metal OEM gasket or you just couldn't re-use yours for some reason?

JoshEE

It sounds like we have similar height challenges, I'm 5'8'' with the legs of a small hairy child so I have to sit very close to clutch and heel/toe comfortably. The only seat I could get to work for me without a tunnel notch in my NB is an Ultrashield that's still off center more than I'd like. In my next car I'd like to have something a little more comfortable. I'm looking at picking up an NC soon and curious about seat/placement options.

It sounds like the PCI brackets worked out well for you. Did you have any issues with tunnel clearance with the Circuit with it sitting so far forward? Do you think it'd accommodate a slightly wider seat (thinking Sparco Ergo)? How's vertical clearance to the hard top w/ a helmet on?

Thanks for any info, and awesome build!

Bryan Z.

The Ohlins were revalved for a 14kg/8kg. It is a currently a prototype kit, slowly refining all of the details, and there is more testing needing to be done.

Great minds think alike.

The Xero Limit take off plate failed to come with instructions so I cannot say for certain. My OEM gasket was worse for wear, but the shape of the gasket did not match that of the take off plate. If I had to do it again, I would go straight to using Hondabond rather than fussing with gaskets and leaks. The Hondabond has held up great without any signs of leaks.

Luckily for us, the NC has ample amount of room in the cabin compared with the NA/NB. I remember trying to fit a seat in my NB which required hammering the transmission tunnel, notching brackets, and trimming the door card just to be able to center the seat in the car. It was a nightmare.
The Circuit is perfectly centered in the NC and is barely brushing the transmission tunnel even while positioned all the way forward. And if I recall, the Circuit does have a large base width at that.

With the PCI mount in the lowest setting, I have miles of headroom even a helmet on. I have measured about 6-8'' of headroom and puts me in the perfect seating position. This was always something I complained about in the earlier cars but the NC is much more ergonomic.

Thank you and hope this helps to answer your questions.

z31maniac

This thread is pushing me more this direction for a car next year. I loved the 2006 GT I had as a DD.

z31maniac

So besides the obvious safety stuff needed, what else would be considered standard to help make the NC more reliable.

Pads, fluid, oil cooler, and RX8 hubs are a given. Anything else?

__clu

Coolant expansion tank. They are prone to popping.

Chilicharger665

iTrader: (2)

A whole brake duct set-up is only $280, so do that. Mazda Motorsports has a cool spindle bushing for more negative camber, too.

Bryan Z.

Miata Reunion 2019



Where to begin?

It was the last year the Miata reunion event will be hosted at Laguna, and I wanted to be sure to make the best of it. Last year I did not have my car finished in time, but did that did not stop me from having a good time. This year however I would be bringing Pebble, my new-to-me NC.

As goes the tale as old as time, preparation for the event begins just days before. It was a wild ride of stress, deadlines, mixed in with feelings of exhilaration. I would be driving both days and wanted to make sure the car was in proper order which meant, new hubs, brakes, suspension, and oil cooler revisions. I had three days to get everything done. Who needs sleep right?

Preparation was not finished until Friday, the day we would be caravanning down to Laguna Seca.

Weeding the oversized vinyl that I did not have any say over.



Stickering up the cars before heading down.

Stickers went on mostly straight, with only a minor injury with the heat gun.



A few of my friends and I booked an Air BnB on the outskirts of Salinas. We secured a place to stay, but failed to realize the size of the house we chose. It was massive, complete with pool tables, pools, and even hot tubs. It was a nice change to the tents I usually crash in while at a track day.

Luxurious living.



The event itself was spectacular.

I would be driving Saturday and Sunday, all while giving as many passenger rides I could squeeze in. I was registered for C group and would be mixed in with some of the slower traffic. Not to worry as this event was focused more on enjoyment and fun rather than outright lap times. This was only my second time driving at Laguna and was still not too familiar with the track.

When I wasn’t driving, I poked my head around the other vendors booths and chatted Miata with anyone who was available.

