exocet build

[Stewart]

Mine's welded in as I've got the full cage, but any local fab shop should be able to sort you one out for a few quid, or ask Stuart for one and get someone local to weld it in for you.

Also, how much did you pay for your harnesses? I've got a pair of FIA 5 points for sale

[stevieboy]

Hi Welshy1
Have an idea of inserting some chrome or stainless sheet across the top of the wires, which will bolt to the rocker bolts and will hide all the wires, also thought of painting the covers blue, should look ok with the shiny bit between.

[stevieboy]

Got the harnesses off ebay, 8 month old, been used in a rally car this season, in blue and only £36 + £5 delivery

[gwnwar]

Stevie, I wouldn't be covering the wires you will be holding heat in and around the intake manifold
making for a heated mixture to the engine.. Why not paint the cam cover and intake to match car.. I would also go for the weld in harness bar with welded harness mount tabs..

[John B]

Looking good Steve,
Hope to get up and have a look this weekend if that's ok. I'll have some light brackets if you have any left.
Cheers.

[stevieboy]

Hi John, sat ok after 12.00, sunday will be at donnington show.

[stevieboy]

Got my seatbelts somewhere near today, had to cut the seatbacks, the holes need a bit of finishing so its out with the file later.





One problem i've hit is that the where the belt splits from one to two, it fouls on the seat, has anyone had this same problem.
Have checked the iva regs and from how i understand the regs to be, are that the rear fixing has to be higher than 450mm from the seat base.
However i need to have the fixing further from the seat back,as there is no more adjustment left, had hoped that somehow i could fix to the bottom rear floor rail.
Can anyone throw any light on this for me please.



On a more lighter note.
Got the mockup made to adjust the wing stays, the problem was that the wheels and tyre ratio meant there was only 5mm clearance, so mocked this setup to get the correct adjustments, then make a final fix. Didn't want to destroy the originals by cutting them in case i go back to standard setup at a later date.

[stevieboy]

Not had any replies on the seatbelt probs, any comments welcome, had a shock today, had engine running for about 20 mins while i went for a little spin, on private roads of course , got back and found rad leaking from the top near the fan mount lug. Got one on fleabay tonight, but still trying to work out how!! after all this time...

[lad]

hi Steve,

We had the same problem and we got Stuart to weld a bar in for us:



It took about half an hour to cut it to the right size and weld it in but we've got a lightweight so our rollbar is bolt in and the bar had to be braced. If yours is part of the car it'll be easier.

I couldn't say how much he charged us because he did a few other things and a we paid him for the lot but its a nice job. I'm going to hammerite the corners and carbon wrap the bar.

Hope this helps.

Lad

[stevieboy]

I have got a bar fitted, but the problem is that the 3 point harness fouls on the seat due to the bar being to close to the seat backs, as shown in pics.
What i want to know is can the belt pass over the bar and the bolt down on the bottom frame cross member, or floor.

[John B]

Regarding the clearance of the wing stays, I've got the recommended wheel and tyre size i.e 195/45/16 but still only have a few millimeters of clearance, possibly less than 5mm. I'm just wondering if they should be this close? Maybe Stuart can shed some light....

[stevieboy]

Sorry to ask the same question again guys, but.. any answers on the seatbelt front would be helpful.
Steve

[red5]

steve -

Can you fix to the bar and wrap the belt around the bar to shorten the length?

or utilise the original mx5 belts to get you through the IVA - then fix the 3 point harness to the floor - I have seen this done on a number of things ( aircraft and boats) and things to consider are the strength in the cross bar, positioning , friction abrasion, and tensioning between the floor and bar.

[gwnwar]

Steve, That is the OEM bar/brace you are using.. were you planning to bolt the belt to it with single tab in the pic? How is the bar secured to the frame now.. What is the metal part inside the bar shaped like flat round what size.. Could you remove the mounting tab from the harness, wrap belt around the bar and secure it in place with the buckle/clip.. move seat forward alittle so the "Y" of the belt doesn't touch the back of the seat.. Fold up rest of belt and secure with a tie wrap..

[stevieboy]

Hi Gwnwar, yeah it is the said bar, as the law stands over here the belt has to operate over the whole adjustment length of the seat. Unfortunately it falls foul of the law when fully adjusted rearwards, the bar contains an internal flat bar the same thickness as the seat belt holders on the roll bar. I have bolted to this and will weld in if i can make the belts work without having to change to 4 point belts.
My intention was to go over the bar and bolt down onto the main frame, but had no feedback on this.
Steve