Car Inspection - Rosebud Melbourne

[George]

Hi all.

 

Anyone have some spare time to inspect an MX5 for me? Hairdresser jokes accepted...

 

 

[andyk_79]

Stefan not satisfying you any more ? 

Edited July 18, 2017 by andyk_79

[George]

Stefan was a whore. I sacked him years ago. Got a red haired beauty on my mind now.

[mossy]

I see an LFX conversion in your future ?

Edited July 18, 2017 by mossy

[Retro Z]

Benny lives in Rosebud (Ben Marrett)

[George]

Thanks. I have booked a flight for Saturday morning so I will inspect and hopefully drive away with it.

[George]

The little man approves!

 

Edited July 23, 2017 by George

[gav240z]

Is that the Rosebud car? Or another? Seems quick to have it up in Sydney already that's all.

 

Nice you got an early MX-5. My favorite.

[Ponyo240z]

Brilliant George

congrats

[PB260Z]

Hi George

 

The early MX5 is a great little car, very well balanced and in good hands extremely capable. It would have been a fantastic drive back from Vic how did the car go ?

 

Also, wher does the little man's seat go

 

Cheers

[George]

Cheers guys

 

Gav, I flew down on Sat morning and drove it home. Was a surprisingly easy drive, especially considering I had 5 hours sleep the night before! The car is very smooth although the toe settings are way out which I'm guessing explains the swaying steering at highway speeds.

 

I had been searching for another MX5 (this is my third) for a while now. My criteria was pretty specific in that I wanted an Aussie delivered original car with a low VIN. Surprise surprise. I had found earlier ones but this one was well looked after and never modified aside from air filter (bought an original air box today). It's car #296 and has done 128k kms.

 

There are a few things that need attention like steering alignment and possibly new shocks, original wheels, antenna not working etc but apart from that the body is rust free with the usual small dings. The engine/gearbox are in excellent condition as is the interior.

 

While this car will eat into my limited spare time I have for working on the Datsun, it will also give me something cheep and cheerful to enjoy for the next few years while I get the 240 on the road.

 

Time to start a tape collection... anyone have old ones laying around they want to donate? 

 

 

 

 

 

[gav240z]

Nice if I didn't have the FD RX-7 and wanted a fun sports car it would definitely be the MX-5.

[George]

I was looking at FD's and FC's Gav. For me it came down to value and you can't beat the MX5 in that department. Budget was a big consideration.

[gav240z]

If you're on a budget, you don't want to own an FD. Parts are pretty expensive and fuel costs are also high along with insurance. MX-5 is a great choice for a budget sports car that is easy to work on, reasonable priced parts and probably hold it's value.

[hmd]

While we are on the non-Datsun confessions 

 

 

I bought an NC MX-5 a few months back, just a low mileage weekend car something low maintenance

 

Couldn't resist bringing it to the track though 

 

http://www.sdpics.com/cgi-bin/e-store/index.cgi?action=view&link=8000~Motor_Sport/9000~Cars/05~Car_Club_Track_Days/9947~1_July_2017_-_Alfa_Romeo_Owners_Club_Australia/4~Group_2&image=AN5W2053.jpg&img=60&tt=

 

[PZG302]

They are a fun little jigger, my early girl was number 123 and in the first batch to Aus, Had air, no power steer and all I did to it was fit some BC V1 series coil overs to replace the 200K old standard suspension.

 

Well worth doing the timing bump and running on 98 for a little extra zing, and if not already a little bit bigger exhaust with a suitable muffler to give it a nice crackle on the overrun and for the little rev as you double declutch for proper down changes through the box.

 

Oh, and get some nice enkeis RFP01's in 15X7 or 15X8 to fill the guards and look a 10000% better than the Nb wheels......

 

Edited July 24, 2017 by PZG302

[mossy]

My first mx5 was a supercharged clubman that I bought off Barry Faux. 116rwkw and from memory it won stage 12 of the dutton rally outright.

[PZG302]

And if you are replacing dampers and/or springs don't go too stiff, these things need to have a little sway and lean in them.

 

Most people I see at track days run them too stiff and wonder why they lose time through corners. As I said above, I ran the cheapest base spec BC coilovers, at their stiffest in the damping adjustment they were still softer than the softest setting in the race series that pretty much everyone else who ran BC's used in the Qld club track days. My car was able to go through corners quicker because the suspension worked better. Also, if doing bushes as well, I would recommend replacing rubber with rubber to have a little give as well.

