Got my rear subframe and diff in today. Feel like I got something accomplished.
Still gotta do the axles and brakes etc.
I do intend to go with a coil over package at some point, but for now I'm past my budget and will do Martin's springs in front and move the fronts to the rear. Will likely leave them uncut until I see where ride height ends up being.
Looking at the springs, and comparing them to the stock springs from my mostly stock '96, I was under the impression the long springs were the fronts. Cutting a coil then seems to make sense, but now that I discover the shorties are up front I wonder how even uncut front springs can work in the rear. I know it's been done hundreds of times and works. Just wondering how it works. Is it because of the fronts being a higher spring rate and settle less under the weight than the rears do? Therefore the rears rely on the weight of the car to settle to ride height?

 

I remember the first time this happened to me and I freaked out too. It was on a Camaro that I bought some high end springs and they were so short you could pop them in and out just by jacking it up. I thought for sure the car would drop right down on the frame but it was perfect because the springs did not compress much.

Your front springs are 154 lb and your rears 94 lb so using the front springs in back is a nice bump in performance. Cutting them takes that already a low number down though so I would cut as little as possible from them. Most guys run way more spring than that.

 

Try them uncut FIRST.

 

uncut first. 10-4

 

You may be well beyond this part of the project but just in case, here is my result in a 1991. Stock (I think - came with the car) Koni shocks and springs installed just as Martin directs in his guide. I took the original front springs, cut off one coil, and put them on the back shocks. Put the new front springs as is in the front.

The back is probably where it could stay and probably right on in terms of stock height although for me a little too high by an inch or so. The front is up in the air and gives the car a 4WD look to me. I HAVE to get it lowered. It is a Monster (as in power) Miata not a Monster (as in truck) Miata!

 

Do your Koni struts have the 3-position perch? If so, lower it.

 

Thanks for the post.
It's so weird how some folks have cut the coil and found it too low, and others have cut it and found it still too high like yourself. I don't want mine slammed, but I do want it a touch lower than stock. I guess that will be a function of the exhaust clearance.
I'm just doing the wiring right now before I put the front subframe and suspension back in. I'll likely leave it till the car is running before I do anything else about it. I have the rear all in and left the springs uncut. Once the car is running I'll hack away at the coils for this year. Maybe next winter's project will be a set of VMaxx and whatever else I decide needs to be done.
Congrats on a great build Mike. I really enjoyed following along.
Brad

 

I'm intrigued. Will have to do some research on that...