Hoorah! Incoming Mazda SDV build

[Dommo]

Hi guys,

Been loosely planning my build for a little while now, it's all coming to reality so I've just signed up as a full member. Did get agonisingly close to Westfield ownership a few years back, but child birth stopped that. Anyway, I'm now in a position to do it 'properly' as it were so all for the best.

I did a spot of research and late last year decided it was finally feasibly to do a build. I promptly traded my brash 200sx (termed 'red thing' by the missus, affectionate I'm sure) for a 1996 1.8 MX5. Absolute poverty spec, no pas, no electric windows, no air con, brilliant! I'm currently mincing about in that whilst saving up the money needed for the build.

I took a trip to the factory a couple of weeks ago and came away with a couple of build manuals. I've been sifting through them and come up with some kind of plan. If I get the kit delivered in January, it should be ready for IVA for the summer. All looks ok on the spreadsheet, but I haven't yet found a build diary that's gotten the whole thing done in 6 or so months so I might be being optimistic. Ah well, once I've got it I can't back out so it doesn't matter!

I think I'll be opting for the FW front end and standard rear end. I do quite like the FW rear in the flesh (doesn't photograph too well for some reason) but it requires a custom fuel tank with the mazda sdv so I'll give that a miss. It's a complication I don't really need.

Colour-wise I was dead set on red before and after the factory visit. Then I saw an orange one for sale on pistonheads, and now I'm dead set on that. I think that means it's still anyone's guess as to what gets finally ordered!

Also ended up speccing the sport turbo seats as they're more child friendly. Otherwise, it should be a relatively standard build.

Anyway, enough babbling. I've made a build diary though it's a bit early at the moment. Largely it's covering my time with the MX5 and the odd thought about the build. Still, if you want a read, feel free.

mazdafield.wordpress.com

Lastly, see you all at Stoneleigh where I'll be looking to change my mind about the colour again

[Westie66]

Hi Dommo

I started my Mazda SDV mid December and fired the engine last weekend, probably another month to completion so it can be done at home in about six months. If you don't need a social life you could build it even quicker  

Are you going to setup a build diary?

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Well done sir

Any problems, and there will be don't be afraid to ask and I'll try to help if I can.  For a few pictures of my build and some ideas of what to do once upgraditus kicks in have a look at the link below.

www.mx5westfield.co.uk

[deanoecosse]

First of all Dommo. orange is the best colour

There's a few of us built the MX5 based cars now, so help is never far away, especially from Smokey Mow above. Personally my build took almost 2 years off and on including the stripdown, although there were a few gaps in there where it wouldn't be touched for a month or two at a time. I reckon to get it all done in 6 months IS possible, but it will be hard graft and you won't have a life. Westfield quote an "achieveable" 120 hours built time" but take that with a pinch of salt, most folk seem to be double that at least. So, if you work on a rough figure of 250 hours for a build, you'll get an idea if you can squeeze that into a 6 month period.

A couple of things I'd mention are, you state you intend to build from January....do you intend doing the stripdown in the month or so prior to this, or well in advance? I say this because I stripped my donor over a period November-January and in Scotland its ****** freezing and pretty demoralising at that time, -6 when I was dropping the gearbox out. If possible, I'd suggest stripping the MX5 during the warmer months as it makes the whole experience much more pleasant and gives you time to clean & renew any parts you need for the Westy build. It's also a better time of year to sell on the MX5 parts you dont need (I sold the parts I didn't need for £5 less than the entire donor cost me!).

When you go to Stoneleigh, have a look at the MX5 demo car if its on the Westfield stand and pay particular attention to the curvy dash which incorporates the entire MX5 instrument binnacle. Then decide if you want to use that or opt for the traditional flat dash and seperate guages. I felt the demo car was badly finished in the dash area and opted for my own flat dash as have a few others. Have a look at Rick's (Tig Brother on the forum) red car, which will be at Stoneleigh for a superb example of a MX5 based car-he's opted for the flat carbon dash in his.

When you come to order your Westfield, try to do it during a show weekend like Stoneleigh as the factory offer 10% discount off orders which is a sizeable chunk of cash and well worth doing.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I built mine in 9 months but that was largely through the summer months with nice warm weather and long evenings, I did also use a pallet donor which saved me some time in stripping a car.  Pace is always much slower when it's dark and cold outside.  I agree with dean though that 250 hours is probably a more realistic time figure but I never counted.

