exocet build

[Stewart]

You may find that with the standard offset wheels bolted to the hubs the wheel arches aren't the only problem. When I put the wheels on and put them on full lock I think they touched the frame as well.
I wouldn't say increasing the track of the car screws up the handling, I think it will feel even more planted to the ground when pushing it. At least that's the feedback from the guys who've driven the cars on track.

[Stiggy]

The MX5 is a great car dynamically, it suffers with zero scrub and that results in very little feedback via the steering wheel. A wider track gives slightly more feedback, slightly better self centreing and a better stance. This is something MX5 owners try to achieve but need to cut arches away to do so.
Zero ET wheels work well. That is the same as
30mm et wheel with a 30mm spacer, or.
45 et wheel with a 45mm spacer.
45 et wheel with a 30mm spacer (=15 offset) is also a big improvement over the MX5. This dimension is not critcle as you set the wings when PUing them on. Aim for 0-15 offset as above

[stevieboy]

Thanks for the input guys, i think my conclusions are that the wheels i've got with 18ET without spacers are only 3mm out from being bang on, and its on the right side of being wider rather than narrower, think thats sorted then. All i need do is order a set of 195/45/16 tyres and not worry about a false reading on the speedo ;D

[John B]

What tyres you going for? I was thinking either Toyo or Yokohama. Maybe if we purchase them together we can get a decent discount.....

[Stewart]

Try Camskill for your tyres, they're usually the cheapest around. You'll be lucky to get any discount with anyone though, rubber market has very tight margins at the minute

[stevieboy]

Going to look into it this weekend, there's plenty next to us john.
Although the guy on hawkins lane is a part worn merchant, he has in the past done some brand new tyres for the disco, think he has fingers in pies somewhere.
I have four hardly used tyres on the mx5 14" rims plus two brand new ones never fitted with the labels still on that came with it as spares. I think he might sort me out with a little help from the wallet . See what Saturday brings, we let you know.

[stevieboy]

Can anyone tell me their measurements between the rollbar, mine is 37.1/2" but the rear panel is 38.1/2" so it wont fit between the rollbar uprights, this means that it wont go over the tank lip at the front even though it has been trimmed to the minimum. When put in place the panel only fits up flush to the rollbar, this means that it hangs over the rear cross bar....basically it doesn't fit or look right, i must add i do have the removeable rollbar, am i missing something!! the following pics shows my problem, having looked at other builds the rear crossmember is visible.

[stevieboy]

This shows the overhang

This is looking back from behind drivers seat, and shows the panel flush upto the rollbar, it will not go between which results in it not going over the tank. if i move the tank back then i will not hit the crossmembers needed to mout the tank.

[Deleted]

I had a similar issue with both builds. The rear grip won't fit all the way through the two uprights but as its sat on the fuel tank lip it's slightly higher, and therefore in a slightly narrower part of the uprights. If you pull the bottom of the grp forward and over the lip of the tank, the grp will drop down and slightly forward. That way the uprights are slightly wider at the bottom as they're angled a little and the grp slip forward into the curve of the tubes. It is a tight fit though!

[pete]

I found mine fitted if i put put my panel in from the seat side also make shure bottom of panel is cut straight i found pass side higher trimmed to make itlevel it this also made it fit better as has the efect of narowing the panel.Pete.

[stevieboy]

I've tried it without the tank and from the inside out, but maths will confirm that when its 1" bigger than the hole its not going to fit.
My hoop is 1" inside the main frame on each side, as the pic of my finger shows. The hoop seems to be to narrow due to the excess space between it and the main frame.

[stevieboy]

[stevieboy]

This pic shows how much wider the panel is compared to the hoop,
this is looking from offside rear wheel, looking at the back of the hoop upright.

[Deleted]

Looks like you have the newer chassis, I've got the first run where all of the bars join in a single point at the back, instead of the roll hoop inset like yours. So basically, the picture above with your fingers between the two bars- on mine those two bars are welded together!

[stevieboy]

Yeah, thanks for your input, can you measure the distance between your uprights at the base, as mine just will not let the rear panel pass between.