MX-5 Project log thread

Firestar_3x · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:00

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

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

Howard · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:01

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

Firestar_3x · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:02

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

Howard · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:03

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

Dup · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:04

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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:06

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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:09

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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:11

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

Firestar_3x · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:12

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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 14:56

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

Howard · 13 Nov 2009 at 15:10

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

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

Dup · 13 Nov 2009 at 15:18

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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 15:30

Dup said:
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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 15:33

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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 15:38

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

AtomicBanana · 13 Nov 2009 at 16:18

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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 16:50

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

Dup · 13 Nov 2009 at 16:59

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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 17:28

AtomicBanana said:
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

mk1_salami said:
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 :mad:

Oh well

Dup said:
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 · 13 Nov 2009 at 20:27

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