Ugh, they have to be the most annoying design ever. I'm sure they're the most time consuming step of swapping the front shocks or springs.

Lol at the thread title change again... my nickname in track and field was italian stallion!

:likecat:

Why would you take the sway bar off to change the shocks? It's way easier to just unbolt the lower balljoint.

--Ian

I could kiss you.

This ...

Its even easier to have bushings that rotate properly. Then you don't need to remove anything.

^you're saying that with the delrin bushings I can just unbolt four bolts on each shock and that's it?

*whistles....

3 bolts per shock, but yes.

Should work with well lubricated poly bushings too. But I pulled my shocks out with delrin bushings and both arms were installed.

It didn't work on my car with well-lubed poly bushings, but it was close. Probably depends on things like shock length, offset upper arm bushings, NA vs NB, etc.

Lower balljoint is easy, though. The three bolts on the shocks, one bolt on the end link, two bolts holding the "tongue" to the lower arm.

--Ian

haha, I was picturing the bottom portion of a miata and the tophat of a subaru lol.... oh boy.

Yeah, I'm putting in grease fittings on the delrin.

I am not ashamed to say I'm sexually excited thinking about swapping spring rates in like 4 minutes.

delrin bushings don't really need grease, it's polyurethane ones that need lubing. Alas, you can't really lube the polys properly unless you take them out (even with zerk fittings the grease won't go in all the places it needs to go) and delrins are unsuitable for the alignment bolt positions.

--Ian

^I have the poly bushings for the eccentric bolt locations.

Update! Just ordered Trackspeed 16 row oil cooler kit, and the coolant reroute plugs. I'll try to install the plug when I drain the coolant for the intercooler install.

Does anyone know if the oil cooler kit is all inclusive? Like do I need to buy anything else to install it correctly? Thanks

You need a mounting solution for the cooler itself. And wrenches to build the AN lines. And something to cut the lines with.

Ok, I have the tools, I think I could mount the cooler onto the rotrex oil cooler bracket, located in the air ducting behind the driver's fog light.

Or at least mount some tabs to the bracket.

Ok, I have the tools, I think I could mount the cooler onto the rotrex oil cooler bracket, located in the air ducting behind the driver's fog light.

Or at least mount some tabs to the bracket.

COOOOOOOOOOOOL. just got a text from Jason Owenby, of JO Motorsports...

I shipped him my trans, along with the Miata Roadster angled shifter kit, as installed...

He says there seems to be a bushing missing, and EVERY SHIFT FORK is damaged because of it... He recommends the stock shifter.

I'm really glad I upgrade my car. Also really glad that I threw out the stock shifter setup.

There isn't a bushing in the shifter that would cause a damaged shift fork. The only bushing there is the one on the end of the ball.

I think I have a stock shifter laying around. Trade you for the short shifter :)

Yeah, or the 76,000 miles on a clutch with a flywheel bearing a centimeter out.

I definitely like to shift fast. :D

I'm asking Jason to machine shift forks that are more durable.. we'll see what happens.

So NASCAR trans builders are using some new techniques to lengthen the intervals between rebuilds, and Jason will attempt to apply those processes to my trans.

I'll know more when he does, I'll keep you guys updated.

He also sent some pics, I'll put those up later this evening.

Just a quick picture of the guts of my transmission! If you look past the foggy lens, there is a 6 speed.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1467516369

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1467516713
Just a quick pic of the guts of my trans!

I was just thinking...

will the oil cooler prevent my engine from reaching proper oil temperature in cold weather? Like the supermiata radiator does for my water temp? I need to carry a piece of cardboard constantly, and block off the radiator if the ambient temp is under 45 degrees.

Should I place the oil cooler somewhere that I can access easily to block it off? I don't really see any colder than 20*F.

I got the 16 row setrab. TDR intercooler and A/C condenser are both in front of the radiator. (I also have coolant reroute)

Thanks guys

RTFM.

The sandwich plate has a thermostat built in. Maybe if it's super cold you willneed to block it off. But probably not. You have an oil temp gauge right?

Leave your OEM oil/coolant mixer in place. That will warm the oil up in cold weather. The Setrab plate we ship has a 205*F thermostat, higher than the standard unit that other companies ship with their kits.

It is a DIY kit, so you will need to devise and fabricate your own mounting solution.

No, I don't have an oil temp gauge.

Is the thermostat the silver insert into the sandwich plate?

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1467571355

The mixer also acts as a spacer to push the fittings away from the block and give more room.

Oh, ok, thanks.

You should have one for the track.

And yes.

Just bought hot laps for both days! I will be at Miata's at MRLS or BUST!!

Car #69 has been reserved. lol.

How? Thought it was all sold out.

^no idea, they took my money.

D group was still open

lol nice

Now we need vlad to sign up too.

Not gonna happen bruh. I'll gladly ride with any of you if that's cool, but I don't trackday.
I just make cars faster lol

I'll give you a ride. You can experience the terror that is my driving.

At least I won't be on frozen RS3s though.

