steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Sept 17, 2019 17:33:36 GMT
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I haven't had much to write about for a while but my son persuaded me to buy him a car. He is 9 and has watched too many mighty car mods videos and played Forza far too much so I ended up buying this.  I spotted it on ebay and considering it's really not meant to have lasted this long it's doing quite well. It's got an MOT and apart from needing new CV gaiters it isn't too bad mechanically. My son is keep to fit some different wheels and it might be easier to get tyres if we could find some 13" wheels. It came with new front and rear bumpers so the current ones might get messed about with in some way as the front one is broken. I'm on the lookout for a parts book and have already found some workshop manuals. Lots of stuff is available from Malaysia but I am a bit worried about clicking on some of the links that come up ! We spotted some posters for a car show on the way home and stopped of for a look. Not bad going to a show on the way home from picking up a car ! |
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Last Edit: May 17, 2020 11:59:14 GMT by steveg
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Sept 17, 2019 18:17:10 GMT
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well at least he's got 8 years to do something interesting with it.
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'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating
'80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip
'97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Sept 17, 2019 19:10:18 GMT
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He likes Kei cars and it's got him outside off the computer so thats a start. The original Miras were a bit better looking, these gained bigger bumpers so I might what we can do with it.
The little 3 cylinder engine gives it a bit more character than other small cars and if he gets his way it might get a turbo but we would have to find an engine of the parts to do that.
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Sept 19, 2019 10:09:20 GMT
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Love a Kei car  |
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Sept 19, 2019 12:10:52 GMT
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They look a better with the early Daihatsu bumpers. Probably impossible to get them from anywhere.
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Sept 19, 2019 22:28:42 GMT
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We all know the recipe. Lows and wheels will transform that.
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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I've been busy with this but not much to show for it. Getting parts is a real pain though. AS the passenger side inner CV boot had split, that was my first job. I tried a couple of different aftermarket boots and ended up with some stretchy ones which fitted OK but needed low level clips to clear the gearbox housing. Next up was the badly clonking front Shock. I managed to get a pair from KYB from my local Factors. Listed as Mira ones the only visible difference is the slightly lower spring platform.  It was sold with new bumpers so rather then keep looking at the broken front one I fitted the replacement but not after a lot of straightening and swapping of broken headlamps. The front corner had been walloped quite hard and a lot of metalwork behind the bumper was bent, it had broken the headlamp mount as well. Looks a bit tidier with the new bumper though.  The steering wheel was rather nasty so I went ebay shopping. I didn't want an obvious aftermarket one and was looking for a MX5 Momo one when this one popped up.  The MX5 ones have Eunos in the centre but this ones just got some circles. I found a boss on ebay as well. The boss needed the holes for the indicator cancelling pin re-drilling. The indicators would have probably only cancelled in one direction and it would have driven me mad. Today's job was to fit new Antoroll bar to track control arm bushes. These are another impossible to get part so I resorted to getting the closest Polyurethane bushes I could get and them modify them to fit. Searching the catalogues theclosest I could get were from a Toyota AE86. A bit of bodging on the lathe later they were a bit shorter and rounder and seem to fit OK.  Plans now are to fit the new springs I have ordered, along with the rear shocks and try to sort out some wheels. Current plan is to get a set of 5x12" steel wheels, fit the original centres to them and make use of the nearly new tyres. My son wants to fit some alloys but there aren't many suitable ones around.We bought him a model kit of a slightly earlier version Mira and he wants wheels like that ones got. I found a decent picture of the kit as we haven't built it yet. Tink we might struggle.  |
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I/we have a perodua nippa that we dress up for charity 'banger' rally events. Currently struggling to find suspension struts too.
I've read on another thread on here that slightly modified struts from a corsa will fit. Just awaiting a reply to find out which as should offer a much cheaper option!
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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I/we have a perodua nippa that we dress up for charity 'banger' rally events. Currently struggling to find suspension struts too. I've read on another thread on here that slightly modified struts from a corsa will fit. Just awaiting a reply to find out which as should offer a much cheaper option! The KYB ones are only standard oil filled ones and aren't all that expensive. On one of my internet trawls I found some Boge ones as well but only from Germany I think. The brake parts I ordered from Perodua turned up in Daihatsu packaging but it's just seals, I think I will need pistons as well so I have bought a pair of complete repair kits from Germany again. I think the calipers used on the Nippa are the same as on Hijet vans if you ever get stuck for parts. I've started up a Faceache page in the hope it might attract anyone wanting to sell or dispose of a car, somewhere to make notes about parts as well that might help fellow owners. |
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Nov 10, 2019 12:44:08 GMT
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Link me in to the face ache 😁 All the struts and spring combinations I've found have been silly prices. A single unit second hand for over £200. Can get cheap coilovers for most cars for that! 😔 |
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Nov 25, 2019 23:06:25 GMT
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I've finally got the sticking brake caliper sorted out ! I'd hoped it was just the sliders but ended up having to order a seal and piston kit from Germany. I've only done one side so far and it looks like this.  I've also fitted a set of springs I bought from a company called Springcoil. They list lowering kits for all sorts and I ended up getting a pair of -40mm front ones and some -30mm rears. I was a bit dubious about whatever I got would fit but they fitted well and there is a 10mm difference between the front and rear.  It looks lower at the rear due to the shape of the rear arches so might look better if it was a bit higher that end. Wheels are still proving difficult. The narrowest Revolution 4 spokes are 5.5x13 and they are a bit sticky-outy. I'm toying with getting some cheap 12" mini wheels which are 5" wide and swapping the centres from the current ones. I could also use trailer rims which are 5.5. I'm pretty sure that you could add 1/2 and inch inside and outside and the tyres will stay in pretty much the same place, might just get away with and extra 1/4 but will need to make sure the trailer wheels are made from thick enough steel although in this case they might actually be heavier duty than the originals ! |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Perodua Nippa ProjectDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Nov 25, 2019 23:45:22 GMT
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If I had something that small I’d be chopping the springs in half and fitting some quad bike wheels, but then I can be a bit of an idiot when it comes to such things.
