SOOOOO.. it's sold..


































Haha no way.

So I haven't updated this thread in a while as I've been focused on the miata. It's basically the little brother version of the s2k at this point. 245 square tires, turbo, small/light short wheelbase car.




It's been a fun learning experience w/ the miata since parts are cheaper and I'm not scared of "messing things up" as much. The car was basically bone stock when I got it and it's obviously not anymore. Plan is a track car that I can drive and not worry about. I have a handful of mods I'll be doing to the miata over winter and it's a little quicker than an N/A s2k. It has helped me appreciate how good the s2k is. I'd say everything on the miata is a little worse, but I can't fault Mazda because it's a much cheaper car and older. The curb weight on it is about 2400lbs with the turbo, so a good deal lighter than the s2k. It has a manual depowered power steering rack and no ABS, so it makes you work a bit but it's a lot of fun.

Coming back to the s2k.. all I've been doing w/ it recently is putzing around on the street. Like I said, these are special cars and this offseason I'm going to get back to the s2k and give it some attention. There are a handful of things I'd like to tackle/clean up that I didn't prior. They won't be big differences but small things that should help. One of the "big" ones being tidying up the exhaust. The current exhaust hangs a bit low. I'd also like to add a support bracket for the downpipe so less weight hangs off the turbo. I made a turbo brace with some brackets and a heim joint for the miata.. I'd like to take a look and see if it's doable on the Honda. I also did a poor job securing the metal ties (I knew I should've just used hose clamps) that hold up the header wrap so I'll have to redo it. The big question for me will be "how" I do the work on the s2k. I got a bandsaw which is night and day difference for fab work. It makes cutting metal a joy/easy compared to cutoff wheels. I also have a friend's MIG welder, but I might consider purchasing a tig. With the MIG I could just tack up the exhaust with mild steel filler and bring it to a friend to TIG, but we'll see. Also, the exhaust is a bit loud/droney (the miata's exhaust is quieter which is nice) at certain rpms which might be a challenge to try and cancel out.

I'm still running the flashpro at this point. The Infinity is still sitting in a box and I need to sell it. It seems like the wise thing at this point is to just wait till Link makes a DBW version for the s2k or maybe Haltech? I don't know. For the time being I'm a-ok just rocking the hondata.

If anyone has tips for fab work/welding I'm all ears. It seems like it's only a matter of when I end up buying a TIG vs if. I was thinking I could bring the car somewhere to have the exhaust "fixed" but what's the fun in that? And honestly, I'm pretty anal about how I want things done so probably best to just do it myself.

 

I bought an 06+ intake manifold as I would like to put a DBW on my S2000. The Haltech can do it, however, in your case the harness will need to be pinned for it. I'll make a sub-harness for mine.

Digging the Miata. I thought about getting one and I even have a turbo here that I bought for another project and would suit a Miata. But I always end up buying the 'different' cars and picked up that Sky.

 

Ya at some point I'll install a "real" standalone for the s2k with proper safeties like fuel cut if lambda is too high, and other safeties, but I'd really like a simple plug and play version.

I originally got the Miata because I thought it'd be "a cheap track car" but it's just like any other build.. everything adds up and next thing you know you've spent a WHOLE lot more than you expected. The car was $7k w/ the hardtop and the turbo kit (Kraken from Bulgaria) was $2700 shipped with a full 3" exhaust (cheap), but all the other things add up I don't want to total things up. I did contemplate doing a K swap but it's quite expensive to do a K24A2 swap into the Miata (I priced it at around $12k for just the K swap). The "smart" thing to do is to just buy a fully done car. If I get another car, that's probably what I'll do.

I think an NC Miata chassis with a K swap is probably a really compelling option (minus the cost of the K swap). You get a much better/newer chassis over the NA/NB with the NC (which I'm pretty sure is the same chassis as the rx8) and the taller K motor seems to fit nicely. Some people say the chassis is similar to an s2k. The "problem" with it being heavy is way overblown. I've seen a few people put them on the scales and the chassis isn't much heavier than an NB.

 

If you get a harness, I can make it PnP.


