The carbon fibre time attack/superlap MX5 NB twins blog

[Si.G]

It sure doesn't help with a newborn, i have not had time to do anything on the car in a while, still haven't moved all the stuff into the new place yet. My wife needs help at home due to cesaraen, 20 month old trashing the house if you turn your back. Good example - while i am typing this he is pouring water on the dog and wetting the floor and the dog. I am not in a big rush to finish it, i have the nb8b now. I sometimes think i went a bit far with this car, considering my limited budget. Should have gone with something more standard, but turboed. I have probably spent $20k plus. Could have bought an se, but this car will be a shyt load faster when it is done. I will get there, might take another year.
And with waking up all thru the night it is hard to get motivated to start work at 7.30pm after the older one has gone to bed. Anyone with kids will know, sleep is rare.

I here what you are saying, my first child is due in 5 weeks and just preparing for the birth is taking its toll on time and money. You will have noticed my engine build has slowed right down. I am wondering the same thing, have I gone to far on the engine build, but now I am kind of committed to going all the way with it because I will not get the most out of it unless I spend money on cams etc, etc.. Like you, with your nb, at least I have my car still running to enjoy. How long will it take to finish, not sure, but I will finish.

Keep the faith - you will get there

[lightyear]

I finished the mods on the nb8b, and have just moved the last of the stuff from storage. So once that is done i can start on the c.f car. Shouldn't be too long now. I am going to sell a whole heap of mx5 parts soon too, as i have somehow collected a heap of bits that i will never need.
The mods on the nb8b include - velo seat, 6 point harness, rear seatbelt tower brace (to hold camera), custom front splitter/undertray, rear na boot spoiler modified to fit the nb, b.c gold coilovers, whiteline front swaybar, small rear muffler passenger side exit (and i kept the original tailpipe for street duties), 15 x 9 6ul wheels with kuhmo v700 225's, and probably the biggest mod is the torsen diff with 4:11's in it (should be good with the 6 speed) . I think that's about it, just a mildly modded car that can be returned to standard fairly easy if i need to. I will be at p.i on the weekend and i am hoping to easily get under 2:00.
Link to youtube vid after i finiashed it, still had tape on the rear spoiler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB5CUxKui90

[lightyear]

I managed to go under 2:00 at p.i on my first day there in this car. With a 1:59.9........ I could consistantly lap in 2:00.3 give or take a few 10th's. A link to a video from the 2nd last session. The car is always a bit too taily. And i can't seem to fix it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH8NgiWFPw0

[lightyear]

I have mounted the i/c and am doing the bonnet mods.



It sits over to the passenger side by about 100mm as it connects straight to the throttlebody with only a silicon connector and no piping. There is no way to make the inlet track any shorter than that. I will be making a shroud on the bonnet where the tape lines are, and cutting back to the tape line behind the i/c so i can make a smooth flow for the air to make it over the bonnet.

[Hjt]

nice update, really good thought has gone into that set-up. A lot of consideration, i'm sure it will all pay off

[16bit]

are you going to have wrc style fans and a shroud for the cooler?

[lightyear]

I have made the shroud mold. No fans needed at the track.


I amalso going to be making a few hardtops as i get the time. Spent about 2 hours last night cleaning and polishing the mold as it sat outside for a few weeks.

[dave2221]

MORE PICTURES

MORE UPDATES

[lightyear]

I made the i/c pipes.

[tobias]

I/c to throttle body looks pretty efficient like that, looks good

[lightyear]

I couldn't work out a way to make it shorter. I will have to put the bov on the end of the i/c tank.
The shroud for the i/c is kind of done. I cheated a bit and didn't take a mold of it, just layed the c.f over it. Doesn't come out as good, and needs a few coats of resin. I will take it off the plug after i sand it down again. And might make a proper mold while i have the buck there.



And i made a hardtop too, well the shell is done. I am going to make 4 and get them all clearcoated. Not sure when i will be making more at this point. 2 will be for sale, but i am not taking orders till i am getting close to having them made, as i never know how much time i will have to make them. There are a few guys chasing one, and i apologise that i can't do much to help at the moment.
This pic is the first layer in the mold. I infused it last night and finished just after 10.00pm, first one in many months. All went well, and i even tried a new method to post cure them that i am happy with.

[lightyear]

Shot of the car from up on the mez floor. Ordered more c.f today to make the doors and boot. It should start looking like a car soon.



The hardtop is straight out of the mold and has not been washed or trimmed.

[Hjt]

Just went back thru the pages to find your twins original body. Is it a nb8a, presuming because your using a na8 engine. I know your new car is a nb8b but can't seem to find anymore info

P.s that hardtop is really hot stuff, mean but elegant!

[lightyear]

The silver car that i just bought for track use till the c.f car is done is and NB8B. The carbon fibre car is an NB6, and the twin car is an NB8A. It is has been sold and is getting built with some c.f panels and a turbo motor.

[Kikuchi]

Been following this build since I got my mx. Loving the carbonfibre work you're doing lightyear (and i'm not saying that just because I'm one of the fellas trying to get a hold of your cf hardtop =p ). Can't wait to see this car on the track in it's full glory =D