MX-5 Project log thread

[Firestar_3x]

Do what i did, remove bumper, smooth stupid huge plate holder holes.

Stick small plate on bottom of bumper.....

 

[Howard]

Also an idea. In the middle, or off -centre on one of the tie hooks?

 

[Firestar_3x]

Upto you, i wish i'd made a custom bracket mounted to one of the many bolts now, offset to the right.

 

[Howard]

Hmm, it's that or a stick on one I think. Ruins the lines of the car otherwise

 

[Dup]

Stick on or offset tbh. They look so much better with the plinth removed and holes smoothed.

Could also mount inside the mouth of the bumper, usual UK size plate.

 

[Howard]

I've been contemplating in the back of my mind no front plate at all, too. Although I guess it's a bit risky really

 

[Firestar_3x]

I had no front plate for a while, just stuck it in the boot, if stopped i was going to say it dropped off, it even had some broken double sided tape on the back.

Only you can make the call, risk vs looks, but lets be honest a motorbike sized front plate is just as bad in the eyes of the law.

 

[Howard]

It's only a fine in the worst case anyway isn't it? I'm tempted to risk it

 

[Firestar_3x]

Yep, unless you get caught more than twice iirc then they can do something else (i think).

Just remeber you need to sort something out come MOT time.

 

[Clarkey]

Why twice as much camber on the left, and more caster too?

 

[Howard]

Good question..er.. pass? They look equal

I'm sure I've seen many a WIM printout with the camber different on one side actually..

 

[Dup]

Roads aren't flat so water can run off etc, they are more concave normally. But I don't know is that is the reason or not.

 

[Clarkey]

Roads aren't flat so water can run off etc, they are more concave normally. But I don't know is that is the reason or not.

Doesn't really make sense, mspaint should save me a terribly wordy post.

Black line = level, Red line = Road, dropping off to the left as you'd find on most roads, Green = left front tyre.

As you can see, with more -ve camber the contact patch is smaller, with +ve camber you get a nicer contact patch. Obviously my drawing is massively exaggerated and you'd not want to run with +ve camber, it kind of explains why I question it.

I can understand it'll turn great round roundabouts like that, but surely you'd want to be able to turn left just as well. I guess only WIM would be able to answer that one.

 

[Dup]

Hmmm, I didn't look it that closely and just assumed it was the other way around. Does seem odd, but different cars with different weights move their wheels about differently I suppose. My CTR always looks like it was running positive camber but it wore the tyres evenly and handled my naieve cornering abuse.

 

[Howard]

It never even occured to me that they'd adjust the camber on one side to account for the road :\

 

[AtomicBanana]

I am *still* waiting for my suspension from Phil I'd be more annoyed but the car is still off the road so it's not like it makes a huge amount of difference.

However, I didn't come in here (just!) to moan. I'm also going to need to get these replacement panels on my car sprayed at some point, where are you going Howard, and how much are we talking for a decent job to blend into existing paintwork?

 

[mk1_salami]

Howard, PLEASE remove that chrome strip down your doors. Just do it, now, please !!!

 

[Dup]

Also, is that the Mk3 ariel from MX5Parts? Mine has a long static ariel that doesn't even collapse and wouldn't last 5 seconds where I live! I'm not bothered about having one at all but It'll be more than £20 to get the hole smoothed out I'm very much sure.

Agreed about the chrome strip, but I assume it's either hiding something or not safe to remove without paint involved.

 

[Howard]

I am *still* waiting for my suspension from Phil I'd be more annoyed but the car is still off the road so it's not like it makes a huge amount of difference.

However, I didn't come in here (just!) to moan. I'm also going to need to get these replacement panels on my car sprayed at some point, where are you going Howard, and how much are we talking for a decent job to blend into existing paintwork?

Sucks that you haven't got yours yet Feels like ages since I fitted mine! Phil has recently told me he's still testing the 'revised' bottom mount solution properly, so that's why.

I go to a local small outfit that my dad recommended based on his experience as using them as a bodyshop when he worked for a Vauxhall dealer. They do good work and charge £175 IIRC per panel

Howard, PLEASE remove that chrome strip down your doors. Just do it, now, please !!!

I plan to when the paint is done, I tried to take it all the way off after catching it on my bag strap and pulling it off from the bottom, but as Dup quite rightly guessed, the paint is a bit chipped and manky underneath so I'll get it removed and touched up. It won't stick back on properly now Oh well

Also, is that the Mk3 ariel from MX5Parts? Mine has a long static ariel that doesn't even collapse and wouldn't last 5 seconds where I live! I'm not bothered about having one at all but It'll be more than £20 to get the hole smoothed out I'm very much sure.

Agreed about the chrome strip, but I assume it's either hiding something or not safe to remove without paint involved.

It's the stubby aerial kit from MX5parts which consists of I think an S2000 aerial and a couple of screw-in converters for it to fit.

And yes you're right about the chrome strip. It's going, don't worry

 

[Peter Diffey]

My stubby aerial kit arrived in the post the other day, had that on order from MX5parts for a few months!

Another arrival in the post today from the states - DIY Megasquirt
A little winter project for me is to supercharge with the mini cooper S M45, I suspect you may be interested in this yourself Howard?

Im going to start building the Megasquirt PCB up this weekend