[BASSone]

Hi all!

Let's start with a little talking (again! => I introduced myself and described the car here) in order to sum up what have been done, what will be done, and what would be done on the car.

I'll update this post every time there's a change to make it clearer, and I'll link any change to its related post with pictures and/or description of the work that has been done / the part that has been bought. I think proceeding as is would make the whole project easier to understand for anyone discovering it, even if it ends up filling 100 pages

.

So here is the promised list (I'll start posting pictures in the second post

):

Already done stuffs:

- Goodridge braided brake hoses (already fitted on the car when bought).
- Blue silicon Magnecor spark plugs leads (already fitted on the car when bought).
- NGK BKR6E spark plugs (now BKR5E).
- Change the fuel tank, with all that it implies on a 15 years-exposed-to-bad-weather-car.
- As it was disassembled from the car, take time to clean and rustproof the whole rear subframe assembly, and all the rear under part of the car.
- Change the rear cross member brake pipe by a genuine Mazda new one.
- Change all brake rotors and pads (oem rotors + EBC Ultimax).
- Change the whole suspensions for a complete D2 Racing gaz coilovers kit
- Change the front left lower wishbone (I've been literally assailed by a sidewalk edge two weeks after I've had bought the car

).
- Make a new ground cable from the battery.
- Total draining and cleaning of the cooling system (hot chocolate, anyone? The former engine broke due to head gasket failure, and seems the system haven't been cleaned properly), + a new thermostat and 7 new cooling hoses (Kevlar reinforced form Autolink. Radiator upper one totally burst, I was kinda in an emergency situation).
- Change the WHOLE brake piping from the ABS block to the wheels, by coper made to order tubes (f***ing expensive :x !! But no way I could pass on it, there was heavy corrosion on these and I don't really wanna die at 23) + new brake fluid (Ferodo DOT 4), then.
- Remove the stock air box to put this Pipercross induction kit.
- The cam cover gasket was leaking, then I change it and painted the cam cover. Also bought a nice aluminium oil filler cap (+ 10hp

).
- Fit the IL Motorsport brace bar.
- Change the oil pressure gauge and sender unit for the early "real" pre-1994 type ones.

=>You'll see pictures and descriptions of all that is described above, here, on the second post. All future modifications will be linked below if necessary.<=

- Fit the silenced cat bypass from Mx5Parts.
- Fit the ILM classic black wind blocker. Works really great

! But still I can't wait for the summer track days

!
- Remove the 1-ton-weighting stock tie down hooks for two racing tow hooks (few pics here).



Will be shortly done stuffs:

- Roll bar. I'd like a Harddog M2 Hardcore Hardtop double diagonal (ordered and paid).
- Fit a bucket seat (Sparco if I can find a cheap used one in good condition, or a RRS one) + a matching 4 or 6 points harness.
- Get a set of Bronze 15'x7' ET20 Rota Grid-Vs. Will probably be wrapped in Toyo T1R tires (195/50/15).
- Maybe use my MKII 14' alloys to put semi-slicks tires on it for the track days when my Dunlop Sport 01 are finished, but only if I have the money and a second driver to come with me to the track with the "assistance crews" Scénic

!
- Change the stock radiator for an aluminium big core and tank one (bought and received).
- EBC Turbogroove grooved and slotted front rotor, or those from Moss which are grooved and perfored, and EBC Red Stuff pads (unless I find a better quality/price rate, or really more efficients ones) to deeply file them

.
- Mx5Parts 4-2-1 stainless steel exhaust manifold.Already tested it anyone? Is it worst fitting?
- If a guy from Mx5 France can make it with his home made production project, I'll fit a Jackson Racing type CAI, but built in fiber.
- GV type front lip

.
- Find something to modify my console, in order to fit a voltmeter + an oil temp meter + a clock. I'd like to have something like that in full black, or like that if the first one's too expensive for me.
- Success in setting these damned rear caliper adjuster spindle, but I'm really desesperating about this

.
- Repair this rotten frame rail and use this occasion to make a full home made stiffening kit for it and its twin brother, just like they did here, but with regular rustproofed steel and welded on the châssis, instead of just bolting it on.


Would like to do stuffs:

- Rebuild the front braking system (full set of 4 pots calipers brakes, Wilwood or Brembo Max issued).
- Maybe an adjustable brake proportioning valve, like this one.
- If this doesn't fix the problem, find why the hell the car still slightly pulling to the left on non-ABS using hard braking

!
- A "real" on demand built 4-2-1 performance exhaust manifold (maybe one day...)
- Change the kevlar reinforced cooling hoses by blue silicon ones (

).
- If I have to change the clutch, I'll get a used fly wheel as well in order to have it slightly lightened.
- Change both cam shaft by performance ones.
- Maybe some wheelarch extensions (yeah, but I'd like to keep my mudguard, even if I have to cut part of them to make it fit

). Then I'll need hub extensions or wider wheels.
- I saw that on Mx5Parts... I guess it'd be a nice track days set of wheel later with R888 fitted on them

!
- Mx5Parts cat-back exhaust system.
- Change all motor and differential mounts by stiffer ones (Mx5Parts?). But considering my rear subframe and differential to PPF bolts condition, I'm affraid I'll have to change the whole thing if I want to do that

.
- Change or find how to totally renew all my wishbones, and change all the cracking old stock bushes for new ones.
- Get a racing steering wheel (stock one is almost bigger than the cockpit and I'm 6ft tall

!).
- If I fitted an adjustable brake proportioning valve, maybe I'll be considering changing the rear brake system too.
- In the eventuality my differential fails, why not getting a Torsen or a Quaife one?
- Supercharger? No, please, don't let me slip to the dark side of the force!


