Cool Article about the 05 SCCA wagons floating around still.. :)

[Sgt.Gator]

Check this out, JRZ has posted pics of the car on their Facebook page!

 

www.facebook.com/JRZSuspension

[boxkita]

The car's front end is slightly tweaked from my accidental attempt at Rally Cross. It seems to be fine, but to be perfect we'd have to cut out the radiator supports and put it on a frame machine. Not worth it yet.

 

on spec miatas, pretty much every car has front end damage. The conspicuously wrinkled fenders, oddly bent hoods, and damaged lower arms used to concern me, as I thought it was more of demolition derby. Then, after much closer inspection and talks with early spec miata builders, I learned these cars were more desirable.

 

As long as the damage is not detrimental to the car, you can run as long as it passes tech. The fenders & hood & headlight covers affect airflow, up to and including working as cold air intakes. The lower arm damage affects camber & caster. In a spec class where everyone is using the same parts, a damage part may increase your camber by several degrees.

 

Not saying you want to squish your car into odd geometry, however, a little extra might help. :-)

[Sgt.Gator]

The car is all cleaned up and ready to race again. Plus we got our graphics done in time for the racing this weekend and the Big NW Subaru Meet that just happens to be occurring at PIR at the same time.

 

...

 

 

 

[boxkita]

Wow! Color me jealous! Do they want to sponsor another car? :-)

 

talked to Gator about this. His sponsorship represents 3-4 months of hard work and negotiation on his part. Good on him.

Edited August 14, 2014 by boxkita

[Sgt.Gator]

The racing was incident free this weekend (thank the Lord!) I'll edit and post up a video this week.

 

But here's a couple of notes for any of ya'll thinking of replicating my oil cooler location:

 

As you may remember I ripped the oil filter and cooler hose system out of the block when I went off course two weeks ago. I was unable to re-install the system before the race, so I was just running the stock setup, but the Mocal oil cooler radiator was still hanging on the bracket, with the oil temp sender in it, here's how it looked before the rally car excursion:

 

 

I covered the oil cooler hose plugs and went on track. Much too my surprise after 15 mins of racing I started getting a red channel alarm light for oil temp!

It took me a second to realize that it wasn't oil, but the air temp in the "cooler" the sender was reading. In other words the air blowing over the cooler was so hot it would have heated up my oil to alarm levels!

 

I'm sure this is because once the brakes are glowing there is so much radiant heat, even in front of the ducted brakes, that it's pointless to have a cooler there.

 

This also has implications for anyone with a long "CAI" that goes down in front of the wheel well, you aren't going to be getting any cold air, even with the plastic wheel well trim in there.

 

So now I'm exploring moving the oil cooler up to the space formerly occupied by the battery, and running cold air intake duct thru the driver headlight space to feed it, and probably put a fan in the duct.

 

I'm also rethinking my Trans and Diff cooler, they really need fresher air than what they are getting under the car off a hot track.

[boxman]

Put 'em where the TMIC used to be.

[Sgt.Gator]

Put 'em where the TMIC used to be.

 

Interesting idea. That could work for the oil and trans coolers. I'd like to avoid running the diff cooler lines all the way up to the front of the car next to the exhaust in the drive shaft hump space.

[boxman]

Still got the spare tire well in the back? If so maybe cut it out, patch with a flat piece and then you'd have room for a cooler aft of the rear diff in the space formerly occupied by the spare tire well.

 

Never mind...I see that's where your fuel cell is. Any issue with moving the diff oil cooler into the back and mounting a fan on it?

Edited August 12, 2014 by boxman

[Rhitter]

Do races never occur when you need headlights?

[Sgt.Gator]

Do races never occur when you need headlights?

 

Only long endurance races, like the 25 hours of Thunderhill. Many tracks actually used to require the removal of headlights in the days when they were glass. And they still require glass headlights to be taped up. You see more headlights today because the lenses are plastic. And some classes require the headlight to be present, but if glass it is taped.

 

Sound restrictions have also put a dent on races going late.

 

In Chump Car enduros most racers remove their headlights because they are going to get smashed anyway, and when it gets dark we bolt on a light bar. Then when the sun comes up we take it off.

[Sgt.Gator]

I may try putting up a ThermoTec blanket between the brakes and the oil cooler, that might work. Basically replace the fender liner with a ThermoTec type blanket.

[boxkita]

I may try putting up a ThermoTec blanket between the brakes and the oil cooler, that might work. Basically replace the fender liner with a ThermoTec type blanket.

