I was going on the experience of the Wootton's STR autocross car, which has this setup and 225's on 9's. Slight rub on shock tower, but nothing spectacular.

I just went out in the garage, lowered the perches to bottom the suspension, mounted the 225's/9's and it appears that I get some rub on the spring from the backside of the tire towards the firewall. But just a little up off the bumpstops and it goes away. At that point, it's up into the fender liner/top anyway, so might just need a little bit more bumpstop.

I have not yet made a choice on tire/wheel size for One Lap. Might just play it conservative and run 205's on 8's like I did last year (worked out pretty well). Doing some wet tire testing tomorrow at the track using the Mazda 2 as a mule (safer that way). Curious to see how some of the new crop of UHP street tires does in various water depths (we have t-storms forecast).

I ran those new RS-3s in pouring rain at TWS last weekend. Really nice.

The most compression on the tour is probably the entry of MSR-C's toilet bowl. Hard right + braking + bottoming. Unwound some fender rolling last time I ran it (the day we met there). That would be a great test for bumpstop length.

Last night and this morning's work...diff swap. Out goes the 4.3 open and in goes the 3.9 Torsen. Together with the 6-spd, this gives almost exactly the same ratios as the CRX has. Feels very familiar now. Also installed ES diff mounts. Much more connected...easier to put power down and modulate.

Attachment 184185

Final intake manifold setup going in now. Lots of ancillary fab work to facilitate.

Pretty proud of myself for this one. Pondered for hours on how best to do this with what I had laying around. That's one single cut of a fresh 180 U-bend, and some couplers I made from an old silicone 45. Eyeball measured and hacksawed...no fancy bandsaws or whatnot.

I guess even the blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes....

Attachment 184180

Spent the better part of the day building this seemingly simply little box/spacer/bracket to relocate the cruise control actuator down onto the frame rail. The OE setup mounts in three separate planes on the inner fender where the air filter is now located. Cut/welded the brackets on the cruise itself to make it a single plane and built this guy.

Attachment 184176

Attachment 184177

Attachment 184178

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Nicely done, blind squirrel!

What a small world. If you're talking about the TireRack One Lap of America, my old friend and neighbor Solomon does all of the media and organization for the event. I've met Brock Yates Jr. on a handful of occasions, and even Autocrossed with them both one day. He's also introduced me to Billy Johnson of Roush, and I think I remember meeting Leh Keen one time as well.

Car looks great. I've been telling Solomon that I want to do the One Lap one year as well, but my car was undergoing a long build as well. Maybe next year when I have everything ironed out and am 100% confident the car will not break on the lap.

90-00 rear caliper fits the rear Sport carrier and lines up with the 10.9" Sport rear rotor. Front Sport bracket only fits the Sport caliper.

11.75 fronts want 10.9" Sport rears. No or little aero = 94-00 calipers. Big rear aero = Sport calipers (bigger piston, more brake torque).

/drift

9 days until we leave for South Bend!

Spent yesterday making the car more livable and weather proof (and a little heavier). Carpet is back in for sound and heat, along with the heater/defroster. Also rerouted/secured the dash wiring and sealed it all. Lots of bracket-fab cleverness went into mounting that NB climate control into the NA dash. Pulling that dash apart with the roll cage is a PITA, though.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1429550642

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1429550642

Yup, I know all those guys. It's a great group. Everybody who is a gearhead should do this event at least once (fair warning...it's habit-forming)...even if only in a rental car.

Damn, nice progress, man! I didn't expect you to retain cruise control, heater/defroster, and carpet.

Necessary evils. My CRX has all of that. Next year, we'll have a/c.

Have you checked out the highway miles required to successfully run One-Lap? Cruise and decent HVAC required.

Few years back one of my teams drivers drove our 95R to Hallet for their annual fest. Met me on the way back from NASA nats at Mid O. No A/C in 95R. Solution for the 95R? Cool suit!

One week until we leave for South Bend!!!

Yesterday was spent mostly researching and ordering parts. We also made a couple trips to the parts store to get heater hoses sorted and found a pair that bolt right on. Put the seats back in and worked on the passenger quick release a bit to make it easier in/out.

Attachment 184161



And here's one of the main coolant hose routing...just simple 90's connected by aluminum tube...inspired by early water-cooled Porsches.

Attachment 184162

One day. If you see Solomon and remember this, tell him Alex "pee" civic said hello. It's a long story haha

Another piece of the puzzle...and yes, we'll be upsizing the wheels and installing good bearings.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1429741864

Safety measures for those coolant tubes...

Attachment 184159

Oh my, I must get me one of those bead rollers.

-Ryan

Final engine bay for this year's event. Car is running again. Lots of little fab jobs completed to get all the lines plumbed and sensors wired up for the GE Manifold and Skunk2 throttle body. I'll make one more pass with the zip ties before we leave. Needs some tuning with the higher flow intake setup.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1429917362