Ana Roadster

10563 Views 66 Replies 9 Participants Last post by guitaristanime, 5 d ago

guitaristanime

Discussion Starter · Jun 23, 2021 (Edited)

It's been a long old project and I've many photos to include whilst I write up but to begin with, the almost finished article, with much more to do (is a car ever really finished). Excuse the lack of artistic flair in the following photos, I've not long had the car back from paint and not had much time to get it out due to issues with my relay.....

--When I bought her--
She is originally a '91 import that had a 1.6 short nose engine, it was in white from the factory, however the previous owner/s had resprayed it with rattle cans in MG yellow, which had become flaky. This is where the name Ana came from (50 shades of yellow...) and it's stuck ever since.

I had plans for her, being my third MX-5, I knew the first steps were the preventative maintenance tasks, rust and all the other boring bits.

--Work completed so far--

Both sills repaired professionally by Unit 14 Autoworks in Saltash
Bare metal complete exterior respray including door shuts and inside doors by Hoggy's paint shop in Plymouth
Rear GV panel fitted and sprayed by Hoggy's paint shop in Plymouth
1.8 VVT engine swap with working VVT by Unit 14 Autoworks in Saltash
- MS3 Mini ECU
- Stock NB2 ancillaries with NA 1.8 alternator
- Stock NB2 injectors & coils
- BOFI lightened 1.6 clutch @ 3.3KG with new OEM 1.6 clutch
- Walbro 255LPH fuel pump, new filters
- Derusted and resealed fuel tank
- Toyosports 4-2-1 manifold modified to mate up to NA exhaust
Meister R Zeta CRD coil overs fitted
Autostar Geo 8.5j wheels
Michelin PilotSport 3 tyres
Hyperflash bypass on flasher relay
Crappy Sony stereo fitted, to be replaced
New mohair top fitted by South West Roadsters in North Devon
MX-5 parts dual exit backbox fitted
MX-5 parts de-cat box (not used on public road)
RX-7 80a main relay fitted to replace NA main relay
New after market passenger electric window mechanism and motor
Install Ground Zero audio amplifier
New door speakers
MOT
~~Coolant leak~~ Power Steering Fluid leak
~~Re-wire fuel pump onto separate relay to spread load and heat~~ - Decided not worth doing unless putting car under heavy loads often.
~~ITBs and more tuning~~ - Idea shelved for now in favour of just some cheap fun.
~~Repair hard top and repaint~~ - Managed to buy an almost brand new silver mk2 hardtop last summer, plan is to get it wrapped but not sure if its going on this car or the NB yet.
~~Make new bonnet stay as current one doesnt fit around VVT engine cross over pipe~~ - Fitted gas struts instead!
~~Measure main relay temp difference on NA relay to FD relay~~ - Can't be bothered, nothing much to be gained from this research anymore.
Fit weather strips ~~(might buy new ones but pricey at £90 a pair) -~~ bought good used ones, still want new ones though
~~Might need a new chassis rail on drivers side, as caved in and rusted in places including double skinned part at front.~~ cosmetic and not structural, so I've been told
~~Alter suspension ride height~~ done..nothing! Seems to be great as it is out of the box.
Fit proper rollbar - Caged Lazer, it didn't actually fit well, but I'm not convinced that it was their fault, my car continues to be a bag of mysteries.

--Work to be completed--

New Android head unit
New steering wheel
Fit shorty console (still half sanded off 3D printer) - Fitted but not finished
Procure complete red interior.....
Fix leak in boot - half fixed - had a loose aerial, hole in my gv panel light seal. Found some more moisture but I think it's condensation.

That's all for now folks

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guitaristanime

Discussion Starter · #61 · 1 mo ago

One could say I have the worst luck with cars

Took the clutch assembly apart yesterday and as expected, the flywheel had a blued hotspot on it and the clutch pressure plate was hot spotted quite badly:

Wheel Automotive tire Alloy wheel Motor vehicle Tire

As the new flywheel was going in, wasn't too fussed about that as it was headed for the bin.
Gave the pressure plate a rub down with a contour pad and the clutch had a rub down too by Mark and he was happy with the condition of it. Remarked about how frayed it was at the edges but expected this might have been poor quality control and wouldn't affect use.

