HornetBall's Build #2: Meet Red
04-14-2015, 12:16 AM
#441
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An eventful weekend with Chin at TWS!! I signed up for the Chin event to learn the track ahead of a NASA event, and learn I did. Nearly 7 hours of seat time!! Kudos to Chin for that.
Lots of rain late Saturday. I drove every second of it. Here's my recce lap. Laughing ensued. Felt like I was doing a Jeep commercial:
I made enough noise going around the track that eventually some others came out to play. I was in the "zone" by then:
In other news, GT3s spin fantastically (spin at 2:26):
And yellow S2000s are the new Jack-in-the-Box:
My best of the weekend was a 2:02 flat. That's on RS-3 street tires. Some post-data adjustments and R-Comps should shave that time nicely. So, hopefully, I won't embarass myself too much at NASA (the current TTD record on the NASA website is 2:03.6 by Hustler -- which seems pretty slow compared to some of the times I've seen Robert Cope turn):
FUN, FUN WEEKEND. Water toys and all!
Lots of rain late Saturday. I drove every second of it. Here's my recce lap. Laughing ensued. Felt like I was doing a Jeep commercial:
I made enough noise going around the track that eventually some others came out to play. I was in the "zone" by then:
In other news, GT3s spin fantastically (spin at 2:26):
And yellow S2000s are the new Jack-in-the-Box:
My best of the weekend was a 2:02 flat. That's on RS-3 street tires. Some post-data adjustments and R-Comps should shave that time nicely. So, hopefully, I won't embarass myself too much at NASA (the current TTD record on the NASA website is 2:03.6 by Hustler -- which seems pretty slow compared to some of the times I've seen Robert Cope turn):
FUN, FUN WEEKEND. Water toys and all!
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06-28-2015, 10:58 PM
#448
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Cool Shirt!
Well, it's almost July in Texas. That can only mean one thing . . . I need a Cool Shirt.
Went ahead and store bought everything from Amazon, including the fancy/smancy speed controller doohicky. The controller is pretty big. After sitting in the car for awhile, I decided to put it in the console where the OEM ashtray/cupholders usually go. You'll recall I retained the console in this car because it gives a bit of storage and is really light.
I cut a slot in the bottom of the well and finished it with a file for the mating side of the Molex.
Here's the controller mounted up. I used two stacked 1" x 1/8" pieces of aluminum strap to shim the controller to where I needed it.
In the trunk, I wired a cigarette lighter outlet to give me an electrical quick disconnect for the cooler/pump assembly. This goes to the modulated voltage from the controller.
Cooler/pump assembly:
Business end:
A post here wouldn't be complete without video. The Porsches came out to play (but I kept my cool -- LOL). Mostly Spec Boxsters. They're ~200 pounds heavier, but have ~60HP on me.
Went ahead and store bought everything from Amazon, including the fancy/smancy speed controller doohicky. The controller is pretty big. After sitting in the car for awhile, I decided to put it in the console where the OEM ashtray/cupholders usually go. You'll recall I retained the console in this car because it gives a bit of storage and is really light.
I cut a slot in the bottom of the well and finished it with a file for the mating side of the Molex.
Here's the controller mounted up. I used two stacked 1" x 1/8" pieces of aluminum strap to shim the controller to where I needed it.
In the trunk, I wired a cigarette lighter outlet to give me an electrical quick disconnect for the cooler/pump assembly. This goes to the modulated voltage from the controller.
Cooler/pump assembly:
Business end:
A post here wouldn't be complete without video. The Porsches came out to play (but I kept my cool -- LOL). Mostly Spec Boxsters. They're ~200 pounds heavier, but have ~60HP on me.
Last edited by hornetball; 06-29-2015 at 10:26 AM.
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!
07-27-2015, 12:03 AM
#450
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TCM Hardtop
Treasure Coast Miata hardtop. Fully assembled (windows, seals, etc.) in black gelcoat, the hardtop weighed 20.2 pounds!!
The Snugtop brand top I removed weighed 54.6 pounds. That a savings of 34.4 pounds -- up high!!
The front brackets were regular Spec Miata pieces:
I fabbed brackets for the side and back from 1" x 1/8" aluminum strap:
Mounted up:
What to do with all that black gelcoat? Skull and pistons, of course (#world's_coolest_grandpa):
In other news, I gave up on the variable controller for the cool shirt. I found I was just turning it on full blast anyway. And the console location really wasn't working well. So, added a simple toggle switch.
The Snugtop brand top I removed weighed 54.6 pounds. That a savings of 34.4 pounds -- up high!!
The front brackets were regular Spec Miata pieces:
I fabbed brackets for the side and back from 1" x 1/8" aluminum strap:
Mounted up:
What to do with all that black gelcoat? Skull and pistons, of course (#world's_coolest_grandpa):
In other news, I gave up on the variable controller for the cool shirt. I found I was just turning it on full blast anyway. And the console location really wasn't working well. So, added a simple toggle switch.
Last edited by hornetball; 07-27-2015 at 09:58 AM.
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08-31-2015, 03:36 PM
#451
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Been doing a bunch of intercooler tube construction for the silver car (https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...1/#post1262068) and had some leftovers. So, I built a nicer intake -- the hope is that the less severe radiuses might add some power? OTOH, the intake ended up a bit longer and it was already longer than the ideal 19-23" range.
Whatever . . . pictures:
Whatever . . . pictures:
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08-31-2015, 09:45 PM
#458
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You can get a pretty good seal if you take the time to adjust. I did a hand wash on the red car, and only got water in on the driver's side, and it seemed like a normal amount of water intrusion for an old Miata. I can see the gap where the water got in and may get around to fixing it someday . . . but, no carpet, so meh. It certainly seals well enough for a long tow in the rain.
The top is extremely light and not as rigid as a regular hardtop. As a result, it makes more noise (little squeaks and rattles) from where it sits on the back of the car. I think this could be reduced with a way to positively resist lateral movement like the Frankenstein bolts do for the OEM top. My little brackets with rubber bumpers aren't enough in that regard.
The gelcoat finish is somewhat wavy and would require filler if you wanted it perfectly smooth for a topcoat of paint. But it's just right for a skull and pistons decal.
So, great race top. Not the greatest DD top. Pretty much as advertised. Color me satisfied.
The top is extremely light and not as rigid as a regular hardtop. As a result, it makes more noise (little squeaks and rattles) from where it sits on the back of the car. I think this could be reduced with a way to positively resist lateral movement like the Frankenstein bolts do for the OEM top. My little brackets with rubber bumpers aren't enough in that regard.
The gelcoat finish is somewhat wavy and would require filler if you wanted it perfectly smooth for a topcoat of paint. But it's just right for a skull and pistons decal.
So, great race top. Not the greatest DD top. Pretty much as advertised. Color me satisfied.
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