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My Motorsport MX-5...

Last post Tue, Oct 9 2012 10:27 by Graham Curry. 43 replies.
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  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 12:58
    • Graham Curry
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
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    My Motorsport MX-5...

    This will be a long winded post from another forum so bear with me:

     

    Well folks after not takling part in motorsport for a year the bug was biting hard and i needed back into it.

    Rallying which is what I love is simply too dear and the autotests, lanes events and hills seem to be great value for money so with a very limited budget I set out on the hunt for something cheap and cheerfuol that would be fun.

    At the COI retro i saw a couple of MX5's and thought that they tick all the boxes. so mid looking for an MX an MG Midget came up, but it was going to be an endless money box to have it as good as an MX.

    I rang Conor at MotoGlass one day and mentioned what i was after, and that night he had a jdm mx5 at his house for me to look at.

    Went up the next night and collected the car using the motor gyms trailer and brought it down to the gym.

    the big astra pulled the best :)


    the car itself is as follows
    1991
    Eunos Roadster
    1.6 16v
    LSD
    solid throughout
    90k ish

    since then i have done the following:
    removed air con radiator
    removed air con compressor
    removed air con mounting bracket
    removed air con plumbing
    removed all sound deadening
    Oil & Filter change using Millers oil
    OMP deep dish wheel replacing stock momo unit
    bigger battery with modified mounting brackets in boot

    some of the sound deadening


    some of the undertray with ac pully etc


    inside all minted up with new wheel

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 12:58 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

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    Well a boot full of parts thanks to MotoGlass Car Parts in Boucher:

     

     

    And some Hammerite Kurust to remote the surface dot cotton:

     

     

    timing belt, water pump, aux belts, plug leads, plugs all done...

     

    first off a reflective white sticker was applied to bumper, numbers will be added tomorrow

     

    then all this came out to give us room (radiator, rocker cover, air box and piping)

     

    lots of room to work now

     

     

    Clug stripping the bottom pullies

     

    and Clug stripping in celebration as it is now wine time for the big ginge

     

    engine is all built up again and plugged/plumed in bar 1 water pipe that broke so need to T piece it tomorrow, add the Millars coolant and start her to make sure it's running good.

     

    Again HUGE thanks to the lads at TheMotorGym as well as Conor at MotoGlass Carparts on Boucher, his head has been tortured and every day more urgent bits arrive in the afternoon van.

     

     

    I was fit to do a hell ot a lot of the work myself with Clug's guidance which makes me happy as I am learning a lot again :D

     

    then it’ll be Millars gearbox and diff oils, rear pads, new brake fluid and get her out a test to be sure she's as it should be

     

    also painted the rusty bits where the kick plates were and refitted the kick plates

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:00 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
    • Forum member since...
      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

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    The diff oil (which was like pish water), gearbox oil, rear pads, fuel filter, coolant etc all sorted.

     

    diff is as dry as a bone

     

    gearbox isn't too bad

     

    rear pads getting done

     

    my to do list is getting very slim now

     

    today I took the car to Nutts Corner to photograph an autotest (had hoped to get an entry but was still fitting new thermostat after sign on time), the car ran 100% with the hood down all day and love driving it.

     

    on route home i pulled into dock area to make a phonecall and found BlackWaterGraphics car and couldn't help a photo chance

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:01 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
    • Forum member since...
      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

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    Street Racer in Balloo, Bangor for a de-cat replacement pipe (full length from manifold to existing stainless rear box).

     

    I have known Andy for a long time now and heard good reports on his LongLife Stainless systems so it was great he let me hang about to snap and see the effort that goes into making up a tidy system.

     

    Car on ramp with bending machine in view

     

    Cutting off the old system

     

    Old piping and cat removed (serious weight in it also)

     

    Cutting the new 50mm stainless to length (this is the same bore as stock)

     

    After marking the bend points and directions he went to work

     

    Constantly test fitting after each bend

     

    Final test fit before clamping

     

    And final clamp into place :D

     

    On start up there was wild black smoke which was a mix of wd40 and exhaust gasses that are able to flow properly for the first time ever lol

     

    took it a good run up the road and done a few circles and it's certainly noticeably more responsive than before and a lovely wee rasp off the car now, but isn't much louder if at all over stock, just a different note, making it sound like a good old japanese 1.6 16v toyota from the 80's (waaap bap bap bap)

     

    I would highly recommend Street Racer for exhausts with full lifetime warranty and are usually about the same money if not cheaper than off the shelf stuff...