He also remarked at how hot everything was on the drive train, hotter for longer than normal and gave him cause for concern.

Re-assembled everything by the book, including doing the gearbox and ppf alignment properly, as was done last time.

I backed it off the ramp myself this time and took it for a spin, all sorted and happy days. Money well spent.

Until I drove 15 mins away and the issue was back, normal driving conditions, not riding the clutch, no launches, no high revs and gentle changes.

Something else is wrong, perhaps it's heat related given the remarks about how hot the drive train gets apparently. Watch this space.

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guitaristanime

Discussion Starter · #62 · 26 d ago

No further forward yet, no one knows whats wrong with my drive train, but given we identified really horrendous lash in my diff, I have sourced a new diff to go on (a type 2 Torsen, 3.9 ratio for £250! don't say bargains don't exist anymore

) and am waiting on a few pieces of the puzzle to get that fitted.

Wood Automotive tire Tints and shades Bicycle part Metal

Wood Gas Automotive tire Auto part Automotive wheel system

Meanwhile I am on the hunt for a mk2 5 speed to go in, I think I have found one and am just waiting for the final details to arrange collection.

I am yet to decide if I should replace the clutch again entirely (at an eye watering cost of £360 now plus cost of clutch release etc for good measure) or to take it all apart for a 3rd time, clean it up and put it back together with the new gearbox and diff added to the equation. Truly, honestly, and utterly depressing.

Advice given to me by multiple people is to drive the car and bed the clutch in, the juddering is getting no better or worse though - noticed the car shakes so much when pulling away/reversing that it clatters the intercooler in the engine bay which is nice.

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guitaristanime

Discussion Starter · #63 · 12 d ago

Diff install on Sunday. Might do gearbox and clutch too, not decided yet.

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Shadowraven

· #64 · 11 d ago

UKDM 1998 1.8 Mk2 Sport - Current mods- Custom 6 point chassis mounted front splitter and sideskirt extensions, battery cut off switch, OEM 'small skirts' and lip, HEL braided brake lines, OEM front upper strut brace with MC brace and mazdaspeed sticker, custom made 2" high flow catback exhaust, Japspeed 4-1 exhaust manifold, Lorber 15" alloys in fiat 750 maroon volcano, uniroyal rainsport2s, Ebay special JDMyo! gear knob, tinted indicators, colour coded reflectors, black headlight inserts, LED sidelights, SMD number plate bulbs, dimpled and grooved mtec brake discs, mintex brake pads, de-tango'd headlights, amber bulbs, RGB footwell lights, SMD interior light, Deltastyling spoiler, foamectomy seats, mazdaspeed seat belt pads, ring ultimax headlight bulbs, IL Motorsport style bar in custom paint, ford fan washer jets, Skidnation coolant reroute with Kia thermostat housing, Gates 22436 radiator hose with hose bracket, 82/85 degree twin valve thermostat, D1 spec engine bay dress bolts, stainless steel bolts throughout engine bay, EGR blanking kit, painted brake calipers, painted tow hooks front and rear, wrinkle painted cam cover, de-greened dials with white SMDs, red needles, painted cigarette lighter, painted oil filler cap, custom made cup holder, painted radiator retainers, polished slam panel, painted alternator, painted upper manifold, painted throttle body, painted header heat shield, painted relay bracket, painted loom brackets, painted diagnostics box bracket, painted wash fluid brackets, painted ABS brackets, painted airbox brackets, painted horns and brackets, painted throttle cable brackets, painted charcoal canister brackets and hard piping, painted wiper rods, painted engine hooks, painted clutch line bracket, Jass offset license plate bracket, offset square plate, 1lt foam fire extinguisher on custom bracket and custom Velcro retaining strap, 42mm alloy radiator, EFI ECU, rx8 yellow injectors, modified US spec AC, Racingbeat air intake shroud, K&N air filter, ceramic M62 supercharger on DIY Garage42 brackets, 1320 uprated bypass valve, 67mm supercharger pulley, 3 port catch can with breather, top feed FMIC, over the rad IC piping, dual throttle body, AEM UGEO X series wideband, DavFab skuttle washer bottle, custom PS cooler and lines, custom radiator mountings/relocation, relocated horns, charcoal canister delete, POR15 rust proofed to within an inch of it's life, cavity waxed and fully seam sealed.

