Lightyear's SE Replica Track/Road MX-5

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Sat Nov 15, 2014 4:33 pm

After selling the WRX I was keen to buy another car. And almost bought a well setup track only S2000. Did a 1:35 at winton. Stock motor and ecu. But lots of other mods.
Anyway, I decided to buy something simple and cheap to run. The running costs of the WRX are far too high. If it was my only car, it would be acceptable. But I want to get the c.f car on the track early next year.
So, when it comes down to it, an MX5 is unbeatable value for money. And the search was on for an NB8B.
Didn't take long for me to put a deposit on this NB8B.

It came with a Brown Davies roll bar, Sparco seat, RPM harness, Megasquirt ecu, good track wheels and tyres, good coilovers, new track pads still in a box. And a massive tin can for an exhaust tip.

I plan on leaving things fairly simple and reliable and get the most out of what is a good car to start with.
And if I have time add a few tasty extras. Like a carbon fibre roof, boot and bonnet.
I will replace the full exhaust, flywheel, and get a Torsen 4.1 diff. Other than that, just drive it. No big home made aero on this one. Well maybe go with a fastback, and front and rear lip spoilers.

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Postby **beavis** » Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:36 pm

I should post up a video of the last Silver NB8B you had.

zossy1 · Postby **zossy1** » Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:52 pm

beavis wrote:I should post up a video of the last Silver NB8B you had.

I've seen it, it ends with a very sudden stop at Sandown! :DIY:

Postby **beavis** » Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:54 pm

But it lived on as a red NA :NA6:

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Sat Nov 15, 2014 9:22 pm

zossy1 wrote:
beavis wrote:I should post up a video of the last Silver NB8B you had.

I've seen it, it ends with a very sudden stop at Sandown!

I blame the lights

I bought the foglamps out of that car, then a year later mine had a big smash.

Anybody want to buy a pair of cursed foglights

Brewster · Postby **Brewster** » Sat Nov 15, 2014 9:59 pm

Nothing beats a sunlight silver NB

Crapweasel · Postby **Crapweasel** » Sun Nov 16, 2014 1:30 am

A Merc 230E will do a pretty good job of beating it when approaching from the side!

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:54 am

I blame the tyres. The last time I used them I "tapped" a wall at winton. I would highly recommend not using really old R spec tyres. Unless you don't intend on setting a record, and just want to do some laps.

If only I had some time to work on my cars. I have 2 hardtops to make, then my wife wants me to do some house work. As in work on the house. Need to get it finished one day...

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:11 pm

In between making the last couple of hardtops (drying/curing time), I made a buck for an NB8B front spoiler that is road/track friendly. It sits at a road legal height if your car is. And will make the car perform better around the track. I also made some alloy side block offs for the radiator opening to reduce the size of the hole. Less drag.. No pics of them, too dark.

So it is almost ready to take a mould off. Anyone interested in one can let me know. Not sure on price yet, as l have not yet made one. But around $350 for one in fibreglass.

I will do some testing at the track to compare lap times and driver feedback. It should reduce a hell of a lot of lift at the front. Better pics will come.

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Kuncha · Postby **Kuncha** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 1:27 pm

I would be interested in seeing the finish product.

mx5002 · Postby **mx5002** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:59 pm

that looks pretty rad!

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 4:12 pm

Poverty knocks, hence not at Sandown.

If funds start flowing again, would this allow the car to be raised from near speed hump incompatability to a more suitable height for an old bloke using it as a DD while still letting less air under it at the track, and maybe getting more air through the fog light holes into the brake ducting (not quite installed yet)?

How universal do you reckon the radiator ducting is?

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:23 pm

I didn't go to Sandown either, car is not ready. Should be ready by Broadford.

Well that's the idea, best set up to run legal height and still reduce front lift. I would imagine this would make a big difference at tracks like Phillip Island. And it may need a wing or spoiler on the rear to balance out the aero.
Also, you may have noticed the spoiler sits on the lower section of the radiator opening. The idea is that it can sit on there and not be able to be pulled down. Yet, if you do hit a bump, it will allow it to lift up and not break. Ingenious design.... So only gets screwed to the Oem holes in the rear bumper edge in the wheel well. Using the Oem plastic screw thingies.
And it is also capable of running a flat floor section to the spoiler lip. There is about 100mm return, allowing plenty of usable surface to mount the flat floor.

I am making the radiator ducting from alloy for myself. But will keep the templates if any more need to be made.

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Wed Nov 26, 2014 5:53 am

Found some time in between making the last couple of hardtops to do a bit more work on the spoiler.

It is now ready for moulding. Topside will be done tomorrow hopefully. Then the underside Thursday.

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lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Thu Nov 27, 2014 2:08 pm

The hot glue is used to hold the flange on stuck better than I wanted. So had to do some minor repairs. After all it's just foam and plaster under the paint.
With some help from Beavis, the top side is all moulded.
Will do the lower side tonight
This pic is the gel coat brushed on. Don't have a current pic.

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