hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Finally got the car corner-weighted. Up until now, I've just been flogging it with a basic alignment and haven't really taken advantage of the coil overs. It was just a timing thing really. Subjectively, I can tell you that the car felt different turning in different directions. Left turns have been pretty nice, easy to point. Right turns, OTOH, have been a battle of wills.

I suspected corner weighting, and it turns out I was right. See this GRM article on the basics of corner weighting: Understanding Corner Weights: Grassroots Motorsports. Here's a cool corner weighting calculator: Corner Balance Calculator.

I took the car to MER (Motorsports Enterprises Racing) for the setup. Shoutout to Shannon McMasters. With 225 pounds in the driver's seat (looks like a good place for weight reduction, LOL) and ~5 gallons of fuel (30 pounds), these were the going-in weights:


After 3 iterations on the coil-overs, here's where it ended up:


So, going in, I had a lot of "reverse wedge." That fully explains my battles with right turns. 45% cross weight is awful. Can't wait to take this new setup onto the track. Even just driving home, it felt much better.

Also, it looks like my total weight is really close to the 2180 pounds that Emilio reported for his 95R. Without driver and fuel, I was at 2177 pounds. Considering the roll cage and heavy "Snugtop" brand hardtop, that's not too bad.

Planning to go to Eagle's Canyon on Saturday. That's a new track for me. Should be fun.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Eagle's Canyon is about 2 hours from my house. Went to my first track day at that facility. We're pretty lucky in TX to have so many tracks available.

Day got off to a rough start. Left the house at 0430 and about 5 miles into the trip I nailed a coyote. Did this:



So, there I am, in the dark without a stubby screwdriver, trying to figure out how to undo the cooling duct from the hub. I discovered that a dime is perfect for this. Pressed.

Eagle's Canyon is a really different layout from MSR. There are no high speed corners to speak of and lots of 90-100ish to 40ish braking. Did my best to put together some laps. Lap 5 starting around 4:30 was my best lap (2:17.4). I was chasing a new 911 -- always do better when I'm chasing. I still have a lot of time to pick up at this track. Looking forward to going back.

It was friggin' hot. Bank thermometers were showing 107F during my drive home (without AC).

New chin spoiler on order from Amazon. They're only $60 shipped these days. Gotta' love Miatas.

curly

iTrader: (25)

$60???? I paid $54 shipped. This was a GV replica lip. R-package is too baller for me.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Jeffbucc

My eBay one was like $40. Not bragging, because eBay, but at least you have a nice pretty new lip to destroy on a Jack rabbit now! Jack rabbits are what I'm terrified of when driving at night. Loads of them just chilling on the side of the road waiting to destroy your front bumper.

Must have forgotten about your brake ducting work because that just gave me some good ideas....

Also...107° and a track day with no AC? I am man enough to say I wouldn't last very many laps if at all with those temps. Can you say heat exhaustion? Nice dedication Hornet.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

When I first picked up Honey Badger (my new name for the car, LOL), I distinctly remember how it felt on the test drive. When it first got going, it felt perky -- good torque. But above 4000 or so, it just flat-out fell on its face. Going through the documentation, I found a dyno pull from 2011 that pretty much reflected how the car felt curve-wise (although it felt much worse than the numbers on this sheet).

Build Specifics (8/2011):
1995 Block -- Fresh Rebuild
1999 VICS Head and IM with OEM Intake and Exhaust Cams
VICS controlled by MSD RPM Switch (I'm guessing, incorrectly)
2001 Pistons (10.5:1)
God-Awful JR CAI
MAF Delete
RB Headers
Magnaflow Cat (when I inspected the cat in 1/2014 it was plugged -- not sure if plugged when dynoed in 2011)
Magnaflow 2.5" Exhaust (Resonator and Muffler)
MSPNP9495 -- Pro Dyno Tuned

Dyno (8/2011):


Through the course of this build, I changed and cleaned up quite a few things. My changes were focused on cleanup/reliability/maintainability. I also wanted to recapture some oomph above 4K. Yesterday, I did some 3rd gear Virtual Dyno pulls on the new setup. Basically, found a flat, empty road on the surface of Hades (it was 105F!). I'm really happy with the new torque curve and especially the way torque is maintained above 4K. In fact, it looks like there might be useful torque available above 7K, so some Supertech valve springs and a raised RPM limit might be a good thing to do. I could also stand some more fuel-tuning now that the engine is more broken-in (I'm lean).

Build Specifics (8/2014):
1995 Block -- Fresh Rebuild (to address oil consumption problem)
1999 VICS Head and IM with BP05 Intake and OEM Exhaust Cams
VICS controlled by MS (verified correct with 5200RPM switch point)
2001 Pistons, ceramic coated (10.5:1)
My Awesome Homemade CAI (if I do say so myself! See https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...7/#post1129353)
MAF Delete
RB Headers
Test Pipe
Magnaflow 2.5" Exhaust (Resonator and Muffler)
MSPNP9495 -- Self Street Tuned

Dyno (8/2014):


Out of curiosity, I took a look at the dyno sheet that Emilio published for his 95R. REALLY similar to what I got yesterday. His torque curve is a bit fatter around 5K. The end points at 7K are nearly identical. Looking at torque curve shapes, my setup may show an advantage beyond 7K. I'm guessing that's the effect of the BP05 intake cam and test pipe vs. the square top and VVT. But the differences are pretty small.