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:01 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

    I went down to Kirkistown yesterday to take a few photo's and took this sad wee photo...

     

     

     

    Soon after this a Kaaz 1.5 way LSD was fitted by Raymond Mason at RallyHire in Moneyreah :D

    It turns the car round so well (literally)

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:03 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    The car also went for a half cage

     

    I tried a hoop I had made for another car and found something interesting.  70's Porsche 911 and MX5 have very similar internal dimensions.
     

     

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:04 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    Full MSA Spec

     

    As promised Graham a few pictures
     












    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:05 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    Cage roughly primed with paint on stuff, pure dung and think it is water based so it will be left to dry before going to Marky Stewarts on Monday for a proper job in the oven with high fill primer then some Matte Black




    Stephen Wishart also made me a handbrake from scratch, all brackets are welded to the tunnel and overall a lot less spaced used over an off the shelf bolt in unit, cylinder will be here for it tomorrow (huge thanks to Fred Crawford Engineering for helping me with next day delivery) and then hopefully the lads at the motor gym will have the brakes re-plumbed on Sunday for this to operate.



    Whilst picking the car up from Wishart, I went up the road and collected these little beauties, Comp MO's 15" for road and hill climb use, they too will be getting deep fill primer and matte black on Monday



    More soon...

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:05 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    This arrived today, it's the .625 piston for the hydraulic stick to operate the rear brakes. The brakes need plumbed now to allow this to happen which the lads at The Motor Gym are doing tomorrow.



    Today saw the firewall fitted, seat belt clickers fitted, all carpets trimmed to fit neatly round the cage :D

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:06 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
    • Forum member since...
      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
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    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    before

     
    primed

     
    after pictures tomorrow ;)
     
    The comp mo's are getting front and rear's painted, the stock wheels just the fronts done neatly as you can hardly see through the spokes so no real need to waste money and paint...
     
    Cage will get rubbed down and the car into oven to get masked up and the cage painted in the morning, I have gone off the idea of satin black also so watch this space...

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:06 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
    • Forum member since...
      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    Cage rubbed down and ready for paint

     
    Due to the angles and shape a good primer was apllied via rattle can

     
    And the same with the hydraulic stick lever

     
    I came home for an hour and arrived back to see the first coat in gloss black

     
    Applying the second coat

     
    Just before baking

     
    And back at the motor gym with the roof fitted (yes it does go up and down ok with the cage)

     
    Wheels are now all gloss white and will be lifted on Thursday to get the 14" tyres back on for the weekend and then 15's on before the next outing all going to plan.
     
    Tomorrow sees the livery getting applied :D

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:07 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
    • Forum member since...
      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    Nearly there!
     
    Belfast Tyre Company fitted my 14's with some part worns I have and didn't even mark the soft paint (yes i put a finger print in them haha).
     
    wheels look so good in white i think personally, the lads at the motor gym done a big shift after hours tonight to help get more done to the car while i finished off some of the livery.
     
    Kaaz diff is now fitted thanks to raymond mason at rally hire and back into the car (proper tight)
     
    tomorrow will see the hydraulic plumbed in finally, interior all built up and all carpets back in again and a good drive on the road to bed the new diff bearings in and get the heat built up in it to bed the whole lot in
     

     

     
    more tomorrow...

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:08 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
    • Forum member since...
      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    Before:
     

     

     
    3c3ne points yo!!! not many scene cars with brake lines running inside ;)

     
    team ginge for the win :D

     
    After: She likes it sideways AND dirty lol

     
    Until next time...

     

    Just saw the results :)

    2nd in class
    21st overall (out of 26)

    so overall I am pleased with my first event

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:09 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
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    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    Images from the first ever event and my first ever auto test

     

    All images on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/thegingerdaddy/sets/72157629322132848/

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
  • Thu, Apr 26 2012 13:10 In reply to
    • Graham Curry
    • Not Ranked
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      Thu, Nov 10 2011
    • Bangor, NI
    • Posts 46
    • Member

    Re: My Motorsport MX-5...

    Livery now fully complete thanks to the lads at www.blackwatergraphics.com in Comber...
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Thanks to:
    TheMotorGym
    UsedCarsNI
    BlackWaterGraphics
    Street Racer
    Track Skills
    Rally Hire
    MotoGlass Car Parts
    Wishart Motorsport Fabrication & Roll Cages
    Belfast Tyre Company
    Paintworx Body Shop

    1991 Eunos Roadster Motorsport Whip
    Kaaz diff | MSA 1/2 cage | Hydraulic stick
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