Sweet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> That's a really nice looking Miata ScottFW. What rims are those? I need a new drivers seat in mine (19 years + modifications and it's done!). What are the kirkey seats like on the road? Do you think they would be comfortable for a few hours?

I had a G-Force 4 point harness in my '92. I now have a RJS camlock in my '90. I have to say G-Force was better and a lot more durable.

What, no double clutching???

???s for you Miata guys. Isn't the 5spd the same as the one in the 929 and millenia, and if so, couldn't you bolt that s/c millenia vs into the Miata? and have that same 200-220hp (or more) as the turbo Meat??

As a guy who loved his hotrodded Fiat 124 spyder, and who sees the Miata as the same concept of a car, but done a LOT more right, that sound intriquing. Been too long since fasteddy herded a nice little droptop roadster.

And I can tell you from experience, that a ragtop at speed shows not much diff in noise top up or down. It's either wind rush/buffet or top canvas slap/flap/snap, combined with the whistle from the wind leaks.

Yah know what the other name for a convertible top is? Leak. I want a leaky ride again...

The wheels are 6ULs from 949racing. They are 15x8 with a 36mm offset and they weigh 12.8 lbs each. A tad heavier than stock, but lighter than the Spec Miata mandated minimum of 13 lbs, so they're still "light enough." They were pretty much purpose built to cram as much tire under the Miata as you can without modifying the fenders. Those are 225/45-15 Hankook RS2s, which are a 200 treadwear street tire that can handle track heat without getting greasy like Azenis. The RS2s give a buttload more grip than the Toyo T1Rs I have on the stock wheels. Some of that is due to the added width, and some due to the rubber compound. 949 also makes a 15x9 for crazy people who want to shoehorn 275 Hoosiers under there.

The Kirkeys are very supportive on track, and despite being an aluminum shell bolted right to the floor, they don't feel harsh over bumps. There is some padding under the cover. The way the seat curves causes a bit of discomfort in my tailbone region after about 90 minutes in it, but I never get any discomfort driving around town or in a 25-30 minute track session. I would not recommend them for long trips, but I suppose it depends how it fits you. If you're shorter than me, you might be able to use a seat from Sparco, Momo, etc that would probably be more comfy for longer drives. I specifically needed an aluminum seat for roll bar clearance due to my height. The side support bolsters make ingress & egress more of a PITA too, so I'll swap the stock seats back in if I know it will be a few months between track days.

The G-force harnesses are a good bang for the buck. Those are the 6-pt camlock version, but mounted more like a 5-pt because I'm not actually sitting on the sub straps. I wouldn't run 4-points (and many tracks won't allow you to run them) due to the possibility of submarining.


No, but I'll sometimes heel & toe on downshifts. I'm still improving my footwork though.


Not the same tranny as far as I'm aware, and I've never read of a motor swap from a Millenia. The Miata has great front/rear weight balance, so I wouldn't put in a heavier s/c V6 when you can easily get as much or more power with a small turbo. The Miata engine is the same one used in the 323GTX and Escort GT, so it was built with at least *some* boost in mind. The 1.8 is good to upwards of 250 hp on stock internals if tuned properly. The tranny is actually the weak link in the drivetrain when you start increasing power. Unless you've got the stock diff from the 1.6 with its cute little 6" ring gear, which has been known to fail even on stock power levels when driven in anger. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />


My top doesn't leak at all. But I've gotten rained on a couple times when I got caught out with the top down. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

See what I mean by "done right". And if you keep the speed up and don't have tropical storm force winds from the rear, I could always stay dry in the rain, in the 124, at least, dryer than with the top up and the NEW windscreen gasket leaking...

I dis-stink-ly 'member way back when the MX5 came out, that they used the tranny from the 929 because it was the stronger of the rwd pattern 5spds they had, the other being the one in the p/u for the small 4 and the 2600i. May have changed with the 1800.

I think you'd be surprised at the small weight diff between the I4 and the 3.0. I'd bet you could restore most of the weight balance with moving the battery to the trunk, if it's not already there.

Meant 5-point. I did have a 4-point for a while which is not much use really. Thanks for the info on the seats. I'm no shorter than you and I have the same roll-bar...



Same deal with the Miata <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I've driven through quite heavy rain and stayed dry. The trouble is the heavier the rain the faster you have to drive to stay dry, so the reduction in safety is exponential <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />



Same bullet proof tranny until the 6 speed came out. I'm pretty sure an RX-7 rotary bolts right up to it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />



Already there. Is the V6 longer than the I-4? I don't know. It may not be a powerhouse, but I think it's a lot more fun to drive a slower car fast than a fast car slow (relatively speaking of course!). The Miata is simple and that's one of the things I like about it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I'll have to take your word on that, because the only thing I distinctly remember when the Miatas came out was that I was in 7th grade. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> It's interesting that I haven't yet read anything about that on the interwebs, will have to look it up sometime. As Reuben mentioned, the 5-spds were all the same on the 1.6 and 1.8, and the power adding folks have found out they're good to about 250 whp. The newer 6 speeds will bolt right up, and are much stronger. However, the gearing is such that 6th on a 6-spd is really no taller than 5th on a 5-speed. Some guys with powerful motors and a 6-spd have regeared to 3.63s, both to have a tall highway gear and to reacquire a usable 1st gear.

Don't see too many rotary swaps into Miatas, but it has been done. I think it requires some work to the firewall and subframe to mount it up. I like rotaries. Or rather, I like driving them when I have the opportunity, but I'm not sure I'd want to deal with apex seals as often as they are necessary on track cars. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you're after stupid power, Flyin Miata has a new tube subframe designed for swapping in an LSx, with a T56 tranny and a Caddy CTS diff. I suppose it would make for a fun street car. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

nice video! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I enjoyed watching you take that track. Wish my sound was working tho <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I'd love to find a track around here to do that kind of stuff. I'll have to find Reuben and get on the track <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Charlotte is 2-2.5 hours from Virginia Int'l Raceway, which is just across the NC/VA state line about 10 miles east of Danville. You're also less than 90 minutes from Carolina Motorsports Park down near Kershaw, SC. I've been to VIR a few times and it's an excellent facility. In its Grand East configuration it's one of the longer road courses you'll find, at 4.2 miles. Never been to CMP but I've seen plenty of video. Too many boring straight sections and not enough turns or technical areas to make it really interesting for a Miata, but cars with 300+ hp and good brakes would have plenty of fun.

Yeah! Sounds good. There must be something near Charlotte <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I don't mean circles though or is it oval <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

Whaddaya talkin' about?!? VIR (2.5 hours) is nearby when it comes to driving your car on a real track. It takes me 5 hours to get there. Many tracks are built out in the boonies where land is cheap, so most people have to drive some distance to get there. This ain't jolly old England here. Our stuff is spread out! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Well, Lowe's would be close by for you, but I personally don't find banked ovals exciting to the point that I'd pay to drive on one.