My maita sprung a coolant leak :(

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deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
3,199
6
81
The FM frame rails are worth the effort on a first go-around. One of the best mods I've made to mine chassis-wise. I've also got a FM stage 2 suspension, it rides awesome and does well in autox.

I figured that I'd do those at the same time as the transmission swap. Might I ask if the trans, drive shaft, of PPF were in your way at all during the install? Also, did you 'just' get the rails or did you get the rails with the butterfly brace? I'm thinking of getting the rails and then if I use the car for autox, maybe adding the butterfly brace later. It's only like $20 more if you buy the brace and rails separate and I'd like to get an idea of what the brace will be blocking (exhaust, trans, etc...) before I buy one.

Ummm... Hey, OP, should I start another thread? Or are you still cool with going OT?
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
33,464
13,097
136
I figured that I'd do those at the same time as the transmission swap. Might I ask if the trans, drive shaft, of PPF were in your way at all during the install? Also, did you 'just' get the rails or did you get the rails with the butterfly brace? I'm thinking of getting the rails and then if I use the car for autox, maybe adding the butterfly brace later. It's only like $20 more if you buy the brace and rails separate and I'd like to get an idea of what the brace will be blocking (exhaust, trans, etc...) before I buy one.

Ummm... Hey, OP, should I start another thread? Or are you still cool with going OT?

up to you. doesn't bother me. we're not exactly nazis here in the garage :p (or at least i'm not)
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,036
129
106
Just make sure you are happy with the class you will end up in with those mods for autox. You may not care now but after getting destroyed every time out by everybody else in your class that is built to the max you might change your mind :).
 

JCH13

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2010
4,981
66
91
I figured that I'd do those at the same time as the transmission swap. Might I ask if the trans, drive shaft, of PPF were in your way at all during the install? Also, did you 'just' get the rails or did you get the rails with the butterfly brace? I'm thinking of getting the rails and then if I use the car for autox, maybe adding the butterfly brace later. It's only like $20 more if you buy the brace and rails separate and I'd like to get an idea of what the brace will be blocking (exhaust, trans, etc...) before I buy one.

Ummm... Hey, OP, should I start another thread? Or are you still cool with going OT?

I just have the frame rails. To do the install (which Black2NA did most of on a build day) we only had to take out the seats, pull up the carpet, and cut off a few brackets with a cut-off wheel. I didn't want the butterfly brace getting in the way of any custom exhaust work I plan to do or have done.

Just make sure you are happy with the class you will end up in with those mods for autox. You may not care now but after getting destroyed every time out by everybody else in your class that is built to the max you might change your mind :).

These are trufaxyo. The rails could land you in modified class or something similar. I drive in modified (hooray turbo!) and typically get obliterated by AWD cars with 300-450whp on big fat slicks... FTD is usually set by someone in my class. Be very careful of your local clubs rules and realize that your car might not be competitive in high-end classes without a LOT of work and money.
 

deadken

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
3,199
6
81
Great info. Thanks for the suggestions. At this point, I've never Autocrossed. So, I'm not sure that I will. The VW Jetta I bought from a buddy was set up for AutoX, and that got my interest in it started. But, while I enjoy driving that Jetta, I haven't signed up for SCCA or a local event yet. Hopefully by this spring I'll get to spend some time tinkering with the Miata. And maybe by then, I'll have run the Jetta in an event.