philrob37's Project NA6 V Special

[philrob37]

Hi guys,

There's a bit of a story to this so bear with me.....

Not sure if you remember me but I used to post quite a bit on Clubroadster up until the back end of last year as I was updating my build ''1994 UK NA8C - JDM Bits: Project 2010''.

Any way, to cut a long story short this is the MX5 that I put together in 2010.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gYH9Be9uhsY/TGgY9M9dYuI/AAAAAAAABrg/ffStQ53a5n8/s1600/DSCF3852.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/DSCF1371.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/My%20car/DSCF13872.jpg

I had a huge amount of JDM parts for the car and in some cases never actually fitted a lot of parts to the car. The full thread can be found here http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=28857

Around December 2011 I was poking around the car and found some rust around the sill despite having it repaired in 2010. I had a garage give me a quote for bodywork repairs and paintwork and I freaked at the price. I decided that I was going to give up the Roadster scene so I began selling every part I had. Over Christmas nearly every part I had collected over the years had been sold, the upshot was that now I had quite a bit of cash in the bank. I've since bought a Suzuki GSXR750 and I swore that I wouldn't get back into the Roadster scene, that was until my buddy came and picked me up in this,

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/Caterhamparkedup.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/Caterhamparkedup2.jpg

It's a brand new Caterham with a Ford 1600cc motor running Jenvey throttle bodies. Around the country lanes it sounded, felt, and smelt just like how my NA8 did when I would drive it every day in 2010. At that point I decided I needed to buy another Roadster as I had forgotten how good they really are.

I swore that before I buy another one I will get my current NA8 fixed up and sold on, that was the theory until Tuesday night when I went to view a 1992 NA6 V Special not too far from where I live. The car had a lot going for it, a full respray 4 years ago, 62,000 miles, the last owner for the past 6 years only covering 2,100 miles and he knew the car for 6 years before. When it's not being used it lives in a cocoon in the garage. Here are the photos,
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/Ebayshot.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/Ebayshot2.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/Ebayshot4.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/Ebayshot3.jpg

I gave the owner a hefty deposit and that was that. I haven't collected the car yet as we have agreed to sort this around the middle of next week. I'm looking forward to owning another Roadster but the direction of this one will be slightly different to my previous car. I'm moving away from the spoilers/ bumpers so on as this car will be a simple rag top with a few choice mods.

I still have my RS Watanabe B Types and HSD coilovers, and I have already started checking Yahoo Auction JP to see what exhaust systems are available.

[WASABI]

As I have followed you on CR, I will now follow you on MazdaRoadster! You are lucky to have so many choice BRG cars to choose from. This one looks like a winner!!!

-Jim

P.S. BRG owners UNITE!

[philrob37]

Cheers dude. With having 3 bikes I decided I don't need to build a Roadster to feel like a racer so this will be a gentleman's car. I can't wait to start modifying it and getting it to look and feel just like the car I always wanted.

BRG is still my favourite colour!

[sss1987]

finally your back dude! ive been checking your blog from time to time! glad your back! NA6 ftw!!!

[Phatmiata]

Wow that is a great looking car!! Glad you came back to the Roadster, always loved your first, I'm excited to see what your plans are, I also just purchased a NA6.

[Kolbotn]

Great to have you back Phil! That looks like a very nice Startingpoint!

[etikoner]

I miss your old one, it was so proper.

I heard that there's a nice little ARC Titanium exhaust on YJP. :P

[philrob37]

Picked up the car last night. I'll get some photos up on the week end. It drives like a beaut!

[morr]

Awesome! I loved the quality of your other NA. Can't wait to see how this one turns out :)

[philrob37]

Right then guys, here is the car!

I removed the mud flaps that were on the car, gave it a good wash and then polished every panel. I managed to remove some of the minor light scratches with T cut so the paint is looking really fresh now. The sills and underneath of the car is covered in sprayed on engine oil so I am trying to wipe it off the areas I intend on under sealing in a week or two.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/MX5VSpecialonthedrive.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/MX5VSpecialonthedrive2.jpg
I fitted my Joyfast handbrake sleeve, leather gaiter and Maruha gear knob. The Nardi gear knob that came on the car had a really nasty feel to it when changing gear so I won't be using that again, it's just too light.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/MX5VSpecialInterior.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/EunosRoadsterVSpecialInterior3.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/EunosRoadsterVSpecialInterior4.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/EunosRoadsterVSpecialInterior5.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/EunosRoadsterontheDrive3.jpg

The engine bay is filthy so it will get a good clean soon but I can't be bothered today as I have other things on.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/EunosRoadsterEngineBay.jpg

My Arc chamber arrived and also I did my first 'mod'.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/ArcChamber.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/MazdaRoadsterSticker.jpg

I need to tidy the wiring loom up around the car as the previous owner fitted an alarm system but made a bit of a hash keeping the wires neat. I'll go round the problem areas and zip tie the wiring back out of the way. The front bumper has the usual holes where the UK number plate plinth goes and the rear bumper has marks where the mud flaps went so when I get a Trap lip sprayed up I'll get the front and rear bumper sprayed too. I want to remove the fog light as it looks pretty ghastly sitting where it is.

