Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Chat to do with your MX5/Miata/Eunos Garage Ride(s).

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zossy1
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Vehicle: NA8
Location: Southern Highlands, NSW
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:47 pm

So sadly, little white failed her first attempt at a blue slip :/

I felt rather sheepish that when I turned up to collect her, the mechanics politely informed me that I forgot to re-install the horn! I guess it is easy to forget some of the little things when a car has been so comprehensively pulled apart :)

Rather more seriously, they chipped me about my Wilwood adjustable brake bias valve. They politely asked me to reinstall the stock one, or get an engineering certificate. So this weekend, the OEM prop valve went back in and brakes bled - again. Horn also installed :)

I will get the prop valve engineered with the turbo when the time comes, though I am considering not reinstalling it as the stock one seems to do a pretty good job at balancing front to rear...

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zossy1
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Mon Jun 20, 2011 3:01 pm

Passed on the second try! OEM prop valve and horn install and we are sweet!

Time for the real fun to begin...

and1
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby and1 » Mon Jun 20, 2011 4:55 pm

Congrats mate! Exciting times ahead...

How do you rate the V-Maxx coilovers?
2005 Velocity Red MX-5 SE
Garage thread
http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=44487

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zossy1
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:49 pm

and1 wrote:How do you rate the V-Maxx coilovers?


Extremely freakin firm ATM but they need to bed down some. I have had another car with them and they are great, so I can only hope this set are the same!

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zossy1
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Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:18 pm

On the road!

Waiting for the springs to settle a little more before lowering her a little more. ;)

Image

Image

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Bizi
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby Bizi » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:53 pm

Congrats, Chris.

Looking great in the pics.

How are you finding the paint job and the bushes?

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zossy1
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:00 pm

Bizi wrote:Congrats, Chris.

Looking great in the pics.

How are you finding the paint job and the bushes?


Both are fantastic. I am really happy with the paint in particular :)

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Bizi
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby Bizi » Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:02 pm

Those pics also show your Enkei wheels are dishy!

Nemo
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby Nemo » Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:47 pm

You need some bigger/better photos! Doesn't do all the work gone into the car any justice. :lol:

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zossy1
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Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:21 am

They are coming :)

Still have much to do though... The interior is basically bare and there are so many loose screws and trim pieces that the car sounds like a shaken toolbox every time I hit a bump ;)

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Bizi
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby Bizi » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:36 am

Hey Chris,
I meant to ask this earlier.

Since you and your Dad are MX5 pros by now:

I was in touch with BadBong about the FM Frame Rails and the PSS9s and I was recommended to check if installing FM frame rails on a Clubman requires removal of any Clubman / NA8 bracing.

What stiffness/handling/other changes would a Clubman driver expect to get by installing the FM rails?

As you know I'm a newbie to all this; was considering underbracing options that will make the car better on the track, but need to still keep it easy enough for the Mrs to enjoy driving it!

Any other Clubman owners - please reply here on my garage chat thread, to keep this related to the zossy1 build! :) viewtopic.php?f=57&t=47478&start=45

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zossy1
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:06 pm

Drove her up to the City today (first decent run since repair and rego). My wife got me a Harbour Bridge climb for my birthday today :)

Observation #1: Horrible wheel balance problem. The caliper clearance on the JSpeeds is so tight it knocked off some of my wheel weights. Booked in @Jax for an alignment/balance on Tuesday... Speed limited to 105kmh ATM.

Observation #2: Hardtop needs adjustment. Front left latch rattling like a bastard. One more thing to add to the list...

Observation #3: Thermostat in the M-Tuned reroute is doing strange things. Drove all the way to Liverpool on the "C" mark. Began to warm up once we got on the M5 and passed the toll gates. As soon as we entered the tunnel, went straight up to 1/2 way and stayed there for the rest of the day until we came up Catherine Hill coming back into the Highlands this arvo. Clearly the bleed holes in the thermostat, combined with the wicked efficiency of the rerouted cooling system and the 50mm Koyo radiator, make for a cooling system that is TOO efficient for the 5 degree celcius Highland temperatures at dawn/dusk. I think i'll have to remove the thermostat and braze up at least one of the two bleed holes, maybe both of them...

Observation #4: The VMaxx coilovers are breaking in nicely and are far more comfortable, except on nasty surfaces.

I can't wait to get this thing sorted! However, it will have to wait a couple of weeks. I'm taking the go kart out next weekend (the Leopard, not the little white "5") :)

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zossy1
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:14 pm

Hi Ben just saw this.

Frame rails will install just like on any other NA8. There is no extra bracing on a standard clubman vs. any other NA8 AFAIK.

Stiffness is always good. You want frame rails. If you don't have some lateral stillening, you should also consider the butterfly brace - though it is a bitch to install. Note that you will need to drill your floor so if you want to keep your car nice and original you might want to reconsider this! My car is already listed as a write off so that side of things is secondary to the driving experience for me.

Beyond the rails and Butterfly brace (or similar), you should focus on good suspension, sway bars and bushes before wasting money on other bracing (unless you find a decent strut brace for cheap). A roll cage or MX5/BD roll bar might also be useful for stiffening.

Once your suspension and sway bars are sorted, then perhaps look at front/rear subframe bracing, rear strut bars, etc.

At least that's my opinion, FWIW. Once the rails arrive, I will have all of this ready to install in my car :)

Bizi wrote:Hey Chris,
I meant to ask this earlier.

Since you and your Dad are MX5 pros by now:

I was in touch with BadBong about the FM Frame Rails and the PSS9s and I was recommended to check if installing FM frame rails on a Clubman requires removal of any Clubman / NA8 bracing.

What stiffness/handling/other changes would a Clubman driver expect to get by installing the FM rails?

As you know I'm a newbie to all this; was considering underbracing options that will make the car better on the track, but need to still keep it easy enough for the Mrs to enjoy driving it!

Any other Clubman owners - please reply here on my garage chat thread, to keep this related to the zossy1 build! :) viewtopic.php?f=57&t=47478&start=45

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zossy1
Racing Driver
Posts: 1979
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:48 am
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Southern Highlands, NSW
Contact:

Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby zossy1 » Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:29 am

lol - picked it up from Jax yesterday after lowering it another inch all round...

Minimum camber achievable on the front was -1.5 degrees (not too bad)... But min camber on the rear was -3.6 degrees! o.O

Looks like a set of adjustable upper rear wishbones are in my future :)

At least the wheels are balanced now...

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CoffeeBoss
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Re: Chris's 1994 NA8 Clubman

Postby CoffeeBoss » Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:12 pm

So great to see a NA, let alone a Clubman, being brought back to life so comprehensively! KUDOS!

Will keep an eye out for you around town when I'm down (have family in the Highlands).

Matt


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