Another Suspension Issue
 

My V8 since buying it from a guy in Ca. has been a bit of a nightmare and a work in progress. It's strictly a track car. Since getting the car last May, I've had very little fun track time with the car. Last year was a pretty costly waste of time & money. This year MRM built me a hell of a new engine. Got the car on track a few times and it was a heck of a lot more fun then last year. Still have a few issues. Looks like there may be too much pressure in the engine. There is oil being pushed out from various places. That will all be worked out in time.

Next issue is the suspension. Need to replace the current coilover set up, wheels and tires.

I was thinking of going with the DGR Coilovers, price being a factor and a couple of racers out west have been using them with success. But, recently came across way too many negative posts re: Russ and DGR. So, moving on from there.

I am now considering spending some big bucks fro AFCO's.
Wheels: Looking at 949's 9" wheels. I was thinking of 10" in rear which is flared and 9" in front not flared. I think the 9" will fit up front. Only thing from preventing me from using the 10" in rear is that would limit my ability to rotate the rear tires to the front. I also don't know if the 10" will offer any performance gain. They would look good filling up the rear wheel wells though.

Tires: Hoosier R6 275 X 35 X15 all around. A few racers I've heard from have been using this size Hoosier on all 4 corners. I've not been able to find this size from any other brand.

I'm sure a lot of you have way more experience and knowledge about this then I do.
So what do you guys think about this? Any other suggestions?
Thanks.

Our Highpo suspension instructor had a hard on for the monotube shocks. He always stated the twin tube was great while the technology wasn't available to make a reliable monotube, but now that its available, they are far superior. Like I said in M.net, 949's AST and FCM's Bilstein setups are the hottest ones going.

That's the other set up I'm considering

Which one (949, AST or FCM)?

Also, most likely any Miata offset wheel is going to ned a spacer to move it out enough to fill that fender flair. Once you get the wheel and tire you want, we'll put it on and see how much further out you want it. If the make up room is in the 5mm to 15mm area we'll get spacers and add ARP studs to the rear (like we did on the front). If the distance is more than that (like 20mm to 30mm) we'll use your existing studs to mount a larger spacer that has it's own extended studs attached to it.

The alternative is to get a wheel with an offset that moves it out without the need for a spacer.

-Jason McCully

It's been awhile since I've been on here. Car has been laid up since last Aug. Here's my update. Had custom headers made to replace the old welded and rewelded and rewelded headers that were on the car when I got it. Ordered Fat Cat set up. Decided on 700lb springs up front and 425 in rear.

Tires will be Toyota R888 235-50-15 in rear and if they fit they'll be up front too.
Headers kind of come down through the wheel wells and were designed around a 225-45-15 I had been running. Hopefully the 235's will fit up front.

Hoping to get the car ready for the track by early May. Have missed way too much track time the past 2 years.

Are you still working on your car? Really hope you are as I could use someone to run with at the track! I'm from the Milwaukee area and run min with the SCCA and soon NASA.

trakmnky
I've had about 12 good track days with the car so far. Still needs some tweaking here and there, but overall car has been a blast to drive.
I've got 4 more track days left before I'm done.

I am not sure what you are talking about. If you are in the Milwaukee area I don't see how we could run together. Have you moved to the Northeast?

Sorry looks like I had my threads confused. The last thread I was in was for monster Miata's in Wisconsin. I must have looked at your username "mwest" and thought I was still in that thread.

That's what I get for posting at 2:00 am. :)

trakmnky,
I know what the 2am thing is like. I have my own business and my office is in my house. I often start doing paperwork at 10 or 11pm and work into 1 or 2 am. I've learned that after about 1 am a lot of my work turns out to be a bit sketchy. And e-mails I've sent don't really turn out as I intended.