Build Specifics (see https://www.miataturbo.net/general-m...project-63125/):
NB2 VVT Block
NB2 VVT Head with Squaretop IM and OEM Intake and Exhaust Cams
VVT Controlled by Adaptronic ECU
Supertech Pistons (shaved for 10.5:1)
K&N 69-6000TP Intake
MAF Delete
RB Headers
Metal Core Cat
Custom 2.5" Exhaust (Resonator and Magnaflow Muffler)
Adaptronic ECU -- Dyno Tuned by Emilio

Dyno:


BTW, my virtual dyno and Emilio's dynojet results make me doubt the torque numbers in the first Mustang dyno plot. They seem high to me -- especially for a Mustang. ??

Bottom line on all of this ... Emilio's simple, inexpensive formula for NA power really works!

18psi

iTrader: (76)

That is really cool dude. Very solid indeed.

EErockMiata

awesome results. Agreed on the 95r formula. It's really nice just going to the track and running the car with just a bit of oil level and tire pressure monitoring going on. Makes it easier to focus on the hard part... driving the stupid thing.

Awesome thread/build/post. I'm always excited to get the subscription notification for this one.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Hard, but rewarding. With infinite variables.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Slapped the new chin spoiler on and headed for the track!

Track: MSR-C 1.7CCW
Date: 8/30/2014
Lap Time: 1:27.380 (Track Addict + XGPS150A 5Hz)
Car: '95 Miata
Estimated Weight w/Driver: ~2450
Estimated WHP: ~145 (Original 1.8L + '99 Head + '01 Pistons + BP05 Cam + I/H/E, Fresh Rebuild)
Tires: 225/45R15 BFG Rivals on Advanti Storm 15x9
Suspension: Xida CS 700/400
Weather: 85F Sunny (First Session)

Beat my previous PB by ~1.5s. Vid with 4 laps (last lap is best):

One thing I've noticed is that I always drive best with a carrot. Either trying to keep up with a slightly faster car or, even better, nibbling away at a slightly slower car (in this case a white SM). I never do as well without that "incentive." ??

Man, I'm having fun with this car!

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

I normally wouldn't post such long videos, but it was a real pass-fest today. Honey Badger was the fastest car on the track . . . the classic "Miata in the Mirror."

In the first session, I had a great chase down with a GT3 that lasted several laps. It was a blast. After that I chased down a Spec Ford racer. The Ford guy only had W2W experience and wouldn't let me by on the straights (I didn't have enough power to force the issue -- no DRS). He expected me to pass him going into the turns, which is where I often had an advantage. But I couldn't do that without getting in trouble with the marshals. Passing etiquette for W2W vs. HPDE is completely different.

The passing frenzy intensified in the second session. Honey badger was hungry. The cars on track were expensive, shiny and powerful, but honey badger didn't care. Everybody was thoroughly amused by how fast a Miata could go. Ferrari and Porsche guys were coming up after the session to check out the car I bought for $3K. It's a friendly club, which makes it all that much more fun.

Pretty consistent 1:27s and 1:28s today. Best was a 1:27.221.

ILoveOffRamps

iTrader: (2)

Nice laps! Watched most of both. You definitely drive a little "better" with that carrot in front of you.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Going to Hallett?

ILoveOffRamps

iTrader: (2)

Yes. Which event are you talking about? I will not be at Miatas @ Hallett. Will you be there?

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

That track looks fantastic.

Also: LOL @ "the car i bought for $3k." Nope. this page isn't 8 non-noob-setting pages long for nothing! That car has come a LONG way in a short time.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Yep. Week and a half. Getting excited. Had a lot of fun last year.

Key was the word "bought," not "bought and built." It was $5K for car, trailer and spares, so I used poetic license and assigned $3K to the car. I've spent a bit of money since then . . . but sold some stuff too.

The track really is good. And we can run 4 different configurations. Being a member here was money well-spent.

Girz0r

iTrader: (1)

Keep going man!

Great thread, much miata win

Im going to have to head north to check out these tracks!

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Good times. Did it both CCW and CW. Friday was in the wet. First session was like ice. Saturday was a gradually clearing cold front day with highs in the low 60s. Good temperature for Rivals, too bad both rears are flat-spotted.

Managed a 1:32.4 going CCW. Best lap is #6 starting around 7:50:

And, here's the obligatory off at Turn 1 on the last session of the weekend (the hot pit guy and I have a good laugh about it):

Unfortunately, I hurt the engine. Hallett has a really difficult 4-2 downshift at turn 2. Emilio's 95R lost an engine at Hallett 2 years ago the same way. Basically, it's a money-shift setup and, in my case, I bent some intake valves. My compression is 50-160-70-175. Leakdown shows 15% on #4 and the rest can't even be measured. Air is blowing out the intake valves big time. Should have done those Supertech valve springs. I will now.

So, rush is on because I've got another event in less than 2 weeks. The main thing that worries me is the darn MLS headgasket. Any advice on getting a reliable seal on an MLS headgasket swap would be appreciated.

Filipe Dias

I have made the same mistake on my Bp4w a couple of months ago. On my log it registered 8300 Rpm. The engine seems fine, no noises and pulls ok i think. I didnīt have the ***** to do a compression test

Do you think I am a lucky bastard or am i running a time bomb?

shlammed

iTrader: (8)

that's a pretty easy problem to solve.