The Zero7Four Mx5 Mk2 Build

Well folks, thought it would be about time I started a build thread.
Bought this car about a month ago now after selling the Rx7 back mid-August. At the time I had no idea what I wanted. I was very interested in going for an S body, but when this popped up I just had to have it..:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb8a1cba2.jpg

Current spec:

1.8 NB Edition
6-speded box
LSD
Rota Grid V's with excellent tyres all round
Roof only 1 year old - Perfect condition
All standard interior and all kept to a very good condition.
Ducktail spoiler
Lowered on brand new Rokkor Coilovers
Also has a front lip (unsure of make)

The car is pretty much standard apart from some body mods.

The first thing I had to do when I got was adjust the handbrake, as it was completely slack. However, to jack the car up I had to get a little inventive:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps4fd67076.jpg

They hold up surprisingly well. ;)

Here's a few pics of it among the Xero7Four army at Japfest:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps68f9c92d.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psa9c89e98.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb06ef667.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psded7076b.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps0bce920d.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psa1fe22ab.jpg

Have to say I had a blast that weekend, and it was nice to meet up with some of the folks from this site. :)

A few pics to show how low it sits when parked up in my driveway:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps09d5a286.jpg

Something about this next pic, but I f*cking love it:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps29d4bb7c.jpg

Representing:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps9b39a4e6.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps60457360.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps234ef99d.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps04342baf.jpg


And onto the more serious stuff.

The car is a really good starting point for a project as, to me, the body is pretty much exactly how I'd have it. There's really nothing I want to change to it, but I do have plans for under the hood.. Hopefully sometime in the new year I'll be looking at putting a turbo onto the engine and getting a bit more kick out of it (although this car did surprise me a bit when I first got it.. Wasn't expecting it to be as quick is it is).
With that in mind for next year, there are a few things I wanted to get done right away:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps357826b1.jpg

This thing was a bit of a nightmare to fit, but eventually got it.. And it's never coming off. :)

A few pics of it fitted:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psff076781.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pse4950abf.jpg


After this was done, I wanted to give the car a bit of a service, just so I know everything should be good, so in wanting to keep with a blue on black theme I bought a set of these leads:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb65c1b42.jpg

I also bought a set of dash LED bulbs, also keeping with the blue theme:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psadf174b3.jpg

Must say it's a lot better than the standard green bulbs.

Never been a fan of standard bulbs on cars, so decided to get a set of these:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psf7cd2706.jpg

Also picked up this:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pse1423418.jpg

This is the last thing to fit. I would've had it fitted on Friday, but the nuts/bolts on the current exhaust just wouldn't come off... So it looks like I may need to get the grinder out and have a bit of fun. :)

Anyway, that's it for now.

Plans for now:

Update the rest of the dash bulbs
Replace oil and filter next weekend
Fit the backbox at the same time
Look around for an induction kit
Research sh*tloads into the turbo conversion of these.

Any comments welcome, and thanks for looking. :)

I didnt even know you got new stuff for this?? lookin good - you should get Harkin to do a full detail some time - leave it out with him for a few days

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dori88

I didnt even know you got new stuff for this?? lookin good - you should get Harkin to do a full detail some time - leave it out with him for a few days

---

That's the plan, man. I need to get the bonnet and bumper touched up first, though. After that's done it's off to him to make it look as awesome as possible. :)

Looks great man, loving seeing more of these pop up! Set of mazda oem skirts and spats would finish off the outside rightly! Hit up miataturbo and clubroadster, there are a lot of turbo builds and information on those sites!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dave

Looks great man, loving seeing more of these pop up! Set of mazda oem skirts and spats would finish off the outside rightly! Hit up miataturbo and clubroadster, there are a lot of turbo builds and information on those sites!

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Cheers man. :) Yeah side skirts are defo on the list at some point.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Randy

Cheers man. :) Yeah side skirts are defo on the list at some point.

---

Is this an rs edition? as far as I know it has different cams as well that make it a little more aggressive than then the standard 1.8. The 6 speed box can handle up to 300 lbft and the 1.8 can take 250hp on a bog standard engine! They take pretty nicely to a turbo!ha ha

deadly little mx5 u have there man...fair play.

