Mazda MX-5 Miata banner

12 Months Later - Alex's Build Thread

36K views 409 replies 33 participants last post by  Shadowraven  
#1 ·
So thought I would stick up a build thread, well a second one as my first one was wank and the car and I have gone in a completely different direction to that. 12 Months from purchase I think its time to show what's been going on

Right the firm I work for at the moment decided that they where going to give me a bloody big van to drive round it, so it wasn't to long before I got feed up not being able to park it anyway and general being noisy and crap on my 50,000 mile a year journey.

So looking at the generic euro boxes available for weekend run arounds and was thinking bah, I want my 1275 Mini back in one piece. This one;

40582_10150251406980384_521970383_142439


IMG00407-20100705-1651_zps647fa4ff.jpg


Then I saw the light and found that MX5's are pretty much at the going rate for shit boxes, so I popped up to Yeovil and picked this little charmer up;

20130202_143916_zps77c4218b.jpg


20130202_143931_zpsd137d484.jpg
 
#77 · (Edited by Moderator)
So im doing everything I can to avoid doing revision, if you want to know about Interstitial Condensation effects on Timber Frame Housing, then im your man right now.

If not... I just painted this, much better.

20131231_150448_zps36123a6b.jpg


Also so bored, my door handle wasn't working... reason FUBAR barrel all broken up. So replaced that... now what to do.

ae8424a2-6587-4391-bb7a-a0cebb511186_zps
 
#79 ·
Good read.. looks like you're on the same route as me
Did you pre-order those wheels?
Cheers bud.

Not yet I spoke to Craig and there is a few left for the January run, if not it will be May!

Im a bit stink with xmas and turbo parts, I need someone to buy my Speedlines but the thread isn't approved yet. Then I can have them, I need them <_<
 
#81 ·
Yeah getting there pretty quickly, exhaust is all ordered so that's this weekends job. Hopefully intercooler run weekend after.

Ideally I could have all the hardware done in 4 weeks time.

Then comes the fun of EMB.
 
#82 ·
Yeah getting there pretty quickly, exhaust is all ordered so that's this weekends job. Hopefully intercooler run weekend after.

Ideally I could have all the hardware done in 4 weeks time.

Then comes the fun of EMB.
yes iv'e read a lot about emb and thought for ÂŁ250 i would build a ms2 instead, although if i saw one cheap enough i may give it ago, but are you not limited to 9psi? which ic did you go for? i just purchased one my self
 
#83 ·
I was thinking of Megasquirt, but I keep trying to remember I'm sort of to a budget. EMB seems capable enough, im not after massive figures, would be happy at 7 - 9 PSI.

Im using the intercooler that Dan sells on here, came with the kit I bought of an other member.
 
#84 ·
You hungry Mr Turbo... you want a Pasty... we all love 'em paaaaaaaasty's down 'ere :D

20140104_123836_zps3d43c370.jpg
 
#85 · (Edited by Moderator)
So today has been a progressive one, managed to get a full day in the garage.

Manual boost controller on;

20140104_105525_zps805bcca9.jpg


Bought these really nice compressor inlet and outlet flanges, billeted by the looks of it, and they have a pressed O-ring so they seal up well with no need for a gasket;

20140104_105533_zps97fbbd7f.jpg


Did some heat wrapping to the washer bottle, and heater pipe. Right pain in the arse to get it looking neat, originally I was going to cut it to shape and glue it on. But went for the tie wire method in the end.

20140104_133703_zpse6c91fc3.jpg


20140104_132359_zps8ed2fcf4.jpg
 
#86 · (Edited by Moderator)
Then typically it rained, and seeing is my mother is reupholstering one of the campers im stuck on the hard stand.

So I get to adopt my go go gadget canopy, managed to get this 'out of the skip' at work, one of the clients was throwing this away :eek: .

