THSCC Forums

Page 61 of the 2005 Solo II rule book says "Option package conversions may be performed between specific vehicles of a particular make and model, but only between configurations from within a particular model year. ... Alternate parts listed in a factory parts manual are not authorized unless their use is specifically referenced in the factory service manual..."

When you look in the Mazda part catalogues, there is nothing mentioned about spoilers and air dams. So, if I showed up with a "R-package" sans rear spoiler and air dams, would it be protested? If it where, what documentation would make them required?

There's a lot of misinformation present on Miata.net. I'd hate for someone to try to protest me from what they consider to be correct per that site. From my research in the Factory parts catalog, about half the info on Miata.net regarding R-packages is incorrect.

By time you get done with all of the allowable replacements per stock rules, all you'd wind up with is a base model with a torsen and different rear springs! (Fronts springs are the same between all MT cars in '95)

I'm getting my Factory parts manuals from Mazda Motorsports in .pdf format. Is there something I'm missing or not understanding properly?

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“I feel safer on a racetrack than I do on Houston's freeways.” - A.J. Foyt

Kevin Butler
Mobetta Autosport Spec E30 #612
2003 C5 Z06 Corvette
AFR Miata, SM2 61, '93 w/200 SC'd RWHP - soon to be resurrected
Waaaay too many other projects....

From what I can tell the R cars all had the lip and rear spoiler, they weren't standalone options. The front lip is still available new (looked at the mazda comp site last night) but the rear isn't apparently. You're right on the list of mods though -- some people on miata.net claim that there was special lighter sound dampening material and handpicked engines on the R but that seems incredibly unlikely.

Diane, you have both in your garage, have you noticed any unusual differences on your R?

--Kevin H.

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2003 WRX (again!)

There's a guy on miata.net classifieds parting out a 94 R package.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Yeah I know. I've tried to contact him twice with no reply.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Front lip thing. Rear spoiler. No power anything (manual windows, steering, cruise). Bilstien shocks (which everyone changes for auto-x anyway). Aluminum hood. No leather.

Those are the main things. I'm not sure what the little differences are.

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Kevin Butler - Honestly, I think you'd be fair game if someone wanted to protest you. I'm sure there's something that you'd miss that could be upheld in a protest (even if it's a sissy protest, and not locally, just nationally). What advantage are you trying to achieve by changing the option package that can't be achieved another way?



This I find to be very very true. I gave up on that site years ago.

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Diane (Hall) Bundas
1992 Spec Miata #48 - 1997 Chevy Tahoe - 2007 Honda Civic Coupe

My new car is a base model. I will be driving it for both AutoX and HPDE. I do not want to drive the car without an LSD. I have the torsen from my previous car. I do not want to run CSP - too expensive.

I have the complete Factory Parts Manual printed out. I have yet to find spoilers identified. For the best I can tell, spoilers and air dams were add ons at dealerships. Hoods are the same for all cars. Has anybody got a '95 Miata brochure?

Aside from the spoilers, the only things I've found that the base model doesn't already have are:

Rear
shocks, springs and bump stops

Front
shocks, swaybar and swaybar bushings

If I have the part catalog for the car onhand, and the appropriate parts in place, who can protest me? Besides, I seriously doubt I'll be going to any National events.

Koni Sports are listed by Koni as being R-package compatible. Does that mean the lowered spring perch location is the R-package height?

_________________
“I feel safer on a racetrack than I do on Houston's freeways.” - A.J. Foyt

Kevin Butler
Mobetta Autosport Spec E30 #612
2003 C5 Z06 Corvette
AFR Miata, SM2 61, '93 w/200 SC'd RWHP - soon to be resurrected
Waaaay too many other projects....

Boy do I agree with that. My SM car didn't have an LSD. Just got a MazdaSpeed unit in. Can't wait to try it out at VIR.



For many cars, the air dam and spoiler might have been a dealer add-on, however I've NEVER seen a R without both.



Shocks and front swaybar you can change anyway. I dunno, I'm just guessing at the protest thing. You've heard some of the nationals protests. Some people will pick on any little thing. Locally, I can't imagine you having a problem.



Yes. I have the Koni SA shocks on mine.

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Diane (Hall) Bundas
1992 Spec Miata #48 - 1997 Chevy Tahoe - 2007 Honda Civic Coupe

I thought the rear sway was different. At least on the 94's it was. I am wondering if you can actually do the conversion legally. The R package had a unqiue VIN number that identified it as such. So if you are going to do the complete conversion per the SCCA, you need to swap VIN's.

The whole R package thing will be a major pain in the butt for E stock. The documentation for Miatas is questionable. Actually, I do not believe the parts manual you are referring to is legal. I think the SCCA rules refer to the techincal service manuals, not a parts manual. My service manuals for the MR2 cost over $120.00!!!! They are not free in any form.

If you want the best, then you need to spend the money and buy an R package. Or for the very few HPDE, swap the torsen in for those.

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

Kevin...

If this is the route you decide to go, it's not difficult. We pulled the pumpkin out of mine in about an hour (thank Bowie for some pointers). Reinstalled it in about the same. Bowie says if you get good at it, one person can do it in a hour.

If you got an extra pumpkin (which you must since you have your old diff), then the switch would be relatively easy. As long as you have the open diff on the current car. If you have an old VLSD, then the axles are different. Not sure about the axles for open & R LSD. I suppose I could crawl under the R and look if you need me to.

Diane

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Diane (Hall) Bundas
1992 Spec Miata #48 - 1997 Chevy Tahoe - 2007 Honda Civic Coupe

VLSD was dropped after '93, so he'll not need to change the axles. As to Jim's comment about the VIN #, I don't believe you need to change the VIN for an option package conversion. How would one go about doing that with the DMV? - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Not to hijack the thread, but I bought my 1991 SM with no LSD. I drove it for several VIR full course events before I added the Mazdaspeed LSD.

I honestly couldn't tell *any* difference when running "clean" laps. I didn't normally have any wheelspin coming out of Oak Tree, in fact. The big improvement it made was in having to make crazy maneuvers in, and because of, traffic.

That's on RA-1's. I haven't followed what the plan is for '06 when the class goes national wrt tires. If we get "open" tires then Hoosiers make make the diff mandatory. I'm actually not sure it's mandatory on the RA-1s, though. Helps very occasionally, but that's about it. Well, maybe I just need to be a little more racy.


--Donnie