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We all know the recipe. Lows and wheels will transform that. Nah mate, needs a lift kit and farm service lug tyres. |
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Last Edit: Nov 26, 2019 8:15:21 GMT by igor
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Nov 26, 2019 13:02:35 GMT
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If I had something that small I’d be chopping the springs in half and fitting some quad bike wheels, but then I can be a bit of an idiot when it comes to such things. The original front springs had larger diameter coils with smaller ends so I couldn't cut them. The rears are parallel so could have been. Some quad wheels have the right PCD but most are 6" wide. The alloy ones look a bit flimsy but steel ones might be Ok. |
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Last Edit: Nov 26, 2019 13:06:33 GMT by steveg
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Nov 26, 2019 13:10:06 GMT
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We all know the recipe. Lows and wheels will transform that. Nah mate, needs a lift kit and farm service lug tyres. Shame it isn't 4WD, must be similar to drive as a Panda. |
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Apr 12, 2020 20:41:55 GMT
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Bit of an update. This has been tucked away in the garage over the winter. I managed to get hold of some Daihatsu wheels before Christmas, had them refurbished and fitted new tyres but haven't had a chance to fit them. Quick test fit before the were painted.  Part of the problem was finding suitable centre caps and wheel nuts. They are both odd sizes. I bought some centre caps off ebay that were slightly oversize and turned the OD down so that would fit. The nuts were a pain though. The originals are very short and re-chroming them very expensive. A far cheaper option was to buy some new open nuts and some plastic covers. I had to cut all of these down though as they were too long. The end result was this, far better.  The paint of the car isn't great but it's come up a bit better now it's had a bit of a clean and polish. I gave up with the rear springs as the new ones were just too soft. For now I have refitted the standard rear ones and it looks OK really so I might just leave it alone for now. The new bumpers really tidy it up a lot, very lucky the previous owner thought to grab them when he did.  Next on the list is to do something about the exhaust. It doesn't fit very well and it seems a good excuse to relieve it of a silencer as it's far too quiet ! There is one in the tunnel, one huge one under one side of the rear seat and a silly little one right at the back. |
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Last Edit: Apr 12, 2020 20:49:18 GMT by steveg
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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May 17, 2020 12:06:00 GMT
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After the first lot of heavy rain we had, it's a while ago now, the inside of the Nippa turned into a small lake ! The previous owner had fitted a new screen rubber and I had noticed a small amount of water on the passenger side rubber mat. This was different though and the rear foot well was full. Nothing for it but to remove the seats and carpet, dry it out and then find where the water was getting in. Running the hose on the windscreen it looks like it was coming in the top edge of that. I did spot a suspicious looking gap where the roof panel joins the side though. It should have a trim stuck in the channel but both are long gone now. Because the mastic used to attach them was sticky I had removed it which had reviled the gap in the seam sealer. Seems the big leak was my fault so I re-sealed the gap ad so far no more water has got in.  Close contact with the seats made me realise just how horrible they were. They are vinyl with a cloth centre which has started to rot. Due to the limited (non existent) supply of good used seats an alternative was needed. I started to look for MX5 seats but none were available locally and seeing as we weren't allowed out it made things a bit tricky. I started wondering if other Daihatsu/Perodua seats might fit in he way you can swap some Vauxhall seats for example. Very little available apart from a few Sporttrak and Terrios seats but no way of fitting seats from these in the back. I found a picture online that you could just see the Terrios seats had similar looking pressed steel bases so I ended up buying a pair to see. The result after much swapping of parts now means we have a pair of reasonable front seats in the car. The base pans are the same apart from a few welded in thread inserts and the only problem is that the bases are slightly wider meaning less room to grab the handbrake.  The problem now is what to do about the rear seats. My son wanted to take them out anyway, I think he was planning a roll cage next although where you could get one of those I don't know. In the meantime I might make a new floor as the loadspace without all the folded seats looks very handy.  I've set up a facebook page for Nippas in the UK to try and gather anyone interested together. So far the majority of interest has come from Malaysia. There are thriving businesses who import half cut Miras from Japan and swap all the interesting bits into the vast quantities of Nippas they still have running around. |
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ovimor
North East
...It'll be ME!
Posts: 935
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May 17, 2020 15:01:08 GMT
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Handy bunch, those flip-flop wearers in ML. I'm an ex Proton SAVVY owner (9yr from new) and the ML Savv forum was a goldmine of info.... Part interchangability with other cars, as P.UK were $hite  The Mira had a 'bolt on/over box' power window assembly, for the rear doors... My SAVVY was 'keepfit' windows and I looked at getting a pair of those powerwinders to fit onto my fronts >> they just sit over the square shaft poking through the doorcard = easy fit!  Great plans for this.... Look forward to seeing it shape up. OVIMOR |
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Knowledge is to know a Tomato is a 'fruit' - Wisdom, on the other hand, is knowing not to put it in a 'fruit salad'!
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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May 17, 2020 15:23:41 GMT
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I'm not sure about loosing the rear seats because it has back doors, having said that with a proper load platform it would be great for food shopping as you could easily get heavy bags in and out ! I did suggest fitting a big screen and a playstation but even he though that idea a bit daft!
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