I had a few moments and a new camera caused the order of pictures being added to become confusing.
So I decided to break it down into various components. They are sequentially listed.
Older site:
This is the current months for past months click below.
08/19/2006- The car started! That is all. CLICK THIS FOR THE VIDEO. I didn't keep it running because it has no cooling system connected.
08/18/2006-There hasn't been much progress but that all changed today. I had some pieces laser cut by Mark and they came out very nicely. They moved the shock attachment point on the chassis outwards and downwards in an effort to get the bottom of the shock to connect as close as possible to the ball joint. Anyone still interested in my opinion on a Miata donor? The spindles suck @$$. They make the track wider and you end up needing longer springs or attaching the shock in a non ideal place halfway across the arm.
The header is killing me. I have made some progress but the last part of connecting to the collector is a bear! I'm just waiting for someone to come help me! Heikki , Want to kill an afternoon and a 12 pack ??? :)
I then painted the new suspension parts and I had cut off part of the cage which now needed painting. It looks good and hopefully I can reattach the front soon. I also have everything out of the way and the body panels can be done next. I still need to make a clutch line from the flex hose to the master cylinder but that should be rather easy. I have tried several times to start it with no luck, but I found some pieces I had not connected today and went to try but the battery was dead.. Who knows? Maybe soon.
And a final word to those people building. If your using dzus fittings to attach the body and you own a mig welder, avoid these clips. I don't know what alloy they are but they don't mig well. I landed up making my own and they solve one of the problems of the rivets conflicting. I turned the plate side 90 degrees and made 2 spots for the back of the rivet to sit in. They work really well! Thats all for today.. I am not trying to get POR 15 off my hands.
05/23/2006-I haven't done anything because of various things coming up. Schools out and I been working more and have less time to think about this project. The exhaust bends arrived but it looks so complicated I don't think I want to try.
Anyways.. I'm going on vacation till June 22nd- aka my BD.. So no updates till that time :(
04/28/2006- Pretty good day today. I managed to get the brake system sealed up and fully functional! I just need to connect wires to the brake light switch and then that system is 100% complete. I finally installed the final Dzus fastener plate under the nose and its very stiff! Excellent! Next I mounted the ECU to the inside of the firewall and used pieces of silicon hose as shock absorbers, The original wasn't shock absorbed but this car will probably ride rougher than a Miata. The steering wheel hub also arrived, With the Hub, quick connect and wheel its about 9" farther back than I expected, but it feels pretty descent! I wont worry about it until I get a seat. Next project will be to start organizing the inside wiring and then start skinning more panels.
The idea of cleaning the garage was a mistake! I took away counter space in exchange for parking depth. I cannot get to both sides of the car as easily as I could before. This may make me focus on the exhaust system next. Lastly, here is a picture of that brake fitting that stripped. A pipe wrench came to the rescue!
04/23/2006-I hate this car! I left pieces of butchers paper under ever connection in the brake system and used a 2x4 on the brakes to look for leaks. Apparently they leak.. DAMNIT! So I did what everyone said, try tighten them more. I landed up stripping one of the pieces, YES, I used a flare nut wrench, I have no idea what happened. I then had to remove the master cylinder to try get it out.. I couldn't get the fixture out of the master, If you have any idea of what to try on a very well rounded piece, please let me know!! Even a pair of vice grip just deform it and then go round and round :(
I cleaned the garage, car got a new corner and it was turned around. I finished the rear bulkhead panel, i just need to bend it now. I also need to order some 1/8" clecos. They are dead cheap from Pegasus at $.40 each. Those damn brake fittings, i have no idea what to try next.
04/17/2006-Well I didn't have to pull out the pedals! Yay! I them managed to fit the panel in its place. I couldn't get the drill in to most places. There is one section by the gas pedal I cant get to right now. Keith said to try a dremel, so I will buy one tomorrow! I then tried to tightened the leaky brake fitting, and broke that piece into pieces. Other that little progress today!
04/16/2006- That Nibbler has killed me! My hand is in so much pain! This weekend was a hand tools only (well.. the electric drill) I used the nibbler and several hand files to shape the scuttle shelf piece. Its the piece I am most proud of on the entire car! Its complete as far as I am concerned. I still haven't decided how to attach it to the scuttle to the shelf piece. I then went on to the brakes and had 1 leak. The older I get the less willing I am to negotiate with problems so I threw that line section out and made a new one. Now the new one leaks as well, apparently from the connection to the master cylinder. Then I started to install body pieces.. and the pedals need to come out! So I need to undo the brake system, remove the pedals and install the body piece. I am so excited (sarcasm), I did manage to get some brake fluid in my mouth testing a 1 way valve.. Disgusting! I hate that crap and honestly don't want to deal with it for a long time. The more I want this project to be finished, the longer it takes. I still need a clutch master cylinder, so I don't think I am putting any pedals back in until I get that, I also need headers. I installed the radiator, and need a lower hose. I will deal with that one day, no rush right now. The radiator is very cool!
04/14/2006- Only spent a few hours in the garage using hand tools today. I used a Radio Shack nibbler that eats 1mm pieces of metal and I made the scuttle shelf fit. It is probably the best looking part I have on the car. It isnt finished but its relatively close. I just need to determine the shape to cut the back section out of. At any rate I am not ready to rivet it in yet because there must be 1000 things I will need to get under it for. Oh.. this picture shows what happens when you try removing a shrub with a 10000lbs tow tie down.. Apparently its in there! I wasn't hurt, but it was close
4/13/2006- Not much progress at all. I had most of my body panels cut by SignHere and bent them on a box brake at Hotwheels. The few panels I did came out easily. While stuck in traffic today I thought about removing the side impact bars until the car is painted, or if possible making a set that is removable. If you have an idea of how I could do that, please let me know. Heikki came by the other night and we checked the chassis for twisting. There is an 8mm difference which I am told is negligible. It irritates me but its not too terrible. Wheel center to centers are dead even! And the suspension isnt even set up yet! Massive thanks to Chris Fiaccone for the steering wheel! It looks pretty damn cool! Now I need a hub adapter. Other than that I have been struggling to find time to finish anything! The brake system requires 2 tabs to be welded to the chassis then it can be tightened and blead. Oh, and apparently Heikki and Chris are the only people who read this :)
My good friend Gary used to race one and it was beyond fast! And anything less than the best is not acceptable. The result is to build a street legal (for a short while) Super Production Car Under 2 Litres.
What Parts?
MIATA, Ebay scraps and Hand Made
When?
RIGHT NOW! Hopefully finished by June 2005/6.
Where from ?
Since I have absolutely no patience I will be making my own frame. I found a company that makes them but they have taken over 11 days to call me back and thus I don't see myself working with them If I can help it.
This is a section for various parts I have made too many of in an effort to save money in production.
Bias Bar- CAD designed by Chris Fiaccone and built out of 1.5 x .095 DOM steel. It would satisfy most racing safety requirements.
I have 2 of them available. They are 38" center to center so it will fit most Book chassis Price is negotiable. Email me if you want one.
I also have another Hoop that is more conservative in its design
It is just like the one in my car. Fits on a 42" wide Chassis, does not come with down tube legs or harness bar. Same 1.5" x .095 DOM Steel. Email me an offer.. I only have 1 left
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