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New car ... not as tidy as it looks in the pic, but it's solid and doesn't need too much work
http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/s...psaj3fvlvm.jpg
Talking of work, the engine that came in the Amazon is a Mk1 1.6 MX5 engine. I wanted at the very least to swap it for a 1.8, so last weekend I had a closer look to see how it had been mounted. The answer is badly! It's about 3.5" off centre, and the gearbox is a similar amount off ... in the other direction. The engine has come out (sold it already!), but now I have a real quandary. I can just put a 1.8 in, but I need to remake the engine and gearbox mounts. The wiring hasn't been started, and the intake hits the steering rack so there is a lot of work needed. So if I'm going to put a load of time into fitting an engine, it may as well be a better engine than a 130bhp MX5 one.
The current favourite is an inline 6 out of a Volvo 960 or S80 / XC90. The former is a 2.8 or 2.9, and is 200bhp, NA. The latter is a 2.9, and is 275bhp, with a turbo ...
Russell.
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Right, update time ... got the G limited fixed up with replacement wings and bumper, fixed the sills and sold it on.
Was intending to get the V6 running but somehow managed to buy 2 more ... a 1990 1.6 and a 1995 1.8. The 1.8 is BRG and is pretty rusty, but I've managed to limp it through an MOT so it will be put on the road and used for a bit.
The 1.6 is very ratty (matt black paint, drift looks etc) but it's solid ... and it's arrival coincided with the delivery of some parts from Paco Motorsports ... so it'll be going up in the world shortly, I've managed to find some cheap off road tyres in 205/70/15 and I'm working on some spotlights, a whippy aerial and maybe a bull bar .... perfect for the winter!!
Russell.
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Do you need a room-mate? I work on cars. ( J/K , but you UK guys have all the fun )
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Time for a change ... or should that be changes? I somehow bought a Mk2, and a Mk2.5 this week ... something to do with the time of year and cold weather making people sell soft tops off ... pics to follow, but one of them works and I've even been for a drive in it!
Then a car I'd sold came back ... a UK 1.8 BRG Mk1. So I am now back up to 5 MX5s (the V6 and the track car being the other 2) and the Amazon ... hmmm, probably ought to sell some
Russell
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Update time ... The Volvo is still sat in a corner, waiting for a new engine ... my green track car is still sat in the garage, waiting for a miracle ...
Got a Mk2.5 Sport that I'm using as a daily ... following a conversation with Vlad from Jass, I'm trying my best to have at least one MX5 on the road at any one time. This one came up fairly cheap and fairly local, so Cerberus was roped in to give me a lift and I grabbed it ... really pleased I did, it's got some rust issues but will do me fine until one of the other cars gets finished. It's really nice being back in a 5 ... top down in the winter, is there anything better?!!
Still finishing off the V6 and another green Mk1 1.8, thinking I'll sell them on when the weather improves a bit. Managed to buy an auto recently as well, the Auto bits are being stripped out to go into a Triumph TR3a replica (yes, really!) that's being built for a disabled guy. Once that's done, I'll do ... something ... with it. Haven't thought that far, but it's a solid Mk1, so worth hanging on to. Then there's a Mk2 I bought .. can't remember why I bought it, even my wife seems to have given up even asking whether the cars on the drive are new, old, coming, going or just lodging with us for a short time!
There are some pretty huge changes happening to my green car, but I'm not going to say anything else or give a timescale as it always seems to fall apart when I say "my plans are ...." Hoping it will be an interesting, road legal track biased car though.
Russell.
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My wife couldn't take it and I moved her on.
And I know your pain when you say that you finally have a plan then... Ahhhgggg!
To your and my luck with plans my friend! :drinkto:
Peace and well wishes!
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Plus sa change and all that ... sold some cars, bought some cars, think I'm winning overall but sometimes it's hard to tell!
The cheap Mk2, the cheap green 1.8 Mk1 and the ratty 1.6 Mk1 are all gone ... the Mk2.5 Sport is in the garage being pulled to bits, and there is a new car on my drive .. a really nice one!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-MX5-...vip=true&rt=nc
Mk2 VS, imported in 2011 and built by Dan Elias from Ardler Motorsport. The spec is over the top, I think he was intending to turbo it (he made stunning MX5 turbo manifolds) but he ended up emigrating to Oz, so he sold the car cheap ... £4,000. I missed it back then, but it came up again last week at £2800 and I jumped on it!
