What have you done to your car today?
- Thread starter mattyprice4004
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2005
- Posts
- 17,616
- Location
- Bristol
I've managed to source the second hand parts I need for free/cheap thanks to decent guys in mk2oc but it's the fresh new parts that are creating a large value list. I need/want to build up a full front subframe and do a full belt service, not a huge-huge cost but still like £200+ which is just a bit annoying after other stuff I've had to pay for on it.
Ah well, was worth checking as I do like to see build logs for projects like that, sounds like a good one and it'll be fun once done.
Dark evenings and no garage sucks, lots I want to do on the car but can't lately due to darkness and weather.
I've managed to source the second hand parts I need for free/cheap thanks to decent guys in mk2oc but it's the fresh new parts that are creating a large value list. I need/want to build up a full front subframe and do a full belt service, not a huge-huge cost but still like £200+ which is just a bit annoying after other stuff I've had to pay for on it.
Ah well, was worth checking as I do like to see build logs for projects like that, sounds like a good one and it'll be fun once done.
Dark evenings and no garage sucks, lots I want to do on the car but can't lately due to darkness and weather.
Yeah it's all pretty expensive, scene tax on some items is ridiculous! I think I have spent a small fortune on classic-vw.Co.UK and euro car parts lol.
Yeah hopefully it should be reasonably quick - have got the kr cams In it along with 4 branch, and soon to be straight through exhaust when I get the money. hoping for around 160-170bhp.
I fell your pain with the garage, when I bought the car I was at my previous house, car spent it's life under a tarp on my drive, done so much more now I can go and work in the car port whenever I can. Just hope I like it after spending all this time on it lol
Got up early and drove it, warmed it up and then ragged it about some country lanes. Stopped, had a fry up and then did the same again. Now home to watch the F1. 
The grip even in the wet is out of this world, oh how I have missed this the last 18 months.
The grip even in the wet is out of this world, oh how I have missed this the last 18 months.
Had IL motorsport chassis braces fitted...now looks like I have some red meccano on the underside.
There are 3 braces in total - rear 'butterfly' brace, and mid 'X' brace (pictured) and front lower brace. The latter two replace much flimsier pressed steel factory braces with stiffer box section aluminium items, whilst the rear brace goes over the top of the OEM bracing and adds additional cross members. Overall no weight gain but a fair bit in stiffness. The mk3 MX5 is stiffer than its predecessors but still a bit wobbly at times, looking at the rear suspension shows opportunity for additional bracing to tie it all together a bit more underneath and across the diff area.
Brief testing shows this to be a worthwhile mod, the car feels much more planted over bumps, the extra stiffness to the chassis means the suspension works harder rather than deflecting or twisting the shell slightly, to the extent that there are fewer creaks and rattles from the back of the cabin area and fewer shimmies felt through the cabin over rough ground. I expect its the biggest rear brace that helps the most. Turn in is also a little better. Ground clearance worse by another 1/2 inch or so.
There are 3 braces in total - rear 'butterfly' brace, and mid 'X' brace (pictured) and front lower brace. The latter two replace much flimsier pressed steel factory braces with stiffer box section aluminium items, whilst the rear brace goes over the top of the OEM bracing and adds additional cross members. Overall no weight gain but a fair bit in stiffness. The mk3 MX5 is stiffer than its predecessors but still a bit wobbly at times, looking at the rear suspension shows opportunity for additional bracing to tie it all together a bit more underneath and across the diff area.
Brief testing shows this to be a worthwhile mod, the car feels much more planted over bumps, the extra stiffness to the chassis means the suspension works harder rather than deflecting or twisting the shell slightly, to the extent that there are fewer creaks and rattles from the back of the cabin area and fewer shimmies felt through the cabin over rough ground. I expect its the biggest rear brace that helps the most. Turn in is also a little better. Ground clearance worse by another 1/2 inch or so.
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No geo check yet, I can't see it changing anything really given the suspension arms aren't disconnected nor the wishbone/adjustment bolts touched at all, this lot stiffens across the mounting points and tunnel but does not require significant dismantling to fit. I am planning on getting the geo checked before winter though.
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Jan 2004
- Posts
- 12,773
- Location
- Leicestershire
Replaced spark plugs, leads and coil. 
I will probably get it set up in the same way it was before and see how I got on with it. Rear is probably going to be a bit livelier now I expect.
-2.0 rear/-1.4 front camber
2mm rear toe in/neutral front toe
(From memory, got it written down somewhere...this was the setup when I had the coilovers fitted)
- Joined
- 25 Apr 2009
- Posts
- 2,780
- Location
- Sidcup
Decided to do something about the dodgy plastic on the steering wheel (note the dark shiny bits at the bottom), but not happy with the result.
Up to this point all was good, but getting it all neat around the buttons on the top half proved impossible, but I persevered just to see how it would all look if I were to re-do it with more success.
Thankfully I can save myself the effort as I've decided it looks terrible and is much much darker than it should be and also much too shiny. Shall have to look at either buying a whole new bit of plastic, or getting some dark grey spray paint (although that isn't reversible.)
The terrible work around the buttons:
Will be reversing everything tomorrow morning. It was an enjoyable afternoon of something different at least! Don't suppose anybody wants 6 meters of matte black wrap?
Up to this point all was good, but getting it all neat around the buttons on the top half proved impossible, but I persevered just to see how it would all look if I were to re-do it with more success.
Thankfully I can save myself the effort as I've decided it looks terrible and is much much darker than it should be and also much too shiny. Shall have to look at either buying a whole new bit of plastic, or getting some dark grey spray paint (although that isn't reversible.)
The terrible work around the buttons:
Will be reversing everything tomorrow morning. It was an enjoyable afternoon of something different at least! Don't suppose anybody wants 6 meters of matte black wrap?
Picked up some wheels today from Taunton. 120 round trip on some great roads, and met a fellow enthusiast who owns some lovely vehicles!
Went to see a mate at his work on the way back just to show them to him. "Right, let's get them on then..."
They need a clean, which I'll do tomorrow. Next job is get the original wheels painted.
Went to see a mate at his work on the way back just to show them to him. "Right, let's get them on then..."
They need a clean, which I'll do tomorrow. Next job is get the original wheels painted.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 22 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 28,787
- Location
- Boston, Lincolnshire
Straight intake fitted and battery relocated to boot. btw rivnuts are an awesome invention!
Boot still needs some tidying up. Mainly cutting all the carpet to fit correctly and modifying the box lid to fit under my strut bar! Will post a picture when it is complete.
Just need to mock up a cold intake from one of the bumper intakes or remove one of the head lights but the latter does look a little odd. Moving the battery to the boot also aloud me to mount the swirl pot onto a bracket and relocate it into a better position. Also made some mounts for my boost solenoid and fuse boxes.
Boot still needs some tidying up. Mainly cutting all the carpet to fit correctly and modifying the box lid to fit under my strut bar! Will post a picture when it is complete.
Just need to mock up a cold intake from one of the bumper intakes or remove one of the head lights but the latter does look a little odd. Moving the battery to the boot also aloud me to mount the swirl pot onto a bracket and relocate it into a better position. Also made some mounts for my boost solenoid and fuse boxes.
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