You sound like me! I originally was looking at the Solstice and Sky because you *can* get them cheap, but I wanted a low mileage car so I wouldn't be spending money fixing things, ultimately costing money. I have around $30k into the car now, with the purchase price. I did do something different this time. I have kept my stock parts so I can return it back and sell parts. I also have contemplated and engine swap... LS motors fit right into these cars.

 

Why the switch to DBW? I guess it's better to let the ECU have more control of things? That way instead of just controlling spark/fuel, you can also control air input?

Thanks but I think I'm going to hold off for the time being on the Honda and just clean a handful of things up. The miata has snowballed with costs but it's a cheap chassis and parts are still relatively cheap which is nice. My son is 9, in a number of years he'll probably be coming w/ me to the track. I figure if he puts the miata into a wall it's not too big a deal, the Honda I'd be pissed. That goes for myself as well. lol Ya LS swaps sure are interesting and tempting.

On the topic of domestics, I took my buddy's 2016 Mustang out for a session in Nov at the last track event, and I gotta say I was very impressed. Bang for your buck just having fun and turning quick laps it's probably the best bang for your buck. He's been tracking the Mustang for years now and the Coyote has been dead nuts reliable. The car is very well balanced. Good power, great brakes, good suspension, very responsive steering inputs (305 square doesn't hurt) and very composed. I was quite impressed to be honest and it's mostly stock + safety gear. Ultimately I prefer the lightweight cars but it was very good overall. I haven't driven a newer camaro/vette but I imagine the driving dynamics are quite similar to this Mustang.

 

Yes, I want to be able to tune for torque request, which will allow the throttle to interact when needed, while keep the turbo spooled. It will also allow me to get my cruise control back.


I considered a Coyote Mustang... I may still consider one. It seems I like a certain type of cars and I buy those.

 

Ya I am impressed. The v8 torque is awesome no doubt. It revved out to like 7500 i wanna say and sounds really good. I left my car at the track and carpooled back with him Sat night/Sun morning and cruising on the highway going 80+ at ~2krpm is nice. Suspension is compliant and not overly stiff either. A solid dual duty street/track car that keeps a lot of street comfort but turns fast times on track (really comes down to driver). With equal drivers it's not far off a Camaro or Vette lap time wise. His only complaint is that tires aren't cheap of course, but depending on how many events you do a year and how sticky a tire you wanna run it's not horrible cost wise. The Miata is always the "goto" track car but honestly a newish Mustang GT is a compelling choice imo.

Apparently the GT350's don't like the track as much for whatever reason (some oiling issue?) and it's not uncommon to end up with a blown motor. His Mustang's been up and down the east coast over the last several years at all different tracks and been reliable (he's not putzing but turns fast laps). That's an important factor and a big plus.

 

Somehow missed this or forgot to respond. You're really making me want a 4-post lift, specifically for 2nd car storage. I want to get a 2nd running s2k to serve as a spare parts car.

BTW, cool NB. Agree with the follow up assessment that a k-swap NC would be the sweet spot.

 

Ya the 4 post is awesome for car storage, especially in winter time here on the east coast when it's cold. During the warm months I can leave my daily outside and it's not too big a deal. A good 4 months out of the year everything is shutdown so it's nice to be able to keep all the cars inside. You're in SoCal so you don't have a real "winter" and can drive your cars year round which is nice. I finally just anchored the 4 post down last week, but even bendpak says most people don't.

Ya the NB is fun. Once I get the new torsen diff in it should be pretty quick (was lighting up the inside tire on track :/ ). One big plus around here is with a 25+ yr old car you get antique tags, no emissions, no annual safety inspection, and no car tax. If I was going to start over today I'd have to give a serious considering to getting an NC instead but I got no ragrets at this point. It's a fun car.

 

The S has been doing a lot of sitting lately but she'll probably get some TLC this fall/winter. I haven't loved the ground clearance on the exhaust/downpipe since I got it so that needs to be fixed so it sits tighter to the chassis. It's not BAD, just not as good as it should be. I avoided the carousel on Shenandoah because it hangs a little low. I got one of these and will be redoing the exhaust/downpipe this winter.



So I haven't updated this thread in a while but just did a track weekend with the Miata. Happy to report she's running well and a lot of fun. One vid from the weekend. Only running 7 psi (was very hot this weekend) which is ~200whp, but in a car that's <2500lbs with me in it it's quick.