'93 MX5: Teenage Dirtbag found on BuildThreads.com

Forgot about this thread, bookmarked dude. Good to see you are still alive at least
Loving my makin' bacon pic, L O L

Thanks for the comments guys - not much has happened to it since the Gathering but that's all going to be changing soon

Pete, please can you hang fire on the pics of it on track until I get to that stage myself? Just trying to get this build thread in 'chronological' order (continuity & all that ) Thanks mate.

Anyway, next installment: LOWS!

As you will know, I didn't get any shots of Steve fitting the coilovers, nor of the fitting of the Garage Vary splitter....or even the finishing/fitting of the exhaust Bloody typical!


Now for the moment of truth: coming off the 2 post lift having fitted the Raceland coilovers, the Garage Vary splitter and Rich's hybrid exhaust. Wooden blocks needed to stop it bottoming out on the lift. This is a good sign




Before I get some pics of the new ride height it's time to go for a spin and let the suspension settle a bit. The exhaust is awesome - the sound just begs you to drive it hard. The suspension is absolutlely amazing considering the cost and also the fact I'd come from driving a car with some rear suspension that resembled jelly on a pogo stick. To say that drive was fun would be a massive understatement. It was an absolute blast. Steve enjoyed it too I think....and so did Dave who was following.

Back at the unit with a big grin on my face I finally get some shots of the new look Teenage Dirtbag:






Not staged....not a 'scene' shot. I accidentally kicked this empty bottle across the floor and it landed in a place that perfectly explained the ride height. It made me happy.


Steve had turned up earlier in the day with some tape saying that I might be able to find a use for it. I don't think he had this in mind for a minute.


Couldn't resist a moody shot


One thing I forgot to mention - the Crystal headlights I bought and fitted. The original lights were curse word poor and I knew I want to eventually fit some air intakes where the sidelights/indicators are, so took the opportunity to not only upgrade the light output, but also move the sidelights to the headlight.

Rewiring was pretty easy and I spent a bit of extra time trying to make the new wiring look neat & factory (proper solder, heatshrink and flexi conduit all the way) Trying to work the headlights to pop up on the sidelights took a fair bit of tracing, trial & error (signal wire from the relay under the NSF wing) and I also ditched the dim-dip regulator unit while I was at it thanks to BiAS for pointing that one out.



This means I only need to figure out a place for the indicators but I'm pretty sure I have a neat solution for this. Anyway, here is the new lights fitted. £24 to add to the budget so the total now looks like this:

Purchase price: £375
Raceland coilovers: £162
Garage Vary splitter: £142
Hard top: £130
Crystal headlights: £24

TOTAL SO FAR = £833

I'm really enjoying this thread, Bruce.
Also, I need to drive this car. Y'know, just to compare...

Don't worry mate, it'll take me a while to track the pics down anyway It's looking good mate, and looooooooooooooow

looking good and lows ftw Would love to get a passenger ride in it some time (never been in a soft top before )

How was it getting out of the unit? lol I think mine will scrap quite alot now that the coilovers are on!

Hi Rian,

Sorry for not being in touch - been having some R&R time since the Gathering along with a lovely holiday with Amanda & Jed

Will give you a call soon I promise.



You're more than welcome to Dan. I think most of RR have driven it so I might as well aim for the complete set! Last count was 26 RR people who'd driven the thing!



I was going to go that route.....you can even get some US spec ones with the bulb holders already in place but a dremel and some patience was going to be my route.

I also want to wire them in as running lights (federal spec) so they will illuminate all the time then blink when the indicators are turned on. Thought it would look quite cool. Obviously have an overide switch to turn the running lights off for the MOT



It looks slightly lower in the pics that in reality because the nose was just poking over the start of the slope into the unit. The actual clearance is 2.5" - I could come lower if I took the helper springs out but it scrapes enough as it is (I always let out a childish laugh when it scrapes)



Thanks Ed,

I was very sceptical how it would ride myself. I had driven Craig1010cc's Eunos previously but didn't really pay too much attention to the ride & handling at the time. I was worried that it would be really crashy and harsh set so low, but quite the opposite.....it impressed me a lot how compliant it felt. Stable, planted yet with a decent amount of ride comfort...far more than its low looks would suggest.

I'm glad you got yourself an MX5 and look forward to seeing it low. A growing bunch of RR people getting these now



You're more than welcome to have a ride in it. You'll love it!

Getting it in & out of the unit involves scaffold planks and it still scrapes. This always makes me smile.

Another instalment:

With the amazing welding complete on the offside sill, Ian (BiAS) didn't have time to do the nearside the same day due to the amount of fabrication work needed on the OS. I couldn't ask him to come back to Bristol again but he was more than happy to do the welding for me so I booked an evening and headed down to Torquay where he lives.

4hrs stuck on the M5 thanks to a big accident which closed the motorway I finally got there albeit a bit later than originally planned!

Without further ado Ian had the MX5 on the drive and jacked up ready for some cutting/welding.


Within seconds, Ian's second fave tool was brought into action to remove the previously patchy repaired sill


The rust was nowhere near as bad on this side....about 1/4 of the size of the rot on the offside. Just a small patch plus some surface rust in the seam under the door. The rot on the otherside extended past this seam!


Getting stuck in


Outer skin removed and the internal rot is minimal. Very little needed....


Only a small section needed to be cut out


Liberal dose of rust killer applied to the surface rust and seemed to be very effective


Area around the seam cleaned up


...then rust treated


Clean metal welded into the inner skin then dressed


Outer skin cut from some flat sheet (Zintec steel), bent to shape and offered up...


...then welded




The profile is spot on and the welding finished on this bit.


Starting to get dark but Ian just carries on


...and on




All dressed and looking great!


Just the return edge to do


It's getting late and he takes a break to chat to Jodie who is building a modified ride on mower of all things for the Gathering!


Seeing as it's break time, Ian's GF (Coleen) decides to head down to the supermarket to get some food for everyone. She's just passed her driving test and wants to take me for a drive in her pride & joy....a very tidy little Cinquecento Sporting (LOVE these things....I've had a few myself in the past)


She drives there, I drive it back. Brings back memories of my old ones!


More to come in a little bit....

Coleen & I get back from the supermarket to find Ian had finished the return edge and it was looking sweet!


Seam sealer then some zinc primer shows how neat the welding is


A few coats of black to give some protection and all is done. Nice one Ian


It's nearly 11pm and I feel bad that I've kept Ian until this time! I'm about to thank him and head home when he says "lock your car, your coming out for a blast with me....."

Not wanting to turn him down I jump into his Vitara (nicknamed Shitara) and within a few hundred yards I'm enjoying his local lanes:




It's difficult to get any focus while constantly bouncing out of the seat and laughing like a loon!





Just when I think we're heading back to his house, he pulls out onto the main road and heads to the seafront


Literally!

I take the chance to grab some pics of his fantastic motor (I know this is all slightly off topic....but it's all part of my mini adventure with the MX5)








Brushing the sand off me, we head back to Ian's house and I say my thanks then head off home. What a great evening. It's 1am and I've still got a lovely drive home to look forward to. Time with great friends, progress on the car, some off roading....if this is what MX5 ownership is part of then I'm liking it a lot! There's something to be said about rusty cars LOL

I love your photography Bruce!

Awesome thread, makes me want to get an MX5, even though I've never given them a second look before