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Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 10:26 am
by Christos Adam
So I'm not very familiar with the rules of updating/backdating a car, but I know that for example it's OK for a 99-04 or for a 94-97 miata car to use the lighter dash of a 89-93 miata.
What about the ladder (chassis) brace from a 03 sport or an Mazdaspeed miata to a 94? Would it be OK by the SSM/SM2 rules to update the bracing from the '94 to the '03?
Thanks
Chris

Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 10:32 am
by Marshall Grice
if the part you want to put on your car is from a car listed on the same line as yours in the SP cars appendix section then you're ok.
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 10:44 am
by Mako Koiwai
Chris ... you ARE a member of MazdaSpeed, correct?
You get huge price discounts on parts. The guys know their parts, etc.
$500 CAT cost me $300
http://www.mazdamotorsports.com/
You just need to show them a couple of Mazda race results with your name
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 10:49 am
by Christos Adam
Marshall Grice wrote:if the part you want to put on your car is from a car listed on the same line as yours in the SP cars appendix section then you're ok.
If you mean at the same Street Prepared Classification it appears that all the miatas (with the exception of the MazdaSpeed and the 05-09) are in the same line - it just shows MX-5 miata (with out stating any years)...
http://cms.scca.com/documents/Solo_Rule ... cturer.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Does that mean that I'm OK to start replacing parts }:) ?
What about parts that needs to be welded - like the larger gussets in the firewall & back shelf ? Would it be legal to remove the 94 (smaller) gussets and weld the 99-05 larger gussets?
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 10:51 am
by Christos Adam
Mako Koiwai wrote:Chris ... you ARE a member of MazdaSpeed, correct?
You get huge price discounts on parts. The guys know their parts, etc.
$500 CAT cost me $300
http://www.mazdamotorsports.com/
You just need to show them a couple of Mazda race results with your name
Thank you Mako! Yes (thank god) I'm member of Mazda competition and has saved me $$$

Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 10:52 am
by Marshall Grice
Christos Adam wrote:Marshall Grice wrote:if the part you want to put on your car is from a car listed on the same line as yours in the SP cars appendix section then you're ok.
If you mean at the same Street Prepared Classification it appears that all the miatas (with the exception of the MazdaSpeed and the 05-09) are in the same line - it just shows MX-5 miata (with out stating any years)...
http://cms.scca.com/documents/Solo_Rule ... cturer.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Does that mean that I'm OK?
What about parts that needs to be welded - like the larger gussets in the firewall & back shelf ? Would it be legal to remove the 94 (smaller) gussets and weld the 99-05 larger gussets?
I don't think you can weld parts from a different chassis onto your chassis, although you could swap all your parts onto the other chassis legally.
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 11:23 am
by Aaron Goldsmith
Marshall Grice wrote:
I don't think you can weld parts from a different chassis onto your chassis, although you could swap all your parts onto the other chassis legally.
haha, yeah it's SSM.. step one buy a shell of the chassis you want and cut everything off you can legaly, step two.. win?
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 11:34 am
by Jayson Woodruff
Christos Adam wrote:...or an Mazdaspeed miata to a 94? ...
Note the Mazdaspeed miata is a BSP car, so it's part of the update/backdate allowance for 'MX-5 Miata's.
Also, this is a key to update/backdate allowance:
"The updated/backdated part or the part to which
it is to be attached may not be altered, modified, machined or
otherwise changed to facilitate the updating/backdating allowance.
Standard factory installation methods, locations, and configurations
are allowed."
Which pretty much says it needs to be a 'bolt on' swap.
Jay W
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 11:42 am
by Christos Adam
Thank you guys!
The car is very solid but I'm planning to remove the Roll Bar to save some weight.
That's why I wanted to see what I could do, to help it stay solid... since welding is not allowed I don't have to worry too much...
So remove the roll bar, see how the car feels and then maybe just bolt on the '03 sport ladder brace...
It's funny because 2 years ago I was tired of my noisy Borla exhaust and I put sound deadening material (like dynomat but way heavier) in all the floor and rear shelf areas :barf:
http://bluelaguna94.myphotoalbum.com/vi ... me=album56" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I believe removing the roll bar and the dynomat-like padding will make the car 150 lbs lighter - not sure if that would make any huge difference, but I guess it's a start... probably backdating to a 90 dash will make it closer to ~200lbs lighter... let's see .
Thanks
Chris
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 11:45 am
by Christos Adam
Jayson Woodruff wrote:Christos Adam wrote:...or an Mazdaspeed miata to a 94? ...
Note the Mazdaspeed miata is a BSP car, so it's part of the update/backdate allowance for 'MX-5 Miata's.
Also, this is a key to update/backdate allowance:
"The updated/backdated part or the part to which
it is to be attached may not be altered, modified, machined or
otherwise changed to facilitate the updating/backdating allowance.
Standard factory installation methods, locations, and configurations
are allowed."
Which pretty much says it needs to be a 'bolt on' swap.
Jay W
Standard factory installation methods, locations, and configurations
are allowed."
Well that's interesting Jay...
You see the gussets are welded by the factory, so removing the welds and welding again on the same spots will be the Standard factory installation method :ibrightdea:
Am I right or wrong?
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:03 pm
by Jason Uyeda
Christos Adam wrote:
Standard factory installation methods, locations, and configurations
are allowed."
Well that's interesting Jay...
You see the gussets are welded by the factory, so removing the welds and welding again on the same spots will be the Standard factory installation method :ibrightdea:
Am I right or wrong?
I think that's definitely a stretch with UD/BD. Also, there have been protests in the past regarding Miata dash swaps in CSP (although the last one I remember I think was due to an airbag issue)... You may want to post on Miata.net or SCCAForums for more info.
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:16 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
The dash swap is legal.
Chris, you can't swap welded chassis pieces. Which rollbar do you have? The Hard Dog HC double diagonal weighs 48 pounds. I don't think you're going to save 150 pounds between the rollbar and the sound deadening.
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:28 pm
by Steve Lepper
Christos Adam wrote:...and then maybe just bolt on the '03 sport ladder brace...
It's not just a bolt-on: your car doesn't have the nut plates in the body to allow attachment of the NB brace, so you would have to weld plates or drill for Nutserts.
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 1:48 pm
by Christos Adam
Bob Beamesderfer wrote:The dash swap is legal.
Chris, you can't swap welded chassis pieces. Which rollbar do you have? The Hard Dog HC double diagonal weighs 48 pounds. I don't think you're going to save 150 pounds between the rollbar and the sound deadening.
Hi Bob
I have the Boss Frog Double hoop (mild steel version) witch is probably the heaviest roll bar in the market (I think it's ~80lbs).
The sound deadening material is also one of the heaviest out there. (
http://www.secondskinaudio.com/vibratio ... o.php#tab5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
My car (when it had Supercharger instead of Turbo) weight 2500lbs without gas or my 220+lbs body...
My goal is to get it down to 2300lbs with A/C, PS and Navi and glass soft top.
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 1:52 pm
by Aaron Goldsmith
Christos Adam wrote:Bob Beamesderfer wrote:The dash swap is legal.
Chris, you can't swap welded chassis pieces. Which rollbar do you have? The Hard Dog HC double diagonal weighs 48 pounds. I don't think you're going to save 150 pounds between the rollbar and the sound deadening.
Hi Bob
I have the Boss Frog Double hoop (mild steel version) witch is probably the heaviest roll bar in the market (I think it's ~80lbs).
The sound deadening material is also one of the heaviest out there. (
http://www.secondskinaudio.com/vibratio ... o.php#tab5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
My car (when it had Supercharger instead of Turbo) weight 2500lbs without gas or my 220+lbs body...
My goal is to get it down to 2300lbs with A/C, PS and Navi and glass soft top.
Woh, what's your minimum weight? thats still 100 pounds heavier than the BMW

Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 2:33 pm
by Christos Adam
Hi Aaron
I'm far away from the min weight in my class... I believe my car (which got heavier with the hitch larger tires flares etc) with me and a full gas tank is close to 2800 lbs }:)
We both (meaning me and my car) need to do the Schenker diet...

Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 2:51 pm
by Mike Simanyi
Christos Adam wrote:
We both (meaning me and my car) need to do the Schenker diet...

I proposed immediate adoption of the following Supp Regs updates:
Page 3, section 1.0; page 8, section 4.0; "No tofu."
Page 16, section 6.1.1 "Said officials shall not eat tofu."
Page 17, section 7.3.5 "Non tofu-eating points card holders may request their average..."
Page 19, section 8.1 Replace "Failure to do so..." with "Tofu will be grounds for a protest."
And finally, page 21, add section 10.0 "Beef. It's what's for dinner."
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 3:07 pm
by Aaron Goldsmith
Christos Adam wrote:Hi Aaron
I'm far away from the min wait in my class... I believe my car (which got heavier with the hitch larger tires flares etc) with me and a full gas tank is close to 2800 lbs }:)
We both (meaning me and my car) need to do the Schenker diet...

Looks like your minimum weight without driver would be around 2100 at long as you used 275's or smaller. Boca burgers here you come..
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 3:20 pm
by Christos Adam
LOL

Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 5:16 pm
by Bob Beamesderfer
A/C is about 40 pounds if you remove everything. Heaviest bits are the compressor and its bracket. Soft top is about 38 pounds.
At the moment, my car weighs about 2,075 without the hardtop, driver, 1/4 tank of gasoline.
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 7:08 pm
by Christos Adam
what about the ps Bob, how much it weights?
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 8:07 pm
by Christos Adam
By the way now that I'm thinking about it... I basically moved from the most lightweight miata to the heaviest miata

Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 8:11 am
by Aaron Goldsmith
Christos Adam wrote:what about the ps Bob, how much it weights?
Some things are worth the weight.. ;)
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 9:34 am
by Bob Beamesderfer
PS is about 12 pounds, but I kept it. Better steering ratio.
Re: Questions about updating/backdating (SSM) Mazda Miata ladder
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:58 am
by Christos Adam
Thanks!
I agree with both of you guys and I'm planning to keep my PS (and for now the AC too), I was just curious...