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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:49:02 GMT
After stupidly breaking my original wannabe racecar, I've spent a long time away. Life, kids, divorce all got in the way. Here's the original wannabe racecar thread if anyone cares www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=80921&view=&hl=&fromsearch=1Now, I've decided to return to the fold - but this time things are a little different! I'm going to do things "properly" this time. No technix, no roller paint, no crap. This ones gonna be a track / show car....yes, I'm aiming for both! About April of this year I bought what looked like a tidy 95 1.8 from a friend.....turned out to be anything but! Holes in the rear arches put paid to that. After considering what to do, I decided to re-shell the car. Along came peak autos with an extremely rust free import shell! A little tatty, but fundamentally rot free. We had fun stripping the old car!     So, it was this point I decided that I would attempt a restoration of what I had. So the running gear was stripped ready for blasting, powder coating and re-bushing    That is pretty much as far as I've got at the minute, I'm waiting for a friend to press the old bushes out for me then the wishbones and subframes can be sent away. I will update as I go along. Shouldn't take too long though - in order to give myself a kick up the ass to get it done, I'm booked on the MOT sprint at Blyton in approximately 6 weeks! Fingers crossed I'll be ready to roll. I'm going to keep the end goal a bit of a secret. No spoilers! |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:49:51 GMT
Ok! The wishbones, subframes and ppf all went off to be blasted and powdercoated this morning.  Gave me a bit of a kick up the ass to start work on the shell. So I broke out the hammerite..  |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:50:23 GMT
Well, things are progressing quite nicely but I haven't updated in a while. This post may be quite pic heavy and a little random in order - but you'll get the idea So here goes Whilst the engine was out, kinda made sense to make a start on that. First was a nice stage 4 clutch and ultra lightweight flywheel   I originally ordered a competition clutch combo in stage 3, but the supplier was out of stock. Ended up with exedy clutch and flywheel instead. I know it's gonna be a switch in terms of its operation! I guess I'll learn to live with it. Next up I set about painting the underside of the car. May as well have it as clean as possible. Because, why not! I chose white as I believe that any problems will be easier to locate down the line (oil leaks, cracks, whatever)  Again. Whilst out, the engine and gearbox was primed and painted   The red is just the primer - it ended up black (yes I know I did white to spot faults - but I like contrast too much!) |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:50:53 GMT
A couple of days later, the wishbones and subframes arrived back from the powdercoaters. Had them done in epoxy based powdercoat - I was told this will stand up to general chips better as it tends to dent instead of chip off. I guess time will tell!!  I then set about re-bushing. All super pro polybushes.  Didn't photo the progress there - we've all seen it a million times already. Then the moog upper front wishbone ball joints went in and re-assembly started. All new alignment bolts and all new bottom ball joints too  |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:51:24 GMT
I kinda like these shots - they're my favourite so far. Just because you don't see 5's like this. Or any car outside rallying to be fair   |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:51:52 GMT
The diff was swapped for a type 1 torSen and primed and painted black, along with the driveshafts and prop, then the HSD's went on   Yes! That's an official msa accredited lower suspension screwdriver in there! Tested to a million tonnes of pressure. (Or I couldn't find the bolt - either way) On went some adjustable, rose jointed drop links and jackson racing ARB's   |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:52:21 GMT
Back up front - the wilwood big brake kit went on, complemented by the 2.5 sport rear brake conversion. Should stop quite nicely now. (Yeah I know, it's got to move first!)  They're too big to fit behind the ultra lite UL48 wheels, so I need to work out what size spacer I'm gonna need. I'm guessing about 15mm ish.  With 25mm spacers up front. she's gonna sit quite wide! 15x8 et-25 front 15x9 et0 rear  |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:53:00 GMT
Ok! All that need done, time for less dirty work. In went a GCF GCR3 rear cage  Along with GCF door bars too  |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 19:53:26 GMT
A bit of the car you're actually gonna see came next. Off came the hardtop, replaced with a genuine Mazda mk2 mohair on mk2 frame, along with a test fit of the carbon Miata GV Style rear panel  And a carbon Miata carbon vented bonnet along with my old zoom headlight vents from my old 5  Given all the good reviews and hype about these - thought I'd give them a go! They do make the doors sound "like a golf", but in terms of decreased skuttle shake or any other benefit - I cannot comment just yet  And that kind of brings us up to date at the minute! T minus 19 days till my track day! Keeping my fingers crossed I can get it all done in time |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 20:17:59 GMT
Well, it's been a week or so. Been a busy beaver nearly every day. Painted the rocker cover in hammered copper finish   And yes I know, I said no rollers. But my budget got cut a little short due to being signed off work for 3 months. So... I went from this   To this   |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 6, 2016 20:31:53 GMT
Whilst engine work isn't my favourite - you can't see it. It's hidden. I've spent quite a bit of time under the bonnet. Fitted EV14 550s  Fitted an oil cooler, filter relocate kinda deal The braided line runs inside the wing at the top  The filter lives back here. It looks like it's gonna be an rear canoehole to change, but it's only 2 Allen bolts and it lifts out of the car. No more oil down the arm for me  The cooler itself is bolted to the corner of the wing, baby teeth area. |
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Post by Horney on Sept 6, 2016 22:09:15 GMT
Nice work!
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Post by Ptichka on Sept 8, 2016 9:45:32 GMT
Good job! Love the all white underside, rather you than me haha  |
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Post by atlex on Sept 8, 2016 17:29:30 GMT
Ok! All that need done, time for less dirty work. In went a GCF GCR3 rear cage Along with GCF door bars too When I look at that top pic with the roll bar.. I'm thinking about how to fit a dog in that space. |
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Post by brgjay on Sept 8, 2016 20:47:16 GMT
Yeah, you may struggle there. What makes you think of that? Lol
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le sigh