PaulF's Red NA6

[slug_dub]

So what did you actually do to your motor? New bits in just the head?

Enjoyed the read PaulF

[PaulF]

The bottom end is unopened.

Basically it got:
F+R main seals replaced
Timing belt, water pump, pulleys replaced
Brand new high-quality composite head gasket
ARP head studs
Head completely disassembled and cleaned up
Intake and exhaust ports smoothed out and gasket matched
Intake manifold smoothed out
Valve seals inspected
Head shaved 48thou for a bump up to about 10.5-10.7:1 compression (according to Noobee)
Heavy duty clutch transferred over from old engine
Had a lightened flywheel to go on, but had fitment issues so we had to just reuse the existing flywheel
IL Motorsport upgraded engine mounts
Clutch slave cylinder replaced

That's all I can think of right now. I'm sure Dann will mention if I forgot anything.

Oh, and custom angle-ground cam cover with genuine NitroDann autograph.

[PaulF]

Loving the weather at the moment, and the fact that I finally have a soft top. The hard top has come off, and probably won't be going back on any time in the near future. I also made an acquisition a couple of weeks ago:


I've been using it every day, because race car. I'll be selling the NB8B seat and holding on to the original seats in case I ever need to put them back in. Still looking for a harness-compatible passenger seat.

And I've paid for my AGI roll bar as part of the group buy, so that will be happening some time soon too.

Here are a couple of shots from Fathers' Day, which my family celebrated in the best way we know:




The MX copped some flack, rather undeserved I feel, about being the "odd one out". Personally I think that title belongs to the big FWD barge on the far left...

[NitroDann]

1000%.



Dann

[davekmoore]

No-one in this pic is allowed to give your MX any flack.

No disrespect but ..............

The MGB GT might have got away with being yellow if it wasn't for bumpers. Jeez, the chrome bumper conversion isn't that difficult or costly and would help it nearly go round a corner.

And is that a Rover on the left pretending to be an MG? If so, it just needs a hand grenade under it, because there is no MG DNA in there.

The Midget and the MGA are well proper but are, or course, compared with your MX5, collectors' cars - as in you may need to keep going back to collect the bits that have fallen off.

[NitroDann]

Hey step back Dave !

The MGA makes me feel like this.



Dann

[PaulF]

I'll offer my family a bit of defence:
The Rover - er, ZS - is quite an enjoyable car to drive, though it feels a bit cheap inside and it does suffer from the FWD layout on such a long wheelbase.
I've warmed a lot to the looks of the GT, both colour and bumpers, and it's nice to know you have the bumpers when the car is being dríven daily on city streets (a duty which it has seen a fair bit of over the last 10 years). It's never really had the driving experience to back up the sound and the looks though.
The A has been impressively reliable, considering the amount of abuse it's received as a motorsport toy - often double and even triple entered in hillclimbs and motorkhanas. And the grin factor is off the charts.
The Midget... not so much on the reliability factor... but it's great fun when it works.

[davekmoore]

Blimey! I might just have been taken seriously. That doesn't happen often.

[PaulF]

Sorry mate, won't happen again.

Nah, I know it's all in good spirits but I thought I'd give them a bit of defence since that's the kind of criticism they often get.

[PaulF]

So the car is going strong, currently sitting on a set of daisies with KU31's that I picked up for a good price.

I had to replace the front Gaz coilovers due to some damage caused when I first installed them (ride height too low). That all went pretty smoothly and the replacements have shorter springs and plenty of clearance.

My current project is improving the interior, freshening it up and simplifying while still keeping it a nice place to be. I don't have any good photos, but over the last couple of months I've done a few bits and pieces:
-Carpet replaced with good condition NB carpet (floor and behind seats)
-Still running the Mazdaspeed driver's seat day to day
-Cobra Monaco Sport passenger seat, mounted on stock rails. Might go to a side mount setup if I can get something for a reasonable price.
-Works Engineering quick release and NRG low profile hub
-OMGPham radio delete panel with Autometer clock and toggle window switches
-EBay dash carpet

There are a few more things in the works too:
-OMGPham centre console delete
-Nardi Classic
-Custom door trims and handles

On Sunday, after 18 months of ownership, I finally took the car to the local hillclimb (Ringwood). I've dríven there plenty of times but this was the first time in the MX, and the motorsport guys on here won't be at all surprised to hear that I had a blast. It also happened to be the first round of the MG club championship and I'm now motivated to try and make it to as many rounds as possible.

Finally, yesterday I replaced the brake pads and rotors that were on the car when I bought it, with QFM A1RM and some cheap plain rotors. I haven't put them to much work yet, and I don't have a lot to compare them to, but I'm very happy so far. The brakes seem much more capable than the tyres, so I can't complain.

[noobee]

how did you go,lap times?my son Ken was entered in has new baby,a red clubman (he sold/parted out the rx7)but we didn't go because his other new baby was teething and crying all night.He also has the kumho's'
Mick

[PaulF]

Ken should have some interesting competition this year because there was actually another guy there in a red NA8 Clubman. I figured it was Ken until I went over and introduced myself. I figured the times would be reasonably close between us - NA6 with basic power mods and coilovers vs 1.8, Torsen and bigger sway bars. In the end I got a 36.94 and he ran a 37.17. Plenty more potential in the car - I only got two pairs of dry runs.

[PaulF]

In March's hillclimb we had much less rain but I couldn't even get the car into the 36's. Maybe it was the hot weather, but probably just poor driving. Much more to learn, but it's great to be out there having a go.

My new Schroth harnesses finally arrived last week from Mazda Australia. They apparently race prepped some NC's a few months ago and used them for a day or two in a press event then had no need for the parts, but it took three months to remove the harnesses from the cars, package them and send them off. Insane. Anyway, they're here now so I got Monaco Performance to install the crotch strap mounting points and with the help of a couple of mates I reinstalled the roll bar too. The wait was frustrating but I'm happy with the end result.

Here are a few photos from a local Mighty Car Mods meet the other night:

[Doug Danger]

Loving this thread man. You've come a long way since your first post. It's quite motivating actually! Keep up the good work!

[PaulF]

This year I haven't had a lot of time or money to make changes to the MX, but I have managed to get it out there doing some more of this:


The exterior was always rough, and hasn't improved:


But the interior has come a long way.


I really need to do the centre console delete and door trims that I keep thinking about.