cianha
Part of things
aka VDubbin
Posts: 923
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Dec 20, 2011 15:46:46 GMT
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Well done mate, can't be easy heading out in this weather. It'll be worth it when you're done though! I'm a bit surprised that you're spending so much time on cosmetic work on what's essentially a track slag, but I'd be a fan of function over form.
Any ideas on the target weight?
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Last Edit: Dec 20, 2011 15:48:30 GMT by cianha
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Dec 20, 2011 19:12:13 GMT
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Really liking this, it looks awesome with the modifications you've made, and it looks like most of them will genuinely help aerodynamically. ;D Very cool car. Only thing I would say is that with just the cross brace on the roll bar, it lacks any real triangulation, it'd help it's strength a lot to add some vertical braces to box in the sides of that cross. (Might have been said already, I've only really looked at the pictures so far  ) |
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Dec 20, 2011 19:50:53 GMT
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Thanks for the replies guys  It would freeze the balls of a brass monkey out there and our heater decided not to work, luckily it is now or I would currently be typing with stubs due to frostbite. A bit dramatic but it is bloody cold. And the idea was to keep the modifications functional but still looking good. I know some might say I'm devoting too much time on bodywork for something that ultimately will be abused but I want it to look the best it can, first project after all. The sanding is soul-destroying though but it must be done, if it was running I'd be tempted to throw a bucket of paint over it and call it a day so all bodywork has to be done before that. No idea on a target weight just as light as possible haha I think they are about 980kg standard so I'd say we've cut a fair bit out.. Gathering motivation to head out and do some more....... |
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Mazda mx5 mk1 eunos Track car Project
1973 Vauxhall Firenza
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Okay so, my last update was abit pitiful. What with the blurry, half-@rsed attempt at decent photos. So, as way of an apology for that. Here is a (hopefully) better update. With ACTUAL NON-BLURRY PERFECTLY VIEWABLE PHOTOS. I know, I'm surprised too, don't be getting to attached though, I only borrowed the camera. So, actually have had quite a fair bit done over the christmas break, alot of which I didn't take photos of because it's sanding, which is boring. I've spent about 3-4 hours on each individual arch Have some photos of the arches so far, not finished, takes along time of feeling and sanding before I'm happy with the curve..  fairly symmetrical...       Then, after arms aching, decided to stop sanding for awhile as I was losing the will to live. Decided the splitter needed some work. So, a layer of tissue glass first to give it some form, the the uprights you see, are to hold it up, they'll be attached to the chassis rails. The idea was to create a sort of "sock" (highly technical) around them to keep strength. the edge that you'll see sticking out from the bottom and then isopon'd over and rubbed down again, not finished but should look tidy.      Then some time was devoted to tidying up the front end. First of which was welding up the big ole' that was cut to allow the piping through to the top of the strut. From the leg of the rollcage to the top of the shocks isn't a solid pipe by the way, it's two individual pieces, from the leg of the rollcage to the doorpost/bulkhead, then from the other side of the doorpost/bulkhead (again, highly technical) to the top of the strut. First the passenger side..     Then the drivers side...   Then work went into a strut brace (cos it needs one). Buy one you say? No no no, that would be faaar too easy, a length of 3mm thick piping and a bearing press will do nicely.   Some shots to show how thin it is..    Wasn't all finished at this point..    Finished in the last 3 shots. Tidied up the end of pipe with some thick washers, should have put a pencil sharpener on the inside perfect fit ;D Then onto the onto the inside. Needed some welding to tidy up the piping from the leg of the rollcage to the bulkhead, so..   And last but not least, my rubbish attempt at an arty shot.  Might get abit more done this week, if I'm lucky might even get another layer of paint over all the stuff that's been done.. Comments/views/whatever as welcome as always ;D |
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Mazda mx5 mk1 eunos Track car Project
1973 Vauxhall Firenza
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Okay, today's efforts. Not as intense as yesterday but still got a fair bit done. Started on the splitter, got it attached, pop-riveted on the underside to the aluminium extension on the nosecone that covers the unnecessery ventage. After this some seam sealant sicofelxy stuff to create a nice smooth line to tidy things up abit..       Then alot more sanding on patches that needed filled in on the arches, boring but had to be done, photos don't really show you too much as there's alot of colours going on and it just looks abit messy but it's fairly smooth for now, next stage for that being primer and no doubt many more hours of sanding (yaaayyy ;D)       After this there was an hour long fight with panel gaps after the bonnet was put back on, to no avail, with the aluminium inserts in the vents on the wings seeming to pull it out abit and general tugging and pulling as they were moved to make other stuff fit. After improving it slightly, moved onto the issue of the eyelids. We have ones as mx5s have been broken here before (loads of stuff for sale pm and ask) <--shameless advertising. Decided there wasn't much point in using ones that are sellable, as well as this also makes them part of the bonnet as the is no headlight it makes things abit easier. So, made a template and got the tin-snips out for the aluminium, I think they look pretty cool, what do y'all think? despite the photos they sit flush-ish with the bonnet edge, apart from the corner you can see needs pulled down but that'll be sorted when these arrive:  courtesy of the bay of e.    That's it for today folks. Any views and opinions welcome I'll finish with some shameless pic whorin     ;D |
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Mazda mx5 mk1 eunos Track car Project
1973 Vauxhall Firenza
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looks great so far, keep up the good work
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Still looking good, it'll be interesting to see what weight it comes out as. My MX-5 weighed in at 1015kg, standard early 1.6, PAS but no AC, with a 6 point roll cage and a full tank of fuel. (full interior and spare in the boot). 515kg on the front axle, 500kg on the rear iirc.
