So, I just bought a high mileage, BRG '99 miata with a black interior.

Yah, im probably a idiot.

Mods, came as is.

-Koni Reds, H & R springs (I believe so, i cant find any markings as yet)
-OZ wheels superleggras 16x7s (37 offset)
-Sumotimos SRTz (or whatever, 220 tread) in 205-45-16

Its a damn fun car. Wish I did this earlier in life! Now, what should I do for alignment specs?

Any thoughts, ideas?

 

Is that a Honda Miata or a Mazda Miata? Is this the Honda-Tech forum or the Mazda-Tech forum?

C Stock for AX, no idea on alignment settings.

 

If the diff is open or viscous you can come play in STS2, otherwise the springs and wheels bump you into CSP. Fun place to play but there can be some seriously prepped cars depending on your region. Locally you might be able to talk to the other competitors and see if they'd let you run STS2 where the car would be a little better fit. Congrats on the purchase, they're fun cars!

 

Thanks STS. Its the open diff.

To the other guy, take that to cosmetics.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is that a Honda Miata or a Mazda Miata? Is this the Honda-Tech forum or the Mazda-Tech forum? </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is that a Honda Miata or a Mazda Miata? Is this the Honda-Tech forum or the Mazda-Tech forum?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
and guess what? You're the idiot

 

You really have to decide if you want it to be a fun car, or an autocross car.

If its just for fun, then don't really worry about the ruleset as much, and run in whatever class you are legal for... In your current situation, I'd say that you are probably in STX2 (if your region has that), because the springs (and technically wheels too) put you there. A set of stockies, some R-comps, and stock springs would make your car a viable local CS car.

Also if your region allows or has it, you maybe able to compete in a Street Tire class.

If its for autocross only, pick your class and prep to the rules...The Miata.net forums might be a little more helpful than here in that respect.

[EDITED for rules]


Modified by mtbprelude at 1:06 PM 5/30/2006

 

Sorry, but y'all need to re-read the SCCA Solo Rules. His car is NOT legal for CS as it has illegal springs. His car is also NOT legal for STS2 as ALL 99+ Miata are explicity excluded from the class. Currently, his choices are CSP and SM2. He also can't run Prepared or Mod as he lacks proper rollover protection.

To the OP - if I were you, I'd source some Sport package springs and swaybars and a Torsen and go play in CS.

Alignment - max out the front camber, take whatever caster you can get, and a touch of toe out. In the rear, I'd start with a bit more negative camber than the front and a little toe in. Search miata.net, it's been covered there many times.

 

Thanks, these are all good ideas.

Do you know what kind of sway bars are on the sport? How thick? I really cant find any markings on these springs, but I believe they are H &R 's. Does anyone know how the sport springs handle?

My goal is not a full out auto-x car, but I do want to TRY to be competitive. I was sick of my heavy *** 4 banger accord getting spanked by every car in STS.

 

congrats....put a bar in it and track it!

I run a '90 in CSP with a Torsen and a R package suspension.

I also have a set of 13x7 Circle racing wheels with used V710's on them if they will fit over the monstorous '99 rotors.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carbnjunkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks, these are all good ideas.

Do you know what kind of sway bars are on the sport? How thick? I really cant find any markings on these springs, but I believe they are H &R 's. Does anyone know how the sport springs handle?

My goal is not a full out auto-x car, but I do want to TRY to be competitive. I was sick of my heavy *** 4 banger accord getting spanked by every car in STS. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The Sport had a larger rear bar (12mm vs 11mm), same front, different springs front and rear, front airdam, rear spoiler, 15x6 wheels (vs 14x6), Nardo steering wheel, front strut tower brace, and manual everything (windows, mirrors, antenna). And of course, the Torsen.

Unfortunately, the Torsen wasn't a line-item option in 99 - it was in some of the packages (PEP, Sport, etc) so you need all items from one of the packages.

This lists the packages...
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/5361/99.html

Whether or not a PEP conversion is easier than a Sport conversion is probably a matter if which parts you prefer to swap. But the Sport will be marginally faster (though not faster enough to be worth much extra hassle).

 

All this assumes you want the Torsen. You can probably do just fine locally with a larger front bar, some OTS Koni sports, and some Kumho V710s or Hoosiers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">All this assumes you want the Torsen. You can probably do just fine locally with a larger front bar, some OTS Koni sports, and some Kumho V710s or Hoosiers.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That'd be a good way to go. And prolly the way I'd go.
You could call Tom Neel at the Parts Group: two 5 six three. OH 9, 0 four nine two. And he could set you up with the stock springs pretty cheaply, or anything else for that matter.
If you are interested I have some of the OEM Bilsteins (from the sport) sitting around that I've been trying to sell on the Miata.net forums these can be sent to Bilstein and revalved for under $200, though they aren't adjustable.

Email me or message me off the board.

 

Yup, thanks guys.

Im still trying to dial her in. But those R compounds on her sound mighty nice.

Anyone recommend a good front sway bar?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carbnjunkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yup, thanks guys.

Im still trying to dial her in. But those R compounds on her sound mighty nice.

Anyone recommend a good front sway bar?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Either of the Racing Beat offerings will work.

In the NA (90-97) cars, there seems to be two "hot" setups for Stock:
- large Racing Beat tubular + custom Koni w/ high rebound and low compression
- small front bar (NB Sport) + custom Bilsteins w/ high compression and low rebound

Both have been proven to be fast, though they feel completely different. Not sure if it applies to NB cars (99-05). The autox forum at Miata.net is a pretty good resource - a bit more "noise" than HT's rr/ax forum, but it's pretty easy to pick out the good stuff.

If you truly have a base (no power options at all, manual steering), I'd plan to do a Sport conversion. Since you're running locally, I'd start with the Sport Bilsteins (used) and springs (from Mazda Motorsports). Nobody will care that you don't have the nardi steering wheel or Torsen - you can add those later. Find some used OEM 15x6 wheels and add some used R-compound tires. Plus a good alignment and you'll have a regionally competitive car. Add the Torsen and other stuff to be 100% legal and you'll have a 99% National car (just lacking fresh shock valving).

 

I thought during the 99 year, there were only two models,

then the rest are just packages right?

My car does have the nardi, I believe its the "touring package."

 

Nope, in 99, there was...
- Power Steering Package (just power steering)
- Touring (+Nardi steering, alloy 14" wheels, powr windows)
- PEP (+ cruise, Torsen, power antenna, power doors)
- Leather (+ leather, 15" wheels, BOSE audio)
- Sport - base + bilsteins, torsen, springs, rear swaybar, aero kit

Since your car is a Touring, I'd simply add the stuff to make it a PEP. Should be way easier than making it a Sport, and really only gives up a little weight (the rear springs aren't that big a deal).

2000 was the year the Miata went to the BASE or LS trim levels, each with it's own set of options/packages.