The weekend’s weather was perfect and it was shaping up to be another perfect event. I saw many familiar faces strolling through the paddock and met up with many old friends.

Saturday many of my friends were also at the track. It was a great to be able to share the experience with them.

The NC was composed as ever, and responded to anything I asked of it. I was driving far below the limit of the chassis, and if I had to guess around the 2:00 range. I had many passengers throughout the day and did not want to take any risks.

I was also able to take a few of my coworkers out on track for their first time, and it is always a pleasure to see their reactions and hear their thoughts after the session. It consisted mostly of “Wow, I did not know this little car could do that” or “I was certain it wasn’t going to stick to make that corner”. The first day of the event ended without problem and went back to the house to do it all again tomorrow.

Turn 3.



Blasting down to turn 4.



Sunday my parents were able to come down to the track and was able to give them each a few laps around the track. My mom really enjoyed the ride along especially the drop in the famous corkscrew.

The car did not miss a beat and was solid as ever. Later in the day, I found another NC in my session and we playfully diced through traffic. It was a great session. I stopped him later to find and thank him for fun. He had a lap timer and was consistently lapping in the 1:51s. Sweet.

Terrible lines through the cork screw.



After countless rides throughout the weekend, the last session of the day my coworkers wanted to see what the car was capable of with me at the wheel. Unfortunately, upon entering the track I noticed a few drops of fluid on my legs.

Weird.

I thought to myself what could possibly be leaking inside the car? As it turns out, I had a nosebleed. The overall excitement and busyness of the weekend had left me more tired and exhausted then I had realized and I was dehydrated. I scrambled into the paddock grabbed some tissue from the bathrooms hoping to make it back out before the end of the session. I stuffed a wad up my nose and strapped back in. To my dismay my accelerated heart rate only made this an uphill battle.

I decided to call it a day and pack up and end the weekend without incident.

Laguna Seca is quickly becoming one of my favorite tracks.



The Miata Reunion is always an event to remember. Between friends, the cars, and the memories I am honestly sad that this will be the last year the event is held at Laguna Seca. I do regret I was not able to dedicate more time to hanging out with the mt.net group and missed out on the dinners and bon fires. Hopefully we are able to plan another track day as a group next year.

Lastly, I want thank the organizers again for such an amazing event, and it will be surely be something I will not ever forget.

Chilicharger665

iTrader: (2)

I had no idea you worked for Miataspeed. I have bought a lot of stuff from there.

Bryan Z.

Just two weeks after the Miata Reunion I found myself back at Laguna Seca.

My friend had informed me of a private track day and invited me along. It was an extremely low car count, around 20 cars total for the day. There were only two run groups and each session was in 45 minute intervals. It was more track time than one could ask for.

Pebble.



Pebble had just come back from the event and, with only a glance over, was back on track. I did notice early on in the day that something was amiss with the transmission. It was not shifting as smoothly as before. I thought nothing more of it and continued on.

The track was empty, and at times I thought I was the only car on track and occasionally would catch a glimpse of a car on the front straight when coming through turn 9. There was also lots of expensive machinery on track ranging from a 488 Italia to GT3RSs, yes, plural. My friend and I with our measly little miatas felt way out of place.

A mutual friend of ours brought his M235i complete with flares, cage, and a tune. He was doing some baseline testing throughout the day and would be a great car to lead-follow. He was doing times in the low 1:44s and I found I could easily keep up with him in my little NC.

At this point, 4th gear in my transmission was not happy with me. It would grind each time I shifted, and thought it was down to user error. I began to slow my shifts and treat it with more care.

I then rode with my friend Sonny in his NA and he managed to set his PB at Laguna with me in the car. He seemed very enthusiastic about his time and had a great day. Sonny also told me that my car would exhibit a puff of smoke each time I shifted. I found fluid to be exiting the top of the transmission and falling onto the exhaust.

This was the beginning of the end of my 6 speed.