I'd be cautious of making much of the bodywork non-removable, or too much of it in single large pieces if you're planning to use it hard on track though, you'd be gutted to have to re-do most of that front end if you clipped the splitter on a curb at speed. In fact I'd almost be tempted to take moulds of the custom stuff you've done, so you can recreate it easily if you do have a bump, rather than having to re-do all these hours of sanding.
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Thanks for the comments.
RobinJI I fully agree, if I can afford it a mould of the entire front end will be taken, hopefully to make one solid piece instead of the two wings and the nosecone. and flippin' eck, thought they would have been heavier than that standard, intrigued to see what this will make now, have to bear in mind stuck alot of weight back in with the bars though ;/ Have to wait and see..
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Mazda mx5 mk1 eunos Track car Project
1973 Vauxhall Firenza
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cianha
Part of things
aka VDubbin
Posts: 923
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Soem great work going on there! Regardgin the lights, bear in mind that you'll still need to have some type of marker lights/sidelights to drive on trackdays, more so you'll be seen on dull days rather than to see in the dark.
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Sven
Part of things
Posts: 341
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How'd you take off the windscreen frame? Just chop it off?
-Steve
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1969 Chevrolet 4x4 C10 Pickup
1969 VW extended cab pickup (doka)
1980 Volvo 240DL
1995 Mazda Miata MX-5
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2011 MK Indy R (building)
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Exactly like that, angle grinder and then welded a plate over the top, the windscreen was broken when I got it so rather than replace it thought it better to just get rid |
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Mazda mx5 mk1 eunos Track car Project
1973 Vauxhall Firenza
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This looks insanely mean. |
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Sven
Part of things
Posts: 341
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Exactly like that, angle grinder and then welded a plate over the top, the windscreen was broken when I got it so rather than replace it thought it better to just get rid Sweet! I'll likely be keeping my screen on when I chop it up for a track car, I'm a wimp! -Steve |
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1969 Chevrolet 4x4 C10 Pickup
1969 VW extended cab pickup (doka)
1980 Volvo 240DL
1995 Mazda Miata MX-5
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2011 MK Indy R (building)
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very nice its looking kool
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Jan 22, 2012 22:42:22 GMT
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Thanks for the replies dudes. Haven't checked up on this in a while. So yeah, just bought these..  Happy would be a slight understatement. |
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Mazda mx5 mk1 eunos Track car Project
1973 Vauxhall Firenza
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cianha
Part of things
aka VDubbin
Posts: 923
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Jan 23, 2012 16:07:52 GMT
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linky no worky?
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Jan 23, 2012 18:27:24 GMT
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How'd I miss this? Any plans for a little wind deflector? That would just finish it off for me. Here's a Westfield example, and a local one at that.  That should be a load of fun when complete. |
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dtvracing
Part of things
On the diff....
Posts: 157
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Jan 23, 2012 18:31:00 GMT
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Serious amount of work in this, your getting on great so far. Keep up the good work matey |
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I love these, they have the "hooligan" look about them straight from the factory!
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Sven
Part of things
Posts: 341
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I race quite a few autocross events in mine. Not sure if they have those in the UK, but it's cone dodging around a timed course. Anyway, suspension is pretty important, more so than power in fact, and the local Miata hacks have a pretty standard suspension kit we put on that lowers the car as almost as much as you can stand and has some pretty drastic improvements to the grip without the car being ridiculously harsh. Anyway, if you're interested I'll list the whole package.
-Steve
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Last Edit: Jan 24, 2012 9:10:08 GMT by Sven
1969 Chevrolet 4x4 C10 Pickup
1969 VW extended cab pickup (doka)
1980 Volvo 240DL
1995 Mazda Miata MX-5
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2011 MK Indy R (building)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,825
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Aero screen would be cool. Nice that you're giving cosmetics some serious attention. No reason why track cars should look like sheds.  |
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E36 BMW 318is saloon (rare as a hens false tooth)
VW Caddy Maxi 2010 (usually full of Labradors)
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)