20140104_102709_zps15109472.jpg


20140104_102724_zpsd1ea28dd.jpg


Also got a nice big 3 meter long work bench in the garage, but have to share with my Brother and Step Dad. So I wrote on my little area, that its mine for Turbos Only, to which was disgustingly vandalised by my little brother "Turbans Only" :mad:

20140104_160830_zpsc207cffd.jpg


Funny thing is he looks a bit like this :p ;

Sikh_wearing_turban.jpg
 
#87 ·
Intercooler now on, just awaiting pipe work;

20140104_144731_zpsc4842228.jpg


20140104_144739_zpsf98c4e2f.jpg


Heat wrapped my down pipe;

20140104_161002_zpse4b799aa.jpg


EXHAUST, yeah you know all is well when you have a 'reason' to need a dirty fart cannon;

20140104_102217_zps4aa58c55.jpg


Fits rather well, just waiting on the pipe work to weld up to the down pipe. That will be next weeks mission.

20140104_160702_zps44bcaa7b.jpg


20140104_160728_zps8f129cb4.jpg
 
#90 ·
Nice work, that's quiet a short back box you managed to source as there isn't much room going that way, a matter of opinion but i decided not to wrap my downpipe as my engine loves to weap oil lol, looks good though keep it up
This is the back box http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221098551025?var=520104791565&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 Nice bit of kit really, I think the guy must make them as opposed to Made in China.

440mm long it is, will weld a 90 elbow on the end, short straight pipe to take it beside the diff, then 90 again to return all the way to down pipe. I have got the original exhaust lying out and a 12 tonne hydraulic pipe bender, so I can get all the little tweeks and bends spot on.

Comes with a silencer bung as well which is pretty cool, can quieten it down if need at track days. Seen holding my down pipe up.

have you got PAS? the reason i ask is there isn't much room for ic pipework how you have got ur turbo clocked, same as mine btw, I had to move my PAS fluid bottle forward just to clear 2" pipework, now decided to remove my PAS all together
Yeah I have, the way my set up works is I can point the run straight down in-between the PAS pipe and the bottom radiator hose. Should be able to get my 2.25" run through there with a little jiggling of the pipes.

You can see it in this photo, the gap between the 2 pipes.

I was thinking of removing the PAS all together, but my readings seem to find that if you dont do all the internal in the rack, the steering can become a bit vague.

20131227_154219_zps9ddfd8ae.jpg
 
#92 ·
Could you do it with the rack in place?

Feed of fluid going everywhere when drifting anyway.
 
#94 ·
Hmm tempting, could remove all the pump assembly, reservoir, cooler and the rest. That would make plenty of space.
 
#95 ·
That's it! This summer I'm going to introduce all my man power to a metal snail and my Mx5.

Luckily my MX5 came without A/C, Electric Windows, Electric rear window heater.. I'm actually surprised that you don't have to wind it up to start it and pull it back till it starts clicking to make it go fast :p

Cant wait to get started, I think I'm deffo going to go for a Megasquirt'aaah just to stay on the safe side. Also has anyone read into the RX7 Injectors ?
 
#96 ·
That's it! This summer I'm going to introduce all my man power to a metal snail and my Mx5.

Luckily my MX5 came without A/C, Electric Windows, Electric rear window heater.. I'm actually surprised that you don't have to wind it up to start it and pull it back till it starts clicking to make it go fast :p

Cant wait to get started, I think I'm deffo going to go for a Megasquirt'aaah just to stay on the safe side. Also has anyone read into the RX7 Injectors ?
Do it, plenty of good reads on here of how people have tackled their's.
 
#97 ·
So today has been a progressive one, managed to get a full day in the garage.

Manual boost controller on;
20140104_105525_zps805bcca9.jpg


Bought these really nice compressor inlet and outlet flanges, billeted by the looks of it, and they have a pressed O-ring so they seal up well with no need for a gasket;
20140104_105533_zps97fbbd7f.jpg


Did some heat wrapping to the washer bottle, and heater pipe. Right pain in the arse to get it looking neat, originally I was going to cut it to shape and glue it on. But went for the tie wire method in the end.
20140104_133703_zpse6c91fc3.jpg


20140104_132359_zps8ed2fcf4.jpg
Where'd you get your 60's Russian space suit lagging from? I need to lag my heater pipes and brake line.
Have you mod'd the heater rail to give extra clearance to the downpipe?
 
#98 · (Edited by Moderator)
#100 ·
Yeah seems good, nice and think. Time will tell I guess once its got hot in there.