darkcambria's MSM hillclimb/autox thread

[darkcambria]

May as well get something in this section. My MSM is primarily used for running the PA Hillclimb series. I run a good amount of autox as well to stay sharp and test new things. Gotta stay BSP legal so that's always fun to comply with.

Mods:
Engine:
FM full intake
GFB BPV
FM intercooler/piping
BEGI downpipe
custom exhaust
MBC set for 12psi
AC delete
Hydra 2.7

Suspension:
Xida Gen 2 900/500lbs with Supermiata top hats
Poly bushings in all control arms with zerks for greasing
RB 1.25" front sway bar
MSM rear sway bar
Supermiata endlinks

Wheels:
15x8 6UL with 205/50 S drives - street/wet setup
15x10 Jongbloed Aero 500 with 245/40 Maxxis RC1 - normal setup
15x11 6UL with 275/35 Hoosier A7 - new setup for this year

Safety:
8pt cage by S&W Race cars - currently being installed
Ultrashield Rally Sport seats
Corbeau 5 pt harness
SPA Firefighter FIA fire system

Right now I have the interior stripped. Just finished up gutting the doors for my NASCAR style door bars. Sucks being a big guy in a little miata so those will help. The cage is being mocked up in the car right now, then I'll get to put it all back together. Hopefully be back together to hit the dyno for a retune then be ready for the season.

In the meantime, here's a few videos from the last season or two
https://www.youtube.com/user/samellinger/videos?shelf_id=0&sort=dd&view=0

 

[therza2169]

Being a fellow big guy in a little MSM I understand the size issue lol. Which size Ultrashield seat did you go with? I was thinking of going with the Trackdog Ultrashield Rally 17", but it's hard to gauge without being able to test fit it first.

 

[darkcambria]

I went with the 17" Rally Sport. I started with a 15.5" Kirkey drag but it was a 0 degree layback so that got painful after a while. The Rally Sports are super comfortable in comparison. I originally bought a 20 deg but that lays back too far so its getting moved to the passenger seat, 10 degree is going in the driver's seat.

 

[darkcambria]

While I'm waiting for the new 15x11s to show I'm slowly getting my girlfriend's 10ae ready for autox duty this year. Here's a comparison between Gen 3 6ULs and Jongbloeds. They're a very similar color, not the crappy "authentic" bronze that 949racing uses for their Gen 4s.

I'm also getting most of the rust fixed that was all over the suspension parts of this car. Nothing awful but a whole lot of surface rust over everything. The car is now properly undercoated and suspension is in much better shape. Its also getting the full poly bushing setup like mine. Here's some old vs new pics.

 

[darkcambria]

Ok well I've had a fun few days fitting seats. I had to move my 17" seat over to the passenger side since it does not allow for enough room for the door bars. I moved my 16" 20 degree seat over to the driver's side. That meant that I had move the seat up in order to clear the cross bar. So I ended up hammering flat a 2"x6" section in order to move the seat up 4". Its now against the cross bar and sitting 1/2" off the floor. I'm happy with how that turned out since it would have been impossible to get a 17" seat that low.

 

[darkcambria]

My living room is starting to accumulate tires for this season. All I need yet is some for the ms3

 

[darkcambria]

Ok, few fun things happened this weekend. My wheels showed up that will be wrapped in those 275s.

These are 15x11 +20. I'll be test fitting them on the car when I go up to check on the cage progress this week. I anticipate to not be needing much more grip this year.

I also picked up another MSM because the price was right. Its a bit rough but I'm giving it some love. Replaced both windows which were broken and almost finished replacing the top.

 

[Raider]

Nice build!

Hoarding mazdas!

 

[darkcambria]

You know it buddy. There's 6 around the house right now but I have an offer on the new MSM already so that may go. My mom called dibs on the speed6 a while too so its just a matter of getting it ready for her.

 

[redneck4Christ]

275????? That is a Huge tire for a Speed3, never mind a Miata! What kind of power are you putting down?
LIKE

 

[darkcambria]

Its certainly a bigger tire than on my speed3 which has well over double the hp that the miata has. The miata is somewhere around 220 whp right now but will be closer to 240 or so when it gets back together.

I was slipping and sliding around on the 245 RC-1s last year. They're a great tire but I need more lateral grip. Nothing better to give you a brown stain than the car starting to slide in the middle of a 100mph corner. My options are pretty limited for stickier 245s so to 275 Hoosiers was about the only choice I had. Of course 949 came out with the 15x11s at the same time so it made my decision easy.

 

[CorkSport - Derrick]

Did you stitch weld up the arms and subframe before you painted them?

 

[darkcambria]

I did not. The original plan was to quick clean them up and toss back in. That got shot with all the time involved and the 10ae is only coming together now instead of summer.

 

[SIXual Panda]

just remember shawn, shinny side up!

cant wait to watch you and john again this year!

 

[darkcambria]

Thank you! Very excited for this season. Hopefully next year we'll see your 6 out competing as well.

 

[SIXual Panda]

Thank you! Very excited for this season. Hopefully next year we'll see your 6 out competing as well.

Lol, well, that wont happen... not next year anyway.
too much money for safety shit. I have to worry about getting it back on the road first.

Legit racecar prep is too damn expensive!

 

[darkcambria]

Yes, that's why I spread out my prep over two years as I was planning to get into hill climbs. Worked out well as all I had to do for LeMons was add neck protection.
[doublepost=1459124797][/doublepost]Finally got my 275s mounted and they're just absurd. I laughed as soon as I got them back. Cannot wait to fit them on the car once it gets back from the cage in a few weeks.

 

[darkcambria]

Got the car back from the cage, it just needs painted and that will be all set. I have the Xidas out right now too for the billet top hat and front spring swap.

Inspired by @phate here's my 275/35/15 Hoosiers on a chop. I took about 2" off the fenders last year, may take another .5-1" off them yet. Haven't quite made it to the flare part yet. Test fit has gone well so far, just need small spacers to clear the tub in the rear.

 

[phate]

What are you using to protect the fender lip?

 

[darkcambria]

Its door edge trim, just generic from a local auto store. That's there as protection in case the tire should contact fender, it'll at least save a hit and protect from slicing the tire (and warn me). I picked that up from a racing buddy who has used that after slicing a tire up nicely.