STS Miata - Project: Stronger Faster Lighter

[aMaff]

Before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD83nEobhQU

After:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqqmc5JzLKY

Sure, it's no dynomax, but it is relatively light for a full catback (no scale right now, Kevin's holding it hostage) and I've gotta say after driving it around some this morning, sounds really good and should be a helluva lot more liveable to drive to away events

 

[mpheinitz]

Sounds good.

Curious, what are your local sound restrictions?

In San Diego, we are 93db @ 50ft.

Mike

 

[aMaff]

Sounds good.

Curious, what are your local sound restrictions?

In San Diego, we are 93db @ 50ft.

Mike

They're the same. My car was pretty much right AT that limit, if not a little above depending on local conditions, with the dynomax. I could have probably tweaked what I had to scrape in just under sound most of the time, but a big part of it for me, being part of the team that puts on the events, is trying to set a good example to follow.

And let's face it, the car will be a hell of a lot more driveable for out of town events and even to and from work like this. I'd been starting to get a few nasty looks from the local LEOs of late when I would take it for a spin.

 

[aMaff]

Alright, just a few more pics:

Turndown installed:

Full cat-back (you can see the grease spatter from the axle boot that went to hell this weekend...):

Cat back with turndown:

Full Cat-back weight (19.95 lbs)

Catback with turndown (10.8)

Old exhaust (6.05 lbs)

Call it giving up 4 lbs of weight at national level events for the sake of my sanity, and that of those living near where we run.

About the only change I'd make is to have a flanged connection between the 2 pieces instead of a slip fit. It sounded like a good idea in theory, however the fact is that the outer tube has to be a smidge bigger than the inner tube for it to slip on. Once you clamp down on the belt clamp, it ovals the tube some making a bit of an interference fit. It's not a huge issue, but something that will save my sanity later on. It didn't take more than 5 minutes to remove, but it was a real pain due to the interference fit on the pipes. My biggest concern is having to torque on the header / cat to try to wiggle it on and off and cracking something more than "it's a pain", and I think it'll be better in the long run if it's something I'll be doing often (it will).

 

[Rogue]

try looking at these:
http://www.burnsstainless.com/Hardware/Clamps/clamps.html

Burns is pretty pricey, so I'm sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere.

 

[aMaff]

Hmmm, an RX-7 clutch type diff showed up at my door this afternoon.

Wonder what use I can find for that.... (shady)

 

[apexlater]

Can it be used to start a new thread?

 

[aMaff]

Can it be used to start a new thread?

It will be later on . I'm not QUITE done with this one yet. Mostly, but not completely.

 

[Shadow102]

Hmmm, an RX-7 clutch type diff showed up at my door this afternoon.

Wonder what use I can find for that.... (shady)

Sweet...goes without saying but make sure you check all the clutch thicknesses before you throw it in the diff

 

[aMaff]

Well, today I probably spent about 4.5 hours total working on various things on the car.

Primarily however, we got from this:

To this:

We installed the front hubs, lug studs, brake calipers, rotors and pads, and replaced the master cylinder. Also got the brakes MOSTLY bled, but we ran out of fluid, so I've gotta make a run to the store tomorrow morning and find someone to help me get that done tomorrow night, hopefully.

Thanks a ton to Wayne (apexlater) for the wrenching, brake-pedal-pumping-and-holding, and beer drinking help

 

[THE Phen]

Your front sway... I wants it.

 

[aMaff]

They make a 1 1/4" for the NBs. I think I'll be picking that one up next year and adapting it to the NA (not terribly hard to do)

 

[apexlater]

icanhasRedStripe?

 

[Lt. Dan]

Hmmm, an RX-7 clutch type diff showed up at my door this afternoon.

Wonder what use I can find for that.... (shady)

Tell me about this, o' wise one... Does this mean that Mazdaspeed clutch packs will fit in my NA clutch diff?

 

[aMaff]

Tell me about this, o' wise one... Does this mean that Mazdaspeed clutch packs will fit in my NA clutch diff?

N/A clutch diff? You mean the viscous? And honestly, I have no idea lol. I just know that the RX7 diff to Miata diff-housing is a pretty common swap

 

[Vocko]

Do you have a link for a "how-to" or someone thats done it with pics?

 

[Shadow102]

Do you have a link for a "how-to" or someone thats done it with pics?

the miata ring gear bolts onto the rx7 diff. You will just have to reset the gear mesh in the diff when you are done

 

[aMaff]

Do you have a link for a "how-to" or someone thats done it with pics?

Give us a few months and I'll probably be able to do one for you. I'm sure there's more than a few on the web.

the miata ring gear bolts onto the rx7 diff. You will just have to reset the gear mesh in the diff when you are done

Yep, it's a bolt in affair. If you know how to rebuild a diff (I don't yet, but I know who does ), you can do this pretty easily.

 

[Vocko]

Hopefuly in a few months I'll be doing the swap, but untill then I can only read

 

[aMaff]

Teaser of non-STS content to come

13x7, 8.4 lbs. Nice.