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Post by bigpaul on Jun 8, 2015 22:14:23 GMT
Well all in now, brought a donor vehicle tonight, 2000 1.8s, drives ok, just been through a MOT with only an advisory on a tyre and looks pretty solid underneath, only issues found on the drive home, intermittent ABS light and what sounds like a loose heat shield, does have an after market alarm/immobiliser fitted, has anyone had any issues with removing these? Am probably going to start stripping next week so will certainly be seeking plenty of advice! s461.photobucket.com/user/punkyb_photos/media/Replicar%20Album/image.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
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Post by mawdo81 on Jun 9, 2015 7:52:51 GMT
You'll Strip out the ABS & stock heat shield anyway. Welcome & good luck.
Label Everything - even if its not connected to anything - in which case label where abouts in the car it was. You'll be pleased later!
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Post by stevednorris on Jun 9, 2015 9:31:56 GMT
Hi Paul,
Have fun, I've just finished refurbing my mx5 parts, I ordered my kit 7 weeks ago so hopefully will get it soon. Make sure you check before you throw anything away, I didn't do too bad but think my lower radiator brackets might have been in the boot when my shell was taken away :-( .
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Post by bigpaul on Jun 9, 2015 11:32:51 GMT
Thanks Gents, yes thought I would try and label as much as I can so will pick up a labelling machine, struggle to read my handwriting at the best of times! And plenty of pics!
Cheers Paul
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Post by James on Jun 9, 2015 12:46:18 GMT
Hi Paul and welcome. Nice to see another northern build. We're just up the road in Lancaster and we've just finished our Replicar and its on the road. It's REALLY worth the effort. I've never seen such a response to a car when you drive by. If you haven't already perhaps you should go through our build thread - DeBoRah - some of the suppliers will be quite local to you as well
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Post by R2S on Jun 9, 2015 13:28:08 GMT
Paul
Most of the problems you are likely to encounter will have been covered in the various MX5 kits on the forum but a few I picked up from others, in no particular order:- Loosen all four wheel bearing nuts BEFORE you dismantle anything (saves lots of swearing later). As per above, label everything, even things you're not going to use (so you know what they are when you come to build ~ oh and don't leave it as long as I have between removing wiring and rebuilding, many of my labels have started to fall off). Dont remove the PPF (the ladder connecting front and rear) unless you have to, there is nothing to be gained. And finally don't hesitate to PM the various builders if you're really stuck, I have found everyone to be really helpful and if you need to know anything MX5 gwnwar is your man, or alternatively snowbird1.
Thats all for now, good luck
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Post by bigpaul on Jun 9, 2015 14:03:18 GMT
Thanks all really appreciate the comments, I have not completed a build before so sure I will have plenty of questions along the way!
James, have already read your thread (probably twice!) must say really impressed with the finish to your car, if mine looks half as good I will be pleased
Thanks again, and I will keep up with the posting as I kick off the strip down, am going to CPOP on Saturday so pleased will be able to see the car in the flesh again
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Post by snowbird1 on Jun 10, 2015 14:17:08 GMT
Hi Paul, welcome, enjoy the build, the result is well worth it! Aftermarket alarms can be challenging, if it is a good system it will be well integrated into the Mazda wiring and designed to be difficult to disconnect. However you will be completely exposing the wiring and it should not be too difficult to return the wiring to standard. If you can identify the system you may be able to find a wiring schematic for it. Good luck, John T
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Post by bigpaul on Jun 10, 2015 17:24:56 GMT
Thanks John, have had a look on the fob says Cobra7777, well known brand so should be able to find some decent info on it
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Post by bigpaul on Jun 16, 2015 7:39:16 GMT
Morning all, bit ahead of myself but have been looking at bushes! whats the general view on poly bushes, will they be too hard considering the reduced weight of the car?
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Post by stevednorris on Jun 16, 2015 8:22:59 GMT
Hi Paul,
I've got a feeling that, as you say, poly bushes designed to harden the ride on a standard MX5 at nearly double the weight will give a very hard ride on a Replicar. My donor had over 70'000 miles on it and all,the bushes were fine so I've reused all my original bushes and will see how they go.
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Post by bigpaul on Jun 16, 2015 9:56:34 GMT
OK thanks thought as much, will check as I go and replace any that are shot, my donor has a little more miles 120k but did just through MOT, thanks again
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Post by jimmypatch on Jun 16, 2015 12:36:17 GMT
With regards to poly bushes, I did every single one. I thought it was wise to do them whilst the car was in pieces and access was easy. The mazda bushes are a real pig to get out. New rubber bushes are really expensive its cheaper to go poly!
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Post by snowbird1 on Jun 17, 2015 18:30:11 GMT
Morning all, bit ahead of myself but have been looking at bushes! whats the general view on poly bushes, will they be too hard considering the reduced weight of the car? I have never checked the two types of bushing back to back but in theory the poly bushings should give a softer ride, the OE bushings are 'rubber in torsion' and act as extra springs. The poly bushings will give a harsher ride as the don't isolate the car from the road like the rubber. I did put polys in a set of front arms but there seemed to be too much fore and aft movement on the upper arms, they were really cheap bushings! I ended up using another set of arms with OE bushes.
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Post by R2S on Jun 17, 2015 21:18:19 GMT
From everything I read if poly bushes are good quality, and Im talking dimensionally as well as material, then they allow 'free-er' movement of the suspension and the springs and shocks get to do there job better.
Downside being you are now relying on springs and shocks to do their job rather than the bushes taking some of the load (and hiding whether springs and shocks are doing what they are designed for).
Badly fitted (again I am talking about the bush dimensions and not the fitter) bushes don't allow the rotation around the central axis and you end up with metal on metal friction preventing rotation (and therefore importing more stiffness) and generating the squeaks and graunching sounds from suspension.
I went poly bushes for a number of reasons:- The old OEM were knackered (and a bugger to get out) I'm using 'high' profile tyres so some of the suspension will be thro tyre wall; Future work (polys look to be easier to install remove, albeit there may be a little bit of mice regressing required.) Hopefully to make suspension changes (Camber etc) more measurable (in the event I ever do decided to take it on a track)
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