Logan's build MO

[airplnmdls]

Hey rc58, Enjoying reading the thread so far! If you are ever interested in selling the green one, let me know! ;-)

[ddoggxxx]

If all you need is the front clip you should be able to locate one soon enough. Tough about your friend. Got pm. Take a break from your project and hopefully the desire that drove you in the first place will return. Keep us informed as I have enjoyed reading about your build.
Darren

[rc58]

I appreciate knowing that I am not talking to a wall in writing this up guys. I had pretty much decided that I would write it all down for myself and maybe one day show it to my kids since they are to young right now to remember it.

Last night got to jump out to the shop for an hour. Was going to start on the fitting of the bulkheads front and rear. Pulled them out of the packaging to find a lot of scrapes, scratches and some staining from something that I couldnt place. Ended up deciding to try using my disk sander to see how that looked on the back side of one of the pieces. I ended up loving it and it gave it that old school aluminum swirl type texture. Used 120 grit.

Hard to tell from the pictures but it dulled it down and should give it the ability to handle scratches without showing so blatantly. I still plan to use grip tape on it as well to give traction to entering and exiting the car. 

[einy]

Sorry if you already covered this, but just scanned thru your post. A couple of lessons learned:

1) Did you replace your rear main seal and clutch? If not, you will never have a better time to do it than now.

2) If you replaced your main seal, fill your engine with oil now. Watch for any seepage. I nicked mine when replacing it, and now I have an oil leak well after assembly. If I had put oil in the engine much earlier, I would have seen the leak when it would have been much easier to address it. Now I have to pull an engine and trans from a fully assembeled car. Ugg.

3) great choice going eith the FM suspension bushings. I went with a “name brand” poly bushing kit and absolutely hate them. I greased the bujeekers out of them during assembly, but they still squeak. Alot. And stiction is an issue, especially in the front control arms.

4). Get a white paint pen and put a tick mark on every critical (i.e. suspension) bolt right after you torque each one. Supremely easy visual confirmation that you got every one. A real ease of mond.

5) Keep your standard Miata wheels and tires. They are great for winter storage (if that applies to you) vs. your “good” tires, and are actually alot of fun to bolt on if you want a day of slower speed sliding the car around. The steering feel with the stock size tires is far superior (with my depowered rack) vs. the 205’s on zero offset wheels that have the good tires on them in my case.

6). If you have power steering, consider keeping it. I wish I had, as the depowered rack setup leaves alot to be desired when running zero offset wheels.

Any other questions, drop me a PM !!!

John

[rc58]

I was for sure I replied to your post a while back sorry about that. 

It has been sitting with oil in it for the last few months and the only leak I see is around the Oil filter. Seeing as I have yet to change the oil I will tackle that when I get there. Other than that everything seems really tight. 

I had the original plan for this to be a road car so added squeaks was just something I was going to try to elimnate. They went in very easy. Used pipe clamps that I have on hand for wood working to push them in. That and a little spit. 

I have a blue paint pen that I was going to use for some reason my local parts store didnt have any white ones that I could find So bought that and a wax tire marker figuring I would be able to see one or other. 

I planned on keeping the wheels since they dont seem to get much for them when sold on craigslist. This is also the guy who has a set of Jeep Wrangler rims (Sold the Jeep) a set of Mille Migla Chepo rims (sold the Accord) and a set of unmounted BFG KOTAs sitting in my shop with the thought they will get used eventually haha. 

I have the parts to put the power steering back together and have a power steering rack that was not depowered still sitting around if I am having issue may look at putting it back on. 

I have been able to get the bulkheads in place on the car. Working on the Trans tunnel now but questioning myself as to what I will use as a shifter boot so dont want to enlarge the hole any more than it is right now. With Tax returns coming up planning on spending a little in the Exomotive shop to get some things that I need coming. Very possible that I get the racequip boot that I have seen on many builds vs doing something myself. 

Wont let me add pictures today with the add image button so will try to get some one sooner than later. 

[einy]

I'd be surprised if you don't have to make the 'factory' shifter hole in the tunnel sheet metal at least a little longer, unless Exomotive changed the size of the hole they make. I used the factory set of boots myself as the upper sits a lot lower to the tunnel than the Racequip does, and I personally didn't want it getting in the way every time I shifted. Rivnuts were put into the tunnel to take the fasteners that hold the boot into place. That said, it's not as pretty as the Racequip, but is fully functional.

Throughout, I used stainless steel button head cap screws for all interior items mounting that is not riveted in, and a couple years into ownership and very glad I did this. I see another Exocet around where I live on occasion at Auto-X events that was built with standard black oxide fasteners, but I think they are all showing rust by now. The s/s parts cost a bit more, but I was able to source them on an as needed basis at my local Lowes (and I think they are still out of stock today due to my heavy usage) and via McMaster Carr for oddball ones.

[rc58]

Since mine is an early chassis the hole for the shifter was a one inch hole. I made a cardboard template and got it cut (about 3x4in hole) I didnt do anything past that because I didnt want to get it to big. As far as the Stainless that is some good advice. I tried fastenal in town and they didnt have near the selection as I would have thought. I walked out with some black oxide button heads but we have a lowes so I may get over there one of these evenings and pick them clean.

Thanks Einy.

[rc58]

Well I watched the Exocet load on to a trailer on the way to its new home in Florida. Hope to see the new owner put up some posts on here to introduce himself.

Thanks for all the advice for me to get it to the point it was. Had a blast working on it. May try to keep this thread going with my other Miata build.

[ddoggxxx]

Whaaaa??

Did I miss something?  You seemed really into it then you sold it?  What brought you to this point?

Darren

[rc58]

Life man. Two little kids. Building a house. Moved and lost the shop space. Tools in storage. Car was stuck in my enclosed trailer.

I could have held on to it for a year until we had the house finished up but the money eased some stress about down payments and all that stuff. I put it in good hands. Sounds like its going to live at the track and I worked it into the deal that if I ever get down to Florida I get to take it for a spin.

That being said I have collected all the parts needed to get my Miata back on the road. So when I do get a garage back I will pop back in here and give you all an update.