Subframe jig
[img][/img]
Can anyone guess what I've been making this week ?
Subframe jig
[img][/img]
A jig for a bent subframe, have you been out playing in the snow with that Alfa
A metal sculpture for someone for chrimbo?
A jig for recording the postion of the lower wishbone (aka lower arm) from the front subframe of a car. Probably an older car due to the rack mounting
being in front of the axle rather than behind it.
Hang on a minute, that's a 3,4,5 Cortina front subframe, is it not?
[Edited on 20/12/09 by mr henderson]
[Edited on 20/12/09 by mr henderson]
not anopther one of those. how many do you have now?!?!?!
Some of you are close 
It's a jig I have been making from an Mx5 front subframe - I have been helping to fit a KLDE V6 into one , and a major problem has been clearance
for stuff like the sump and exhausts .
There is a tubular one available in the states which would solve all of the problems , but it's $1095 
So I am `on a mission' to build one , and thought it best to build a jig good enough to make more than one
[Edited on 20/12/09 by clairetoo]
I did the same thing so I could use the front suspension from a mk1 Golf on my Autograss Mini. Only the mk1 doesnt have a subframe so I cut the whole front from a rusty one in the scrappy, which got me a few strange looks!
Boat anchor?
Cheers, Pewe 
quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
Some of you are close
It's a jig I have been making from an Mx5 front subframe - I have been helping to fit a KLDE V6 into one , and a major problem has been clearance for stuff like the sump and exhausts .
There is a tubular one available in the states which would solve all of the problems , but it's $1095
So I am `on a mission' to build one , and thought it best to build a jig good enough to make more than one
[Edited on 20/12/09 by clairetoo]
This is what they did in the GTM Rossa - complete front end from a metro into the rear - worked very well with a GTI Metro as a donor.
Steve
quote:
Originally posted by gottabedone
This is what they did in the GTM Rossa - complete front end from a metro into the rear - worked very well with a GTI Metro as a donor.
Steve
quote:
Originally posted by gottabedone
This is what they did in the GTM Rossa - complete front end from a metro into the rear - worked very well with a GTI Metro as a donor.
Steve
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
I've often thought this would be a good idea to replicate pickup points from a FWD hatchback.
That way, the standard suspension complete with wishbones and struts could be used in a Mid engined car with bodywork configured around the suspension to suit.
For a roadgoing car, not fabricating unique suspension components seems like a good idea.
Don't tell anyone I had this idea though.
Some interesting thought there .
The main aim of this is make more space around the engine , with the added bonus that it should be lighter and stiffer than the pressed steel original
.
Having seen this I saw a lo-cost
alternative being the way forward , with maybe wishbones next on the `to do' list .
how about a little prioritisation! i've been waiting for my pulleys for over a blooming month
There's big money being made by people doing tubular subframes for fitting more modern engines to classic mini's. They charge twice the
price of a bare 7 chassis for something with about 1/10th the work/materials.
Decent V6 in an MX5 will make a nice car.
That looks sweet! And wishbones as well... I imagine that would be a sweet kit for someone wanting to, say, make a kit-car using MX5 running gear...
I can't wait to see the results when I get back!!!
Happy xmas from Ireland btw!!! I feel the new year will bring goodness to the car-cobbling world
Chris
As soon as the Christmas excess was over (and I could do my jeans up......) I got back in the garage , and got stuck in actually making the new
subframe - there is just the rear mounts and a bit of gusseting on the top mounts to do , but it's 90% done now
work in progress
Subframe nearly finished !
Just hope it's not too cold in the garage tomorrow as I hope to have it finished and off the jig !
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Ay, that's alright, that..." - Fred Dibnah MBE (the real master of understatment, RIP)
Chris
[Edited on 29/12/2009 by iti_uk]
Glad to see you finally got the pedal box lid crossed off your list lol
quote:
Originally posted by iti_uk
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Ay, that's alright, that..." - Fred Dibnah MBE (the real master of understatment, RIP)
Chris
[Edited on 29/12/2009 by iti_uk]
I have faith. What could possibly go wrong?!?...
Chris
Clairetoo, serious question - what's the advantage of fitting a V6 over let's say supercharging or, if you must, turbo charging a standard
1.8 or 2 ltr engine ?
