Chris's new build of an MX5 based car

[CTWV50]

Cheers Johno,

Been very busy lately. And it only bleedin' well moves under it's own power1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDTQ2vjzJ-s

Picked up a 90˚and 70˚ bend in 304 52mm stainless steel and a flange from a local exhaust maker. Cost £35, bargain.







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MKd2ajD2l0

[CTWV50]

Got sick of trying to fit the mx5 seats and really lost interest in them so saved up for two of these, as modelled by my 5 year old. I fit in nice and snug, just! Sit very low now with my lowered floor which I like a lot might even ned to trim down the areo screen!

[CTWV50]

OK I bought ford escort track rod ends for my steering and they never seemed to sit snug. I ignored this issue for over a year as the car wasn't moving around much and though once tightened they would be fine. I was wrong. They also seemed to be pinching over squashing the joint boot due to the angle of the mx5 steering arm. People have used mx5 track rod ends (TRE) and I think Nathan has done something with another trackrod end fitted from the top rather than the bottom. But after some measuring I realised the taper was correct for the escort TRE it was just that the hole was too deep making the hole too big at the bottom. The depth of the hole was 20mm, the length of the taper on the escort TRE was around 14-15mm. So I set about modifying the track rod end masking exactly the area that needed removing and giving it a light dust of spray paint so it was very obvious.



This has worked extremely well and you can see from the image that Mazda seemed to have left more casting than is necessary for some reason. If anyone is reading this and thinks I'm an expert I certainly am not. I'm taking a calculated risk if you think this solution may be for you then be aware you're doing it at your own risk. There are probably better solutions but I'm happy and confident with this one. I've yet to do the other side, I'll take more pictures to show better detail.

[CTWV50]

After browsing around in halfords I spotted a dinky little battery that seemed a good option for my build to get the battery in the engine bay rather than the boot but it was £70. After some research I found this. (H)181x(W)127x(L)187





It's tiny and only 200amps CCA but it starts the car fine which is all I really need. It was £43 delivered from www.justcarbatteries.com

http://www.justcarbatteries.co.uk/in...r-battery.html

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

OK I bought ford escort track rod ends for my steering and they never seemed to sit snug. I ignored this issue for over a year as the car wasn't moving around much and though once tightened they would be fine. I was wrong. They also seemed to be pinching over squashing the joint boot due to the angle of the mx5 steering arm. People have used mx5 track rod ends (TRE) and I think Nathan has done something with another trackrod end fitted from the top rather than the bottom. But after some measuring I realised the taper was correct for the escort TRE it was just that the hole was too deep making the hole too big at the bottom. The depth of the hole was 20mm, the length of the taper on the escort TRE was around 14-15mm. So I set about modifying the track rod end masking exactly the area that needed removing and giving it a light dust of spray paint so it was very obvious.



This has worked extremely well and you can see from the image that Mazda seemed to have left more casting than is necessary for some reason. If anyone is reading this and thinks I'm an expert I certainly am not. I'm taking a calculated risk if you think this solution may be for you then be aware you're doing it at your own risk. There are probably better solutions but I'm happy and confident with this one. I've yet to do the other side, I'll take more pictures to show better detail.

Actually while I was typing this I had a thought! Would the ball joint have any movement left in it at full suspension droop? The answer? NO! Using ford escort track rod ends is a VERY BAD IDEA! I bent my steering rack extensions testing this theory! A bloody lucky escape I think!

[mark]

It's hard to tell by a photo but your exhaust silencer looks at least an inch if not more below the chassis, my bell housing is an inch below as per book and regularly gets fettled by speed bumps!

I have to drive over 3 whopping speed bumps to get down my road and as the back and front wheels are either side of the hump my silencer is mm away.

Maybe worth moving it up a touch if its not too much trouble to save it getting scuffed up.

[Davidbolam]

Well done. The exhaust looks really nice. Does it sound any louder in real life? I am hoping mine will frighten the odd granny at bus stops lol.

I am going to change over my track rod ends to mx5 ones and buy the extension from phil at talon or gilham said he would add them to his shop as well.

Keep posting the pictures and videos its motivating me!

David

[Johno]

Hi all,
I didn't realise some people were using a different steering track rod end to that of the MX5, is this because of the extensions you already bought?

One problem you now might encounter is the steering arm fouling the lower wishbone on full lock if using the Saturn design wishbones.
Skov and myself have both had the same problem regarding this.
I remember Nathan saying he had no problem regarding this and perhaps he used non Mazda parts as well.
Just a thought.

[PorkChop]

Originally Posted by Johno

Hi all,
I didn't realise some people were using a different steering track rod end to that of the MX5, is this because of the extensions you already bought?

One problem you now might encounter is the steering arm fouling the lower wishbone on full lock if using the Saturn design wishbones.
Skov and myself have both had the same problem regarding this.
I remember Nathan saying he had no problem regarding this and perhaps he used non Mazda parts as well.
Just a thought.

Nathan used Ford TREs but tapered the MX5 upright to take the TREs from the top (not the bottom as Mazda OEM).

I reckon mark 2 MX5 uprights will solve at least part of the fouling issue with the SSC design since the TRE fitting is 7mm higher than the mark 1 upright. This is how Keith Tanner has done it after trying to get the mark 1 upright to work. Or Phil's front wishbone design would also allow you to use the mark 1 uprights.

[CTWV50]

Spud made me the bottom wishbones and sold me all the steering gear before everyone realised it didn't work! I thought this was just a minor clearance issue not a new wishbone or major failure issue! Little bit annoyed that I was sold stuff that just doesn't work, it's not as though it was hard to figure out that it wouldn't work.

Put me on a bit of a downer but I think I'll just order some mx5 rod ends and speak to phil about extensions.

Exhaust looks low but it's not supported properly yet.

Thanks David, I've not done anything on my car for about 8 months but something made me get in the garage about 6 weeks ago and I've been at it ever since. Made some good progress but might take a bit of a breather now and just tackle some little jobs before stripping it down to finish off the chassis and paint it. Glad the progress has spurred you on with your build.