curly

iTrader: (25)

I've had recent experience with something similar, V8R's billet lower control arms. Required weird spring lengths to keep the MCS adjuster (2.25" spring like Xidas) clear of the stock upper arm, lower "ball joints" (improperly loaded sphericals) bound at full droop due to improper angle, and for $850 they replace a part that has zero issues unless you run R compounds and like to hit curbs. And even then you could replace them once a year for about 8.5 years before they were more expensive than the billet arms.

You might look else where for chassis/suspension improvements before spending big money on the drop spindles.

nbfather

mx5-kiwi,
I sort of figured as much, but while we were in suspension mode I wanted to cross all the t's and dot the i's so to speak.
The 949 kit and Sadfab bearings look to be a difficult to beat if not duplicate....The whole thing adds up to a package with astounding abilities. More than one could hope to start with in any other car.

Curly,
That sucks about the V8R arms!
With our target HP goals, and 245's, I was considering the V8R tubular rear arms to help with wheel hop.
Gha!

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

Jamie

mx5-kiwi

hopefully ,my previous post wasn't rude......

I have a pet hate.

I see so many great cars sitting in garages waiting for this ultimate part or that ultimate part, finally years later (sometimes, often never) the car gets finished and is undriveable, unsuitable to the original intention or the person has just matured/grown up/changed direction in life or whatever and the car is relatively quickly just sold, more often than not as an incomplete project. My faterh gave me some great advice (that i learned the hard way too...) NEVER take your car off the road, do each project as its own thing and do your utmost to keep it drive able, going etc.

Almost always these cars could have been out there on track, cruising or whatever long sooner had the person just gotten on with the core focus of getting the car going. Especially now with the internet and the huge temptation of unreal variety of parts, opinions etc....

The fact is, driven well, a basic non turbo miata on 7" rims, average suspension okay tires can thrash a lot of cars on track.

Our car is now pretty well setup and with some of the nice parts from around BUT we have been driving and enjoying it while it got there the past 4 years.....won awards, placed high in our series, made friends had amazing experiences and most importantly learnt what was actually required and not what was perceived to be required...frequently quite different things.

Don't let xidas, drop spindles, 275 hoosiers, 15x10 6uls or whatever put you off getting the car going and drive it, race it etc.

If you buy second hand and wisely, the parts you get now to just get going, will be worth the same as they will in one year when you can sell them and upgrade etc.

Once again just a perspective from my own, getting out there and doing it viewpoint...if the build itself IS the project (as it is for many) ignore everything i just said

nbfather

I appreciate people taking the time to comment!
You are going to have to do a lot worse that that to offend me!

Yes, it is about the build. This is a father son project.
It is also about creating a driving experience for him.

I was ready to forget about the spindles, but I thought I would ask before bailing out.
I would rather ask about a bridge that might be too far than spend the money and make a stupid mistake.

I am well aware of Emilio's suspension and development efforts....Also aware of the outstanding performance and value.
Nowhere in the many builds I have been a part of has there been a, here take this, bolt it on your car, tune it at the track and be a contender....For $3000.00 yet!
Unbelievable.

The plan for my son is seat time...as much as he can handle and afford....I will probably help there...The build...Not so much!
He attends a beginner track course some time soon, then a few weeks after that he has 5 days of formal instruction plus a 2 day stint with an serious racing buddy....likely on stock wheels and suspension.
The idea is to keep him at the track building his driving foundation for this year and probably next...While not picking up any bad habits from me!
Professional instruction/lessons mixed in as much as he can afford.


Jamie

mx5-kiwi

Sounds great, your son is very lucky!

z31maniac

Glad to see the experience level finally addressed, but I still don't think it's really sinking how much seat time it REALLY takes to get close to maxing out the performance of just a Miata on the BGK and Rcomps and decent brakes. Not a few days here and there it will take a few dozen track days with instruction to get close anyway. Remember a lot of these guys have been doing HPDE/Racing for far more than a decade, and decades in some cases with regular track time.

Put some decent pads/fluid/ducts on the car, do the BGK if he wants, 15x8 and some 205 200TW or Rcomps, get all your safety stuff sorted out, and then spend as much time behind the wheel as you can for the next 2 years without doing anything else to the car.

And when he thinks he is getting "All of it" out of the car, have him do yet another ride along with one of the experienced local instructors.

I got luck that this was my instructor for a weekend once, it was humbling to see what she was going on the brakes and with slip angles in the corners. Official Website of Kristin Treager Racing

nbfather

You are preaching to the choir.
I'm just a father trying to keep the racing off the streets and keep the horsepower bug in line.
I am under no illusion as to mastery of the process, I just want him to enjoy it.

The brakes (completely rebuild/ good pads/fluid) seem good for stock power.
When he wants more power he knows he needs more brake.
Maxxis will do him well enough and will keep the consumables down a bit....and the 245s give him the look he wants...
Safety stuff is done
Thanks for your thoughts!

Jamie

psreynol

if your son is new to track driving, just get him on track in something slow, safe and reliable. the more capable the car, the harder it is to teach the limits without consequence. I think brake fade, and over heated tires are good for a new driver. they need to learn how to drive overheated tires and when to hot brakes are just annoying and when they become dangerous. does he post here? all should read this