envy
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| posted on 2/1/06 at 05:01 AM |
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Mazda MX5 Miata/Eunos
Hi all,
I've been hanging around the scene for a few years, though my project is still in the planning stage. originally it was to be a custom based on
the MR2, but recently it has evolved to a new donor - the Mazda MX5. The reasons being that this car is (IMO) simpler, has all-round independent
wishbone suspension already (don't have to fabricate these parts and they suit a low profile body) and it suits the shape of the car I wish to
base the body on (Aston Martin AMV8). In fact if you overlay these two cars (early model MX5 and AMV8 scaled down) the cars line up almost
perfectly.
I apologise if this is the wrong place, but I have a few questions!
1) Are there any good links to exisiting MX5 based projects?
2) Any photos or measurements of the MX5 chassis and important mounting points etc would be great!
3) I have heard that the Ginetta G20 is/can be Miata based. Any good G20 build sites around?
Any other information greatly appreciated. Please let me know if i am in the wrong place, or if there are other useful resources.
Shoutout to Steve Graber - It's Pea from the MR2 forums from way back 
[Edited on 2/1/06 by envy]
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dl_peabody
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| posted on 2/1/06 at 07:10 PM |
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Keith Tanner....wrote a locost\Miata book..."How To Build a Cheap Sports Car
Plenty of pics and info on his site
http://www.cheapsportscar.net/
Flying Miata....based in the US, google the name and see what you come up with...performance parts plus other stuff...
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envy
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| posted on 2/1/06 at 11:05 PM |
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Thanks for that. I had heard about Keiths book, but the website link is great .
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Keith Tanner
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| posted on 6/1/06 at 01:40 AM |
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The shop manual for the Miata/MX5 includes a number of fundamental dimensions that can be used to ensure the unibody is straight. Are you planning on
fabricating a spaceframe and simply installing the front and rear subframes from the MX5 inside? That would certainly be easy enough to do as they
mount with just a few bolts.
Keith
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blueshift
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| posted on 6/1/06 at 12:53 PM |
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I could put some pics of the mx5 underside up; my dad put his in a ditch recently and showed its belly nicely
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chrisf
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| posted on 6/1/06 at 02:19 PM |
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I used an MX-5 donor. Have a look at my website. Also look at BobC's
website. He's been a huge help to me.
--Chris
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envy
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| posted on 6/1/06 at 11:46 PM |
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Hi guys,
Thanks for all the info!
Keith - Yes, building a spaceframe to take the front and rear subframes is exactly what I plan to do. I found great photos of the rear subframe on
your site from the dissasembly of your donor, but wasn't aware that there was a front subframe assembly also? I plan to make the initial build
as simple as possible, so bolting these assemblies on would be awesome.
Blueshift - Some photos of the underside would be great!
Chrisf - I will check out your and bobc's site.
Thanks all for the great responses.
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Keith Tanner
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| posted on 7/1/06 at 12:23 AM |
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Yes, there's a nice front subframe/engine cradle. The two are joined by the Power Plant Frame, an aluminium girder. You can actually make an
almost-driveable car out of just these parts, you just need some way to support the top of the dampers! There's a nice photo of the lot
here. A nice spaceframe to join it all together would eliminate a lot of hassles when
building your car!
Keith
www.slowcarfast.com
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envy
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| posted on 7/1/06 at 12:59 AM |
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Wow! That is amazing! That has just made my day. I can see my car on the road much faster than I thought possible!
It may seem like 'cheating' to use so much of the MX5, but it will be my first project of this type, and i didn't want to just build
a kit.
Is it all models of the MX5 that have this assembly? Which model should I aim to purchase as the most suitable donor? My aim is reliability and ease
of maintenance over speed/power...
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Keith Tanner
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| posted on 7/1/06 at 01:12 AM |
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They're all basically the same when it comes to the chassis. Reliability is all pretty good. The best choice might be a 1994-97 model with the
1800cc engine for a bit more power and a stronger rear end. The engine is slightly longer but otherwise the packaging is the same. Still the 1990-93
1600cc cars are a good choice and quite common. There are a lot of parts that interchange. The 1999 and later cars are a little bit more complex
mechanically but the biggest concern there would really be the cost of the donor.
I think you'll be busy for a long time on the body so you might as well get the chassis done as soon as possible!
www.slowcarfast.com
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envy
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| posted on 7/1/06 at 02:35 AM |
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Thanks for the info. MX5's are pretty common here in New Zealand - in the form of Eunos roadsters as well as mazda MX5 brand. I'm
hopefull I can pick one up with extensive body damage but an intact PPF and running gear.
