scannon

(Raking in the pot) My car came in at 420 RWHP on the dyno, adjusted for altitude. R&T tested an identical car with the same gear ratios and same tires. They got a 0 - 60 of 3.8 seconds starting in 2nd gear. They didn't publish a 1/4 mile time.

I'll see your NA Ford and raise you an NB LS3.

I've tried a number of power and vacuum bleeders over the years with not a lot of luck. I prefer the two person method and there is one trick I use that gives a really solid brake pedal. Once you are comfortable that clean fluid is flowing and all the air is out, do one more pump and bleed before moving on to the next brake, but this time close the bleeder valve while the fluid is still flowing, i.e. before the pedal gets to the floor. This prevents air from being sucked in through the bleeder valve's threads when the pedal hits the floor.

It does work. I don't know how you go about it but the way I do it there is no possibility of a bush fire.

I've had a couple of conversations with Bill of Flyin' Miata about just that. I offered my car for the first installation, I would pay for the parts and they would cover the installation. They finally decided they didn't want to do the first one on a customer car as they didn't know if it would work and didn't want to be handing back a cut up car if it couldn't be made to work. Do I really need two LS3 powered Miatas? Turbo kits are in the pipeline and expected to put out ~300 RWHP so that may have to suffice until they get the V8 worked out.

Or a good old fashioned strike anywhere match.

That stinks!

I put off buying a new ND Miata waiting for real pictures of the Fiat 124 now known as the Fiata. When the press release pictures were leaked to the internet I felt that the 124 styling was too busy. It reminded me of the early Japanese cars that looked like the designers were influenced by the JC Whitney catalog. It may look better in person but I didn't want to wait another year to find out so a couple of weeks ago Stella, a Soul Red Club edition came to live in my shop. Within days CLIS syndrome went into full swing and a number of modifications have already been made to the car. In my opinion the new ND Miata is the best Miata ever produced by the factory. Its smaller, lighter and quicker than the previous generation. How many cars can say that? The 32 mpg I've been getting around town is just a bonus.

Kurt, The transmission tunnel on my Caterham SV was too small to accommodate a Miata transmission without serious removal of aluminum from the tailshaft and sides of the main body. The tailshaft housing on the left is unmodified. The one on the right was cut down using a Sawazll and a die grinder and used to determine what needed to come off in order to fit in the trans tunnel. IIRC, it and its transmission made 11 trips into the tunnel before I felt it would work out. The middle tailshaft housing is the finished product after a friend machined off the excess and created a pad to mount the OEM Caterham tailshaft mount. I also had to remove some material from the main body of the transmission to make it fit. That was done with a die grinder and a file. There is 1/8" clearance between the transmission and some of the frame tubes in the tunnel but the very stiff engine mounts prevent sideways movement of the engine.

The only Miata engine specific Se7en chassis is the Westfield. However, your car was built long before those came out so without buying a set and fit checking I don't think there is any way to find out. What brand and model chassis do you have? With the help of a machinist friend I designed and built my own Miata to Caterham SV motor mounts using the standard frame mount that came with the car. Here's a couple of pictures. Are you using the Miata transmission?

Headed to a new class in the WRC for sports cars. The new Fiat 124 will be built by Mazda based on the new ND Miata with Fiat drivetrains. http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-eurocars/abarth-to-take-124-spider-rallying/33329

My bad, I could have sworn I saw it winding up to 280 but I had another look and its 220 as you say above.

I love places like that, interesting clutter everywhere. About 25 years ago I was driving in Denver near Washington Park and caught a glimpse of a big V8 engine mounted on a tall pole. It was in the next block and I could see it over the houses on the street I was on. I went around the block to check it out and found an early Chrysler hemi V8 with supercharger and zoomies about 30' in the air. There were a couple of hummingbird feeders hanging down and a brass plaque on the pole "Hemi Humming Bird Feeder" on it. The garage doors had a pair of huge hogs painted on them. There was a large stuffed badger on the edge of the roof above the doors. While I was gaping at all this a young woman came out of the house and asked if she could help me. She told me it was her father's shop and let me inside to see. There were some interesting cars including a very low mileage BRG Jaguar XK 120 FHC. I looked up and the whole ceiling was covered with interesting things and a 15' stuffed crocodile was mounted on the wall with his very large mouth open, ready to take a big bite.

I saw 280 kph on the speedo, that's 168 mph! Was it stable at that speed? Very impressive car (and driving).

A different kind of collection. https://player.vimeo.com/video/139358538

The headlights look like '37 or '38 Fords. The grille doesn't match either of them but the general body shape does.

Thanks Bob. Spectacular engine. I wonder where they found the heads and manifold. I'll bet it makes wonderful exhaust sounds.

Did you get a picture(s) of the Zephyr's engine compartment? Please post if you do. I love flat head V8 and V12 engines.

You don't believe that is a Cosworth BDA? Note the timing belt on the front of the engine. Not found on a OEM Model A. Clever arrangement to conceal the fact that the top of the cam cover is not the top of a cast iron Ford flathead. Individual throttle bodies, not found on OEM Model A engines.

See if you can guess what engine is in it from the sound as it certainly doesn't sound like a Model A engine.

That is fantastic workmanship. Is this going to be a show car or will you drive it? Here's what you need to display it.

Love it! Brought a big smile to my face when the pictures came up.

People often complain about the police, but you rarely hear about the positive things they do, such as this incident involving a biker and a frozen carburetor. Last January on a bitterly cold winter's day, a North Dakota State Trooper on patrol came upon a motorcyclist who was stalled by the roadside. The biker was swathed in heavy protective clothing and wearing a full-face helmet to protect the face from the cold weather. Whats the matter? asked the Trooper "Carburetor's frozen," was the terse reply. "Pee on it. That'll thaw it out." "I can't," said the biker. "OK, watch me closely and I'll show you." The Trooper unzipped and promptly warmed the carburetor as promised. Moments later the bike started and the rider drove off, waving. A few days later, the local State Troopers office received a note of thanks from the father of the motorcyclist. It began: "On behalf of my daughter Jill..."

It would be kinder to go with #3 again, just to be considerate of those who are trying to catch you from behind. Otherwise you can put it wherever you think looks best. My apologies, I thought we were talking about a Se7en, although not great I'm guessing the Atom has better aerodynamics than Se7ens.

The whole car is bad in aerodynamic. I don't think it will make a noticeable difference but then I am not Adrian Newey so my opinion is worth about what it cost you.