Donor Items for "one donor" Kits & which SDV - or not to SDV?

[Kingster]

Just to add - with the benefit of hindsight, if I were to do this again, I'd have gone for either a multi donor or Mazda SDV kit and sold off my Sierra donor parts to the Locost chaps.

 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with my car and I love it - and it drives fabulously - but for the difference in cost (and in my case where I binned a lot of the donor AND used a Zetec with injection), it would simply make more sense to go with the same uprights and wishbones that are common to the majority of Westfields.

 

If the budget was still too tight, then Mazda SDV has to be a great option - Japanese reliability mixed with reasonably priced tuning upgrades (see some of the Turbo and Supercharging threads) is a bonus.

[KugaWestie]

Mark 2.5 mx5 engine is too tall without a scoop in the bonnet.

Mark 1 or 2 engines are fine

1.6 is lighter and more free revving, but you need the earlier 1989-93 engine. Avoid later 1.6's as Mazda detuned them when they bought out the 1.8

Mark 1 1.8 is no quicker than 1.6 from what I have seen due to the extra weight

If you go mx5 route you can upgrade power by either a BLiNK tuned head package, supercharge or turbo.

Parts are freely available for mx5's

[elder]

Kingster996 -I am coming to the same conclusion. When I said basic spec for first build I would be more than happy if that included new callipers, ball joints, discs steering joints and fasteners and most possibly a new rack as well. I was really thinking about instruments, flashy fuel injection systems, general engine tuning parts, limited slip diffs  etc  etc although I also accept that you could not possibly use the original Sierra instruments. Mazda instruments??? 

 

Do I understand that Westfield have now gone over to Mazda diffs in the Special Edition kits?

 

Gary - Thanks for that information about the 2.5 & tuning potential.

Edited August 18, 2015 by elder

[lewis]

Depending on which donor MX-5 you get you can have a LSD.

 

The SDV uses the Mazda instruments but fitting this required cutting the scuttle so fitting a flat dash and custom dials later would have been trickier. I went for a flat dash from the beginning.

 

SDV dash:

 

[Kingster]

Kingster996 -I am coming to the same conclusion. When I said basic spec for first build I would be more than happy if that included new callipers, ball joints, discs steering joints and fasteners and most possibly a new rack as well....

 

Do I understand that Westfield have now gone over to Mazda diffs in the Special Edition kits?

 

You will need a rack regardless AFAIK, as the car uses an Escort MkII rack universally (doesn't it folks?) - and of course it would make sense to use new joints and fasteners and at least refurbish the brakes as a minimum.

 

Not sure about the diff, but Sierra units are going up in price all the time as they become less available no doubt and the factory have all the dimensions jigged up and ready to use Mazda diffs - so could be true?

[Kyle]

I opted for the SDV dash with Mazda instruments to save money and wiring. I think the dash looks ok but I think I will get it flocked in the future. If you go for a flat dash nice dials or a digidash is quite expensive and for me the money was better spent elsewhere like on a ITB's which will make the car a more enjoyable experience for myself personally.

[lewis]

Yep, Escort Mk2 rack. I got a quick rack from Burton Power.

[elder]

Kyle - I think that the dash looks OK as well.

[Kingster]

Got to be better than a Sierra Donor Dash

 

Eeeeuuuuwww 

[BenD]

i think ultimatly it depends on how much you want to spend. my only gripe with the mazda sdv is the wiring i hate wiring personally that is part of the reason why i went with a digidash so i could use westfeilds chassis loom and i used stand alone ecu from omex for the engine managment but all at extra cost. i didnt buy the completion kit as alot of the parts i wasnt going to use

[elder]

Sierra instruments - no thank you.

 

I am quite happy wiring as long as it is traditional. No way do I want to try & wire a cambus system. 

 

I will look into instruments as I don't really like digital dashboards much. I like dials with needles that I can easily see at a glance in any light condition.

 

This is becoming less of a quiet start and more or a finished product - I am into the dreaded options!

[KugaWestie]

The MX5 is Jap engineering, so very high standard.

 

The MX5 SDV is not the quickest car in standard form, but as already said, it can be tuned.

 

I went flat dash from the start. Refurbed the brakes. Hacking the wiring loom is the longest and most tedious part of the build, but also strangely satisfying (and it taught me a lot along the way).

Replacement parts and engines are readily available, scrappy/ebay engines can be picked up for less than £200 easily.

[KugaWestie]

Sierra instruments - no thank you.

 

I am quite happy wiring as long as it is traditional. No way do I want to try & wire a cambus system. 

 

I will look into instruments as I don't really like digital dashboards much. I like dials with needles that I can easily see at a glance in any light condition.

 

This is becoming less of a quiet start and more or a finished product - I am into the dreaded options!

 

Here is my dashboard

 

One more 52mm gauge on their now, but you get the idea 

[elder]

I still need a little convincing here.

 

I am older - as you might well have guessed - and I think of motorsport being based on traditional makes with spares for Ford etc being available long term and at reasonable prices because they are so widely used.

 

If I commit to a Mazda based car I will inevitably be buying Mazda spares & that gives me a couple of concerns.

 

Firstly how long are Mazda going to be interested in supplying spares and is there likely to be an aftermarket in the way that traditional makes have enjoyed which makes consumable bits available to maintain the main bits. I can still buy all the parts for a Ford Crossflow that was made in 1970 but I am not sure that I could do it for a Mazda.

 

Secondly how do Mazda prices compare to market prices for Ford parts. A relatively quick look suggests to me that Mazda parts might well cost more. This is also my concern with the Honda kit which Westfield sell. 

 

Availability and price of bits will make much more long term difference than the difference in cost between the option now.

 

Gary - I do like your dashboard. Very traditional but with a modern edge. Very nice indeed.

Edited August 18, 2015 by elder

[KugaWestie]

I dont see Mazda spares for the MX5 disappearing anytime soon to be honest.

 

I can buy genuine mazda parts or aftermarket spares no problem.

 

I agree they are probably not quite as readily available over the counter in your local motor factors, but the internet is a great tool. I think you just need to know where to look.