Chris's new build of an MX5 based car

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by minicountryman1961

You do realize that Ford owns a major percentage of Mazda?

MX5 is a great donor, fits the concept of the Locost/Roadster/Lotus 7 perfectly. Good luck with your build!

I do, I just refuse to pay good money for a Sierra! They should be free!

[deezee]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

I do, I just refuse to pay good money for a Sierra! They should be free!

Your not buying a Sierra.... your investing in a Haynes Roadster

[mark]

Originally Posted by deezee

Your not buying a Sierra.... your investing in a Haynes Roadster

Thats how i had to look at it when after 6months of no luck in finding a good donor i had to part with £350 for one it was in supprisingly good nick though

If i wasnt building the roadster i wouldnt give you a tenner for a J reg sierra!

[twinturbo]

I have had a fair share of cars and have to say that the sierras have always been the best drivers cars out of all the cars I have owned.

I hated fords until I gog my first sapphy in 1994.

Had a Few VAG's and other FWD cars and find the battle of torque steer and axle tramp under acceleration to be a BIG turn off to the FWD idea. ( my daily is a Galaxy and it's sh...t off the line. )



TT

[CTWV50]

Yeah FWD VWs and audis, I've had a fair few, not great at getting off the line and not as reliable as people would have you think. Anyway back to the MX5, I can't believe they fitted an aluminium sump and a stainless steel exhaust manifold as standard, such a bonus, engine should be nice and lightweight, bye bye production car understeer!

I'm reading a book about the design/development of the MX5, weight was a massive deal, people were threatened if weight wasn't kept to a minimum. They even lightened the crank and flywheel compared to the 323 transverse engine it was based on allowing to rev to 7200rpm.

The Donor is a 1.6 1995 model but it isn't the later tweaked 90 bhp engine that was not available to buy till Nov 1995 and had a steel sump. Mines a May 1995 and has a B6 engine code. So if anyones looking to buy a 1995 mx5 check the engine code is the correct for the one your after and seeing as the emission test was tightened up for cars after August 1995 you may want to play safe with the earlier engine. The 90bhp engine code starts with BP. Had another nose under the engine bay today just before dark, the rad fan is only half the size of the radiator and looks like it will be suitable for the roadster if it can be made to attach to the polo radiator.

Signed up to mx5oc forum to get a seller thread going when I'm ready to break the car down.

Need to get the garage sorted first and get some welding practice in before building the build table. Took some measurement and if I keep the garage clear I should be able to keep the whole car in the garage when finished along with other essential garage belongings. I may need to sort a shed at some point though for the gardening tools. I digress...

That is all goodnight.

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by mark

If i wasnt building the roadster i wouldnt give you a tenner for a J reg sierra!

That made me smile!

[twinturbo]

Alloy sumps almost always weigh more than their pressed steel counterparts. the use much more material.

TT

[CTWV50]

Going to list some other details for my own reference as much as anything.

Engine dimensions 620 x 580 x 615
Bore Stroke 78.0 x 83.6
cc 1597
CR 9.4:1
Max Pwr @ 6500
Max Tqr @ 5500
IVO 5˚ BTDC
IVC 51˚ ABDC
EVO 53˚ BBDC
EVC 15˚ ATDC
Gearing 1st 3.136 2nd 1.888 3rd 1.330 4th 1.000 5th 0.814 R 3.758 FD 4.3

[CTWV50]

Two pages from the book about compactness and lightness......