 

Um, radiating heat back into the tire/brake area is not going to cool the brakes better.

 

Using the TMIC space for cooling oil work pretty good (based on seeing a 600hp FMIC impreza wagon that did this - all day autox never got over 160 oil temp).

 

ST class allows for unlimited hood mods? what if you made a naca duct into the battery area for the cooler and a matching extractor duct on the opposite side. You can buy plastic ducts from Summit or Pegasus. That should keep everything cool.

[Sgt.Gator]

Do races never occur when you need headlights?

 

Um, radiating heat back into the tire/brake area is not going to cool the brakes better.

 

Using the TMIC space for cooling oil work pretty good (based on seeing a 600hp FMIC impreza wagon that did this - all day autox never got over 160 oil temp).

 

ST class allows for unlimited hood mods? what if you made a naca duct into the battery area for the cooler and a matching extractor duct on the opposite side. You can buy plastic ducts from Summit or Pegasus. That should keep everything cool.

 

Your NACA duct idea got me thinking....I could put a NACA duct thru the front bumper side into the current location, and put a fan on the cooler. That should do the trick. The air would exhaust out past the wheel/brake.

[boxkita]

holy body roll, batman - http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/p791549909/h1BB23BA1#h47c81a9

and this one, too - http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/p791549909/h1BB23BA1#h6b3936

 

this starts a great sequence - http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/p791549909/h1BB23BA1#hb63291 that eventually interacts with Gator's wagon. Awesome save, Gator!

Edited August 14, 2014 by boxkita

[Sgt.Gator]

Racing pics from the Group 4 race on Sunday. I'll have video tomorrow night.

 

http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s6/v134/p315826777-2.jpg

 

You can tell from the front end lift that:

 

1) I need to get a splitter

 

2) I need a front LSD

 

I was spinning the inside front tires coming out of every corner!!!

 

http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v119/p532740540-2.jpg http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v165/p29777238-2.jpghttp://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v108/p199492307-2.jpg

http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v155/p455713683-2.jpg

 

This was interesting to be behind:

 

http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s6/v136/p229843360-2.jpg

 

And a thrilling moment when the Corvette in front of me spun:

 

http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v125/p259080647-2.jpg http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v120/p505366066-2.jpg http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v153/p225810443-2.jpg http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v131/p406369036-2.jpg

[Sgt.Gator]

holy body roll, batman - http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/p791549909/h1BB23BA1#h47c81a9

and this one, too - http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/p791549909/h1BB23BA1#h6b3936

 

this starts a great sequence - http://dougberger.zenfolio.com/p791549909/h1BB23BA1#hb63291 that eventually interacts with Gator's wagon. Awesome save, Gator!

 

LOL! I was just posting up the same images at the same time! LOL!

[boxkita]

Your NACA duct idea got me thinking....I could put a NACA duct thru the front bumper side into the current location, and put a fan on the cooler. That should do the trick. The air would exhaust out past the wheel/brake.

 

unless you piped it out the tmic hole in the hood? You already have too much air going into the wheel wells, so adding more isn't helping.

 

trying to find the picture where I saw this done. It was a neat setup and flowed a ton of air thru the cooler.

[Sgt.Gator]

Racing video done!

 

Best Highlites:

 

Another Miata Battle in the Enduro. (5 Min mark)

 

And close call with a Corvette in the Sprint Race. (26:50)

 

 

 

Next Mods:

New bumpers otw.

Rallitec under-tray OTW, for the next time I go go from road racing to RallyX in the middle of a turn!

The aluminum under-tray should also serve as a great base to attach a splitter to...which is being mocked up now.

 

Still debating re-installing the oil cooler system. It took me awhile to figure out the OEM oil cooler system that mine uses as an extension is not a LegacyGT oem part, it's from WRX and STi:

 

http://www.oakos.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/SUB-21311AA051(1).jpg... http://galleryplus.ebayimg.com/ws/web/151043439160_1_0_1/1000x1000.jpg

 

I pulled my water temps off my AIM data logger from the PIR races. Both days were hot, Sunday was so hot two drivers fell out of their cars in the paddock at the end of my Group 4 race and had to have medical attention, delaying the race. But despite the 100 degree days my water temps were fine. Putting the oil cooler system back together may create another fail point with no benefit.

[BoozeRS05]

Pesky Miata's!

 

Great stuff..

