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PROJECT ND: Parts Development, Testing, Measurements, DYNO

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 10:04 pm
by Brian
What should me measure when we get access to an ND?

Just starting list I have...

Wheel weight
Wheel and tire clearance for 235/40 etc
Sway bar thicknesses.
Head clearance with helmet on
Hub size.

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 1:11 am
by jboemler
Dyno runs and corner weights -- "trust but verify". 8)
Photos of the underside, suspension, etc.
Hook up an Ecutek or something and test whether you can read the tune.

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2015 6:03 am
by Chuck H
This isn't exactly measurements, but I'd love to see good pictures of the underside with the car up on a lift, so you can really get a good idea about exhaust options and chassis bracing options.

I think the original post covered most of the other important stuff.

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2015 11:20 am
by Brian
Good ideas guys...and gives me the idea to get it on our scales here to see both total car weight verified on our race scales, plus get a chance to see starting corner weights with big driver like me (200 lbs).

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 11:13 am
by monty11ez
Motion ratios.

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:00 pm
by Brian
FIRST DAY DIVING INTO ND WITH A WRENCH IS COMPLETE! Had lots of fun today...learned a ton...here is just a sample of ND bits we got to remove and install again. By the way..
Front sway bar change is going to be extra fun... it bends around the electric steering assist unit. Somebody at Mazda labeled the shocks as 'struts' but they are still shocks....and thankfully devoid on this generation of any brackets for ABS sending units, etc.

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:09 pm
by Traum
Thank you for the update, Brain. And omg... look at them wimpy stock springs! But at least they should be an easy fix! :mrgreen:

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 5:26 am
by Brian
More pics for you guys.

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:38 am
by Brian
Wheel and Tires Thoughts.

One thing that yesterday brought home to me was that ND is NOT an NC. The space is the wheel wells is more like NB and that means STR and CSP guys cannot assume they are going to get 245mm or 255mm tires in without fender flares. Even 235/40/17 was so tight it will require a custom offset to get right, which Emilio of 949 Racing is working on, both in 17x8 and 17x9.
ND-235mm.jpg
ND-235mm.jpg (110.5 KiB) Viewed 50102 times
Emilio of 949 Racing below, checking here max travel touch points (shock installed with all hardware except the springs).

Re: ND Measurements Thread...

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:42 am
by Brian
Every day somebody asks about 15 inch on ND. Well, they really don't fit the brakes. Picture here shows the hands of Mazda's own Dave Coleman trying one of several 15 inch wheel combos and even in the rear they did not clear the brakes. Dave explained that stock rear calipers are now aluminum and therefore thicker. Dave postulated that if the calipers were still steel then some 15 inch combos might clear, but being aluminum the calipers are chunky enough to prevent the 15 inch wheels from fitting even in the rear.

Emilio did explain to me that with a massive spacer he was able to fit the 6UL in 15x9, but the spacer was so massive it would mean cutting the fenders and installing big fender flares to make it work, and he expressed the opinion that the effective offset was just too far from where it needs to be. Thus, effectively 15 inch wheels do not clear because they do not clear the chunky calipers.

YES, Emilio Cervantes is working on 949 Racing 17x8 and 17x9. They will require carefully calculated offsets because the space is very tight in the wheel wells. The entire experience yesterday brought home for me that the ND is not an NC, it's more like trying to stuff 235/40/17 into an NB.