My mean green hornet

Yeah I have a fond appreciation of the MX5. MEV not so much so far I’m afraid to say. I just fitted shock tower spacers to give enough ride height with the coilovers not being fully wound up..you have to cut and re weld upper control arms, wheel arch supports needed so much modification it would have been better to make from scratch..there’s a lot more but I won’t bore with details here. It was sold to my client as “old man Lego”…
It seems many of the UK issues have been addressed over the pond with the US version
 
Takes 1000's of hours to engineer a quality product, but you know that already, trouble is joe public has trouble seeing it when presented with a 20k car versus a 120k car.
 
I'm not a fan of sports cars, but if I ever did succumb to one, it would be an MX5, or possibly a TR6.

Looking forward to seeing the P6 with the wheels on :)
 
The MX5 is not a hard core ripsnorter, and has maybe a hairdresser rep, but I must say, you can use it every day, it keeps you warm, it handles reasonably well, with the power hardtop is instantly closed or not, could do with more power - yes, but it will make you smile !
And ours probably got me a ticket today :( we'll see.........
TR6 / MX5 = MX5 all day long.
 
Didn't they do a conversion in the MX5 with a lexus 4 litre? Now that would be fun....
As always, this build thread has me amazed O.O
 
Superb work as ever on the P6 Jim! The Exocet looks wild! I do like the wheels, Hope the IVA test goes well for you & your customer!

I was going build a Rover V8 Morris Minor but the IVA test put me off, expensive & if it fails i think the re-tests are quite high. (also probably being a 'scardy cat' & nieve)
Also I heard that once an older modified classic has been approved & certified by the IVA it then is not MOT & TAX except, I could be wrong on this though.
Saying all that I would like to use MX5 running gear & put it into a 2dr Morris Minor, be a great sleeper, lowered & 17" rims, similar to the Exocet ish as long as they had some dish ! Gloss black & cherry red interior, you can tell I haven't thought about much ;-) better finish the P6 first & the new kitchen before I approach the wife :)
 
Thanks :thumb:

In theory a lot of Exocets have passed, some after multiple attempts of course, so shouldn’t be too difficult, but the rule book is mighty fat..

As far as I know yes, they lose all historic status and are effectively a newly registered vehicle.

I drove an early imported mk1 MX5 extensively for a year or so, and was very impressed by it in lots of ways. It had no problem keeping up with the Porsches on the twisty bits, and the sound of them at high revs is genuinely addictive. I still know the car and may well buy it if the owner decides to sell at some point..

Not sure about that Rob. Some of the US Exocet builds have unsurprisingly got some nice big engine swaps though. There’s definitely a couple of V8 MX5s in the UK too

Jim
 
Thanks :thumb:

In theory a lot of Exocets have passed, some after multiple attempts of course, so shouldn’t be too difficult, but the rule book is mighty fat..

There's a guy that does a guide to passing BIVA that takes most of the waffle out of the official guide and irons out a lot of the topics that seem vague or open to interpretation, if that helps PM me and I'll try to get his contact details. He prints runs of them, and will send one out for donations (£20 IIRC) to his local hospice.
 
There's a guy that does a guide to passing BIVA that takes most of the waffle out of the official guide and irons out a lot of the topics that seem vague or open to interpretation, if that helps PM me and I'll try to get his contact details. He prints runs of them, and will send one out for donations (£20 IIRC) to his local hospice.

There is indeed, I ordered one of his copies, its a really good version and makes it sound less 'scary'
 
Excellent :thumb:

Well this was definitely in there :p

7B0AAC75-3A22-4CD2-8BD5-8FC2AE9C7D78.jpeg

Both bottom joints done this morning, just getting a bunch of suspension bits ready to blast and epoxy.
I’m going to bush them all ready to go- mostly poly but I’ve got solid aluminium versions for the rear crossmember.
Some modification and reinforcement imminent on the rear spring cup area for the coilover conversion, watch this space

Jim
 
There is indeed, I ordered one of his copies, its a really good version and makes it sound less 'scary'

Sounds like the same guy, user name on his favourite haunts is "Kapri", so if that's all correct, and Jim want's a copy, then perhaps you could send him all the details just to save me finding it all out.
 
Yes that's him Harvey & yes no probs to send my copy to Jim.

Jim if you PM me address I'll post it to you mate :)
Cheers all
 
Ouch that’s a long gap since the last update. Nearly finished a big project at work so the P6 is getting its final metalwork push very soon. Then a final blast before epoxy priming the lot.

As I mentioned in another thread, I’m modifying the rear shock towers for coilovers and adding some more strength.

These are the universal spherical bearing top mounts turned down to fit inside the 100mm tube I’m using for the towers, along with some laser cut rings for tops and bottoms of the tube. The bottom has a ring inside the car and one on the underside to sandwich.

7C2FCD20-5125-481F-BB1B-553F12BEDDBA.jpeg563D5AC1-0D58-499A-823F-50CDA66C49B9.jpeg

I’m gonna to fit clinch studs into the aluminium mounts so they can locate easily in the top ring from below and be nylocked from inside the cabin.

Will update when all welded in, along with a tubular brace between the tubes

Jim
 
Impressive work there! has anybody stiffened the shell by seam welding all the joins?

Re BIVA etc.....Most Oz states have their own versions of such inspections, tests, which makes things messy for those who build what we call ICV - Individually Constructed Vehicle. In the minds of most who build them the rules can be excessive, sometimes referring to EU codes. NSW tried to make ABS mandatory , which is impractical - BOSCH here quote A$10k for a race car only version, along with many $$$ to test and calibrate. Then they talked of passing noise tests quoting an EU code, only to find there is NO road surface in the country that meets the specs. There is also Torsion and bending test specified - 4000NM/degree from axle to axle for torsion - not too hard to achieve, although the original Locost design wont meet that spec. Lately the beaurocracy is mad on these vehicles passing an IM240 pollution test, but sadly the 2 free test stations in NSW that could do this test have broken down, and in Victoria the only station is currently either off the air or charging A$2500, maybe once a month, no refunds, no info on failure cause. An MX5 engine pre Duratec will never pass this test.
Below is my car, finished in 2015 just before the rules tightened - MX5 1840cc with turbo, 215rwhp, 775kg, NZ kit from Almac. 5600 Nm/deg in torsion test. Engine untouched.
epg1GIL.jpg
 
Only 8 months to replyo_O
Apologies for leaving you hanging there JP.
I’ve been seam welding key areas as I go, but the hidden bracing has really made the most difference to overall stiffness.

Car has a new roof over its head, and some exciting changes.

Jim
 
Last edited:
Back
Top