Despite the transmission issues Sonny let me borrow his lap timer the next session so I could collect some usable data. I went out to set a lap. What I did not know was the transmission was on the brink of failure. I could not shift in to 2nd at all, and could only enter 4th about a third of the time. I decided to park it after only three laps because I still had to drive the car home.

All I could manage without 2nd or 4th gear.

1:46.5




I then limped the car home 100 miles without 2nd or 4th gear.

I have read that the early NC1 6 speeds have a weak shift fork that was improved in the later transmissions. When I arrived home I drained the fluid and to no surprise the transmission was gone. The fluid was a consistent metallic color that resembled silver paint more than a fluid.

Oh well.

I knew it was only a matter of time as the previous owner also tracked the car and it had not had an easy life. I promptly ordered a used NC3 6 speed transmission and it is currently on the way. I honestly enjoy the development aspect of things. Testing, finding the weak points, and slowly improving the car.

The car will be back and better than ever soon.

Scaxx

Sorry to hear about the transmission, but nice lap time man, that's awesome!

Verwah

Hopefully the newer transmission will give you many more trouble-free miles. Is your friend Sonny Watanasirisuk? That dude can drive. He actually gave me lessons in Gran Turismo many years ago.

icantlearn

its a different Sonny...

Bryan Z.

A few days after returning from Laguna, the replacement transmission was already on order. I ordered the trans from LKQ, a large auto dismantler, and found a suitable transmission in Florida. It arrived in a few days, and promptly began disassembly.

I purchased a NC3 transmission to replace the weaker NC1. The NC3 transmission has an updated shift forks, the NC1 had a casting defect, know to fail with hard track use, as well as a taller 6th gear.

Pallet.



It was missing the upper shifter cover on the tail shaft of the transmission, but luckily I could reuse the cover from my original case. Four bolts later, some cleaning with a razor blade and a quick dab of Hondabond everything was sealed and ready to be installed.

I soon found that the shifter was also not compatible between the two transmissions.

The NC3 shifter turret is larger and the new part was ordered.



Swapping the transmission was a quick affair when not changing the clutch. Keeping the alignment of the clutch and disc allowed the input shaft to slide in the first try without the need to jostle the trans.

Draining the old transmission fluid confirmed my suspicions. The fluid was a reflective metallic silver. It resembled more of a silver paint rather than gear oil. This transmission was now scrap.

NC3 transmission going in.



I would be back out on track in no time. I have a few track days in the coming weeks and was ecstatic to have the car back and fully functioning.

Bryan Z.

RoadsterCup Finale Dec 15th-Buttonwillow

The last RoadsterCup event I had attended was many months ago, in early April. I always try to attend the Buttonwillow events they are relatively close to home considering the other events on their calendar.

After the transmission was replaced the car was ready to go. So began the long trek down to Buttonwillow where much fun was to be had. The drive was pleasant but as the weather grows colder I am sure I will enjoy the trip less and less. Each time I drive the NC for extended periods it always reminds me of small things I would like to fix to make the trip more accommodating. For starters, installing some sort of wind barrier in the two large gaping holes in the doors would decrease fatigue immensely. Also on the list would be fixing the back light on the gauges so I would be able to see them at night.

Until next time.

I arrived just after 7, and found a few friends hanging out in the garages. One motioned for me to stop and chat and even offered me a chicken sandwich. Thanks Frankie!

Elusive Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich.



While waiting another friend who had driven down from Thunderhill that day arrived. He greeted us and mentioned he wanted to swap his differential before tomorrows event. I, being me, offered to help. We began work just a hair after 9 and began disassembling his NA in one of the Buttonwillow garages. In our stupor, we forgot to drain the old differential and started to spill as soon as it hit the ground.

Midnight Giken swap.



What a night.

We drug it out back, much like a scene out of a mob movie, and left it there to drain.



A few hours later with the differential wrapped up, we played some Mario Kart and then rolled out the sleeping bags. I slept nearest the door, which I found to be a grave mistake, as the temperatures continued to drop.

