new haynes MX5 scratch build

[garyt]

Great to see you getting on , good work

[chris_smith]

spent a few hours today fully welding the chassis, still have the rear panel supports to sort but need my rear panel to do that effectively, so set about sorting the steering column -

[garyt]

Great to see some more done something to think about now as well is what are you doing re the roll bar? More specifically the rear braces I copied a previous idea and put 2 wishbone brackets on the back edge of the diff mount plates pictures in my build or I can post them if you want to look. Others have taken them down to the rear corners at the bottom of the rear panel
Anyway great work keep going

[chris_smith]

thanks Gary, ill be working on that once I pick up the rear panel and can configure the back proper. in the mean time as I was sorting out the steering rack and column route, I had to drop the engine in so have been sorting mountings today

[garyt]

once that lot is lined up you will find the steering extension is really close to the alternator and I had to relieve the plenum support to clear it.
I see you went hi tech in your engine support a steel bar ... I used a length of oak from work lol. it works and saves a lot of faffing with a jack
It definitely feels good to see the engine in even if only temporarily oh make sure your engine is far enough forward to get full operation on the clutch release arm (sorry Steve)

[chris_smith]

been a few weeks since i posted anything however I have been in the garage working away,

I already had a diff, engine and box, when i started my build as id found/picked them up cheap, but as the chassis was progressing I started searching for other parts required and found that to buy uprights, discs, calipers etc would be as much if not more than finding an actual full car!

so thats what I did for a measly £200 -



I then progressed in stripping everything -




unwanted parts are listed or being prepared for listing on the Bay

[chris_smith]

I then started to clean up and sort out the uprights, electrolysis was fantastic, and built a small blast cabinet and here are the uprights after painting in POR15 drying with the heat lamps -



and then moved to the diff before -



and after, will be fully painted once finished -




I have also finished making and painting the wishbones but forgot to take pics

[rolsty]

Looking really good
Can I ask if you've got a part number for the steering column bearing ?
I've ordered the part number that seems commonly listed but it doesn't tilt ?
Hope you don't mind me asking but I've come to a stop with that bit !

[chris_smith]

more work completed - she now has grown legs and arms

also ordered some bodywork from Vmax today

[twinturbo]

seems like a lifetime since I was at that stage... Roll on 2017 and perhaps some progress.