The carbon fibre time attack/superlap MX5 NB twins blog

Postby **beavis** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 2:07 pm

Jace wrote:What do you think of NB8B power/driveline in the NA? I'd consider that upgrade if the wiring wasn't too hard keeping the interior NA and no ABS etc.

Gah.... pop up headlights.

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:35 pm

I pulled the rollbar out and gave it decent coat of paint, and forgot to weigh it and get a pic while it was out. It is now properly bolted in, and the hardtop is bolted in with a revised system (bit lighter). I put a bit of the old style padding on, better than nothing. And it has just enough clearance to the hardtop for the skinny side of the foam. Would struggle with an oem top.

Kikuchi · Postby **Kikuchi** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 12:47 pm

damn that's looking good. can't wait until I can get my hands on one as well.

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:15 pm

If i didn't decide to reshell the nb8b (a lot more work than i thought, especially on the little details) i would have had the time to make some hardtops and doors people are waiting on. I have only so much free time to get things done, and as there isn't much money in making a hardtop, i would rather do things that i need/want for myself. I will get around to making more, but my priority is doing track days, and getting the c.f car finished. When i get back to building the c.f car i will need more funds to finish it, forcing me to make some money to pay for it.

I still have some things to do on the na8b, it isn't just building/reassembling the car. It is also building a car that is set up for the track, and all the extra things that go with it.

Another pic, i also have a c.f front lip on it now.

Kikuchi · Postby **Kikuchi** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:00 pm

all good bro, i was hoping i could get it before the Adelaide All Jap Day, but I'll just use that fund to buy a rollbar instead.

on a side note, the car is looking good with the hardtop and lip

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:20 pm

Cleaned up the garage today and took a pic of the car with the door shells on. I had to lower the car in paint as it is sitting at full hight at the moment.

Postby **beavis** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:33 pm

Needs more engine or I will start calling you Teruo.

username · Postby **username** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:58 pm

Woah this think looks nuts! Would love to see it in person one day

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:19 pm

For more aerodynamics (and work / time) you could have gone with more of a fastback shape to the roof....but also chop 3 or 4 inches out of the windscreen frame and go much lower with the roofline to?

I might have asked this before...Did you ever consider sports sedans as a source of ideas and building a space frame chassis with the CF MX5 body on it?

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:30 pm

It IS getting a fastback roof. Unless i chop my head off i couldn't chop the windscreen, and it isn't allowed in time attack. Niether is a full chassis. It is a time attack car not a sports sedan. It has to run standard windscreen and road legal tyres.

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:01 pm

Ahhh time attack, I see. Thanks for the answers. A roof chop would require some thinking on seating, probably a lowered floor and a reclined seat. Almost a single seater position.

Makes you think though huh huh huh...650KG wet, 500BHP...Not that I'm trying to put ideas in your head ;)

Postby **beavis** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:31 am

Lower the floor?
It's low already.....

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:04 pm

Yup, cut out a section of floor and build a lower pan to mount the seat in.

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 9:36 pm

The NA8B had it's maiden track day on saturday at phillip island. I went a little gingerly around at first, as this is the first time the car has been dríven in anger since it was stripped to a basically a bare shell. And the first time i have dríven since having a fairly big crash. It was a bit twitchy in the first session, so i didn't push too hard. In the 2nd session i dialled the rear shocks to be softer and it felt much better. So i pushed a bit harder and managed a 1:58.5 - from a 1:59.9 in the silver NB8B. On sunday i am going back, and if i get a good day i should get it into the 1:57's, as i was driving it at 90%. Well really only into turn one.

Pic of the NB8B after the trackday.

It was interseting to compare the driving feel of the car from the 2001 body. It felt pretty much the same - the power to weight was noticable, but the handling was similiar, which was a surprise considering the red NA8B has absolutely no braces on it at all. And the NB8B has a lot of bracing, as well as a stiffer chassis.

I had it corner weighted and the overall weight is 949kg's with 3/4 tank of fuel.
So the overall specs/mods on the car is-
- 1990 shell
- 2001 running gear, plus torsen 4:11 diff and full exhaust (using original intake & airbox)
- no a/c, heater, p/s, softtop
- carbon fibre roof and front lip (and lightyear canards)
- race seats
- b.c coilovers and whiteline front swaybar
- 15x9 6ul's and kuhmo v700 225's

I took some more pics of the c.f car, and intend on getting the car done sooner than later.