Modifiying a custom air intake system to fit strut brace

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 11:41 am

Lokiel wrote:If strut braces are so useless then why did Mazda's last generation NBs all have them?

The Marketing Department overrode the Engineering Department. Same thing for the 17" wheels.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 11:51 am

Lets now move onto McPherson Strut and double wishbone suspensions.

Manga_blue explained it nicely above...

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 11:52 am

Welcome to the forum, rochiii.

As you may have already guessed, some topics here have an amazing amount of baggage attached to them. If I were you I'd be very wary before starting any new topic concerning:
1. Strut braces
2. Gearbox oil
3. Roll bars, especially when it also mentions padding
4. Any wheel size over 15"
5. Any form of LED light
6. Gearbox short shifters

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:09 pm

Not to mention Lokiel's profound love for 17" wheels on any MX5 and ITB intake length.

Postby **NitroDann** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:25 pm

Lokiel wrote:If strut braces are so useless then why did Mazda's last generation NBs all have them?

Ill show you what this argument sounds like:

Disbeliever in brace-
"Mazda put one on because people like the idea enough to pay for them, no other reason."

Believer in brace-
"But if they dont do anything, why does mazda sell them?"

Your argument passionately reinforces the originally argued point.

Dann

Postby **NitroDann** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:27 pm

And tyres, if you value your sanity dont you dare ask:

"Hey gaiz, wot tyrz r gud?"

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 1:51 pm

manga_blue wrote:
Lokiel wrote:If strut braces are so useless then why did Mazda's last generation NBs all have them?
The Marketing Department overrode the Engineering Department. Same thing for the 17" wheels.

I can understand that the marketing department can win on the 17" rims since they're highly visible and have a big impact on the car's looks (insert my usual rant about their detrimental effect on performance/handling/ride here and wanting to kick every one of those guys in the nads), but the strut brace I'd question since it's under the bonnet - it's an additional cost to Mazda that few people can see so would be hard to justify unless it really contributed something.

mattyredlocks · Postby **mattyredlocks** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 2:31 pm

Lokiel, not really - because as has been said, the "it looks cool/other fast cars have it/etc" argument definitely applies here re: marketing department.

It's a pretty cheap piece of steel for Mazda to add on.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 2:39 pm

The solution for the OP is to reshape/bend/twist/reroute the strut brace by running over it (strut brace) with a NA equiped with 17" wheels

mattyredlocks · Postby **mattyredlocks** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 3:15 pm

Magpie wrote:The solution for the OP is to reshape/bend/twist/reroute the strut brace by running over it (strut brace) with a NA equiped with 17" wheels

And bonnet vents. At least three bonnet vents, all in the 'wrong' spots.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 3:36 pm

3 pages later... welcome rochiii!

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 3:50 pm

Magpie wrote:The solution for the OP is to reshape/bend/twist/reroute the strut brace by running over it (strut brace) with a NA equiped with 17" wheels

That won't be good for the tyres, he should also ask what tyres he should use?

And after that the gearbox will probably be due for an oil change so there's another question.

I have to say, at least cartalk in better than the postie bike forum i'm on, they have about 50 threads all covering the same question so you can't find an answer.
That and they seem focussed on silly things, one of the largest threads is about where to buy a bag that you can velcro onto the frame tube......
oh, and a thread on how best to put a gunrack onto a postie bike...

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:37 pm

hks_kansei wrote::
I have to say, at least cartalk in better than the postie bike forum i'm on, they have about 50 threads all covering the same question so you can't find an answer.
That and they seem focussed on silly things, one of the largest threads is about where to buy a bag that you can velcro onto the frame tube......
oh, and a thread on how best to put a gunrack onto a postie bike...

... you have to show respect to the guy on the postie bike that has a gunrack though.

Maybe that's how we "hairdressers" can get some respect?

I reckon my rollbar would make an excellent gunrack.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 4:44 pm

True, gunrack man seems to mostly have positive comments...

The stupidest was the guy who said he was converting his postie into a boat.

He was dead serious that he had it all worked out, then I saw the photos...... imagine you've bought a pair of car tyre inner tubes.
Now wedge the bike's wheel into the hole on each one, don't attach it with anything... just sit it there.

I havent seen him post lately, I suspect he drowned.

also, MX5 rollbars are quite useful to rest a recurve bow, although the size doesn't really let you do it with the roof on.

rochiii · Postby **rochiii** » Thu Mar 26, 2015 6:05 pm

haha, thank you everyone for the welcome posts, much appreciated

I was away for a week for work and didn't have a chance to check this post.

Well I do need to confess, I already have the strut brace.
But all your answers are very much welcome, I am after performance and after installing a roll bar for my safety, I think I need to get the 50/50 weight distribution back on track with a supercharger in the future. (I hope I get another three pages, but no need, there are plenty of posts about that :p)

Thanks again for advising what the air box was as I couldn't find that info out, and I'm glad it came with some good performance mods already done which is good