looks good to me ;o)

Woo hoo - Saturn have just released their MX5 build guide :D
Just been looking through it, and it doesn't look like my build has deviated from their design too much!

They've also got the MX5 parts on their webstore too now. Just ordered myself a set of wishbones :cool:

Oh yeah! Oh yeah! So happy! :D

can you link to saturns build guide as i cant seem to see it cheers

It's due to be posted up on Saturn's site early next week apparently, although you can email Andrew to get it this weekend.

Have at this thread for details, post #149

http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showt...t=5753&page=15

I've been suffering from a severe case of the man-flu for the past week so haven't done much on the build...
I managed to brave a few hours in the garage today though and have (possibly) finalised my steering design.
After lots of playing around I've decided to keep it much the same as my first attempt, but have managed to drop the height of the steering wheel by an inch or so. Ideally I would have liked it lower still (and possibly a couple of inches futher forward) but I can't easily acheive that without cutting a big hole in TR9, or going above TR8 which would mean taking a rather tortuous path through the engine bay.
So basically all I've done is cut the top rail of my column support off and welded a new one in slightly lower, getting rid of the gap I had previously left between TR9 and the column, so the column just touches it.

Whilst I was at it I also added a little plate to TR9 so I can bolt a 38mm exhaust clamp to it to add additional support for the column (I shamlessly nicked this idea from Westfield who do something similar on their MX5 based 7):




I've been wondering for a while how to link the mazda column to the escort rack and had a bit of a brainwave this weekend. It's possibly a silly idea, and a waste of a perfectly good sierra column, but...
I started off with the MX5 steering rack linkage, which I cut down on one end:



I then dug out a Sierra colmn I had lying around, chopped it in half and mated the two together:



So the Mazda end mates with the lower part of the MX5 column, and the Ford end mates with the steering rack using one of RallyDesign's Sierra-to-escort linkages:



It all seems to fit nicely, and feels great watching the rack move when I turn the steering wheel. Can't wait to get it rolling now!

Some more pics (damn the 4 pics per post limit!)

And Skov said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And Skov saw the light, and it was good.

After several months of working in a dimly lit garage I finally pulled my finger out and did something about it today.
Previously the roof of my garage (or hanger as it was once called) was crammed full of model aircraft and assorted sh!t, and light was supplied by a couple of badly placed 60W bulbs:



All that junk has now been replaced by a couple of strip lights.
Cost of lights: £25.98
Being able to see what I'm doing: priceless :D

Made a huge difference, can't believe it I didn't do it months ago!
Slightly miffed to find my squadron was full of hundreds of tiny burn holes when I removed them :rolleyes:

It's always nice to be able to see what your doing, as I realised when I bought a new auto dimming welding mask!!:D

I spotted one of those in Halfords yesterday and had to resist purchasing it.
Doesn't seem much point now I've done most of the welding.
If I start another big welding project I'll definitely invest in one, it's a pain in the &rse having to nod violently to get my mask to fall over my face when my hands are full!

Got my VIN plate from AdrianH today.
My crappy photo doesn't do it justice, looks the dogs donglies :cool:
Just need to decide where to stick it now.

without sounding daft does anyone know what the breakdown of the charactures means?

It's my best guess that the SABT is the departments postcode SA** *BT

The VRO probably means Vehicle Rigistration Office & the rest is probably a random set of characters.

Best that I can dream up :D :D

Good enough for me lol

AshG reconed it is sad awkard bastard trying vehicle registration.

:D :D :D

Could well be right.

The VIN plate kindly provided by Adrian went into my chassis this week.
I decided to stick it on the inside of U6, which I think is ok.
Rather than weld the plate onto the face of U6, which Mr IVA Man may or may not approve of, I got the angle grinder out and cut a section out of U6 the same size as the plate. Then I welded it in and ground/sanded down the welds so it's nice and flush, and will hopefully (once I've finished blending it in) look like the number is engraved straight into the chassis member :)

Looking good

A box of goodies arrived from Saturn this morning :)



It's going to be a long day at work today :rolleyes:

Had a bit of a play with my bones last night :)
They seem to fit with a bit of persuasion, which means I must have welded my brackets in roughly the right place!





( Sorry for the even worse than usual photo quality :o )

looking good mate

Welding Complete!
 

Had a productive evening in the garage tonight.
I reworked my handbrake cable guide, and welded on the rear roll bar brackets and headlight mounts, which <fanfare please> means I've just finished all the welding on my chassis! :D

I did try take some pics, but the camera's gone walkabout, and my phone just ran out of charge :rolleyes:

Nice one Skov :cool: its a great feeling to put the mig away & start bolting things to the chassis .

BUT.....have you welded on the little brackets to hold your flexi brake pipes etc? easily overlooked :eek: guess how I know :D

cheers
andy

Yep, away goes the MIG, and out comes the paint brush :)
I've got about 4 weeks left to paint it before the next baby arrives, just hope the wife holds on for long enough :D

I'm pretty sure I've got all the brackets I need, and yes I did remember the brake pipe ones, thanks though!

Well done John you're really ploughing on with it now. I need to pull my finger out!:rolleyes:

Don't worry Chris, I'll be up to my elbows in nappies and milk soon, so you should have plenty of time to catch up!


Here's a couple of poor quality pics of my completed chassis (don't know where the bloody 'ell my good camera has gone :mad: ):

Hey Skov,

did you buy or make your suspension brackets?

Sven

Best bet is to go to Dave at Rouge engineering..

TT

I think I bought them from Talon.

I've just reached a major milestone, and have finished painting my chassis:





I've spent the last week or so racing to get it completed before the imminent arrival of the pitter patter of little feet!

I think I'll be taking a break from the build for a while now to concentrate on sleepless nights, dirty nappies, and my helping out my long suffering wife - safe in the knowledge my chassis isn't going to rust away over the winter :)

looking good John, It'll soon be rolling;)

Good luck with the new addition When he/she comes

Good luck.

TT

Thanks James/TT.
In theory we've got a week left, but the wife's been feeling some tremors over the last couple of days, so it could be any time now.
I'm kind of hoping it'll all happen tonight so I don't have to go to work tomorrow :)

OMG Dont slam any doors:) :) :)

Bob

Chassis is looking great John , nice to see a chassis kit that originally was not being started into a completed chassis :cool:

All the best for the new arrival, soon have a little helper passing you the spanners :)

cheers
andy

Looking good, hope all goes well has anyone managed to build a three seater yet

Arfon

I'd need more than a 3 seater, already got a few little 'helpers'! (this one looks like it's going to be another girl, so no help there, lol)
I did think about making an 8 seater by stretching it out and adding another 3 rows of seats, but my garage isn't anywhere near long enough :D
I think I'll just have to set up a rota for who gets to go in Dad's sportscar while the rest are in Mum's bus. There were no end of arguments about who's turn it was in the MX5 before I got rid of it!

I spent ages trying to find some double clips for the fuel lines, then stumbled upon these little beauties:





They're designed for two 8mm pipes, and one 4.8mm pipe, which is perfect for running the fuel and rear brake lines down the tranny tunnel :D

Only problem is they weren't particularly cheap (~40p each), and I had to buy a hundred of the buggers!
...so I should have a few spare if anyone else wants to buy some off me ;)

--------------------------------------------

EDIT: I've now sold all my surplus clips!
Here's the details if anyone wants them:

Manufacturer: Jetpress
Part# CAC446-NAT
Supplier: http://www.comdir.co.uk/

---------------------------------------------

I would be interested in a suitable qty..

good luck for the iminent sleep loss.

TT