Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,951
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In the American world you can get UJ's adapters. So you can have a 1350 on the prop and a 1330 on the gearbox spline sort of thing. Do they make the same thing for this sort of application? Good progress. Question. Does the instrument cluster have to be at an angle? Will it not fit in front of the driver? P.  |
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In the American world you can get UJ's adapters. So you can have a 1350 on the prop and a 1330 on the gearbox spline sort of thing. Do they make the same thing for this sort of application? Good progress. Question. Does the instrument cluster have to be at an angle? Will it not fit in front of the driver? P. Evening mate, hope you feel better. Cluster is curved, could be cut and recessed, but it reduces space behind the steering wheel. So central mounted feels good at this point. All is still open to interpretation and execution. |
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. . . . . . ………………….. So eventually we got to this point. Body hoisted up.  Pulled over. nickwheeler grinning like an expectant father.  And about 30 minutes after touchdown, which was absolutely without a fault, we added the set of RX8 seats and the rollbar and the glenanderson screen frame. Also realised this rollbar needs to be remade as the seats need to move back about 150mm from where they are. Still, it did not stop Nick and I from trying it out for size.  Also tried out the speedo clocks. Running as much as possible of the original Mazda MX5 loom and instruments However……. I will possibly be looking for a loom donor for the Instrument binnacle section have it all reach as the loom is tightly made to size. Plan is to fit the clocks like in the pic, central, facing the driver, and that may call for 18” of extra loom. Know anyone with a scrap MX5 with that part of the loom available to remove or donate to the build?  Next up, a look at the engine fit in the engine compartment. This is it, without ancillaries. .jpg) Adding in the original Mazda radiator and air intake gives you this. PROBLEM……… The slimline cooling fan from the donor, does not fit into the space available. So another plan and solution to be made.  And then next up. MAF AND AIR FILTER PLACEMENT. Safe place to fit it, back here. So it needs a section of pipe to connect it. Clever guys………. QUESTION: Will a lengthened section here, affect performance at all?  And finally………. Took a positively underwhelmed Sally to see what had kept me busy today. And walking down there, the current stance, lowering and look ROCKS. I love it. As it stands, no fluids, screen, extra bits, loom etc. The front crossmember is 5” above the ground and actually the sump may be 4.5” above the hotizon. Current look.  And then you add my bulk to it. Sure, it is a cheated pic, using leverage I managed to get the front down real low. Not far from the original vision. Whatcha think team   Loads if work left to get it to the next phase. Brackets, links, supports, wiring, Rivnuts, holes, fittings, lights, steering, pedals………. The list goes on and on. Chuffed as a Chuffed thing tonight. Tomorrow its me and Mr Grinder and the donor again. Yup, realised we need more parts removed. . |
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Last Edit: Jan 2, 2022 20:29:55 GMT by grizz
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You saying that has made me realise that the underdash bar could be useful. It runs across the width of the dash and mounts the steering column and pedal box, which still need to be done. Could save a lot of time.
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Looks great and progress is flying along,
What the plans once you’ve finished it? Keeping for selling on?
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1994 BMW 525i touring
2004 BMW Z4 sorn and broken
1977 Ford Escort
1982 Ford Capri getting restored
1999 Mazda B2500 daily driver.
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You saying that has made me realise that the underdash bar could be useful. It runs across the width of the dash and mounts the steering column and pedal box, which still need to be done. Could save a lot of time. Nick, I am torn between square tubing or 30mm pipe. Mr Welder does not really care, but I think square is easier to square up, but pipe will look and feel nicer, hidden behind the dash (well, what will be left of it after Mr Jigsaw has his way there) than the square tube. A double length may be a good idea too, one high up in the scuttle and one put front behind what is left 0f the dash before I,start to refashion it. |
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Looks great and progress is flying along, What the plans once you’ve finished it? Keeping for selling on? Right now……. Nobody knows. It should hustle along very nicely with the standard fitment kit and engine power. Once it has a major service, it could be very reliable, So I may as well continue doing things right. As usual it has seen massive “project Scope Spread” if that is what you call it. Costing more than it should have. However……. Imagine Phase II |
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Last Edit: Jan 3, 2022 10:10:46 GMT by grizz
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A lot of progress over the past few days. If I was the type of bloke to be embarrassed when someone has been far busier than I, then I would be embarrassed, but I’m not.😎
Very well done. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
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glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,345
Club RR Member Number: 64
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Great progress.
Making an extension for the dash loom would be straightforward, I don’t think you’d need another donor. How many cables are there in that section? All you need do do is cut and join it with a multiplug and socket. Then you can make a harness up the right length with the same plug and socket on each end to extend it.
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My worst worry about dying is my wife selling my stuff for what I told her it cost...