Did you get the handbrake sorted after? what was up? didnt look to much into it at the time. miss the look of this car cool motor!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 1-JAY-Z

Did you get the handbrake sorted after? what was up? didnt look to much into it at the time. miss the look of this car cool motor!

---

It was an easy fix, just had to get the wheels off and the adjuster was behind a bolt on the brake rotor..

Cheers for the comments lads.

So this happened yesterday...:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps6551f4b0.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps285f48db.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps6d6ddacd.jpg

Looks some f*cking asshats decided the car was too nice to sit in it's OWN drive, and wanted to make it fit in better with a few scratches and a big F all over my bonnet and wing.. So yeah. Royally pissed off today.
Luckily I was going to get the bonnet and bumper resprayed, but need to add the wing to the list now..
And needless to say I've been flat out on daft all day at work.

Them scratches look angry enough for an old girlfreind, Thats shit all the same :mad:

one of the nicest examples ive seen! am looking for a cheap one if anyone hears anything

Cool looking car, love the grids on these cars.. Fairly shit about the scratches. Seriously bad form.

It's a garage vary front lip I think. I have a copy on my own car. Got it from japstyle.org I think he has some skirts on there too.

I fcukin hate those style bars if I'm honest I think hey look pants.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hoopsbhoy

Cool looking car, love the grids on these cars.. Fairly shit about the scratches. Seriously bad form.

It's a garage vary front lip I think. I have a copy on my own car. Got it from japstyle.org I think he has some skirts on there too.

I fcukin hate those style bars if I'm honest I think hey look pants.

---

Everyone to their own. I think it sets it apart.
Getting the scratches all sorted hopefully in the next few weeks, for surprisingly less than I thought I would have to pay for.

Thought I should update this, as it's been a while since I have.

Since I last updated it I managed to get the back box fitted with the help of magingle and Scoob:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps5940935d.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps79f9904e.jpg

Really happy with the look/style of it, and it does add a better note to the drive.

However, after a trip down and up from Galway, this happened:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps88ef3bf4.jpg

Managed to snap a diff housing arm and the whole thing was sitting so low.. Luckily I wasn't too far from home when this happened, so managed to get it up to the house.
Managed to source a 2nd hand diff housing off Rob in Swords, and with the help of a friend we got it fitted in one day. Overall though the car was off the road for a full month..

Since then I had to replace the alternator belt as it snapped on me 2 weeks ago.. Since getting that sorted, something big landed in the post this morning..:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps81c32415.jpg

The start of the turbo part collection is here :) :

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps2588cc1f.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps459ba3cd.jpg

The BOV that I didn't know was coming with the kit when I bought it:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps1c55f187.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psbd1fdd01.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps1f724bfd.jpg

Same story with this manual boost controller.. Didn't know it was part of the kit:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps744cc73d.jpg

So much piping and clips:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psc5ed6a6e.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psff6d8da9.jpg

The sexy downpipe:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psd3ad0620.jpg


So yeah, today has revived my interest in this car hugely. :) Managed to gather all this up for a pretty good price as well.

Plans for now:

Fix Oil seal on Diff housing (Been leaking a bit of oil since I replaced the housing.. Shame, as the seals that came with it looked pretty good)
Get it through the re-test next week
Get two drop links and an issue with the water pump sorted
Get the scratches fixed and those panels sprayed up
re-fit the front lip
Buy other parts for turbo kit - Manifold, ECU, Injectors (Might also looking into an aftermarket rad to keep the temps a bit lower)
Get it mapped - Any suggestions on where would be a good place to go for this?
And finally, hardtop.

And then just enjoy it. :)

As the car sits now I've raised it up a bit to get it around for day to day driving, but once the NCT is passed on it I might bring it down an inch. Sitting a bit high for my tastes.

