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Well this is my 97 NA8 Porco Rosso (Red Pig) I thought I should start documenting things


I initially bought back in 2009 coming from a Evo 6 Tommi Makinen and a S15 200sx. I was really getting into lap sprints and motorkhanas and really needed something that was a lot cheaper to run. The criteria was <$10,000, Atmo, RWD and could run 15inch or smaller tyres. Choices came down to an MR2 or MX5 and the latter won out.

The exterior was quite rough, paint has faded on the bumpers with scratches and dings about. The undercoat is showing along some of the edges as I think it has gone through a bit too many cut and polishes. This was not a major concern as it would eventually end up as a track pig.

Bonus Items:
Aluminium BD style roll bar
Fog lights (not working)
roadster scuff plates
Wood steering wheel
boot lamp

Plans:
sticky tyres
coilovers
sway bars
Clutch
intake
Exhaust

The plan is to keep the car atmo for now, maybe turbo down the track but we'll see.

Wheels and Tyres:

Got my rims, 15x7 SSR Type C, OMG they are so but more importantly they are fricken light, 4.2kg according to SSR



Also got myself some toyo R888 and its time to hit Hidden Valley Raceway.

On my stock hollow spokes with crappy motorkhana rubber I was managing mid 1:40 laptimes.

SSR R888 combo I managed an awesome mid 1:36, bested a VX SS commodore, a supra and a R33 Skyline.

There was more to be had, but the clutch was slipping like butter. So next on the priority list is a new clutch and flywheel.

Got my rims, 15x7 SSR Type C, OMG they are so but more importantly they are fricken light, 4.2kg according to SSR

nice choice in wheels, I have the exact same set from Japan. Did you use Jesse Streeter?

+1 on the wheels! Did it take a lot of patience to get them?

The wheels I got from Daniel from http://jdmparts.rupewrecht.com/

They were actually purchased from the http://www.upgarage.com/ not as cheap as yahoo but they do get in the occasional rare part. I was really after any lightweight rim but most of the stuff that comes up were in the 6 or 6.5 size and high offset, so when when I came accrose these for 50,000 yen I jumped at it.

Awesome wheels. FYI, 2nd lightest set of 15x7 wheels (by 100grams)

wheels look great!

mitch_f1 wrote:Awesome wheels. FYI, 2nd lightest set of 15x7 wheels (by 100grams)

Thanks for the updates above. I had a quick look and found the list on the upgarage site.

Also found this again. Link for anyone interested.
http://www.miata.net/faq/wheel_weights.html

So, It been decided that a more practical vehicle will be purchased later in the year as our primary car. So that means that Porco can be a little less daily and a little more dedicated. With the blessing of the other half

As previously the clutch is shagged, lets say valeo clutches can't handle the heat. It still ok for a 15min commute, but add a little excitement and it pretty much turns to butter, even prolonged 30min trips it starts to slip.

So this arrived this morning.


here you can see the twin discs


Made by an outfit called Competition Clutch. Apparently this is made especially for 949 Racing, the twin on their website is not the same as 949 and is more expensive anyway.


This is beyond swiss cheese.


Booked in to go in on Monday and a practice day at hidden valley on the 8th.
Stayed tuned.....

Sweet jesus that is lightened! How many kg is that?

According to 949, 14 lbs for the whole assembly, clutch and flywheel.

I haven't actually weighed it my self though.

Its actually forged steel and not aluminium like most of the lightweight flywheels.

Wow...that's light. I have the Flyin' Miata Happy Meal combo with a 10.3lb flywheel alone (both of which look like the Xtreme kit!).

I'd like to see how revvy your car is the install!

So Haven't updated in a while.

Got the twin plate clutch installed and breaking it in. Initital impressions was WOW. Car is changed significantly. Was planning to do a proper write up, but his happened.

Managed about 2 sessions of about 3-4 laps each and still playing around with tyre pressures, then on the cool down lap, the radiator decided to retire forever.
So I'll do a more detailed review of the twin clutch when I get the car up and running again.

So I went with the ASI radiator 52mm with the twin fans and shroud. I went with the fans and shrouds because the stock fans did not look like they would fit with the increased size of the radiator.

The radiator went in realatively hassel free, not completely bolt on but not too bad. Overall happy with the ASI.


So performance is going to take a back seat, while i make the car more reliable. Its winter in Darwin and the car was running a bit hot before the radiator blew. So extra piece of mind I'll be getting a cooling reroute and also an oil cooler will be the next mods before temperatures start getting hotter.

Link to my reveiw of the ASI radiator.

http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=53836