1999 Steering rack question? SM convert to ITS

[gpeluso]

Doing research on converting to ITS. I understand the difference on exhuast(exiting the rear), but I don't know what to do when it comes to the steering rack. My pump was just removed and a hose was added to have the fluid go back and forth(de-powered), but as I understand it this is not legal. Can anyone help or is this OK in IT?

[johnny yanez]

as the rules go,, you have remove the power steering rack and install a non power steering rack,

[JLawton]

as the rules go,, you have remove the power steering rack and install a non power steering rack,
[/b]

...........only if the car came with a non power steering rack option from the factory.........right?

[Knestis]

Only if a car on the spec line in question came without PS. And then, it has to be updated/backdated as an entire "assembly."

K

[gpeluso]

DID THE 1999 COME WITHOUT POWER STEERING? IF IT DID NOT IS IT OK TO DO WHAT I DID? I AM CONFUSED BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN MANY ITS RX7'S WITH THE POWER RACK JUST DE-POWERED....MUST NOT BE LEGAL ON THOSE GUYS CARS.

[Greg Amy]

>>> DID THE 1999 COME WITHOUT POWER STEERING?

I DON'T KNOW!!! Oh, uh, sorry...um, I don't know; you'll need to find that out.

>>> IF IT DID NOT IS IT OK TO DO WHAT I DID?

If the car never came without power steering, you *must* run a fully-functioning power steering system in Improved Touring.

>>> I HAVE SEEN MANY ITS RX7'S WITH THE POWER RACK JUST DE-POWERED....MUST NOT BE LEGAL ON THOSE GUYS CARS.

See above...

[Eagle7]

I AM CONFUSED BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN MANY ITS RX7'S WITH THE POWER RACK JUST DE-POWERED....MUST NOT BE LEGAL ON THOSE GUYS CARS. [/b]

Correct. Either a fully functional PS system or a manual rack.

[tnord]

i'm pretty sure the 99 Club Sport edition of which they only made 50 or so didn't have PS, so just get a manual rack and you'll be fine.

should be as easy as calling mazda motorsports and asking, "you guys have a manual rack for a 99 miata right? yeah, i need one of those."

[joeracerx95]

i'm pretty sure the 99 Club Sport edition of which they only made 50 or so didn't have PS, so just get a manual rack and you'll be fine.

should be as easy as calling mazda motorsports and asking, "you guys have a manual rack for a 99 miata right? yeah, i need one of those."
[/b]

Well yeah, it's easy up to that point. And then they're going to tell you how much it costs!

[Andy Bettencourt]

There is a manual rack for the 1999 and it's about $500 complete from Mazdacomp brand new.\ from what I can see on their website.

[gpeluso]

Andy,
Thank you for the info......guess other people here get pissy if you are just tying to get answers the lazy way (ASKING QUESTIONS ON A FORUM!) Hmm . I was hoping for someone who races an ITS miata to chime in,but I guess most are staying in SM. Thanks

[Greg Amy]

Andy...I was hoping for someone who races an ITS miata to chime in...[/b]

"Shave and a haircut, two bits!"

Buh-doom, bash!



(Inside joke; this'll make sense later, trust me...)

[Knestis]

Andy,
Thank you for the info......guess other people here get pissy if you are just tying to get answers the lazy way (ASKING QUESTIONS ON A FORUM!) Hmm . I was hoping for someone who races an ITS miata to chime in,but I guess most are staying in SM. Thanks
[/b]

The real problem is that you might get a popular-but-illegal answer, perpetuating the myth that something is "okay" - like de-powering RX7 steering systems.

However, the simple fact that A PART IS AVAILABLE does not make it legal. That's not a good test. The question is, did any US-model (whatevers) come with it? I think "50" is kind of hinky* but if a regular someone could order from a dealer and get a '99 Miata with manual rack #233 433 54343, then that part is AOK.

K

* Somewhat outside of what the original intent.

[Greg Amy]

...did any US-model (whatevers) come with it? I think "50" is kind of hinky* but if a regular someone could order from a dealer...[/b]

...and this was a known property and the additional 3-5 horsepower was considered by the ITAC/CRB when the classification weight was set on the car (versus others in the class not having that opportunity). It would really suck to have such a light car get a significant weight break simply 'cause Mazda shipped out 50 cars without power steering and everybody else had it as standard.

Nah, not a conspiracy. One is chance, twice is coincidence, three times a charm...

[Andy Bettencourt]

...and this was a known property and the additional 3-5 horsepower was considered by the ITAC/CRB when the classification weight was set on the car (versus others in the class not having that opportunity). It would really suck to have such a light car get a significant weight break simply 'cause Mazda shipped out 50 cars without power steering and everybody else had it as standard.

Nah, not a conspiracy. One is chance, twice is coincidence, three times a charm... [/b]

Are you freaking serious? Oh boy.

The 99's base models came without PS. PS was available in - coincidently - the 'power steering package'. That package was standard on any car that came through with an automatic. The Touring package and teh PEP (popular equipment package) came with PS as well. The 'Sports' package does not list PS as standard and does not list it as an option. Manual transmission only for the Sport.

I believe the 'Club Sport' version Trav is talking about was a 2003 model year only car.

Everybody OK now? Jeeezus. it's an old and tired routine.

[Greg Amy]

Are you freaking serious? Oh boy.[/b]

OF COURSE I'm freaking serious, Andy; do YOU want to give up a free 3-5 horsepower to a competitor? Hell, if so I'm all over it; I'll remove the power steering from my car faster than you can say "buh-bye".

The 99's base models came without PS....Everybody OK now? Jeeezus.[/b]

Excellent, thanks for taking up your valuable time clearing that up for the unwashed masses there, Princess. And you been on this forum how many times since we started talking theoretically about this subject three days ago...?

Talk about "jeeezus"...

[joeracerx95]

Are you freaking serious? Oh boy.


Everybody OK now? Jeeezus. it's an old and tired routine.
[/b]

I think there may be some history going on here but as a new-comer to this group I gotta say, Andy, the above comments in your post struck me as condescending and insulting. And anti-Miata?? You could replace the car being discussed with any other and it wouldn't change any of the points being made. It seems to be about limited edition models, not anything specific about Miatas.

You might want to reexamine once you aren't stuck in an airport.

And rehashing old issues over and over again, well that's the life-blood of message boards. Don't try to stop it, embrace the lunacy of it!

Or, since I don't have a Miata or an ITS, I could just mind my own business.

-chuck-

[tnord]

The question is, did any US-model (whatevers) come with it? I think "50" is kind of hinky* but if a regular someone could order from a dealer and get a '99 Miata with manual rack #233 433 54343, then that part is AOK.
[/b]

iirc....yes and no.

the club sport model was printed as a trim level in the product brochure, but i think you had to have a competition liscense for them to sell you one.

[Greg Amy]

...i think you had to have a competition liscense for them to sell you one.[/b]

Things that make you go "hmmmm"...If true, I suggest the manual rack is not legal for ITS. - GA

[RacerBowie]

Things that make you go "hmmmm"...If true, I suggest the manual rack is not legal for ITS. - GA
[/b]

You could buy them for autocross too, so no license was required.

You DID however have to order them from MazdaComp, so you had to be a MazdaComp member. But anyone can become a member, so I don't know if that makes any difference.