I found some over spray from the front bumper around the radiator area so one evening I'll paint up the areas that shouldn't be green!

The inspiration for buying another BRG is thanks to these cars,
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/MX5greenwatsTHousebumper-1.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/NA8CRoadster5.jpg

I'm not going to go crazy on this one as I want it to look very subtle and classy. My B Type Watanabes are going to be sprayed up very soon (the remaining 3) in the same colour as my A types that I sold to Gianni,
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XCHYeLOdIAE/TtDahHu-5DI/AAAAAAAAD54/MSlCGjj_veI/s1600/RS+Watanabe+A+Type+concrete+colour+4.jpg

Exhaust wise, one of my buddies has mentioned that he may sell his Pitcrew Racing centre exit to me but if he changes his mind Rcaer 86 has rated an Ebay exhaust system very highly and at £130 it doesn't break the bank, so I'll have to see what happens.

All in all it's great to be back in a Roadster, especially one that needs next to nothing doing to it. My 1.8 now has 12 months MOT so once I tax it tomorrow I will advertise it for sale next week.

Stay tuned :)

[morr]

Looks pretty mint! I like your choice in front bumpers too. Whenever I get an NA, I plan to do a DIY copy of the Barchetta/RS Factory bumper.

[Phatmiata]

Looks great!! I notice the car has the factory chocolate brown floor mats from Japan, did those come with the deal or is that from your stock plie of spare parts?

[philrob37]

They actually came with the car Phat, I gave them a good clean yesterday as the interior was covered in dog hairs from the previous owner.

[etikoner]

I really like that carpet.

I wanna change mine out to a darker one.

Love the car so far! Can't wait to see new wheels and to see it lowered!

[friday]

Those wheels going to require a little finder modification? Things are looking good so far. The car seems pretty clean besides all the oil.

[philrob37]

Hi guys,

Not much to report at the moment on the Roadster front.

So far I have just been enjoying driving the car, I have fitted a stick on number plate and put some Rev9 stickers on the side windows.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lUNtj54bblA/T9CuioNwWLI/AAAAAAAAEiU/miOel6wjY0s/s1152/Roadster%2520parked%2520up%2520near%2520the%2520Re d%2520Cafe%25203.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fCPoNxz9oEM/T9CujA47NsI/AAAAAAAAEiY/3zNEg7yUH5o/s1152/Roadster%2520parked%2520up%2520near%2520the%2520Re d%2520Cafe.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z1dd03m6XUA/T9CudeDnONI/AAAAAAAAEiA/JuJRUfhREx8/s1152/MX5%2520V%2520Special%2520new%2520number%2520plate .jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SnGdTGKdfyo/T9CuhkHRSoI/AAAAAAAAEiM/mM8e6wuSoYU/s1200/Roadster%2520parked%2520up%2520near%2520the%2520Re d%2520Cafe%25204.jpg

At the moment I am just enjoying the car as it is mainly due to me being broke right now ( I just bought motorbike no.4) and I'm restoring my GSXR750 as well.

Having driven the car for about 300 miles now I can safely say that I prefer the B6 engine over the BP found in the 1.8. The car is revvy and feels eager whereas the 1.8 did feel a bit lazy. The power steering on the Eunos is far better than the non PAS rack found in the UK car as well. I'm now looking forward to painting up my Watanabes and fitting my coilovers. I cleaned and polished up my Arc chamber recently so I'll fit that when I buy a Racing Beat elbow.

[Sarah]

The power steering on the Eunos is far better than the non PAS rack found in the UK car as well.

You car is looking good.

I have to say that I actually prefer the manual rack on my Eunos Roadster, to the Power rack that I had on my UK market car.

[philrob37]

That's interesting. My UK car didn't feel as pin sharp as my Eunos. Did your Eunos originally have power steering? I know that some people remove the power steering pump from the Eunos and I believe the UK cars had a different ratio on the steering rack compared to the Eunos.

[Sarah]

My '92 UK market car had power steering fitted from the factory, and my '89 Eunos has manual steering as per the factory. My Enuos is a low spec car when you consider most Japanese market cars got most of the options available, my Roadster was built with manual steering, manual windows and no AC.

As far as I know the ratios are the same across the markets the car was sold in, with the only change being that the manual rack had a slower ratio than the power.

I think its all down to preference. I personally find the power steering lacks the feel of the manual even if the ratio is a bit slower. I would love to see what a de-powered rack feels like.