[ecksjay]

well thats a shame, onwards and upwards though. there aint nothing like the addiction of a race track.

 

[seventynine]

that audi 80 belonged to my friend will, that last photo is outside of his house

 

[ste]

I know - I bump-started it from there when I bought it. I had to leave it running outside the petrol station on my way home while I filled up and paid as if I turned it off it wouldn't start again.

 

[seventynine]

hahaha, bless it, had some good times in/with that car.

he drives this now....

 

[ecksjay]

ah, so he likes things low then!

 

[seventynine]

haha, you could say that

 

[ste]

 

[wemorgan]

That car looks strangely familiar

 

[ste]

It does doesn't it. It went off for an affair with another bloke. His thread is here: http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=67695

Strangely I was washing the cars this week though and found it back on my drive hiding behind some tyres.

 

[ecksjay]

you bought it back? hahaha.

 

[ste]

Yeah, you'd better clear a space - it'll probably be back with you eventually...

Will has undertaken some great jobs while he's had the car. Some of the things he'd changed I wanted to change back though. The first was to lower the seats from the highest points on the side mounts back to the lowest. Doing that job alone started to make the car feel instantly back to how I liked it. Less sitting on the car and back to sitting in it. My view is back to being one where I can hardly see over the dash. Just how I like it with my mass nice and low to aid the centre of gravity.

Next for an altitude adjustment was the car's rideheight. I knew that Will had paid a very well regarded specialist to raise the rideheight and undertake a geo. Driving back from collecting the car I'd assumed the rear dampers had blown though as both had no travel before they bottomed out, sending shock straight through the chassis. This with a rideheight back to that of a standard MX5.

The car was raised up and stuck on stands. At this point deja vu really struck.

My plan was to remove the rear HSDs and send them back to the manufacturer as they're less than 12months old. However, it quickly became clear that the rideheight had been adjusted using the spring preload collars. The 2" or so the ride height had been raised had all been achieved by compressing the springs! Therefore reducing the travel at the damper by 2" and hence any compression causing the springs to become coilbound. No wonder it drove so badly. Handily, the original heights pre- adjustment had been marked. I wound everything back into position, checked the springs were just located but not in compression, put the wheels back and dropped it back on the floor. I adjusted the dampers to my fast road settings (8 front, 10 rear) and went for a drive. The car was an utter revelation and back to how good I remembered it being.

Next up was a new Garage Vary lip. I broke the last one at Brands Hatch kerb hopping and Will had opted not to replace it.

Incidentally, compared to the previous 2 I've bought the quality of this batch from MX5 Parts is appaling. Still it's a functional thing. At higher speeds the front is now back to being tied down and less prone to wandering / getting floaty.

I have more plans that involve more power, more grip and less weight. Will update as usual as things progress..

 

[wimper]

Incidentally, compared to the previous 2 I've bought the quality of this batch from MX5 Parts is appaling. Still it's a functional thing. At higher speeds the front is now back to being tied down and less prone to wandering / getting floaty.

Glad it's not just me who thought the quality was shocking for a ?140 piece of plastic moulding. But like you I've found it sticks the front end to the road, so I'll put up with it!

Car's looking good. Good to see you bought it back to finish it off.

 

[ecksjay]

hahahaha, yeah i dont doubt it. the world is a strange place.

coincidentally, i've considered selling my mk2 rs turbo and have thought about taking a mk1 or cheaper mx5 in px, as i just dont get to use the car. fancy myself an evo but wouldnt mind a cheaper mazda to blap around in for a little while, whilst i decide what i want to do.

anyway, good luck with it chap, have fun.

 

[ste]

Have you had an Evo before? I've had a few and have found them really uninvolving. I had my first one while I had my first black MX5. The Evo hardly got used as I prefered driving the Mazda.

 

[ecksjay]

i used to drive them often back in the day when i worked with SVA testing, but have never owned one, no.

For the amount I drive (i.e i've done circa 3000miles in the past 18months), it would be ideal. I'd like a little more room for trips away also, so don't really mind what it is and simply fancy a change. I'll whack the car up anyway and if i get a cheeky little mk1 n/a or something in px then that would do nicely for the time being.
I dont do enough miles to even justify having a car at all to be fair, but it's just nice to have a change once in a while

on the topic of your motor, whats your thoughts on what has been done with the engine with regards to the new head? does it feel any different than previous?

 

[ste]

Hard to say in all honesty. I've had a fair few cars inbetween selling it to Will and buying it back. It certainly doesn't feel quick, but does feel different. Lots of that difference of feel is down to the mapping of the Megasquirt though I imagine. There's a small but perceptible change as the VICS switches and it makes a slightly more angry noise than I remember. It's a weird spec at the moment - the better flowing head and the ECU that isn't really adding anything. If it had the higher-comp MK2 bottom end I'd be tempted to fit cams and throttle bodies and aim for about 170bhp. Really though, with the lower MK1 compression but better flowing ported MK2 RS head and the capabilities of the MS it's the perfect engine for forced induction. I'm very tempted by an MP62 kit and an intercooler but bothered about adding that much weight right at the front and high up... Should get a fairly easy and reliable 240-ish bhp and if I can get the weight with that below 900kg (have a few things in the pipeline) I think it'd be quite useful.

 

[wemorgan]

Will has undertaken some great jobs while he's had the car. Some of the things he'd changed I wanted to change back though. The first was to lower the seats from the highest points on the side mounts back to the lowest. Doing that job alone started to make the car feel instantly back to how I liked it. Less sitting on the car and back to sitting in it. My view is back to being one where I can hardly see over the dash. Just how I like it with my mass nice and low to aid the centre of gravity.

My plan was to remove the rear HSDs and send them back to the manufacturer as they're less than 12months old. However, it quickly became clear that the rideheight had been adjusted using the spring preload collars. The 2" or so the ride height had been raised had all been achieved by compressing the springs! Therefore reducing the travel at the damper by 2" and hence any compression causing the springs to become coilbound. No wonder it drove so badly. Handily, the original heights pre- adjustment had been marked. I wound everything back into position, checked the springs were just located but not in compression, put the wheels back and dropped it back on the floor. I adjusted the dampers to my fast road settings (8 front, 10 rear) and went for a drive. The car was an utter revelation and back to how good I remembered it being.

I hope you found the seat height adjustment easier than I did.....the passenger side especially I fought with for over an hour.

I'm sorry the garage made a mess of this otherwise simple change. I was curious as to why even with the increased ride height I was still bottoming out at times. Now I know. I'll pass this feedback to the garage as I know the owner will appreciate knowing it. Apologies on their behalf.

 

[ste]

I have a special allen key that I cut to shape just to remove and fit the passenger seat. It's still an utter pain though!

I was very surprised that they'd got the suspension so wrong Will! Hope the car hunting is going well.

 

[horney]

Awesome car, interested to hear the GV lip actually does something useful as well as look cool. Will be getting one for mine soon.

Where did you get the import size pressed plates from? Been after a set and can't find anyone who'll do them.

Nick

 

[ste]

Cheers Nick. Plates are from here.