MX5 Donor, Using as a Donor/problems/solutions/advice Info

[Talonmotorsport]

If you remove the MX5 rear diff cover and the mounting arms you can make the MX5 diff fit where the Sierra one would go. You would just have to alter the wishbones to take the MX5 uprights.

[Stot]

Heres a tip. Having built a kit car before and being used to sub £10 ford parts.... Don't cut cables and hoses to remove parts from your donor. Mazda parts are not cheap.

£60 for a new set of rear handbrake cables.
£25+ for used ones... Which I cut a set of not 2 weeks ago.

Cheers
Stot

[Johno]

Originally Posted by Stot

Heres a tip. Having built a kit car before and being used to sub £10 ford parts.... Don't cut cables and hoses to remove parts from your donor. Mazda parts are not cheap.

£60 for a new set of rear handbrake cables.
£25+ for used ones... Which I cut a set of not 2 weeks ago.

Cheers
Stot

I'll second that.....

[CTWV50]

Yep me too forgot the clutch flexi pipe when removing the engine £12 second hand!!

And also "I give up" where's that little thread/guide on adapting the mx5 fuel pump and sender for a SSC tank??

edit ok now got it.

http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showt...tank#post68170

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Talonmotorsport

If you remove the MX5 rear diff cover and the mounting arms you can make the MX5 diff fit where the Sierra one would go. You would just have to alter the wishbones to take the MX5 uprights.

Hi phil,

I've just discovered you absolutely can't use escort track rod ends with mx5 uprights.

http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12605

Just clicked on your shop link and noticed your selling extensions for mx5 steering balljoints. Is that right?



Cheers

Chris

[PorkChop]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

Hi phil,

I've just discovered you absolutely can't use escort track rod ends with mx5 uprights.

http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=12605

Just clicked on your shop link and noticed your selling extensions for mx5 steering balljoints. Is that right?



Cheers

Chris

Yes, it is Chris. I have a pair on order from Phil

[CTWV50]

So what kind of gearbox to prop flange clearance are people leaving? As there is no PPF anymore there is likely to be substantially more movement on the splined end of the prop. Any ideas?

[Talonmotorsport]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

Hi phil,

I've just discovered you absolutely can't use escort track rod ends with mx5 uprights.

Cheers

Chris

Why would you use Escort track rod ends with MX5 front uprights? The Mazda track rod ends are kinked for use with the angled steering arms on the uprights, the rack extensions that I make for MX5 builds have M12 threads for Mazda rod ends.
There is a post on here some where from me about making the lower front wishbones bent so that the steering arms on the rack clear them.

[robo]

Is that kick in the lower wisbone a good idea? It has to be compromised in strength with the set in it and the angle of that tortured track rod end looks less than comfy. I am not knocking it but merely pointing out that from an engineering point of view its less than ideal. It might just be the angle of the shot.

Bob

[Talonmotorsport]

That's the correct MX5 track rod end for the MX5 upright although I don't think it had the top wishbone in place.
I take on board what your saying about the bend and it's been discussed before but it's done with a 25mm tube former so it's as clean as the bend can be.
I looked at the bend in the lower wishbone and came to these conclusions:
the chassis bracket is welded to a 1.5mm walled box section in some cases
the load acts on both ends of the wishbones not in the middle, if any load is transfered through the bend the pivots have siezed
if worried up the material to 3mm wall