New FP miata
#1
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With the changes to the tire rules in SM and the crazy dollars being thrown at pro engines I decided to sell the SM and go a different direction. I picked up this beautiful FP car that was up for sale in Massachusetts. It is an early 90 car, rotisserie build. It should be a blast to drive. I am picking up a sea for it next week. After it is mounted I will take my maiden voyage with her.
The benifits to running fp over sm are great IMO, much less body contact, tire contingency and mazda money for wins and podiums. Most importantly I wont have to compete against stupid money. It is widely accepted that the new tire has a performance fall after its first big heat cycle. So the guys with big wallets will be starting on scrubs every race, that's $1500 in tire budget every race weekend. I am not interested in that.
Most important though is that I get to race a very cool miata! In fp the miata is a limited prep car, so development is kept somewhat in check. The engine is limited to 10:1, so hopefully this this will keep the frequency of rebuilds down. This car is well developed, all hiem joint pickup points. penske 3 way adjustable shocks, quaife 5speed dog box, 4.5 inch quatermaster clutch. acusump, electromotive crank fire, ect ect ect.
Dynoed the car when I got it back home to make sure to had a good tune. I discovered very quickly that the combination of a tall 1st gear(58mph), ultra light flywheel, 4.5 inch diameter clutch, and cams that are not happy until 4k, make it very hard to get the car rolling on the dyno, not to mention a bear to load on the trailer. My plan is to tow the car to grid and to use a winch for loading, this way I save on wear and tear to the driveline.
Here are a few pics of the new car.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28253-new-fp-miata-011.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28254-new-fp-miata-0071-1.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28255-new-fp-miata-004.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28256-new-fp-miata-008.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28257-new-fp-miata-009.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28258-new-fp-miata-003.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28259-new-fp-miata-002.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
The benifits to running fp over sm are great IMO, much less body contact, tire contingency and mazda money for wins and podiums. Most importantly I wont have to compete against stupid money. It is widely accepted that the new tire has a performance fall after its first big heat cycle. So the guys with big wallets will be starting on scrubs every race, that's $1500 in tire budget every race weekend. I am not interested in that.
Most important though is that I get to race a very cool miata! In fp the miata is a limited prep car, so development is kept somewhat in check. The engine is limited to 10:1, so hopefully this this will keep the frequency of rebuilds down. This car is well developed, all hiem joint pickup points. penske 3 way adjustable shocks, quaife 5speed dog box, 4.5 inch quatermaster clutch. acusump, electromotive crank fire, ect ect ect.
Dynoed the car when I got it back home to make sure to had a good tune. I discovered very quickly that the combination of a tall 1st gear(58mph), ultra light flywheel, 4.5 inch diameter clutch, and cams that are not happy until 4k, make it very hard to get the car rolling on the dyno, not to mention a bear to load on the trailer. My plan is to tow the car to grid and to use a winch for loading, this way I save on wear and tear to the driveline.
Here are a few pics of the new car.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28253-new-fp-miata-011.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28254-new-fp-miata-0071-1.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28255-new-fp-miata-004.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28256-new-fp-miata-008.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28257-new-fp-miata-009.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28258-new-fp-miata-003.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28259-new-fp-miata-002.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28260-new-fp-miata-001.jpg?dateline=1321550513)
#2
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Agreed. I raced with a $50k+ SM a couple of weeks ago at the ARRC. There's so many other cars to race for half that. Not the entry level class I hoped for. Actually the owner of the car I raced at the ARRC just started an FP Miata build for similar reasons. He'll keep the SM just for enduros. Your's looks very well built and I bet it will be way more fun to drive on the track.
Post up some more pics if you have any or take more. Would love more shots of those control arms...
Post up some more pics if you have any or take more. Would love more shots of those control arms...
Last edited by m2cupcar; 11-17-2011 at 12:57 PM.
#4
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Those control arms can be found here; http://www.epmiata.com/store/Suspension/TMDKCA000.html
I've been looking at these for some time for my Miata. One day.....
I've been looking at these for some time for my Miata. One day.....
#7
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The control arms are one offs I plan to jig them up and make a spare set.
Yep that is the fuel cell on the floor. Would prefer that it was in stock location as I think cross weight will change as fuel load burns off. Also, I pay a weight penalty for the dog box and need to find a place to put approx 70 #. Will post up some more pics soon
Yep that is the fuel cell on the floor. Would prefer that it was in stock location as I think cross weight will change as fuel load burns off. Also, I pay a weight penalty for the dog box and need to find a place to put approx 70 #. Will post up some more pics soon
#11
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I just happened to stumble onto this car at the right time, having just sold the SM I had cash in hand to make this purchase work. Remember the rule, with race cars and modded cars, if you ever sell the car, plan on a best return of 40cents/dollar. All that being said, the car is amazing, I have been working on a seat mount that will incorporate the mounting points that the builder welded into the car, I really don't want to do any welding on this car as it would screw up the anti-corrosion paint that the tub is painted with (same paint they use on large aircraft).
I am hopping to get on the track next week but we will see how it goes.
#16
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Here are a few more pics.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28374-new-fp-miata-p1010081-2.jpg?dateline=1321650574)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28375-new-fp-miata-p1010082-2.jpg?dateline=1321650574)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28376-new-fp-miata-p1010083-1.jpg?dateline=1321650574)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28377-new-fp-miata-p1010080.jpg?dateline=1321650574)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28378-new-fp-miata-p1010079-1.jpg?dateline=1321650574)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28379-new-fp-miata-p1010078-1.jpg?dateline=1321650574)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/race-prep-75/28380-new-fp-miata-p1010076-1.jpg?dateline=1321650574)