[Chris GTO TT]

Racing video done!

 

Best Highlites:

 

Another Miata Battle in the Enduro. (5 Min mark)

 

And close call with a Corvette in the Sprint Race. (26:50)

 

 

 

Next Mods:

New bumpers otw.

Rallitec under-tray OTW, for the next time I go go from road racing to RallyX in the middle of a turn!

The aluminum under-tray should also serve as a great base to attach a splitter to...which is being mocked up now.

 

Still debating re-installing the oil cooler system. It took me awhile to figure out the OEM oil cooler system that mine uses as an extension is not a LegacyGT oem part, it's from WRX and STi:

 

http://www.oakos.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/SUB-21311AA051(1).jpg... http://galleryplus.ebayimg.com/ws/web/151043439160_1_0_1/1000x1000.jpg

 

I pulled my water temps off my AIM data logger from the PIR races. Both days were hot, Sunday was so hot two drivers fell out of their cars in the paddock at the end of my Group 4 race and had to have medical attention, delaying the race. But despite the 100 degree days my water temps were fine. Putting the oil cooler system back together may create another fail point with no benefit.

 

Right, but what about your oil temps do you have an oil temp gauge? Before you remove the oil cooler entirely I'd monitor oil temps. I plan to install oil temp gauges on my street/track Miata, that to me is more important than water temp.

[boxkita]

Right, but what about your oil temps do you have an oil temp gauge? Before you remove the oil cooler entirely I'd monitor oil temps. I plan to install oil temp gauges on my street/track Miata, that to me is more important than water temp.

 

Really? Water temp is crucial in track miatas as overheating is a common problem. Unless you are running a huge radiator.

[Chris GTO TT]

I'm not saying i'm going to ignore it just saying oil temp is very important to lol

[boxkita]

I found this order most important for Miata: water temp, oil pressure, oil temp. Rather than relying on gauges, I have idiot lights that come on red when critical levels are approaching. When it gets critical, they flash. Which means you have about 5 seconds to shut off the engine. Again personal experience.

 

YMMV

[Sgt.Gator]

Right, but what about your oil temps do you have an oil temp gauge? Before you remove the oil cooler entirely I'd monitor oil temps. I plan to install oil temp gauges on my street/track Miata, that to me is more important than water temp.

 

I have an oil temp gauge and alarm, and a sender. The sender is not plugged into the block, where do folks normally screw in the oil temp sender?

[Sgt.Gator]

I got the Cusco 1.5 rear LSD back and swapped it into the R160 diff. If anyone wants an OEM VLSD I have one for sale. Very soon I'll have 2 x R160 4.11 rear diffs for sale, one with the Cusco LSD, and one with a oem VLSD. See below for why...

 

Repaired/replaced the oil cooler system. Relocated the oil cooler to the former battery tray. I have a Spal fan for it but I'm testing to see if the air flow is enough from the below NACA duct.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/OilCoolerrev1b.jpg...http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/OilCoolerrev1a.jpg

 

Replaced front bumper and lip, much better looking!

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/Bumper.jpg

 

Installed NACA ducts in the bumper, driver side feeds the newly relocated oil cooler.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/NacaDuctDriver.jpg

 

Passenger side feeds the air intake. This allowed me to replace the air intake thru the headlight, although I can always put it back for extra air to the intake. I have another idea I'll be testing with this NACA too....

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/NacaDuctPass.jpg

 

Installed Rallitec skid plate. This will also serve as a base for my new splitter which is being cut out now from Alumalite. This should protect the engine well in case I have another unplanned baja rally session.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/SkidPlate.jpg

 

Reset the suspension with a 4 wheel alignment. Bled the brakes. Changed engine and rear diff oils. All the routine pre-race stuff. I have races this weekend at The Ridge.

 

Mods up next:

 

Install front splitter. It should be ready Monday. I will be fabricating an air dam from the splitter to the lip.

 

Swap out 5 speed for JDM Forester STI 6 speed and matching R180! I have all the parts in, should be done in two weeks. Includes a new Exedy clutch and flywheel. The 5 speed will go in my 818R future project.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/DSC_3068.jpg..http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/DSC_3079.jpg

 

Mod a standard Legacy hood into a heat extractor type hood with vents.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/MS6Hayate/LegacyHoodNonTurbo.jpg

 

Next year will be a rear wing and I should be done with mods....well maybe never really done.

 

Race Pics and Video from The Ridge this weekend up next week.