Formula Mazda Race Car Topics

Cracked trans case- how much warning?

feeds@yuku.com (NSXted) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:06:55 GMT

So, I'm seeing a niggling little messy crack in the differential case: it starts at the 1 o-clock stud on the left side cover and goes back 2 inches toward the middle of the case. I understand this is typical of the standard cases which are not up to the twisting torque, and the rhino cases are beefier to withstand the torque. The car has 95 hours on it, so I guess there's no alternative but to re-case with the...

Preventative Replacement

feeds@yuku.com (driver68ike) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:03:34 GMT

After a very reliable first year of ownership I have had a rash of mechanicals at the track this year. We do a prep before every event including the gearbox, brakes, full nut/bolt, cleaning, alignment, and fluids. But, I have stumbled on the fact that parts like stub axels, coils, mufflers, inner cv bolts, and master cylinders seem to have a finite life on these cars. That is one discovery per event for anyone keeping track at home. However, after my last event where I had two discoveries...

caliper/pad fitment

feeds@yuku.com (Arnis30) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:19:32 GMT

I went to replace my Ferodo dsc3000 pads which came with the car and fit perfectly with Hawk blues. The backing plate on the Hawks ended up being too wide (as opposed to too tall or too thick) by a millimeter or two. I can jam them in but then there is no movement at all for them to slide along the caliper pins. I have the aluminum calipers so I am wondering if the fitment is slightly smaller vs. the iron calipers with the Hawks made for the original iron calipers. It could be a poorly cut...

Rotor Cap

feeds@yuku.com (RSimeone) — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:00:13 GMT

Has anyone ever had problems with the rotor hitting the contact points in the rotor cap and breaking both the rotor and cap?

Air Box for Single Side Draft ????

feeds@yuku.com (mike bartoli) — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:50:08 GMT

I have been searching for some time for a specific type of air box for my project and I think someone here would know something about this. I'm running a 12a motor in my 72 Triumph Spitfire with a 45 dcoe Weber on a one piece intake manifold which puts the carb directly over the top of the engine. All I have ever been able to find for single side draft carbs is a K&N type filer which bolts to the carbuetor.
there is also a cast aluminum bonnet available for blow-thru turbo...

What is your preferred warm-up procedure?

feeds@yuku.com (SonikDeathmonkey) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:54:54 GMT

The current procedure that I use to get the engine up to operating temp is as follows: I start the engine, let it idle just for a couple seconds then promptly bring her up to 2.5 - 3k rpm and let it idle in that range until I hit 160 or so. I don't rev it at all. I just gently bring her up to that rpm and hold it.

I hear there's other spiffy ways to do it just by fiddling with the carb tuning and such but I don't know much about these Webers so I'm not about to go...

Gearbox inspections

feeds@yuku.com (Bdog85) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:45:34 GMT

I there a general rule to this. How often should the gearbox be taken apart and inspected. I understand all the variables involved. missing gears, grinding the crap out of it. If you have treated the box fairly well..... every 2 - 3 races? After every race? Every 6 races?

I have been puling mine apart after every race. Inspecting everything .

I am aware that it is best to inspect everything as often as possible. I guess my real question is if everything seems to work...

Who wants to help me take apart a gearbox?

feeds@yuku.com (SonikDeathmonkey) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:41:59 GMT

I'm thinking I should pop her open and inspect things a bit just to be sure I'm on top of things and generally get used to working on it, but I don't have a clue. I'm checking studying various documents and stuff that I've found in the forum to prepare for it but I was curious if there's anyone in the bay area (i'm in San Jose) that would be willing to hold my hand and walk me through it when I'm ready?

Compensation would be a 12-pack of a brew of...

Post-race/event check?

feeds@yuku.com (SonikDeathmonkey) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:01:18 GMT

What types of things should I be going over after each race or practice event? Aside from the standard stuff like brakes, fluids, stuff like that, I'm pretty clueless but I want to be sure the car is in good shape for a race after this weekend's testing.

I tried searching but didn't come up with anything.

