Kugawestie's MX5 SDV Build Thread - Now An Upgrade Thread

[KugaWestie]

Not had much time today, so I started making up the dashboard

[Captain Colonial]

Ah, loves me a good dash...!

Just a quick thought while you're at this stage. VDO gauges can fog up over time, which only happens once everything has warmed up - very frustrating. I cured mine by taking them apart and drilling a few small vent holes in the bottoms of the cases to allow them to breathe a bit. Not saying do it, but worth considering, especially if the garage won't be heated. Take advice though, not responsible if you copy my actions, your house is at risk if you set fire to it, blah blah blah...

[KugaWestie]

Wired up the headlights tonight, which just leaves me nosecone indicators and cycle wing side repeaters to do on the front loom.

So I decided to go for cycle wings next.

I am using some bighead fasteners, so I drilled the stays for these and loosely fitted them

Then I positioned the cyle wings roughly to asses position, and on reflection plus reading the IVA manual, i think I have got them a bit too far forward. I need to raid my desk tomorrow to dig out a protractor to set the angle. I am thinking I will probably go 35 degrees forward from vertical to make sure I am well covered for Mr IVA

Once I am happy with the angle, I am going to glue them in place with contact adhesive and let that go off. Then remove them and fibreglass them.

[deanoecosse]

Good choice using the big head fasteners, I wish I'd used them instead of visible rivets, I like clean look they give you. When your positioning the cycle wings you'll have plenty room to make adjustments and still be well within the IVA coverage requirements.By the way, when you are deciding on the final position, spare a moment to decide if your going to fit mudflaps. If so, it would be better to fit the wings further towards the back to make the mudflap smaller (I highly recommend mudflaps by the way as they cut down a lot on stones and water spraying up).

Your making good progress now, have you set a target finishing date?

[Mooch]

Gary,

Here's the best shot I have of the Cycle wing angles. These are IVA compliant and to my eye sit as they should - my guess is that yours are a little forward looking at your photos.

HTH

[KugaWestie]

Good choice using the big head fasteners, I wish I'd used them instead of visible rivets, I like clean look they give you. When your positioning the cycle wings you'll have plenty room to make adjustments and still be well within the IVA coverage requirements.By the way, when you are deciding on the final position, spare a moment to decide if your going to fit mudflaps. If so, it would be better to fit the wings further towards the back to make the mudflap smaller (I highly recommend mudflaps by the way as they cut down a lot on stones and water spraying up).

Your making good progress now, have you set a target finishing date?

Thanks - Mudflaps are a good suggestion.

I am pressing on towards completion/road legal in April, so I can run it up to Stoneleigh

[KugaWestie]

Thats more like what I am aiming for

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Mudflaps are one of those things that always seemed a vaguely good idea to get round to one day.

Two things changed my mind and bumped it up the priority list: using the car to video from, front mud flaps shield rear/side mounted cameras from spray/muck etc. Travelling in a group leaving gravel car parks etc.sticky tyres and a long first gear/fast idling engine tend to pebble-dash the car behind with grit and gravel, even when trying to be careful.

Have just done my fronts this weekend, (cut down regular mud flaps). Now I need to get something to suit for the back wheels.

[KugaWestie]

The spacesaver spare wheel arrived today, so I popped the cover on, laid it into the frame and tightened up the bracket. I still need to secure the spare wheel sometime

Then it was back onto the cycle wings. I made up a right angled triangle with a 30 degree angle out of a big piece of cardboard. I then put a spirit level through the centre of the wheel, offered the cardboard triangle up to the level from the centre of the wheel and marked the tyre with this position. I decided to push the wings forward around 50mm.

So they are gunked into place and drying before I remove them to fibreglass the bighead fasteners in properly.

I am much happier with the position now.

I then finished off with the final bit of tubing and cable tie work at the rear of the car.

I wont be doing anything in the garage tomorrow night :love:

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Looking good not far to go now. It'd be nice to see it at Stoneleigh

[KugaWestie]

Looking good not far to go now. It'd be nice to see it at Stoneleigh

Thanks

My latest dilemna is when to book the test for, dont want to put myself under pressure, but also dont want to hang around for weeks

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I waited till I reached the point I only had a couple more weeks work left and then booked the test for a month from that date. In the end I finished a bit early and spent the last couple of weeks fettling, refining and making it SVA friendly.

[KugaWestie]

My rough plan is this:-

Complete the front indicators/repeaters

Dashboard wiring

Complete the engine bay

Washers/wipers

Boot box/roll bar

Geomoetry set up

Carpets/seats/harnesses

Completion, setting up headlights, IVA covers etc

I reckon once the dash wiring is out of the way, its the home straight and time to book the test....

[s2rrr]

See that you still have to do the front wing mounted side repeaters and in post 430 you show the joint at the inside of the scuttle joint I had to cover this to remove sharp edges for IVA. I used a piece of black kitchen waste pipe split down its length, when you warm it up a bit it just clips over the bolts and the joint, stuff the end with black foam insulation and job done, mine are still in. I would also be careful completing the car for the road or as you want it as your first priority is to get through IVA. If certain bits aren't fitted they can't fail etc etc. Don't forget the usual suspects Headlight bracket covers, seat belt covers to the rear, roll bar if your having one covers on the top bolts etc etc home made will do. Sharp edges as per the IVA manual are pretty subjective, if you fail on something meaty they usually chuck in a few sharp edges for good measure. Aim to get it through first time but it is rare, if you leave something obvious but fixable straight away you may be able to charm the Inspector into a pass. My first test was engine emissions then on a lift for an underneath visual, the rollers next for brake effectiveness, some issues with weights etc, then outside for lights, exhaust noise ( passesd by 0.1dba ) and more brakes back in for another visual seat angles etc then a nervous 1/2 hour afer more discussions about weights followed by cert and the biggest sigh of relief possible. Very thorough and by the book, no real clues during the test as to any fails. You do get a clue about emissions. Not my most favourite experience but my Inspector was spot on and really helpful.

Be careful about steering geometry as they need to be self centering if you lash out a load of cash on a geo you won't self centre. I set mine up then had to re-adjust toe in/out to get it to give a hint of centering. My mates toe out looked rediculous but centred and passed ok. Take your spanners for the headlights.

Good luck, keep the lists and thread going soon be April. Sooner than you think.

Bob

[KugaWestie]

All good tips Bob, thanks