If you do as me, Dean and Rick have done and ditch the standard dash and mx5 instruments in favour of something more appeasing I wrote a short guide a while ago which may help you with the switches and wiring mods.  If this is a route you're thinking about drop me an email mark_wendon@hotmail.com and I'll send you a copy.

Also worth having a read of Fraser's excellent article here on modifying an 1800 mazda head.  

[Dommo]

Thanks guys. I must admit I've sifted through smokey mow's photos and deanoecosse's thread on detailing world already!

For the ~6 month timeframe, I've allocated 12 hours a week, which I reckon as 1 hour a day Monday-Thursday, and 8 hours on Sunday. In all likelihood it'll probably be more on a weekday and less on a Sunday but it's still quite high. That said, most of the time I'm only planning on needing 7 or so hours a week.

The strip down will start in November, having taken the mx5 off the road at the end of October. Luckily my garage is well insulated and just about wide enough to be able to get down both sides of the car. I should be able to get all the dismantling done in the warm and dry. I've found a set of 'axle stands on wheels' on the Frost Automotive site which should help me maximise space. An electric radiator should ensure I stay as red as my bank balance...

The dash is definitely something I need to look at. I'm not a fan of the binnacle in the mazda as it is (reflects on the windscreen) and much prefer the flat or contoured dash to the sdv effort. However, it will make life easier so changing it is something I'll probably do after the IVA. I quite like the look of the digital dash. The speedo cable also seems to be prone to snapping so another excuse to 'go cool'.

[TIG Brother]

Hello dommo and welcome along

As mark and Dean have said should you need any helP then you know where to come and ask.

Have a good flick through all of our blogs and photos, this will give you a very good heads up as to what you are goIng to come up against during the course of you're build.

One thing I will say with regards to the dash that to fit the Mazda clocks you have to cut away a very large section of the scuttle for them to fit, meaning that should you want to go for a flat dash after the IVA then you would need a new scuttle. I would bite the bullet and get yourself on the flat dash train.

Mark has written a very helpful wiring guide that will assist you with all of the wires and what goes where.

My car will be at stoneleigh on the Sunday and you are more than welcome to come and have a look round and get an idea of how it goes together and what goes where. The demo car from Westfield isn't really a great looking example.

As Dean says take the 120 hours with a large pot of salt. One thing I will say is don't go in head first and take you're time with things. It will most certainly pay off in the end.

Enjoy and you know where we all are of you need any thing  

Rick

[WestfieldMX5]

If you need another build diary, here's mine.

I also would get a flat dash now, not after IVA.  You'll hate the mazda dash as the steering wheel hides most of the useful things.  Using the mazda dash is really a very poor solution.  If it weren't for the cut up scuttle, I'd have replaced it long ago.

I don't see the indicators, fuel gauge, oil pressure and temp gauge and only part of the big gauges.  This is a 32cm steering wheel IIRC (momo team).

Also, if you do insist on using a mazda cluster, get one from a NB (like mine), as they don't have a mechanical speedo.  The cable is a pain and will very likely break very soon (unless you route it trough the inside of the car!).

[RedditchJay]

welcome to the club and on the road for the summer

[Dommo]

Ah I see, I think I'll investigate the dash options soon then and see if I can budget for carbon/digital in the build. I saw deanoecosse's door seal trick of getting the carbon dash through the IVA and thought it was quite cunning!

And there was me thinking that without having electric windows, abs and so forth wiring was going to be a doddle. I expect the guide will save me a lot of stress

[Dommo]

Well well well... went to Stoneleigh today with the idea of looking at other Mazda SDV cars, the digital dash, and colour choices. Sods law, couldn't find a single Mazda SDV car, and just the one digital dash! Also seemed light on orange cars too. Maybe there's a reason for all that?!

Still. Didn't stop me placing an order! Thanks to the 10% discount, I might even be able to move things forward a month or two. Maybe Stoneleigh 2012 should be my on the road target...

[TIG Brother]

Well done on placing the order.

I was there on the Sunday and I think as far as I saw there was only 3 MX based kits on the stand including mine.

[Dommo]

God knows how I missed them then! Ah well, one more next year