Thanks guys :-)

Correct oil level (not volume)

feeds@yuku.com (SonikDeathmonkey) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:32:32 GMT

What is the correct cold oil level for the 13B? I'm trying desperately to be ready and prepared for my Buttonwillow practice this weekend, but the oil level looks a little on the low end to me. Where should it be cold? Or hot?

I thought this would have been discussed in the past but I couldn't find mention of the level in my search. Forgive me if I missed an old thread about this :-)

Thinking about moving to FM - Questions.

feeds@yuku.com (adamvbrouillard) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:01:44 GMT

I have been racing spec racer ford for the last year or so and am starting to think the chassis is inherently unstable in it's current state with the new bigger front tires. So I have been considering formula mazda, cars seem to be about the same price so it would be an even swap. I'm mostly concerned about what the average reliability/running costs are though or any other weirdness that FM guys have to put up with.

Plus if anyone can explain why so many spec racer...

Shock questions

feeds@yuku.com (SonikDeathmonkey) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:27:07 GMT

I picked up my car the other week and I noticed that above each shock tube rests a bunch of thin plastic "rings". What is the purpose of these?
And how do I tell if I have the single or double-adjustable shocks? And how do I adjust them?

Thanks guys

VIR Gearing

feeds@yuku.com (driver68ike) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:21:36 GMT

Would anyone be willing to share if one uses the 'road america' gearset or the 'everywhere else' gearset for VIR? I'm guessing 'everywhere else' because it is in fact not RA but it does look fast. Thanks

Essential setup tools?

feeds@yuku.com (SonikDeathmonkey) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:05:05 GMT

Well folks, I'm now the proud owner of a Formula Mazda. She's just begging to be driven but until that time comes all I can do is prepare for this adventure. So I thought it would be a good idea to start tooling up and thinking about what I need for setting up the car.

What do you guys consider as truly essential setup items? Everything from SmartCamber gauges, to memory tire pyrometers, to $5k wireless scales... What are the most essential things that I should start...

Fuel Pump Problems. HELP !!!!!!!

feeds@yuku.com (dpasik) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:38:40 GMT

Damn it. I'm leaving Tuesday morning to drive Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Turned the main switch on today, hit the fuel switch and NOTHING........not the usual "tick tick tick of the fuel pump"...........

The ONLY think I did different last night was turned the car off by the main switch (by drivers head) instead of cutting the ignition, then fuel, then main switch as I usually do. Could this have blown a fuse? and my follow up is "Does the FM...

FM Standard?

feeds@yuku.com (lizardfolk90) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:52:39 GMT

I have a quick question. The Formula Mazda standard is still in use right? I was told that the Star Mazda doesn't have a league for the FM Standard anymore and they all just use the Pro chassis.

Where should I place my E-Track?

feeds@yuku.com (SonikDeathmonkey) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:40:13 GMT

I'll have my trailer soon and I need to install my two strips of E-track on the floor so I can go pick up the car, but I obviously don't have the car here to measure how far apart I should place the E-tracks so the wheels sit on top of them. Anyone?

Standard FM length?

feeds@yuku.com (SonikDeathmonkey) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:28:04 GMT

What is the overall length of the standard FM with the nose on and with it off? I'm trying to plan my trailer stuff but I don't have the car here with me.

Oh and another question while I'm at it, how do you guys hang the nose to the wall of the trailer during transport?

Hans Device and Formula Mazda Shoulder Harness Problem

feeds@yuku.com (dmark1) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:55:56 GMT

I am having an issue with my Hans device that I recently purchased and would like to ask everyone out there it they may have come up with a alternative fix. The attach points for the shoulder harnesses are about 8 inches apart on the Standard FM and the Hans device requires that they be within 3 inches for optimum protection. Since the interior portion of the attach points for the harnesses are not on the frame, it does not seem that moving them in would result in the necessary protection for...

Engine Removal Tips?

feeds@yuku.com (Arnis30) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:28:55 GMT

I need to pull the engine to ship it off to Daryl Drummond. A search of the forum is not producing much in the area of tips, tricks, and how to's on accomplishing the surgery unless I inadvertantly missed a post. Does anyone have a good how to on the engine removal procedure? A step-by-step would be great but I will be happy with just some words of wisdom on things to be careful of and/or specific detail items that might not be obvious. I've never removed an engine before but I...