Hi guys,

I'm completely new to the forum and new to the kit car scene but please let me introduce myself - my name is Kevin and I am from Belfast

My dad and I did always plan to build one of these once he retired but he's retired almost three years now and never got around it.....until now!

Our Car:

This was a bit of an impulse buy from eBay - I won lot for a cheeky bid of £250, which I am happy with but feel free to let me know if you think I am daft! The seller tells me it's straight and I have to take his word for it until the courier delivers it next week. He said it was built as per the Ron Champion book 'Build your own sports car for as little as £250' and is therefore ready to take a live axle. There is a MK2 Escort steering rack fitted and the steering column has been done. He is throwing in some shocks, a nose cone, scuttle, front wishbones, some master cylinders, a steering wheel and a copy of the original Ron Champion book!

I picked up a copy of Chris Gibb's book but have since realised that this is a different build with the most noticeable difference being the independent rear suspension setup. I considered the idea of modifying this chassis (providing it's straight) to become an IRS setup but I think it's maybe a better idea to stick to the original build plans and make it as good as it can be.

My plans for the car

- 1.8 MX5 Engine + gearbox (purchased pending collection)
- Capri English axle/Atlas (if I can find one at a reasonable price)
- GAZ shocks (purchased pending collection)
- Cortina Uprights (purchased pending collection)
- Wilwood brakes
- Turbo kit + management (once it's running and driving perfectly etc)
- Roll cage
- LSD

My plans for the build
- Initially I want to give it a once over and make sure it's straight etc before fitting the wishbones and shocks
source a rear live axle to have it rolling
- Mount the engine and drivetrain
- Make + fit the rollcage
- Purchase + fit the body work
- From here, I will then work on making the car road legal, but in reality this will be used as a track car

Although we have had a couple of GSXR-engined buggies before which were bought as unfinished projects and rebuilt before selling on, we are new to the kit car scene. We both have limited welding experience but we're both meticulous and keen to learn. I do want to keep and track this little car myself though so extra extra attention will be paid to everything we do.

I would be really appreciative of any input, good or bad as this is a huge learning curve for myself and my dad, and we're here for advice

Anyway, here are the pics of what I am patiently waiting to be delivered (next week some time)

You could fit a narrowed DeDion and use the Sierra diff.
I have a width adjustable DeDion I was going to use in my Fury build but have now bought a narrowed Sierra it’s set up

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Originally posted by snapper
You could fit a narrowed DeDion and use the Sierra diff.
I have a width adjustable DeDion I was going to use in my Fury build but have now bought a narrowed Sierra it’s set up

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It looks as if some chassis tubes from the transmission tunnel have been removed

Some of those welds look a bit superficial IMHO (though I am no expert).

quote:

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Originally posted by PumaWestie
It looks as if some chassis tubes from the transmission tunnel have been removed

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quote:

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Originally posted by PumaWestie
It looks as if some chassis tubes from the transmission tunnel have been removed

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Absolute Bargain, great project,

I would stick with the early 1.6 mx5 engine and gearbox if you are looking to turbo in the future and maybe a standalone ecu for future mods.

I would stick with the live axle, I have modified a ron champion chassis to become a IRS rear suspension before.

cant wait to see your progress

quote:

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Originally posted by johnnybizzle1986
Absolute Bargain, great project,

I would stick with the early 1.6 mx5 engine and gearbox if you are looking to turbo in the future and maybe a standalone ecu for future mods.

I would stick with the live axle, I have modified a ron champion chassis to become a IRS rear suspension before.

cant wait to see your progress

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I was thinking more for the turboing stage, from my understanding, the early 1.6 engines were from a 323 gti which were turbos, so the early mx5 engine was designed to take a turbo. has a tapped hole in the side of the block for oil feed line etc. not saying later one cant be turbod Im sure they have been.

If you need any help be sure to put in on the group or U2U directly. Ive built a few locosts/haynes roadsters now bike and car engined. Im racing a GBS zero that I built last year, same as you a bargain on ebay couldnt resist.

regards Jon

quote:

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Originally posted by johnnybizzle1986
I was thinking more for the turboing stage, from my understanding, the early 1.6 engines were from a 323 gti which were turbos, so the early mx5 engine was designed to take a turbo. has a tapped hole in the side of the block for oil feed line etc. not saying later one cant be turbod Im sure they have been.

