Flyin' Miata : Technical FAQ

ECU
Q: Can the software in the FM ECU ever be upgraded?
A: Yes. We are constantly improving the operation of our software. You can see all the changes here. Software upgrades are available for purchase and are simple to install.

Q: Can I use the ECU on my naturally aspirated or supercharged Miata?
A: Yes you can. We have the ECU on two of our naturally aspirated project cars. On a supercharged car, the proper control of fuel and ignition will mean greater throttle response, smoother idling and more power.

Other power-related questions

Q: Why don't you sell underdrive pulleys?
A: When you install an underdrive pulley on the crankshaft, you are removing the harmonic balancer that Mazda put on the car. On a turbocharged car, this means your engine will last approximately 2000 miles before the oil pump fails and you start shopping for a new engine. Normally aspirated cars are not affected as dramatically, but we still do not recommend the pulleys.

Suspension
Q: How will your springs affect the ride?
A: With any stiffer, lower spring you will pay a ride penalty, as you are reducing the suspension travel. This is especially critical in the rear of an M1 car. We designed our springs to be what we consider the best compromise of ride and handling.

Q: How much will your springs lower my car?
A: The amount of lowering depends on how high your car is to start. If you measure from the center of the wheel to the fender lip, your car will end up 12"-12.5" in the front and 12.5"-13" in the rear. Here's a visual comparison.

Q: What will sway bars do to my ride?
A: Sway bars will make your car corner flatter. You may feel a little more side-to-side rocking on uneven pavement with aftermarket sway bars, but overall there is minimal impact on the ride (har har har). Sways are an excellent inexpensive upgrade with minor drawbacks. Mostly, your face will hurt from the grin.

Q: Can I use my stock shocks with the FM springs?
A: While they will fit, we recommend against it. Stock shocks do not have enough damping to handle our stiffer springs so it will be like driving a pogo stick. They will also have a very short life.

Q: What's the difference between coilovers and your springs?
A: A Ground Control coilover kit allows you to adjust the ride height of the car as well as the corner weighting to get the ideal balance. You can also choose from a wide variety of spring rates. This is great if you're a racer but overkill for a sporting driver even if you do occasionally autocross.

Q: Do you have any lateral acceleration numbers for your kits?
A: No. Don't be such tech weenies. Besides, it's impossible to get meaningful consistent results that are comparable between tests.

Exhaust
Q: Do your duals generate more power than a normal exhaust?
A: More than stock, yes. More than a good aftermarket single, in most cases no. More of an esthetic looks/sound issue.

Q: Can I use a turbo exhaust on my normally aspirated or supercharged car?
A: Only if you like Advil. Because a turbocharger quietens the exhaust sound, we can use a less restrictive and less effective muffler on the turbo exhausts. This means that they are very loud and obnoxious on normally aspirated and especially on supercharged Miatas.

Q: How loud are your exhausts?
A: We don't have decibel measurements available at the moment so we can not give a quantitative answer. Our single exhausts are slightly louder than stock with a lower note. Our dual exhausts are louder than the singles. If you like drawing attention to yourself than the duals are a good choice. If you wish to be anonymous than go with the single exhaust.

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