Chris's new build of an MX5 based car

[CTWV50]

Finished all the brazing needed and made a new rubber gasket from some rather expensive Viton rubber, I’m using studs with nylock nuts and washers rather than the mx5 crappy screws which after being fitted and removed 100 times are pretty useless now. These studs are doing the job but they too are starting to show there excessive use so I’ve ordered some M4 12.9 strength allen bolts off ebay for a couple of quid to turn into new studs as I have already broke one of these softer ones and don’t want to be drilling and tapping if another one breaks.

I ground back the welding around all the flanges too to tidy it up a bit, I was also getting contact between some high parts of the welds and the sender unit cover.





I put a couple of gallons of petrol in it last night and had the tank upside down and shook it about this morning after leaving it overnight. No leaks! Woohoo! Just a little chuffed with myself!

No Goo, no JB Weld, no tank sealer or anything just metal rubber and the mazda donor parts. Mission accomplished! Just need to sort out a tethered fuel cap, weld an earth stud on, sort the vapour drain routing, do a little more tidying up and then paint it with the same paint I used on the chassis.

Got the steel delivered the other day as well so I can finish the roll bar this weekend and then I’ll paint that too. :-)

[skov]

Nice work

[CTWV50]

I think I'll name it Tankenstien!

[CTWV50]

Got my tethered cap mount installed, my 2012 Honda Civic now has a Mazda MX5 fuel cap!



Started welding on various mounts, this one holds the non return valve in place.



I did weld all sorts of brackets on as I decided to do away with the tank straps but I forgot to take any more pictures.

Didn't get to paint anything this weekend even though the weather was perfect. Just took ages to get the last part of that roll bar cross in place so it didn't look odd. Only remembered to take a pic after I'd put everything away and it's a pretty bad one that makes it look wonky but here it is anyway.



As a treat for the missus on Mothers' Day I got here to hold the roll bar in place on the car while I tacked the mounting plates on.

[Oscar]

That's some impressive work, giving me the itch to try making my own tank now...

The fact I can access leak testing equipment and TIG welding through work will probably help me too!

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Oscar

That's some impressive work, giving me the itch to try making my own tank now...

The fact I can access leak testing equipment and TIG welding through work will probably help me too!

Thanks, that will definitely be a big advantage if you plan on having a go.

[CTWV50]

Better Image of the roll bar all cleaned up.



And my proposed rear stay positions on the car.



Got a quote for powder coating it of £40 but I need to make sure it's nice and clean so it doesn't need media blasting.