UKDM 2001 mk2.5 - Current mods- SMD interior light, SMD number plate lights, Corbeau Sprint (yes it fits!), modified mk2.5 door card, Skidnation seat brackets, Corba 1046 remote central locking unit, Driftworks basics 350mm leather steering wheel, NRG short hub, NRG 2.5 quick release hub, 8" weighted gear knob, factory electric wing mirrors, factory electric aerial, Kage 4" exhaust with additional powerflow silencer, foam fire extinguisher, custom fire extinguisher mounting bracket, painted cam cover, painted oil filer cap, 15" Advan SA3Rs, Nankang NS-2R 180tw, offset plate bracket, RGB footwell lighting, sun strip, painted calipers and carriers, painted headlight inserts, softtop delete, brake fluid reservoir sock, GCR3 roll bar in custom gloss black, Corbeau Ultima Pro 2006SSU 6 point harness, push button bumper quick release pins, twin port oil catch can, engine bay respray, fully POR15 rust proofed chassis, full chassis seam seal, custom permanent hardtop side mounts, Jass permanent hardtop front mounts, M-tuned large rear rotor spacers with corresponding 276mm SVT brake discs, Freakyparts larger front rotor spacers with corresponding 11" Corado G60 front rotors, HEL braided brake lines, Byba Kits GV style front lip, SVT under chassis bracing, painted radiator brackets, mazdaspeed seat belt pads, charcoal canister delete, large Mazdaspeed side skirts, adapted NA short shifter, 60mm alloy radiator, 3" brake ducts, upper strut brace with MC brace, 3.9 type 2 torsen, 80A diff bushes, front tow hook, rear tow hook

2004 Celica T Sport - Current mods- Meister Zeta Pro coilovers, Forged Wilwood dynalite front calipers, Yellow stuff brake pads up front, Drimpled and slotted discs, Braided brake lines, TRD stubby aerial, Short shift kit, 17" alloys powdercoated in metallic granite, TRD centre caps, Invidia exhaust, Cusco brake master cylinder brace, SMD side light bulbs, butterfly valve delete, Aux to CD converter, 8" gear knob, sun strip, interior SMD bulb, remote damper adjusters, solid shifter bushes

Sold- UKDM 1992 1.6 Mk1 SE - Current mods- Yokohama A048 semi slicks, 15" Lorber 7JJ deep dish alloys, Tein street springs on OEM dampers, IL Motorsport catback exhaust, IL Motorsport decat, K&N greenstuff filter, OMP 330mm racing wheel, TR Lane half cage, TR Lane harness bar, Elise bucket seats, Sparco 4 point harness, Ebay special JDMyo! gear knob, GV lip, Vindii ducktail

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guitaristanime

Discussion Starter · #65 · 11 d ago

Shadowraven said:
GL

Too late to order a new clutch now, no reply from Jayk as to whether he has enough time to help me with the gearbox at the same time lol

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guitaristanime

Discussion Starter · #66 · 6 d ago

I dun fucked up, new diff on, ppf back on and prop in

I smashed all the torque through the small ppf bolt as my torque wrench locking nut slipped and I hadn't realised so upwards of 150nm, smol bolt went tighty loosey

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guitaristanime

Discussion Starter · #67 · 5 d ago

For my benefit tomorrow, remaining to-do list

productive lunch break and after work session

Both drive shafts in, first one was a complete bastard to get in, second one went into the diff like a hot knife through butter. Both were an absolute pig to get into the hubs. But my newly acquired 29mm socket and the bastard hammer, helped me bang the hub over the shaft.

I really hope this diff works, because its been a lot of work to get to this point, for what should have been a straight forward job.

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