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)

Welcome. This forum is the perfect place for any questions and a good source of info when the search facility is used.

Looks like you have a decent chassis to build from.

My advice is to aim for IVA as simply as possible and then work on upgrades.....turbo etc, after IVA.

If you are so inclined, start a build blog on here and post plenty pics. Others have done this and it's very useful for other builders.

Anyway......You are off to a good start as I see your nose cone is the correct colour.

quote:

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Originally posted by Slater
Welcome. This forum is the perfect place for any questions and a good source of info when the search facility is used.

Looks like you have a decent chassis to build from.

My advice is to aim for IVA as simply as possible and then work on upgrades.....turbo etc, after IVA.

If you are so inclined, start a build blog on here and post plenty pics. Others have done this and it's very useful for other builders.

Anyway......You are off to a good start as I see your nose cone is the correct colour.

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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 my chassis arrived today finally and I got a chance to stick it onto some axle stands and give it a good once over to see if it was built to spec/without any major discrepancies:





My brother and I spent some time today lasering and measuring every little section to check how square it's been built. Everything is pretty much bang on measurement-wise, which I am pretty happy with that as there's always a risk with buying a chassis that someone else built.



I then offered up the MX5 gearbox and it seems to slot in well. It will be a tight fit though!





I've an entire weekend ahead of me, with plans to wire-wheel the whole car and go over all of the welds. I will then blast the frame with some primer to coat it while getting the rest done. It will of course, eventually be powdercoated but this will save any rust throughout the next few months.

Prioritised plans for the car are:
- Redo the wishbones to reflect revised geometry (proper caster angle etc) with an additional length added for extra track width
- Fit and mount atlas axle
- Mount engine and gearbox
- Fit roll cage
- THE REST (as the above should take me a couple of months anyway) lol

Looking good!

Id say you got yourself abit of a bargain their at £250 with all them buts an even a set of shock!!

We had to take a step back in order to go forwards with the work done over last weekend:

The original wishbone mounting brackets were not fitted with the aid of a jig and therefore they were not straight. I decided to cut them off and start again as the last thing I want is to get it built up and it drive like a dog.

We cut off all of the brackets but did do a little bit of damage to the lower part of the frame:



It was repaired like so:

More bits arrived throughout the week.



I bought some CNC plates specific to the Haynes roadster and some lathed bush tubes etc so making them should just be a case of slotting them into the jig and welding up.

More progress:

Still picking up some bits as I go along:

OMP Flat bottom wheel


OMP 4 point harnesses


Aluminium fuel tank


MK Indy dash panel


Bonnet


Oh and my engine crane arrived, so we offered up the engine to see what room there was for a turbo - LOADS!

Hi
Just looking at your steering column it might be in the way of the inlet manifold and alternator. I’ve got my steering column under the cross bulkhead front member and its only just out of the way, also my car is a Haynes roadster which I think is a little wider with a 1.6 mx5 engine which is slightly narrower so there might be a bit less space for your column. I might be talking out of my back side but it’s worth a check.

Your pictures are a tad big...

There is an issue with your wishbones at could prove dangerous see below -

quote:

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Originally posted by Charlie C
Hi
Just looking at your steering column it might be in the way of the inlet manifold and alternator. I’ve got my steering column under the cross bulkhead front member and its only just out of the way, also my car is a Haynes roadster which I think is a little wider with a 1.6 mx5 engine which is slightly narrower so there might be a bit less space for your column. I might be talking out of my back side but it’s worth a check.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Your pictures are a tad big...

There is an issue with your wishbones at could prove dangerous see below -

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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






[Edited on 5/3/19 by kevyo89]

So today's progress:

- Rose-jointed trailing arms finished



- Calipers refurbished (I will be fitting four pots but since I have these already, I'll try them out with some DS2500 pads and braided lines)



I also had to redo the axle mounts - the holes were too far back in the mount to allow for the rose joints to fit. I had to plate the original mounts up and fill in the holes, then redrill. Complete pain in the ass but should be ready to throw the rear end in by tomorrow.

[Edited on 8/3/19 by kevyo89]

Looks cracking!

Can I ask how you mounted the gearbox? Are you using the 2 long bolts on the side or just the one at the rear? I'm also using mx5 engine and box in my build.

Cheers
Simon

quote:

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Originally posted by FOUR HUNDRED YEARS
Looks cracking!

Can I ask how you mounted the gearbox? Are you using the 2 long bolts on the side or just the one at the rear? I'm also using mx5 engine and box in my build.

Cheers
Simon

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Yes I think i will have to do the same with my gearbox too. Good to know it mounts well enough with just the one bolt.

Good luck with the rest of your build!

Thanks
Simon

quote:

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Originally posted by FOUR HUNDRED YEARS
Yes I think i will have to do the same with my gearbox too. Good to know it mounts well enough with just the one bolt.

Good luck with the rest of your build!

Thanks
Simon

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Sorry - I have not updated this thread in a long time but here I am.....the car is 90% finished with a 1.8 MX5 VVT Turbo engine fitted.

Nardo grey, green racing stripe, minilite wheels + R888 tyres, wilwood powerlite four pot brakes, loads of carbon, carbon dash, Koso DB03R digital dashboard, professionally custom made interior and exterior wiring loom, MaxxECU with launch control + anti-lag etc.

Hope you enjoy

























[Edited on 30/4/19 by kevyo89]

[Edited on 30/4/19 by kevyo89]

Wow youve been busy! Love it - where did you get those carbonfibre sides from?

quote:

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Originally posted by Daf
Wow youve been busy! Love it - where did you get those carbonfibre sides from?

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