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envy
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| posted on 7/1/06 at 03:59 AM |
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Here is a mockup of the AMV8 concept scaled down to overlay an NA MX5 (Miata). You can see that it lines up almost perfectly. The only copncern I
have is the hight of the engine and front shocks fitting under the low hood.
If anybody has any photos of any part of the PPF or subframes, they are all much appreciated.
 
Rescued attachment envy_mx5_views.jpg
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Keith Tanner
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| posted on 7/1/06 at 04:04 AM |
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I have a set of subframes sitting in the shop right now. Let me know what sort of things you want and I'll take them for you. I don't have
any PPFs except for those on the cars, but I can get a shot of them in situ. Not much to see there, just a big C-channel girder.
www.slowcarfast.com
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envy
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| posted on 7/1/06 at 04:23 AM |
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That would rock. Basically just some semi-hi-res shots of the subframes from various angles so that I can see clearances and mounting points and
start designing the basic chassis around these.
I don't need exact measurements and things yet. I will probably get a donor and strip it back before I design the chassis proper to fit it.
Thanks very much!
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envy
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| posted on 9/1/06 at 08:55 PM |
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I found this excellent scan:
High resolution PPF from side view
Photos from above angles would be great to see the approximate location of the mounting holes/bolts etc.
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Keith Tanner
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| posted on 9/1/06 at 09:07 PM |
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I'll see if there's anything good in the shop manuals too. I think there is. It might take a couple of days, the scanner needs to be
installed.
www.slowcarfast.com
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envy
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| posted on 9/1/06 at 09:22 PM |
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No problem at all Keith. It's not urgent Thanks very much for doing this!
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Keith Tanner
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| posted on 21/1/06 at 02:56 AM |
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Good thing it wasn't urgent, but I think you'll like this.
Front and rear subframes on PDF - from the factory manual, including mounting points.
I have the full setup in the shop right now as you can see, so if there are any particular photos you'd like now is the perfect time.
How to make a Locost out of an MX5 almost instantly!
www.slowcarfast.com
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envy
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| posted on 22/1/06 at 02:52 AM |
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Thanks a lot for that Keith! Do there happen to be any pages in that manual with actual measurements? That may be asking a bit much
As for photos - a closeup of each 'corner' for reference would be nice, and perhaps one from as close to top down as you can get from the
back and the front. Anything else would be a bonus!
I appreciate this very much.
I know what you mean about the quick build using the MX5 PPF whole! I am hoping that will be the case with my build but I very very much doubt it
will be as strigh forward as all that!
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blueshift
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| posted on 22/1/06 at 11:29 AM |
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the engine and shock tops will fit under that lower bonnet line. there's a good couple of inches clearance in there.
however - your head wouldn't fit under that lowered roof! unless you're some kind of midget.
My photos of the mx5 in the ditch aren't as good as I hoped, this is the only one of the underside:
high res version here
[Edited on 22/1/06 by blueshift]
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envy
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| posted on 22/1/06 at 09:45 PM |
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Thanks blueshift. The seats will be bucket seats and the driving position reclined slightly too, so that will help.
How high is the top of the drivers head in a 7 ?
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locost_bryan
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| posted on 23/1/06 at 12:46 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by blueshift
your head wouldn't fit under that lowered roof! unless you're some kind of midget.
[Edited on 22/1/06 by blueshift]
how much lower is the seat in a Locost compared to a MX5? at least a few cm I would think!
Bryan Miller
Auckland NZ
Bruce McLaren - "Where's my F1 car?"
John Cooper - "In that rack of tubes, son"
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Keith Tanner
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| posted on 23/1/06 at 05:37 PM |
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Quite a bit lower in my case.
Here are some measurements of suspension geometry, I do not have dimensions of mounting points. Those are 17" wheels in the picture above. Might
be time to get some subframes of your own if you want enough accuracy to start planning a frame.
http://members.cox.net/enderw88/miata.htm
www.slowcarfast.com
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envy
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| posted on 23/1/06 at 07:32 PM |
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Hi Keith,
Thanks for the link. That is definately the next step (getting a donor) I have been asking around the New Zealand MX4 list to see where/how much
etc...
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blueshift
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| posted on 23/1/06 at 11:00 PM |
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I wouldn't have thought you're more than 2-3" nearer the floor of the car in a locost.. I could be wrong. maybe should take some
side-on photos of mine with the door open?
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