Logic would say that you can bolt on a supercharger a lot easier than the aggro involved in fitting a different engine.
Or is it the same answer as to why anyone would fit a supercharged Lancia engine into an F27 - because you can and/or because you happen to have the
engine lying about?
Cheers, Pewe
[Edited on 1/1/10 by pewe]
The main reason for going for a V6 rather than turbo or supercharging the original 1.8 is just to have a V6
But also - there is no way a blown small engine will have the flat torque curve of the V6 - mine is happy to pull away at 800 rpm in second gear , and
pull seamlessly to 8000 .
Plus theres always the option of a turbo or two on the V6 - the KL can make up to 800 bhp on twin turbo's , while 600+ is not unusual
link to 800 bhp KL V6
[Edited on 3/1/10 by clairetoo]
quote:
Originally posted eby clairetoo
As soon as the Christmas excess was over (rand I could do my jeans up......) I got back in the garage , and got stuck in actually making the new subframie - there is just the rear mounts and a bit of gusseting on the top maounts to do , but it's 90% done now
work in progress
Subframe nearly finished !
Just hope it's not too cold in the garage tomorrow as I hope to have it finished and off the jig !
quote:
Originally posted by Angel Acevedo
Clairetoo,
Arenīt the lower front (in thr picture ) pickup brackets a little bit long?
or are you planning on reinforce them in any other way?
quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
quote:
Originally posted by Angel Acevedo
Clairetoo,
Arenīt the lower front (in thr picture ) pickup brackets a little bit long?
or are you planning on reinforce them in any other way?
What looks like long brackets are actually part of the jig - although I will add a couple of small gussets to those steering rack brackets
Ah - you mean the front wishbone bracket !
It is welded (on the back- shown in red) to the side tube , as well as to the upright tube , whereas the other ones are just welded to the tube (shown
in green)
Those side tubes are 4mm wall , so should be up to the job
bracket
Since the `big freeze' seems to be over at last , I thought I would celebrate by getting back into the garage
I had been held up a bit by running out of 2mm steel sheet for the top mounts , and I was a bit undecided about how to do the rear mounts (the Flyin
Miata one uses 2 tabs which I think look a bit flimsy)
Rear mounts
rear brackets
And now its off the jig
off the jig
We decided to change the engine mounts on the subframe as the stock ones are a bit too far back , so new engine mounts are next on the list......
[img][/img]
Now that looks excellent!! I really like the rear mount solution you came up with - that looks just the ticket (see profile pic).
Looks like it'll drop right into my car...
Chris
hi,
If you do make any more let me know as that would tempt me mack to an MX-5 again.
blake
quote:
Originally posted by ceebmoj
hi,
If you do make any more let me know as that would tempt me mack to an MX-5 again.
blake
looking good.....some nice development there....
quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
Well , we are seriously thinking of putting together a `package' of all the parts needed to fit a KL V6 into an Mx5 - the jig has been made with production very much in mind
Subframe with bits bolted on!!
Excellent!!!
The picture's a bit low-res - I've taken it from my miata.net account, but it shows what's what...
Chris
looks pretty impressive clair.
just a bit of constructive criticism though i'm unsure if it would be possible to implement it....
one of the most noticeable and easiest mods to make to an early mx5 is to add a brace between the rear wishbone pickup points. it's no placebo,
it's a real noticeable difference. this subframe looks significantly less stiff than the standard item, so i'd look to try work some
triangulation into the front, maybe a cross of steel strap along the bottom face assuming the sump can sit at standard height, and definitely
something to brace the rear wishbone pickups.
best of luck with it though and full respect for having a go.
tom
ETA - iti_uk, are you aware of mx5nutz.com? come tell us about your project. also, if the subframe might be able to take a v8, there's a few
people on nutz that have expressed an interest but i think the subframe mods are the biggest stumbling block. might be another avenue to explore
claire
[Edited on 30/1/10 by indykid]
Sorry to resurect this, but did this progress any further? I'm really interested in a tubular subframe for my MX5!!
Cheers, Russell.
quote:
Originally posted by vindi49
Sorry to resurect this, but did this progress any further? I'm really interested in a tubular subframe for my MX5!!
Cheers, Russell.
some nice welding there! but what gives with the 'locost builders' on the images? is that an automatic thing forced upon all images now? bit off in my eyes.