Mikes Exocet build - Sheffield

[Fin]

Sept 24, 2016 8:34:01 GMT mikeeyboy said:

Question for people using mk2 mx5s, does the 2015/2016 MeV chassis still not line up with the mx5 without modifying it?

I'm just awaiting bushes and suspension back from powder-coating, prior to starting to re-assemble, and was wondering the same.  Normal route seems to build the skate, drop the chassis on, and then "fettle it" so it fits and is square.  I was wondering if there was any benefit in fitting the sub-frames individually to the chassis, and then fitting the PPF, prop shaft & engine, and then building the suspension wheel by wheel?

[mikeeyboy]

I have the skate as 1 piece, using the engine hoist I have it was pretty easy to get all the rear bolts and fronts to drop in.

I've just done it this morning. I noticed that it looked more like trident made a bracket to get the subframe brace bar to reach the Exocet chassis?

[Fin]

There's a 1 metre long U shaped tubular bracket from the rear sub to the bodywork on the 2.5

[mikeeyboy]

I'm confused then. I thought mine was a mk2, I've got the 1 metre U Bracket. Mines a 98, thought mk2.5s were newer?

[Fin]

Maybe the Mk2's also have it. Either way, the build manual doesn't recognise it as it refers to 14 bolts holding the body, not 16.

[mikeeyboy]

Might give Stuart a ring on Monday to clear it up then!

I put the u bracket up to the car and 2 of the bolts end up near the seats!

[Fin]

Can you let me know the outcome?

[mikeeyboy]

No problem, will post on here what he says!

[stevednorris]

I chopped the front half of the U bracket off and fitted it with just 4 bolts (on a Replicar but basically the same chassis), mines a mk2.5 and fitted straight on the ppf.

[mikeeyboy]

I spoke to Stuart today. He basically said the easiest way is to cut the "u" bracket from the mx5 short and flatten the round bar on the chopped ends.

Then drill a hole in each side and mount it to the flat metal tabs that are welded onto the Exocet chassis already.

I'm going to have a look at mine and decide whether to do this or use tridents L shaped bracket.

Thanks

[Fin]

Thanks for letting me know.  Does yours not already have 6 holes?

[mikeeyboy]

Yep, but the open end of the U is way too long. You need to cut them a foot back

[Fin]

OK, but surely the shorter you cut them, the less effective they are as a brace? Will go check Trident's alternative solution

[mikeeyboy]

I'm not worried about it. As Stuart said, mk1s don't have it. That u bar is not exactly the biggest of things either, so I do not think it was totally structural.

[trident]

The 1.8 on the Mk1 had the brace bar but the 1.6 MK1 didn't . I felt that if Mazda put the brace bar on the 1.8  then I was going to keep it as they put it there for a reason. Just my thought process at the time.