You both are welcome to ride with me on track, but to be honest, I really like having an instructor.

Would they let me hot lap with the utility trailer? you could both just lay in that!

the instructor can sit on my lap while aidan sits in the trailer and critiques your line

:D

^lol! ok I won't bring the hard top

holy shit, i'll need to get those intercoms ordered i completely forgot!

I just remembered, my car has the stock exhaust, and is quiet. No intercom needed.

I was thinking about the track days I used to do in my super loud impreza. Instructor and I would be yelling at speed, and when he had to explain something complicated, I just put my hazards on and went slow so I could hear.

I won't be able to get the proper seats or harnesses in time for miatas at Laguna, but I'll have the rollbar, and fire system installed.

Looking at cool shirts as well. Is there some place at the track where people get ice? Or do I need to purchase ice before hand? Anyone know?

You probably won't need one for October. Maybe throw some hot water in it for the mornings. I wore a sweatshirt for half the day. And I don't get cold easily.

get watercooled underwear
clenching can make it overheat

Don't forget the diapers for the oh shit moments. Like drifting out of the corkscrew.

I don't wear underwear. Just pretend i didn't borrow your sweatpants. :)

Lol, what rungroup was that? And was that you? what tires was that on? It seemed you were going too slow to spin.

Well, I get hot easily. I've been wearing my suit at night here, shoes, gloves, helmet, just to get a feel for things... I still overheat in 45*F nights just walking around, trying to control my breathing. I think I'll still need the coolshirt. What temp does the mrls get in the mornings Oct 1st?

Run group C. I think I was doing 60-70 when that happened.

Very old rs3s. And frozen. Eds car was totalled twice on them.

lol. do you want me to save my RE71R take offs? They have some meat left, not a lot, but way better than old frozen rs3s lol. I can just throw them in the trailer, I think I'll have room. 205/50/15. camber wear on the now outside corner, just basically shaved at that point, no tread, not to the cords yet.

Just my luck, both axles are seized in the hubs... not really a problem.

Ordered timkin bearings and retainers, hubs, axles, and wheel seals. It was only 230 from rock auto. Seemed like good prices to me.

Before you destructively remove the axle, try an air chisel with a punch tip. I have seen a few people bend knuckles with presses, and the air chisel really pops 'em out if you get the punch tip in the dimple at the end of the splined part of the shaft.

Ok, I'll see if I can borrow an air chisel. Thanks

UUUUUPDAAAAAATE!

Happy part...
Gears are out of cryo bath!!! new shift forks getting a special hardening treatment from Roush! Same thing they do for NASCAR shift forks. Pretty cool.
Almost done with the Delrin bushing kit. Installed AWR front swaybar mounts. Steering rack bushings are in. FM stage 2 clutch is in.
Ordering Fast coolshirt kit tonight.

Sad part...
Reverent is unresponsive. I was told my MS3 Part Deux should be finished early June. It's almost mid July. I can't even run on the MS3 I currently have, it completely failed. Soooooo.......

That sucks. Hopefully I won't have the same issue with mine. Do you think the car will be ready for MRLS? Im eager to see it in person.

Wow, thank you so much. That made me so happy to know someone is looking forward to seeing my car. Like I teared up a bit. Havin a rough night, and that really really helped.

But yeah, I'm going to try my hardest to make it. I've begun the "pester every vendor until they give me what I want" stage of car build. If I can't get an ecu, I'll just put the stock ecu back in and run that. The car will be slow as balls, but I'll have fun! Maybe I'll just sell my hot laps to someone here, fly in and have 18psi pick me up, and just do ride alongs all weekend. Go in every single run group, get a ton of seat time lol.

I am the lucky child who buys premo parts, and am the only one that has fluke issues with them lol. Dont worry, you'll be fine.

I don't think the stock ecu will play nice with the s2 or flattop or some of the sensors that are now not functional (like the baro sensor that you re-wired for rev's MS3).

Have you tried all means of communication with Reverant?

Paging @Reverant

I think the stock ecu will be fine with the s2 and flat top. Sensors maybe not. Reverant posted the other day. So hes around. Maybe your shit is getting sent to spam or something.

Shoot him a PM on here as well as email. It would suck to have to scramble to get the car dialed in just days before MRLS.
There is still enough time left now to prepare and be ready and avoid silly issues.

PREPARE, MRLS IS COMING
*insert lord of the rings meme*

I only have used PM. I couldn't find his email. I've been trying to pay him for this ecu for awhile, I'm not sure what is going on. I can understand life happens, but just let me know, so I won't freak out as much.

I even told him that I don't want to send the old one back, just send the new one and I'll pay for it. I thought a free 1300 bucks was good incentive... nope.

You need to email him. Here's the email addy posted on his "site": info@mslabs.gr

If not, text me and we will go a different direction altogether. No time to fool around and play cat-n-mouse.

Brain MS3. Or MS3PnpPro

Ordered Puck type Supermiata Sport Clutch. Seems much better quality than the chinese crap FM offers.

Sprung?