That's presently the last version of my project for this car.

 

[RyanT]

You've been very busy! It's looking like it's going to be a hell of a car when it's all done!

 

[BASSone]

Here we are, in the end!

Let's sum up all the done stuffs with pictures and dates.

July 2011:

In order to wire brush and rustproof the rear underneath part (I've had done the front part during the former week-end) of my new toy, I put it above the pit in the garage. I saw a corrosion spot on the tank, just near the drain plug

.

I'm a bit nut you know... so I slightly scratched it and got fuel in my face. Then, it was all getting extinguishers and emergency draining the 30L (8gal) left

.

After that, I had to change my fuel tank and thus I had to disassemble all the rear part of the car. Mine was badly (but not structuraly) corroded underneath and have had many previous owners, so I'll pass on the seized and/or broken bolts and a few other weird things (err... why a Nylstop nut to fasten this part of the subframe on the car? Uh, its thread stayed on the car. Why am I not astonished? Go-gadgeto Dremel

!).

As the new ones were really expensive (man! This is just a f***ing tank!), I got a used one at Autolink and used this occasion to do what the cars urgently needed: totally (at least as far as I could) cleaning and rustproofing its rear part, new rotors and pads, new suspensions, new ground wiring for the battery, LHD head lights...

Here's a little sum up of the operations in pictures:

BEFORE:

Fuel tank anyone? The first one has been damaged by a forklift during the transport, I received another one in replacement then.

Noting anything dangerous

?

"Efficient", is the brand of these rotors

!

AFTER:

Lazy frog. These are tuning smoked MK1 Golf head lights. A friend of mine had that at home and didn't need them, so he sold them to me for 20?. My head lamp brackets needed a few Dremel strokes to accept them properly, but considering the usual prices for classic LHD lights... it was a real bargain, plus they are clear and flat glass lights (more light with H4 and allowing HID fitting) and they look great on my black Mx5

!

So, three weeks on jackstands, hours and hours of work and a big mess in the garage... yeah, I know. It could have been done faster. But just consider the shipping time for parts that were breaking one after another while disassembling the whole thing, plus this damned wishbone that made me waste almost one week just when I was thinking I just had to put the D2s on and drain the brake system

...

Anyway, I've got to thanks a few friends for their help, the photos and even some spare stainless steel bolts and nuts. And also my father for having had his car outside during three weeks

!

September + october 2011:

Many little things that I don't always have pictures of. Most of them are localised under the bonnet, so I'll sum up and do with 3 photos.

1) The cooling system:

As I said above, it was all chocolate like because of the old engine head gasket failure, and seems it haven't been totally cleaned after the new engine has been fitted. Nor have the hoses been changed, despite their age. I was told that thing could work great to clean it:

And it did! Needed to rinse the system at least ten time to have clear water flowing out of the radiator then, but still it worked!

Two weeks later, the thermostat broke and made the upper radiator hose burst while driving. Loved the big white cloud when driving on the seawall just in front of a caf? terrace

!

2) Brake piping:

Nothing special, all the piping from the ABS block to the wheels was dangerously corroded. I have the new coper pipes done by a garage. It was really expensive, but as I still want to stay alive for a few time on, I didn't have the choice

.

3) Engine bay:

I felt for the Pipercross induction kit with a heatshield. Works well, and does really change the engine noise, but it's even better with the silenced cat bypass on. The addition of these two things does really improve the engine performance, and gives a really nice "racing" noise to the 5

.

As my cam cover gasket was leaking, I take this occasion to also purchase a used cam cover, just to do what you'll see hereunder with it

.

I found a nice gun metal oil filler cap with the BP engine name sticked on it on Ebay USA

.

Fitted the ILM brace bar. As said in their ad, it improves the cars handling, and does improve even more the driving feeling!

To put it in a nutshell, it looks like that:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

January 2012:

I received a few things which are awaiting fitting:

Rennenmetal tow hooks.

Have been prepared with that:

And so, they now look like that:

Performance aluminium radiator, found on Ebay UK. This is a 622x320x52mm core one:

Early used "real" oil pressure gauge and sender (Autolink):

I fitted this last Friday, it works great and the dashboard looks better with it!

That's all for the moment, the more interesting will come in during the next weeks. Keep in touch

!

