Jeff and Emma Build a Car

[browno]

I don't know if you're an MX5OC member, but if so there is a members discount at Autolink too (of something like 7%)... and they do lots of used bits, so for broken bolts you can get a used replacement and clean it up for much less than a new one (for example, I think a pair of alignment bolt sets cost me just over £6, rather than £12 each).

[pikey]

AutolinkMX5 is a great link - that's saved me £80 on the brake parts alone, mostly by not having to buy the rear SS flexi pipes that I dont really need

(I foolishly left the front flexi pipes attached to the shell when I scrapped it! So I only need the front ones)

Cheers guys

[pikey]

Should have a large box of goodies turning up tomorrow.

Did a quick fitting of the Tein springs, I think they'll look quite good:



All being well with my shoulder, we should be able to get back to doing some work on it in the near future

[gwnwar]

pikey.. FYI the camber adjuster bolt heads should be on the inside with the nuts outside of the control arms.
Simple change now.. Are you going to be using shock boots. You can get them cheap enough at auto store or on line in different
colors..Make sure you get the right length spring on right shock.
That open bolt hole on front of engine left from removing the AC mount must have a bolt put into it..
If you are going to depower your steering rack.. www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php
You are coming alone nicely

[pikey]

I've done it like this:

nut|ARM|bolt (space) bolt|ARM|nut

so what you can see facing you in the picture is a nut (its not got any thread sticking out as I haven't done any of them up yet). I think thats the same as it was before I took it apart, and also the same as you're describing above, so we're all good

I've put the short springs on the long shocks at the front, vice versa at the back.

I think that bolt hole is redundant, that was where the power steering pump attached.

Good link for the de-powering, although I'll probably do it the cheating way for the moment.

[gwnwar]

PS mount is only held on with 3 bolts going into the side of the block nothing from the front for the mount. the pump does mount with a long bolt front the front into the mount.. AC mount/bracket has bolts into side of block and 1 into the front. You will have an oil leak if you don't install a bolt in hole for front AC mount bolt..

[pikey]

So with my shoulder now back to almost normal, we managed some work to the car at the weekend, in the form of completing the fitting of the fuel pipes front to rear, flipping the chassis over and lifting it onto the PPF. With only some minor persuasion, all the bolts lined up and have been installed but not done up tight yet:



Need to get the jack under the front suspension to bolt the shocks to the top mounts, although I'm not sure there is enough weight - might need to get the spring compressors out

[pikey]

Long time no update!! We've basically done nothing to the car in 3 months, due to all sorts of things - minibike racing, wedding planning, holidays, work on our garden, work needed on other cars (getting the van through an MOT, new brakes on the Porsche) blah blah blah. I know its all excuses.

Minibike racing season ends this weekend, and the weather has started to turn, so we're looking forward to getting back to work on the kit car over the autumn and winter, and who knows - we may have a car to drive in time for the spring

[pikey]

Ha to the above - 'having a car to drive in time for the spring'! Its been a year since the picture above, and we've made very little progress to be honest.

Having said that, the chassis and suspension is all assembled, and we bought some fancy wheels which just need tyres fitting to them and we can set the car down on its wheels for the first time. Seats are mounted now too, and yesterday we fitted the side panels and radiator - although I broke the small fan in the process, hoping thats not too big a deal.

Must find more motivation - although this heat is making it very difficult to work on anything in the garage for more than about 5 minutes at a time as its just unbearable!

[hammy3601]

Sometimes things get in the way but at least your sticking at it, I've had to abort project cars before and its a sickening feeling when you sell your dream

[pikey]

No chance of that - we're in too deep

Had a bit of a result on Saturday - took the wheels and tyres to my nearest tyre fitters, and they fitted and balanced them and said dont worry about any money! So we fitted them to the car, took it down off the axle stands and rolled it out of the garage FOR THE FIRST TIME



We also fitted the exhaust, which was considerably less hassle than I thought it would be, so a good weekend all round