I'm starting to save up for next season, and I wanted to get new springs for my SA. I'm planning to run R compound tires, probably the Toyo RA-1's or the Kumho V700. I am running the Watts link in the rear, with a few little mods suggested to be by RX7Carl on www.mazspeed.com. I was thinking somewhere along the lines of 175 front, 150 rear. For sway bars, I was going to knick a SE bar for the front and use a stock '81 bar in the rear. I don't have enough money for springs, tires AND sway bars, so I have to make do with junkyard sway bars.



While I'm at it, I'm going to get rid of my stock muffler this spring as well, and get a Magnaflow stainless steel muffler. I know a dealer, so I can get them at cost. What pipe diameter should I go with, 2.25 or 2.5 inch?



What do you guys think? Any and all input is appreciated.



Oh, BTW, here's my setup so far...



Racing Beat header w/short primaries

No emissions

Mini presilencer

'81 GSL rear axle with disc/LSD

'81 dizzy and DLIDFIS

Koni adjustable front struts

 

I am no expert on 1st gens but I remember discussing 1st gen spring rates with my mechanic one time as we pondered what spring rates to use in my FC. I remember them being in the range you are considering.



As far as sway bars go have you considered putting adjustable end links and preloading your stock ones. If I was you I would only change the front one to a stiffer one and preload it and the just preload the rear stock bar.



What size tire are you going to run??

 

I'm a student, and thusly quite poor. It's going to be a stretch to be able to afford the springs and the Toyo tires, so I really can't afford much in the way of adjustable sway bars. I thought I'd run a front bar from a SE because I figured it was beefier than the regular old GS or GSL unit. I'm planning to run the stock wheels, again for budgetary reasons, with 185/60/13 rubbers.

 

You can make the end links yourself pretty cheap if you dont have the resources let me know I know a 1st get Mechanic that can make them in his sleep and has a bunch of 1st gens sitting around to use to fit them.

The front bar idea of yours is a good one. Go for it.



As far as the tires those sound close to what spec miata's run have yor looking into a set of used Toyo's off of them they are very grippy (tread wear rating around 40) and you can get them really cheap. I have seen them very cheap like $25 a tire or possibly free. Race teams use them for 1 race then toss them there is enough thread on them for an entire Autocross season.



Mazdadrifter was using them on his TII and got awesome traction from them.