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Nice bit of progress. Not sure if your going to run this on the standard loom or not. If you are, I saw a guy on a Cortina forum who cut all the dials out of the standard mx5 dash and fitted them into the mk1 Cortina bezels. They looked pretty good and it’s a cheap way of getting it going. Something is now telling me I’ve mentioned this before or is it deja vu? Running as much as possible of the original Mazda MX5 loom However……. I will possibly be looking for a loom donor for the Instrument binnacle section. Plan is to fit the clocks like in the pic, central, facing the driver, and that may call for 18” of extra loom. Know anyone with a scrap MX5 with that part of the loom available to remove or donate to the build? Sorry, don’t know anyone with a loom, but I think old style round clocks will be much better suited than the whole binnacle. It didn’t appear to be a lot of work to get them into the old round style gauge pods. May look more ‘old jeep’ than just the mx5 binnacle. |
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glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,345
Club RR Member Number: 64
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I’ve got several old speedo casings that could be repurposed…
A lot of work though, compared to using the standard Mazda cluster. With a bit of creativity in mounting it, I’m sure it’ll look great.
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My worst worry about dying is my wife selling my stuff for what I told her it cost...
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Great progress - top job gents.
What a great way to spend the Christmas break. Brilliant that the temperature has been so kind, although very wet.
Looking forward to the next installment already.
Cheers,
Andy
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Superb progress,
There's loads of chrome rings and dress up kits out there for the mx5 instruments, seems like something for when it's up and running to me though.
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Happy new year to all and sundry. May this be a good building year for all.
Great work Grizz Team. Good progress.
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We can wait, but are expecting big things based on progress so far ! Saw this and wondered if a oversize bumper / air dam could visually lower the front end a bit ?  Anyway sure your vision will come good, just getting it in one piece a big achievement. James Morning James. Went back and pulled these off the thread mentioned in my first post. Keep in mind the purpose of that build was very different to this one, but……. Some similarities in thinking.     Maybe the rear wing is a bit much, though I do have one planned. |
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i think once Grizz pulls it apart he could make a simple cover with round holes to make it a little more old school looking if he wanted i’ve already sent to Grizz a while back via whatsapp  |
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Using the stock binnacle, lens and cover was to make it look more like a car than just gauges scattered randomly across a flat panel. There isn't space between the steering column and scuttle for it, and original Jeeps had their gauges in the centre of the dash. Angling it towards the driver, with the curved cover over the top will also help to make the whole dash look better than just another flat surface across the car.
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A lot of progress over the past few days. If I was the type of bloke to be embarrassed when someone has been far busier than I, then I would be embarrassed, but I’m not.😎 Very well done. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 You have nowt to be ashamed of mate. You earned your stripes a long time ago. Great progress. Making an extension for the dash loom would be straightforward, I don’t think you’d need another donor. How many cables are there in that section? All you need do do is cut and join it with a multiplug and socket. Then you can make a harness up the right length with the same plug and socket on each end to extend it. Thanks Glen, lets see what happens when the time comes, it is not like I do not know how to solder and heat shrink. For now….. I have other small jobs to get done. Running as much as possible of the original Mazda MX5 loom However……. I will possibly be looking for a loom donor for the Instrument binnacle section. Plan is to fit the clocks like in the pic, central, facing the driver, and that may call for 18” of extra loom. Know anyone with a scrap MX5 with that part of the loom available to remove or donate to the build? Sorry, don’t know anyone with a loom, but I think old style round clocks will be much better suited than the whole binnacle. It didn’t appear to be a lot of work to get them into the old round style gauge pods. May look more ‘old jeep’ than just the mx5 binnacle. Personally, because I am building a weirdo of a car, it needs to have certain parts fitted that will be pure tongue in cheek, and others for function. The existing speedo and instrument cluster totally works for me, including the surround, which I will try to figure into the dash. I am happy to keep it together as it is. I’ve got several old speedo casings that could be repurposed… A lot of work though, compared to using the standard Mazda cluster. With a bit of creativity in mounting it, I’m sure it’ll look great. I have a few clocks here as well, collected from various places including bootfairs and sent by the likes of jimi but for now it needs to stay together. I have distracted myself way too much already. Great progress - top job gents. What a great way to spend the Christmas break. Brilliant that the temperature has been so kind, although very wet. Looking forward to the next installment already. Andy Cheers Andy, I am fortunate that Covid screwed up my usual American road trip that normally takes up all my annual leave. And having nickwheeler pop over the 10 miles from his place to help as much as he has, has certainly allowed the build to progress and get the MX5 broken, and the motor and trans mounted. From here there is a load of work and planning left, but it is smaller, bite sized chunks of toffee. Superb progress, There's loads of chrome rings and dress up kits out there for the mx5 instruments, seems like something for when it's up and running to me though.Agreed, but if I can make the existing pod work, bargain. Happy new year to all and sundry. May this be a good building year for all. Great work Grizz Team. Good progress. Thanks Eugene. Have you caught up now? Hows the weather in Central Africa? |
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you asked what did we think well I think you and "team Grizz" have done a fantastic job, well done I think this pic sums it up perfectly   |
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joeytalent
Part of things
ITB Everything.
Posts: 440
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Take a look at KG Works MX5 Gauges for inspiration. There used to be some guides online for DIYing by butchering a sacrificial set of gauges.  |
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