I am not exactly sure just how many hours of sleep I had but I woke up exhausted.

The next morning we awoke to our cold cars and began prepping them for the first session. We were warned in the drivers meeting of the dangers of going off, especially since it had recently rained, and for everyone to slowly work up to pace.



The first session out the car was feeling unsettled, and very twitchy on initial turn in. My second flying lap, I carried too much speed into Sunrise, and found myself over-correcting and subsequently going off track. I knew that the silt was very saturated and could catch the car if I had gone off at the wrong angle, and I was lucky enough to straighten the car out prior to reaching the mud.

Nonetheless, this had spooked me and I dialed it back for the rest of the day.

In the moment I had thought the car was feeling off, but in hindsight I believe it was my confidence was shaken. I checked tire pressures and damper settings and slowly began to get back into the groove, but no where near my usual pace.

The third session was cut short because one of the Civics competing in Vtec club had caught the mud at the wrong angle on the run up to Phil Hil and had rolled. Luckily the driver was alright but in my head had confirmed I had made the right decision to drive well within my limits.

Overall it was a great day, hanging out with friends, and being able to drive at one of my favorite tracks in California.

Last shot before packing up for home.




I would be returning to Buttonwillow in a few weeks for more seat time.

Bryan Z.

Next Level Racing Buttonwillow 12/29/2019

Two weeks after the Roadster Cup Finale I find myself back at Buttonwillow for another track day. Knowing this would be yet another learning weekend I knew I could improve upon my last times.

The major issue of the weekend was not driving related but the threat of rain late Sunday afternoon. My NC is not in the slightest way prepared to handle adverse weather and a quick fix was on order. I returned to TAP Plastics once again for an over sized sheet of polycarbonate. A few crude cardboard templates, and misshaped cuts later, along with aluminum scrapes I had left over, I had something that resembled two windows.

As the saying goes, if it is stupid but it works...



The track day was Sunday, and drove down mid Saturday and was going to stay at a hotel in Bakersfield, having learned my lesson last trip.

Cruising down I-5.



The hotel did wonders for my nights rest and I woke up refreshed and ready for the track day on Sunday.

This event I was accompanied by my friends Rachel, and Alex who were both attending the track day as well. It was looking to be a fantastic weekend. The first session I was taking it easy and went out with yellow group, low intermediate. I did not feel comfortable, as the delta speeds between cars was extremely high. Passing was allowed at only two sections of the track and would result in large trains forming behind the slower cars. I went to the event organizers and asked to be bumped up to the next group and they obliged.

The next session I took Rachel out as passenger. I always drive very conservatively anytime I have a passenger but was already besting my times from the last event. Oops.

Both Rachel and Alex were in the beginner group, and the majority, of their sessions were a disaster. Cars spinning and stalling unable to get start again for a lack of a starter, stopping over blind crests, you name it.

Rachel, Bryan and Alex.



The next couple sessions the NC was feeling very responsive. The nervousness and twitchy nature was seemingly gone. Although I do not necessarily think it was down to car setup, more than likely it was due to the fact me getting a good nights sleep.

The suspension was compliant and could take as much curbing as I dared. The small undulations in fast sweepers of Riverside and the run up to Phil Hil would not upset the car. I had a renewed confidence in Pebble and was enjoying every minute of it.

If there was one area I could think to improve would be my braking inputs. I need to work on braking harder and much later. The car is capable but I am not.

The rest of the day, for me at least, went without any issues. I was driving well and all of my sessions were void of traffic. I had mostly a clear track each session and everyone was really well behaved. I could not have asked for a more different outcome than to what my friends were experiencing in the lower run groups.

Getting ready to head out on track.



I did not want to push the car hard, and just wanted to enjoy the day at the track with my friends.

Mission accomplished.

I did have a transponder throughout the day and would periodically check timing to get a reference of my times.

2:05.2 with much more time still left on the table.



