NJ's Basingstoke Build (UK)

[NJ.]

Thanks again Miket for the advice.  I dropped the frame onto the PPF and as you mentioned the pinch point was real tight.
The picture below shows where my fuel lines exited, which I think would have been ok, however there just wasn't enough space to clear the PPF at the pinch point area so I routed them to the side as you suggested.  It was a bit of a pain as the kunifer pipes don't like to be re-straighten or bent twice... Guess thats work hardening for you.



Anyways, got a fair amount done today and a few more questions to ask....

Heres the completed/started list.

Dropped the frame onto the PPF.
Started fitting steering, brakes and clutch in footwell/bulkhead.
Started work on a mount for the ABS unit/distributor block.
Finished spraying discs and completed the front wish bone assembly


What are people doing to mount the steering column?  There are two problems with mine, first is it rubs on the clutch pedal, and second the brackets seem a country mile away from the bulkhead and the brackets are at the wrong angles for mounting even if they did reach.  To fix the rubbing will require the bracket on the steering column to be cut...


 



Also, the NB air box doesn't seem to fit so think I need to order a new filter.  Is a K&N or similar the best option? 

[h20boynz]

I think the bulkheads on our kits are little different to yours but heres what ours looks like:

Looks a bit like your hole for the steering shaft is to close to the centre of the car?

[trident]

Your steering bracket looks like it need rotating 180 deg so the open bolt hole is on the right. Also it the steering column is too short make sure it hasn't collapsed during the stripe down (it's designed to do this in a crash)  I've read on a previous build that they had a steering column that was too short as well and this was the problem.  I'm sure an expert on here like gwnwar will know for certain.

You also might want to open the hole up to accept the rubber starring column mount.  My build page 9 and 14

[NJ.]

Hi Guys, thanks for your replies - you were both correct. Somehow the bottom bracket had rotated 180 from the top! I wasn't convinced this was possible (and don't remember rotating it during dismantling) but with a little leverage it span back round to the correct orientation.

Only issue was the left bolt hole was in a fair amount of clearance still. Think I will make a spacer and replace the bolt with a longer one. Hopefully post some pictures tomorrow.

[Shane]

RE. the filter if you do stick an after market filter dont forget to take the temp sensor out of the original airbox you will then need to put it in the new filter

[tojeiro]

If you can stretch to it the K&N Typhoon is awesome, I picked one up with my donor and stuck it on my other MX5 for the time being, the sound is so addictive as you reach high revs. Much more compact than the stock airbox. They do pop up on ebay quite often. Looks pretty cool also.


Untitled by Scott Graham, on Flickr

[Fin]

Saw one of these on an American build, and as Guy Martin says, it looked "trick". Then stumbled on one as part of a lot in an auction, and bought it for £23. Sold one of the other bits for £19, so if I can only get it to fit, it will be the cheapest K&N Typhoon in commission. Lacking a 90 degree bend at the inlet, so unless I get any inspired suggestions, it may just end up on eBay.

[NJ.]

The typhoon kit does look good, just a little expensive new... Something I'll need to keep an eye out for on ebay.
Fin, could you just trim it shorter and make up the 90 with a flexi pipe/fitting? Or find someone to cut + weld the correct size tube on?

[Fin]

Aug 26, 2016 11:29:35 GMT NJ. said:

The typhoon kit does look good, just a little expensive new... Something I'll need to keep an eye out for on ebay.
Fin, could you just trim it shorter and make up the 90 with a flexi pipe/fitting? Or find someone to cut + weld the correct size tube on?

Yeah, I hope I can somehow get/make a 90 degree fitting. Might involve sticky backed plastic and a Fairy bottle . I've seen quite a few if the K&N filters at auctions going for about a fiver each if you want me to keep you posted

[NJ.]

Thanks Fin for the eBay offer, already on it and got my eye on a few ending in the next few days...

Progress has been slow the last few weeks, seem to spend too much time 'thinking' rather than doing lol.

Managed to get the centre tunnel offered up and drilled out for m4 rib nuts with dad.
Still got to trim the front and sort out the footwell bulkheads.



Mounted the handbrake using welded bolts and brackets.



I want to use the ABS from the donor, so I put together a rough bracket to hold the distribution module.
Can anyone think of a problem with mounting it here?  Any other bits of car need to go in this space...?
I might make a heat shield to protect it from the exhaust manifold.





I also had a quick look at fitting the dash into the GRP pod.
Seems that it needs a lot of trimming to fit as the plastic lugs from the dash are in the way.
 I tried to show this in the photo below.
I guess it's just a case of cutting carefully until it fits... just a little annoying as after paying for the part you kinda expect it to be designed to work.



I thought for fun I'd try to fit a classic mini K&N filter I had lying around.  Seems to fit onto the intake tube nicely and fits into the space available.  Not sure if it will work though as it's designed for a 1.3 litre engine rather than the 1.8. 

[p5curly]

We cut the top lugs off our clock to make it fit I can post a picture if you like

[ian360]

I put my ABS distribution module exactly where you are thinking. ITs tight on the electric fittings but couldn't see anywhere else it would fit - you must have new chassis design as well? Haven't found it to get in the way of anything else so far.

[trident]

Nick

I still have the female pattern for my fibreglass dash so could get another dash the same as mine made up if you wanted to weld in the extra bars etc that are needed.  I'm in Southampton, so I'm just down the M3. There is just the issue of it fitting the contours of the new 2015 bonnet as it may be different to the original two piece bonnet and nose cone that I have.  

[NJ.]

p5curly, I actually cut the lugs off in the picture above but it still doesn't seem to fit.  Looks like I will have to actually cut into the casing itself.  A picture of what you've done would be great if not too much trouble.

sounds good Ian re the ABS then, hopefully I won't have any problems going forward.  And yes its the new frame shape so I guess might look different to yours.

Wow Trident, what an offer... your dash looks awesome
If you're up for it and as you're so close, I could pop down your way one evening to meet up and have a chat?
Who knows whether it will fit though. I guess it depends on how much Stuart changed between the two models.  Hopefully he kept life easy and didn't change too much  

[trident]

Sept 8, 2016 20:12:19 GMT NJ. said:

p5curly, I actually cut the lugs off in the picture above but it still doesn't seem to fit.  Looks like I will have to actually cut into the casing itself.  A picture of what you've done would be great if not too much trouble.

sounds good Ian re the ABS then, hopefully I won't have any problems going forward.  And yes its the new frame shape so I guess might look different to yours.

Wow Trident, what an offer... your dash looks awesome
If you're up for it and as you're so close, I could pop down your way one evening to meet up and have a chat?
Who knows whether it will fit though. I guess it depends on how much Stuart changed between the two models.  Hopefully he kept life easy and didn't change too much  

Nick

Shame you already cut the bolt tabs off as thats how mine are fitted.. I'll PM you with my number.  

Chris