MX-5 OC Forum

Trying to catch up with all the odd jobs to get the car looking the part for the NEC Classic Motor Show, one of my longest outstanding issues was to sort my steering wheel with F1 style controls.

So, in case anyone else fancies having a go themselves a short 'how to'...

Aluminium template:

Layered up with three layers of carbon fibre cloth; at this stage I pre-drilled the hardened carbon whilst still on the template to ensure the steering wheel would align (forgot to brush off drill dust pre photo!):

Separate template from new blank, the better you polish the template the easier the blank will come off!

Carbon blank is rubbed down in-between three coats of epoxy resin, baking at 80-100 degrees between coats (don't let the good lady catch you putting car parts in the oven!)

Final prep of 1200-1500 grit wet and dry, then polish up with cutting polish (Autoglym in my case). The blank pre-fitted:

Remove and drill holes for switches (20mm holes in this case). Measure twice, drill once!!!

The area to the top of the wheel will eventually house two horn buttons but slow ebay delivery and my lack of patience meant posting this thread before the wheel is fully finished!

The fitted result:

Just have to wire up and I'm done, currently considering the following: horn (x 2 buttons), 2nd fan (I've fitted an auxillary fan for track-day abuse), wiper (normal speed), flash to pass/main beam and foglight.

Finally, sit back and enjoy the Japanese GP

Woohoo! Last buttons arrived today and I relieved work of some wire n bits...

Wiring is a faff, and I lack patience which doesn't help! Just have one side wired at the mo...will sort the other side once I get all the little bits of metal cable out of my pinkies, anyway, horn, fan and flash-to-pass is enough for the NEC. All switches go to a common earth and then I used a fluke to test the back of the FTP and horn relay thingies to figure out the correct live wire. Seems to work a treat.

 Cheers for the advice Capt Muppet, now on the lookout for an old fridge and fan heater...

Very swish!

Mrs. Eunos says if you have any items to large for your "autoclave" you are welcome to use her new 6 ring range type fan-assisted version LOL!

Dr. Eunos

 Go there Jon'o

M-m

taff eunos:

Mrs. Eunos says if you have any items to large for your "autoclave" you are welcome to use her new 6 ring range type fan-assisted version LOL!

Photo proves my 'autoclave' is overdue a clean

Very cool, like it.

peleton72:

Carbon blank is rubbed down in-between three coats of epoxy resin, baking at 80-100 degrees between coats (don't let the good lady catch you putting car parts in the oven!)

You can make a 80 degree oven using a fan heater and an old fridge, and if you feel like vacuum bagging your carbon you can use the refidgerant pump to generate your vacuum.

I remember making a bonnet sized oven out of large sheets of 6" thick insualtion foam and fan heaters - it worked brilliantly.

Vacuum bagging was a nightmare - so much learning to do when setting up your mould and getting the right amount of resin so you don't end up sucking that in to your pump. Also you need to get the right proportion of catalyst so you have enough leak-finding time before it starts to set. Scrap rates were high because any bubbles in the resin tend to become large voids in the part, but the good parts were lighter, stronger and you could make much more complex shapes.

All finished, thread updated, fingers sore, smile large.

 how is the wiring going to conect to the dash without twisting during frantic cornering ???

Im probally being dumb, but have faith in your Idea.

Intrigued to see more.

Alan

Rally style mate, I currently have a curly wire that hangs nicely under the steering column then unwinds as you turn the lock on, this (for just my horn) is a phone cable using two wires for positive and two for earth as they are uber thin and I was worried about them 'fusing'.

Now have this courtesy of dcelectronicmotorsports, all wire 1amp rated:

 and some form of quick disconect so you can take the wheel off?

Show us more maestro (not an Austin one)

Alan

Hadn't planned to mate (though I've the perfect connector at work for it!)

I just sling the wheel onto the binnacle when I want to get out, but thinking about it maybe I should put one on so that I can take the wheel out in town...the ultimate theft deterrant

Nice one Jon, good work there mate.

Cheers mate, how you getting on with that rollbar?

Not fitted yet, but have another fettling day coming up soon.

I posted this on the P5’s forum back in 2009! It was entitled “Tonight on Bodgerama”

I have just cut and pasted it here, so hope it works.

A recipe for when you can't sleep and you want the horn!

So here's the dilemma, your driving along with your sexy little steering wheel and some **** cuts you up. You rightly wish to protest via official channels and sound your horn! However since your vehicle was originally equipped with an air bag and your steering wheel has none, what do you do?

In the grand tradition of cookery programs, how to rustle up a horn from left over bits you find in the cupboard.

No, that's not going to fit, silly!

Ah ha, the light comes on, or actually goes off.

Take the freshly marinade light fitting and blend with an IKEA dustbin lid.

A sharp knife is useful here and adult help.

Here's one I prepared earlier.  :?:

Continue to simmer for most of the night working with a fine selection of cooking utensils

until all the crap has been reduced to this consistency.

Finally pour into a serving dish and enjoy, reciting the words, "**** me, it actually works!"