I packed up early wanting to head home and hopefully miss the brunt of the storm to no avail. One and a half hours in, the heaven began to open up. The makeshift windows kept the rain out of the car, but I forgot to check the condition of the windshield wipers. Each stroke would leave a streak down the center of the window just in my line of sight.

Doh.

The rest of the drive home was white knuckled and hairy. It was both mentally and physically exhausting and was honestly much harder than driving on track. The windshield soon began fogging up due to the condensation and my accelerated breathing. To make matters even worse coming back over Pacheco Pass a dense layer of fog had blown in and reduced visibility to nil. I continued to crawl along at 35 mph in a mix of fog and rain. It was definitively a drive to remember.

All in all I had a great weekend, and Pebble just keeps ticking along. I could not ask for more.

Scaxx

I did a drive in heavy rain in Audrey last year on my way down to Aidan's house. No windows and no heater meant all the water on the floor evaporated and fogged up my windshield. I did have wipers, but that didn't help the interior. Probably some of the worst driving I've ever done, I ended up just driving a few feet off my buddy's bumper and following his taillights. Definitely not something I want to repeat ever again lol

Bryan Z.

SpeedSF Laguna Seca 1/19/2020

The next outing with the car I would be taking the car back out to Laguna. I was looking to further improve my time of a 1:46. As always, I was running behind schedule and had to rush down to Monterey barely skipping into the driver's meeting. It was set to be a chilly winters day on the coast, with heavy cloud cover for most of the day.

Early morning preparation.



Miata Alley.

Bryan, Rachel and Arvind



I was grouped in the advanced group and was looking forward to a trouble free day.

First session of the day, the car exhibited excessive amounts of oversteer similar to Buttonwillow. It was especially apparent on turn in and had to correct sacrificing the amount of speed I could carry through corners. After two laps I noticed I was being given the meatball flag. Fearing the worst, I thought that something had broken on the car that I could not see.

I immediately pulled into the hot pits and talked to the marshal I discovered that my car had blown sound. What a relief. It was only a 90 dB day and my car exceeded the limit at 94 dB. SpeedSF has a two strikes policy and if reached I would be done for the day. It was odd because I have never had an issue with sound before but a culmination of cool temperatures, and cloud cover must have bumped me over the limit. I also did not take any precautionary measures to help with sound, Laguna pipes etc.

Missing the apex by a mile. What is an apex?




From now on I had to lift going up the hill past the sound booth in order to not get a second strike. After Turn 5, I would loose all of my momentum and it was painfully slow through to Turn 9. This all but assured that I would not improve on my personal best. Oh well, I was still able to work on optimizing the car for the next track day. With this handicap I was limited to lapping in the 1:50s for the remainder of the day.

Shifting focus from chasing lap times I began to switch gears optimizing car set up. Although considering the state of my RE-71r's, it was probably not best to setup the car on that particular set of tires. By now that set of tires would be going on 15+ track days and have long since heat-cycled out. Oddly enough the tires have not yet reached the wear bars, and still have plenty amount of tread depth, but I have felt a considerable amount of drop-off in the performance of the rubber.

Coasting up the hill.



Another peculiar issue that I have started to notice is that my differential will begin to leak fluid after coming off track. Originally, I thought it was the sealant around the cover was seeping fluid, but have since realized that the fluid is coming out of the vent and dripping down the face of the differential. I speculate that the fluid is frothing and coming out of the vent to relieve pressure. I do not know the cause of this yet, could be from overfilling or using the wrong type or weight of fluid. I will have to investigate further.

End of the day.



After this track day I told myself that the car needed an once over fixing small leaks and other various issues.

The day was not a waste though as many of my friends joined me at the track for the day. They all had a great day, and it was fun helping and supporting them when I wasn't driving.

z31maniac

What a prophecy, unless something dramatic changes. I'm flying out in a few weeks to Kentucky to bring home an '06 Miata GT. I/H/E + tune, Big front Eibach, and DA MCS coilovers.