The only thing that car needed was a turbo. Looking savage Randy. My favourite mx5 I ireland

Ooooohh lorrrrrd :afro:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NoelB

The only thing that car needed was a turbo. Looking savage Randy. My favourite mx5 I ireland

---

Cheers lad. I'll try and keep it your favourite. ;)

Oooh shiney new things, get all the cars sorted and then more bbqs in summer again, yaaaay summer

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Randy

Since getting that sorted, something big landed in the post this morning..:


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps81c32415.jpg

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Great packaging haha :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fcon

Great packaging haha :P

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I know right?
All I care about is it got here in one piece. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jdm GDA

Oooh shiney new things, get all the cars sorted and then more bbqs in summer again, yaaaay summer

---

Sounds good. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fcon

Great packaging haha :P

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I wrapped it with everything i could get my hand on at the time ha!
Bet of luck with it now man, didnt know it was you who bought it off me!
Car is looking great!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnRaff

I wrapped it with everything i could get my hand on at the time ha!
Bet of luck with it now man, didnt know it was you who bought it off me!
Car is looking great!

---

Cheers man. Will have another update soon. :)

So the car is currently getting these few bits fitted to it by a trusted mechanic:

Timing belt kit

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps5fb352d6.jpg

New waterpump (so shiney):

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps672496c1.jpg

diff oil seal:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb1c15a03.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psff71c0c0.jpg


Was having an issue with the water pump, so I decided the best thing to do would be to get the whole timing kit done at the same time. Must say I like the quality of the parts.

The mechanic also decided it would be a good idea to replace all the gaskets, as the head was going to be off the engine anyway. So I was advised that this would be the best chance to paint the rocker cover.

This is it before I went anywhere near it:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps4b4ff719.jpg

Shit pic, but you can see just how in need of some attention it was.

After a power hosing and drying:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps0f55a83f.jpg

The tools for the job:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb7a765ec.jpg

Next step was to degrease it. Did this a few times to make sure all the dirt was lifted:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psd8aec42d.jpg

Next job was sanding. I almost had the thing way too smooth, and was kind of tempted to keep going to a polish finish, but I didn't want to be at it for half a week, and already had the paint bought:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb4a36e9f.jpg

So after sanding, it was pretty to be sprayed.

First coat:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pseeacda5e.jpg

2nd:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps078a7df3.jpg

after 4 coats and one empty can later:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps24ceef8f.jpg

I think it turned out pretty well, as I haven't sprayed anything in years. Going to get a friend to full in the letters for me though, and probably going to go with red paint for them.
I'll get a few pics of it fitted next weekend when I get the car back and after giving the whole bay some much needed TLC.

good job,, you going for a thicker headgasket then??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by martycturbo

good job,, you going for a thicker headgasket then??

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Nah keeping it stock, but I wanted to replace it as well as the pump and timing kit. Looking back I probably should've gotten a thicker one though.. Still, the engine's going to be a lot healthier now. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Randy

Nah keeping it stock, but I wanted to replace it as well as the pump and timing kit. Looking back I probably should've gotten a thicker one though.. Still, the engine's going to be a lot healthier now. :)

---

thicker one would of been a good job lowering compression for your turbo conversion,, still though ,,if youre not planning on running big boost you cant go wrong with a new one,,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by martycturbo

thicker one would of been a good job lowering compression for your turbo conversion,, still though ,,if youre not planning on running big boost you cant go wrong with a new one,,

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That's my thinking. I don't need insane boost from it. Doubt I'll go higher than .7

So got the car back over the weekend there, with a sh*tload of work after being done to it.

Here's a quick list of the top of my head what the mechanic has done:

replaced timing belt kit
replaced water pump
replaced head gasket
Got the head skimmed and pressure tested
compression tested the engine - Engine is 110%
sprayed the manifold - Must've been cheap paint, as it didn't last, but it still looks awesome now
replaced all seals and gaskets
Tidied up the bay
Had the car valeted

So quite a lot of stuff. :) Must say it feels like a completely new car, and there is a serious gain in power. One cylinder was down on power before, and this was where the head gasket had gone. It was a good thing I was thinking about getting this done anyway, because at the time I was only concerned with the water pump. Good thing I got the gasket too.. Now all I have to do is pay the man, and he definitely knows how to charge..
Here's a pic I took last night to try and show the new dash lights:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psdd5247fb.jpg

