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The Blackbird Fabworx Time Attack Build - Creampuff

267K views 1K replies 209 participants last post by  hotrod59 
#1 · (Edited)
Guess it's time for me to start a build log for the new Blackbird Fabworx NB project.

Purpose of the build -
Creating a fun track day car that showcases some of the capabilities of Blackbird Fabworx.
Weapon of choice is a 2002 NB with the VVT, 6 speed, 3.9 Torsen, sport brakes etc..
This car is not intended to be used in competition but may be legal for some series like NASA super touring, instead, it will be remain a two seater to allow fun rides, instructing and possibly test drives for potential BFW customers.

Build plan -
The construction of the car will be broken into a few major phases and constant development on things that don't keep the car from heading out to the track.
Power level will be kept decidedly low, with the potential to have other drivers on board there's no need to increase the level of difficulty of driving the car.

Phase 1 - The initial diet of removing unnecessary stuff from the car includes gutting the interior, ditching the AC, PS, stock exahust from the downpipe back, chopping of select body panels and eliminating all glass from the car.
Then the tub will be partly seam welded.
Major fabrication items for this phase are a full cage, seat mounts, new exhaust system, custom coolant reroute, front panel / wind deflectorand a very minimal interior.
The car will be getting a bit of mechanical refresh - fluids, brake pads, hoses, lightweight flywheel and some more.
New suspension and wheels are of course in the order as well, more about it later.

Phase 1 is scheduled to be concluded in roughly two months and the plan is to hit the track on the beginning of december.

Phase 2 - The secondary diet is about to shed a lot more weight from the car, this will involve cutting good amounts of sheet metal off the car and replacing it with lighter items such as Carbon doors.
Removal of dead weight from wiring, tubular subframes and more.
This is also where aero development will come into play, the car will be getting a full makeover though the details will remain in the dark until there's a car to show, but trust me that this car will not be the standard splitter and wing affair ;)...

Phase 3 - Finally the motor will get some love to increase power levels by many additional ponies, not the kind that eats hay in the field, we're talking about ones that like their steak medium-rare.
Expect insanity at it's finest.

Here are some before shots, taken two days ago -






And here she is as of yesterday -



Stay tuned, this page is about to get exciting :twisted:

Moti @ Blackbird Fabworx
 
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#1,086 ·
Ran out of time to post anything before I had to load the car on the trailer and go, so here it is (sorry for cell phone pics).

I made a Lexan extension piece to the cage to create an airfoil shape out of the exposed tubing, with the idea not only to cut drag but to increase wing efficiency as well -





I also tried running on Hoosier FA slicks for first time.
They are takeoffs so definitely off their peak performance (and were tapering off throughout the day as well..).
Between all the new bits and pieces, this was the first time that I had a chance to actually race the car after all the fun runs I did in the last few events.
Ended up resetting my PB in almost every session and ended up with a 1:59.60 (BRP #13 CW), which is AFAIK the very first time any stock powered Miata goes sub-2:00 around Buttonwillow : 3gears:

Gotta be happy with that!



I'm sure more pics will surface on the interwebz in the next few days.
 
#1,087 ·
Interesting little mods to the aero. Are you going to evolve the idea, and wrap the roll hoop with a fairing?

Good job on the 1:59.6!
 
#1,088 ·
It is hard to see, but the center section of the hoop and both rear legs are essentially shaped like airfoils.
The Lexan pieces are V shaped, with the open ends hugging the round tubes and sealed to it with clear tape, creating an airfoil shape where the tube is the leading edge of the airfoil and the pointy part of the Lexan V is the trailing edge.
 
#1,091 ·
This thing is going to be painfully fast once you start messing with the drivetrain. It'd be nice to see what a Blackbird/949/TSE built miata could do in the world time attack challenge.
 
#1,095 ·
Awesome you how you can go flat out through a series of corners like that. At the beginning I was wondering why you weren't hitting all the berms, but then I saw you really going for it, and the car just wasn't being unsettled at all. Must be a nice feeling, lol.
 
#1,101 ·
That's true. Sometimes at K1 speed (only type of racing I get to do now) I wonder if it's better to go wider and cary more speed, or stay tight and thus a shorter line.

Still, nice bit of driving in that video. I'd not mind getting a ride in creampuff haha.
 
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