 

[cribbohx]

Very very nice work there monsieur!!!

ps: does mine looks a bit like a raging frog?

 

[BASSone]

Very very nice work there monsieur!!!

ps: does mine looks a bit like a raging frog?

Thanks

!

Yes, we could say so... but green&yellow frogs aren't supposed to be venenous ones

?

It may seems to be dumb but... are you also a Lotus fan

?

More seriously, I've got a little question... I'm looking for a reinforced front tow hook, but can't manage to find one.

I've already purchased and fitted the Rennenmetal one (see picture above), but despite looking nice, I'm not so confident about its ability to resist to an upward traction (towing on a plate, or from the bottom of a trench... we never know...).

The fact is that when I pull it upward hard with one hand, I can feel the whole thing starting to flex a bit. Mazda says using the stock hooks to tow the car could damage the body, but seems it would be the same thing with this one...

Does anyone found a front "cornered" one, like the rear one they sell at Mazdaspeed or Moss for instance? I looked around a bit but neither Racing Beat, nor Flying Miata nor anyone else seems to sell this.

Then, a few more pictures that we took on last Wednesday with Mugface Killah, the "official frog's photographer"

! Rainy day, but I haven't got more recent pics of my car so I want to share some of them. Just because that makes me happy, sorta

.

I also ordered my Harddog roll bar, and will soon order a GV type front lip

!

Keep in touch

.

 

[BASSone]

Hi all!

No big deal, but just a few pics of the front with the hook.

I've already fitted the rear one too, but forgot to take a picture of it...

I'm still looking for a reinforced front hook that I can't find... I've got this picture in my hard drive for a few time now:

I don't remember were I got it, but all I know is that the front hook on that car looks exactly like what I'm desesperately searching.

Does anyone know what brand is that thing, or maybe who is the owner of this car?

 

[lingl9z]

Nice read, from here it looks like one jibberingloon (I think) makes on here Ncb Motorsport or alike.

This is one on my 5

Rich

 

[BASSone]

Nice read, from here it looks like one jibberingloon (I think) makes on here Ncb Motorsport or alike.

This is one on my 5

Rich

Thanks a lot for the info, I'll PM Jibberingloon then!

PS: love your custom BRG

!

 

[lingl9z]

No problem at all buddy and thanks, Rollered it Nato Green, it's a little rough but works well!

Rich.

 

[cribbohx]

Very very nice work there monsieur!!!

ps: does mine looks a bit like a raging frog?

Thanks

!

Yes, we could say so... but green&yellow frogs aren't supposed to be venenous ones

?

It may seems to be dumb but... are you also a Lotus fan

?

Keep in touch

.
[/quote]

Thanks. Not a Lotus fan really but just thought with classic Racing Green it just "had to be done"! We are probably dropping it back to standard as I'm trying to sell either my MX5 or my RX7 to trade up to a rather MAD Turbo'd 5. Any of your mates in France want a nice "UK" spec 5? Low milage and good price!?

abientot
Steve

ps: are you boys heading to the LM24 or Classic? ... this is my place ... Bounty Le Mans

 

[Sara]

Sounds a great project

Keep updating us

 

[BASSone]

Very very nice work there monsieur!!!

ps: does mine looks a bit like a raging frog?

Thanks

!

Yes, we could say so... but green&yellow frogs aren't supposed to be venenous ones

?

It may seems to be dumb but... are you also a Lotus fan

?

Keep in touch

.
[/quote]

Thanks. Not a Lotus fan really but just thought with classic Racing Green it just "had to be done"! We are probably dropping it back to standard as I'm trying to sell either my MX5 or my RX7 to trade up to a rather MAD Turbo'd 5. Any of your mates in France want a nice "UK" spec 5? Low milage and good price!?

abientot
Steve

ps: are you boys heading to the LM24 or Classic? ... this is my place ... Bounty Le Mans
[/quote]

Hi,

I'm affraid I don't know anyone who's currently looking for a 5... but I don't know everybody on Mx5france.com. Anyway, if you want to sell your car and someone in France wants it, just put an add on Piston Heads and be sure he'll find it

! Is it a FC that you got on your avatar

?

And, no we aren't going to Le Mans this year... I'm affraid we won't have time nor money for that, unfortunately.

Thanks Sara, be sure I'll keep all that up to date

.

 

[cribbohx]

Is it a FC that you got on your avatar

?

Sure is! The car is "nickel".... but up for sale to fund an MX5 Turbo purchase. It's a UK spec so no registration problems in France lol. Let your Ami's know...

 

[BASSone]

Is it a FC that you got on your avatar

?

Sure is! The car is "nickel".... but up for sale to fund an MX5 Turbo purchase. It's a UK spec so no registration problems in France lol. Let your Ami's know...

[/quote]
Red FC huh? Mmmh, I'll talk about this, but I don't know if someone's looking for a car presently...

About what you said a few time ago, we're not heading to Le Mans this year but maybe to E38 in UK next september in case you're there.