Chris's new build of an MX5 based car

[Davidbolam]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

Beefed up the pass side wheel arch support. Not as much as the drivers side, but I thought I'd see how this version faired. It's made from baby-dam-baby-den-bars!



In other news I've ordered the 1.8 a 4.5kg flywheel! Oh and just bought a MX5 mk2 1.8 to break and keep the engine, possibly.

I went for the easy option and westfield sell them powder coated for 35 each

Have you been out much in your car? Mine has now done 400 miles!

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Davidbolam

I went for the easy option and westfield sell them powder coated for 35 each

Have you been out much in your car? Mine has now done 400 miles!

250 miles atm I only seem to drive it to test improvements, repairs or just for a blast. Soon I'll be driving it to test engine upgrades etc, it's a lot of fun I doubt I'll tire of it, but I built it to see if I could, and now I'm going to enjoy changing and upgrading it I've no room to build another one. Today I stripped dawn the 1.8 loom of all the unecessaries ready for fitting.

[Davidbolam]

Did you fit a shift light to your car? If so which wire was for the tacho?

David

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Davidbolam

Did you fit a shift light to your car? If so which wire was for the tacho?

David

Yes, Black with a white strip.

[Davidbolam]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

Yes, Black with a white strip.

Did you wire it at the back of the dash , ecu or coil

Thanks

David

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Davidbolam

Did you wire it at the back of the dash , ecu or coil

Thanks

David

Behind the click cluster, yes.

[CTWV50]

Got myself a new toy, 10lb XTD flywheel. Knocked the pilot bearing in the other day. Few other bits still to get before I fit this 1.8 engine.

Went out for a good blast yesterday too, lovely warm weather so I just wore a t-shirt. Still surprises me how quick it is with this little 1.6 engine and only 90bhp. Does make me LOL! What's a 133bhp going to be like!

I did hit two big ripples/bumps in the road going into a corner fast, probably too fast, it really unsettled the cars balance under braking, whole car seemed to jump in the air and skip to the outside with a little screech of the rear tires, bit of a brown trouser moment, also managed to get the fan to kick in going flat out, definatley need to sort out better cooling especially in this hot weather.



Oh also there's a 1999 Mk2 MX5 sitting on the driveway already in bits. Engines done a good few miles but it still goes like stink, it's the next version of the 1.8 before the VVT it has solid lifter camshafts and a Variable Inlet Manifold, feels like a much bigger engine with the torque delivery. I think I'll rebuild it with forged rods and turbo that engine, can't make up my mind. I'm becoming a bit of a serial MX5 killer!

[CTWV50]

Not much happening at the mo, just stripping this mx5 mk2 for ebay parts to get my money back and make a few extra quid. In preparation for the mk1 1.8 (1997) engine I have decided to redesign the layout in the engine bay. So on Saturday I took a drive to Demon Tweaks and got myself a tiny battery bike and cage and have fitted it on top of pedal box. I now have more space for centrally mounted alloy header tank when I fit the 1.8 and will move the fuse box near to the other one.

[CTWV50]

I noticed a bit of endfloat on the mk1 and mk2 1.8 engines and thought I'd check it out while they were easy to access.the mk1 1.8 had 120,000 on the clock and was o.oo6" which is the new spec! I knew this engine had been well looked after. The mk2 had 170,000 on the clock and it measured o.oo8", Wow still within the wear limits too!I was impressed!

http://www.miata.net/solo/99miatathr...ngfailure.html

[RichardH]

did you come up with a solution for the sump yet? just fitted my engine and i dont like how low the sump is to make the engine clear