[George]

They are a fun little jigger, my early girl was number 123 and in the first batch to Aus, Had air, no power steer and all I did to it was fit some BC V1 series coil overs to replace the 200K old standard suspension.

 

Well worth doing the timing bump and running on 98 for a little extra zing, and if not already a little bit bigger exhaust with a suitable muffler to give it a nice crackle on the overrun and for the little rev as you double declutch for proper down changes through the box.

 

Oh, and get some nice enkeis RFP01's in 15X7 or 15X8 to fill the guards and look a 10000% better than the Nb wheels......

 

I don't want to say I hate the NB wheels but I really do hate them. They do nothing for me on this car. I'm going to buy a set of clean daisy wheels to store away and then look for a light set of 15x7's. The black RPF01's are at the top of my list.

 

Any sense in going to 15x8 over 7? I won't be tracking it so I figure lighter weight of wheel and rubber on the 15x7 will suit me just fine.

 

And if you are replacing dampers and/or springs don't go too stiff, these things need to have a little sway and lean in them.

 

Most people I see at track days run them too stiff and wonder why they lose time through corners. As I said above, I ran the cheapest base spec BC coilovers, at their stiffest in the damping adjustment they were still softer than the softest setting in the race series that pretty much everyone else who ran BC's used in the Qld club track days. My car was able to go through corners quicker because the suspension worked better. Also, if doing bushes as well, I would recommend replacing rubber with rubber to have a little give as well.

 

I have not had a chance to inspect bushings yet. The car has done 129,000 kms and I figure if I'm going to be changing to a nice set of coilovers I might as well do bushings. MCA actually recommend retaining the factory swaybars and I agree re rubber bushings.

 

My most immediate concern is correcting a visible toe out on the front. I'm going to get it aligned and then drive the car for a bit. From the highway drive I did on Saturday I can tell you that it has a dangerous sway at that speed. Swinging the wheel back and forth induces a plush sway that feels like it can throw the rear out if you turn too abruptly. This had me wondering about the state of shocks, sway and bushings. All have to be inspected thoroughly.

 

Not sure if toe out can cause swaying like that...?

[PZG302]

The only reason to go for 8's over 7's is availability, or you are chasing every bit of tyre for grip, or for the stance points.

 

I went 8's for mine as they were cheap. If you can wait a day or so I can get you contact details of the guy i bought my wheels from, was just over $1k for the 4 delivered to my door. They were a bit easier to find than the 7's at the time.

 

And you don't really need to go up in sway bar size. If you have a look at the really quick prod sports cars you would be surprised at how standard they are in terms of suspension and how well they work with the standard bars and well set up springs and dampers that suit the car.

 

Alignment will be pretty important to make sure it is right, and if you have visible tow out, yep it will be pretty darty on the road. I can't remember what toe I ran on mine front or back, but as usual as much caster as possible and I had about 1.5 degree of neg camber at the front and about 1 degree of neg at the back.

 

To get a good spec jump on the hairdresser forum and sift through the posts about blow drying versus towel drying and the correct way to use your curling wand and you should find some decent info there for a reasonable road set up.

[George]

 

I went 8's for mine as they were cheap. If you can wait a day or so I can get you contact details of the guy i bought my wheels from, was just over $1k for the 4 delivered to my door. They were a bit easier to find than the 7's at the time.

 

---

 

To get a good spec jump on the hairdresser forum and sift through the posts about blow drying versus towel drying and the correct way to use your curling wand and you should find some decent info there for a reasonable road set up.

 

 

 

Yes please, I'd love the contact details when you have time. Cheers

[PZG302]

Just found my emails from the guy I bought them off.

 

I got Enkei PF01 in 15x8 +35 offset and obviously 4x100 PCD

 

Cost was $1100 delivered to my door.

 

Matt Black was $60 extra if I wanted, obviously I went with the silver.

 

Guys name is Gerald, he is Australian based and was very helpful. Email address is: cheap.wheels.direct@gmail.com

 

He also has an Ebay store under the name cheap wheels direct.

 

 

[zedevan]

 

 

I bought an NC MX-5 a few months back, just a low mileage weekend car something low maintenance

I just had my semi daily prht nc written off by a tool running into with with a stolen car. Replaced it with a truck (which strangely is probably more fun to commute in) so hoping that motivates me to spend more/some time on the datto at some point!