Miata Mailing List: March 1996, Message #6
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   From: Ken Warren 
Subject: RE: Subframe Braces/Sway Bar Selection
   Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 07:17:40 -0500

On Thursday, February 29, 1996 3:34 AM, Reid 
Allred[SMTP:rallred@msai.mea.com] wrote:
>Howdy all, I've just bought a '90A to autocross, and of course I just cant 
leave
>well enough alone.  I want to start my upgrades to the suspension and 
frame, but
>have a few questions.
>
>Since updating is allowed under SCCA stock class rules,

Yes, but there are restrictions. If you want to update your car to '94 
standards, for example, you'd *have* to put in a 1.8l engine, plus the 
appropriate engine computerm, transmission, etc. This is not a cheap 
proposition. You can't pick and choose the updates you apply. You have to 
turn your car into one identical to the one you would have driven off the 
dealers lot in that year.

>I'd like to add on the
>newer subframe braces, but am I limited to only factory Mazda pieces, or 
can I
>go with aftermarket suppliers(BSP, Racing Beat)???

You are limited to the original Mazda parts. Since the Mazda braces are not 
available for purchase, you'll have to get them off a wreck, if you can 
find one. You may also need to do some fabrication on the front and/or rear 
subframes to add attachment points.

>I know my '90 lacks the
>front and rear horizontal subframe bars, and the upper bar between the 
belt
>towers(my roll bar should take of this one), but is there another
>longitudinal bar somewhere underneath also???

You know, I really don't remember this evening. It probably has something 
to do with putting in 65 hours at work in the past 6 days...

>I'm trying to pick a front sway bar, and I hear Jackson would be a good 
way
>to go, but I notice they, like some other suppliers, only sell front & 
rear
>together.  Any way around this???  Any personal experiences on bar choice 
would
>be appreciated.

The way around buying front and rear bars together is to find someone who 
only wants the rear bar, and buy the front off him. :-)

Overall, I feel that you might better spend your money elsewhere, rather 
than trying to turn a 90 Miata into a second-rate 94+. Personally, I'd go 
find an autocross every weekend, and spend my money on the driver. A good 
test for when it's time to upgrade a car is to get a local hot shoe to 
drive it in a fun run. If she can't take at least a second or two off your 
time, you're probably getting to the point where you're limited by the car, 
not the car limited by the driver. That's when it's time to think about 
upgrades. The other reason to upgrade/change a car is simply because it 
will make the car more what you want it to be. This is a legitimate reason 
to modify a car, but you should be careful not to confuse the two.
Ken Warren
Motorsports Director, DelVal Miata Club