If you need any help be sure to put in on the group or U2U directly. Ive built a few locosts/haynes roadsters now bike and car engined. Im racing a GBS zero that I built last year, same as you a bargain on ebay couldnt resist.

regards Jon

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I think you will be happy with 1.8 mx5 engine. 130bhp ish? in a 550kg car

Might be worth looking at the Ma7da series regulations on the 750mc website, it a new race series Ron Champion Locost chassis but using the 1.8 mx5 engine and box, uno for in the future.

also give the IVA manual a read if you are at some point wanting to put it on the road, its easier to build with the IVA in mind than having to dissamble the car later to reroute stuff and add extra clips, change bolts move lights etc.

I didnt find a great deal of difference cost wise with bike engines, they're cheap performance, cheaper than tuning a car engine, but if you fancy bike engine car, start the build as a bike engined car, I found its more work converting one to the other.

quote:

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Originally posted by johnnybizzle1986
I think you will be happy with 1.8 mx5 engine. 130bhp ish? in a 550kg car

Might be worth looking at the Ma7da series regulations on the 750mc website, it a new race series Ron Champion Locost chassis but using the 1.8 mx5 engine and box, uno for in the future.

also give the IVA manual a read if you are at some point wanting to put it on the road, its easier to build with the IVA in mind than having to dissamble the car later to reroute stuff and add extra clips, change bolts move lights etc.

I didnt find a great deal of difference cost wise with bike engines, they're cheap performance, cheaper than tuning a car engine, but if you fancy bike engine car, start the build as a bike engined car, I found its more work converting one to the other.

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I've put cbr1000 in one and kawasaki zzr1200 in another

I have to cars at the minute one with st170 engine on bike carbs and my race car is fuel injected blacktop zetec

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Originally posted by johnnybizzle1986
I've put cbr1000 in one and kawasaki zzr1200 in another

I have to cars at the minute one with st170 engine on bike carbs and my race car is fuel injected blacktop zetec

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So I gathered some bits for the build today:

2004 Mazda MX5 1.8 VVT engine, gearbox, full wiring loom, clocks, ignition, propshaft etc:



Brand new GAZ Shocks (guy I got them off bought them and they sat in his garage unused):


New Cortina Uprights:


I got the lot for £500 which I think is a bargain!


[Edited on 6/1/19 by kevyo89]

More bits purchased:

52" Atlas axle


New Welder

So I stopped posting updates on this thread because I couldn't figure out how to upload an image that wasn't huuuuugee. However, I think I have it figured so here is an update comprising everything that we've done over the last 2 months - quite a lot to be honest.

Starts of the cage:


Front arms in (Haynes Roadster spec, made to fit Locost with Cortina uprights):


Compbrake Pedalbox purchased:


All arms in and checked for fitment:


Sorting out the top shock mounts:


Setting A-arm angles at ride height:


Couldn't help but throw the bodywork on


Carbon seats purchased:


Nardo grey wrap is the colour of choice:


Engine mounts tacked up:


Engine test-fitted:


Had to modify the gearbox to clear the transmission tunnel:


Roll cage started:


Roll cage almost there:


Rosejointed panhard rod done:


Steering column mounted:


Custom propshaft sorted (MX5 prop shorted with a ford capri flange to mate to the capri diff):


Stripped it all back for sandblasting:


Sandblasted and looking clean :




Etch-primed:


Painted




Seat, harness and pedal box fitted:




MX5 lower steering column modified and pinned to a ford lower shaft:




MX5 sump shortened and modified for turbo oil-return fitting:


Steering column and wishbones on:


Brakes on:


That pretty much brings me to this very day. I do think the steering wheel sits a little high so I will be modifying the column a little this week. By the weekend, I will have the engine painted and fitted, axle in with some rose-jointed rear arms and hopefully my brake lines started

Looking good, you really need some Y braces or a diagonal in that engine bay, I assume you will be added a removeable one once the engine is installed?

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Originally posted by mark chandler
Looking good, you really need some Y braces or a diagonal in that engine bay, I assume you will be added a removeable one once the engine is installed?

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Yes, you need som triangles in there to stop it flexing

Hi

Are you planning sprinting/hillclimbing or racing the car?

If so, have you read the MSUK Yearbook for correct specification of the roll cage including tube size, thickness, material spec and arrangement of tubes? You will probably need a rear diagonal bracing bar. Also any series/championship technical regs.

Thanks
Mike

[Edited on 31/12/19 by Mike Wood]