It needs a bit of tidying here and there, and I need to investigate a bit of clunking when it goes over small bumps. Generally though, it's a dream to drive and doesn't need much doing. Result!!
Russell.
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Wow, so it's been a year since I was last on here! I'll do a catch up later today but it's good to be back ... and suffice to say I've bought & sold about a dozen MX5s since I was last on, but the green track car is still here!
Russell
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Right, so here's where I'm up to.
My green track car is currently stripped right back to the shell. No wiring, nothing inside, just the basic subframes etc to keep it rolling.
I've managed to get hold of some almost new Mk2 subframes, wishbones and hubs. Those are almost ready to go in, and I have a nicely built Mk2 1.8 engine as well. It was built by some very well respected UK engine builders, with Jenvey TBs and some head work. It's all assembled and tuned with an ecu, wiring etc. It's been rolling roaded at 175bhp
The rest will be minimal, I have some "K-one +" tuned Ohlins suspension ready to go, and Racing Beat tubular Arbs... I need to find some wheels, and get the windscreen replaced but other than that I just need to bolt it together!
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/u...u2mt0r8k34.jpg
Then there's my working car, bought cheaply as an ex hill climb car. It's kind of perfect as it looks pretty cool now I've put some decent wheels and graphics on, but it's tatty round the edges so I can just mess about with it and not have to worry.
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/g...gu2nzd2qo0.jpg
Basic spec is It's a 1991 UK car, 1.6 with the timing mod and a Jackson Racing intake. Currently running with my Ohlins shocks, and the wheels are 14 x 6.5 Watanabe.
Zoom filler cap, Momo Prototipo steering wheel, Hard Dog roll bar and a few other bits. As soon as the green car is nearing completion they'll mostly be transferred across and this will be sold on
Russell
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Continuing my life long quest to make things as difficult as I possibly can for myself ... I've bought some bits ...
Tubular front subframe
[url=https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/jlfzqtrz0q.jpg/jlfzqtrz0q.jpg]https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/j...jlfzqtrz0q.jpg[/url
Which will be needed because of this ...
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/q...qrtwis3egh.jpg
Well at least I won't get bored over the winter!!
Russell
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Managed to get out for a few breakfast meets, first one was Goodwood to meet up with some UK friends ... 250 miles each way, but well worth it, good to meet up with so many people!
Started out at 5am, scraping the ice off the 5, and then trying to start it without making too much noise!
The car was perfect, buzzed down the road without any fuss ... bit of a relief as I've only just changed the suspension & exhaust and I haven't tested it!
Wandered around for a bit in the sun with some MX5 friends ... then a nice drive back across the Cotswolds.
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/i...io82ouriuz.jpg
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/r...rejiv2tx09.jpg
Left to right ... Zoom Engineering Elan Roadster, Tuckin99 Turbo Roadster, Corns ITB Roadster, Pitcrew Racing Roadster ... Not a bad line up!!
Then a lovely drive out to the last Shelsley Walsh breakfast club of the year. Great fun testing how this car handles the wet. Really pleased about my tyre choice earlier this year as they were so predictable compared to the T1r that we're on before
An observation as well ... Most of the younger people were in modern euro boxes, and were stood around grumbling about the weather. Most of the older people were in the interesting cars, and were grinning their heads off.
Coolest couple of the meet were in their 90s and arrived, top down, in a Morgan. He had his flat cap, she had a headscarf. "You stay mostly dry as long as you keep your speed up". She was driving "because he hesitates too much at the junctions"
Can't wait to get old!!
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/9...9qqjjj8qxi.jpg
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/5...52cr3c3xfs.jpg
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/y...y9sb95tb19.jpg
https://images.mighty5s.com/upload/f...f4vbzv8fmc.jpg
Russell
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Sounds like a great day! And what an awesome display of cars!
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Winter is here, and I'd done everything I wanted with the yellow car ... so it's now been sold. Also selling the V6 kit because I've found another MX5 with more cylinders ... hopefully will get it this weekend
Russell