I also got MaGingle to do in the letters in red for me on the Rocker Cover. Must say it turned out really well:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps719ea09e.jpg

Pic of the bay and stamp:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps0391d286.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps910bfc8c.jpg

So that's it for now. Heading to Poland next week, so I won't be spending money/updating this until March again, but the first and foremost thing to do is to get that f*cking scratches sorted.
Thanks for reading. :)

Quick update:

A few pics of it covered in snow, in the brief winter that Donegal got:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps4d0ca1a8.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb7b4863d.jpg

It's sitting pretty high right now, and looks even higher without the front lip.. but once it's through the NCT next month it'll come down an inch or so and the lip will go back on when the panels are sprayed.

Decided to have a crack at removing the charcoal canister today, and used this guide for it:

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15120

The only difference between that guide and what I did was the nipple on the throttle body was in a different location. I follow the rubber hose and it was underneath, rather than on top. I also didn't have any of the rubber nipples from the rear lights, so I left a bit of the hose that was already on it, and blocked it off with some cable ties and a screw. Seems to do the job, :) I managed to tuck it away nicely, along with any other hanging bits, so it cleared the area up well.

Before:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps051d0282.jpg

After:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps15800bec.jpg

It tidies the bay up nicely I think, and I gave that area a bit of a clean with some degreaser. Worked out well, and overall I was only in there for around 30 mins.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Randy

That's my thinking. I don't need insane boost from it. Doubt I'll go higher than .7

---

No need for it. They take well to it standard.

Also, lies that you wont go ovr .7.. i fooled myself thinking that too :P

Haven't updated this in a while:

So a few weeks back I managed to have enough cash to get the panels all sprayed up that were scratched. Must say the fella did a cracking job on it, and the turn around for this was only 48 hours!

Obviously though there was a lot of dust in the bay, so it needed a clean..

Before:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psde98edbd.jpg

After:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps5f32227a.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps33e2b907.jpg


It's a lot better, but not perfect, basically because I know there's a lot of stuff to happen under there.

Anyway, some pics of the fresh panels after a wash and naviwax and new wheel nuts I bought off a friend, as the ones I had were haggard:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps00d9424f.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psec4937e9.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps05c2cd79.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps3e93f5d7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps3f07fb88.jpg


That's it for now. The retest is this weekend, and I'm going to tax it now :mad::mad::mad::mad: So hopefully by Sunday I'll have my first fully legal car since the RX7 last February.. Yay.

After that I need to get an issue with the coolant sorted. Water pump was replaced recently, but it looks like a seal has gone already... So it's back to the mechanic until it's 110% fixed. Otherwise I'll be lighting a match to it. :)
After this, the lip is going back on and lowered a bit. Don't like the bumper at all anymore without the lip attached.

Thanks for reading.

Quick update:

Managed to pass the NCT and tax it, so I have a fully legal car for the first time in over a year.
I decided to order a tow strap for the front, as I love how they look on these cars. So ordered that, and after getting the engine going 110% I decided it needed some detailing.
I left the car up with a good friend to have a good going over with it, and here are the results:

Yesterday when I went to pick it up:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps17151332.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps956c047f.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps01019272.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pse7b1fa38.jpg

He did a fantastic job on it, and I would recommend him to anyone living in Donegal. Great attention to detail, and he also decided to clean the inside too. :)

When I got it back I decided the first thing to do was to remove that fugly number plate and re-fit the front lip, and also attach the strap.
Here's a few from it today after another wash and naviwax:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps6abb5c33.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pscd1b1369.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psa5bceb41.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb72268d6.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psd541fd30.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psba23b901.jpg

I love how much the lip transforms the whole front end of the car. It's been off it for too long to be honest.

As for now, I've ordered a new oil cap as the one on the car is horsed, and some pressed plates to fit. And it also needs to be lowered. It got dubbed a monster truck over the weekend, and it's easy to see why. :)
Hoping to get all this done in the next week and then get it ready for a wee trip to Mondello at the end of it month.

You can take off the towing eye and mount the tow strap directly to the chassis in place of the eye and it won't stick out as far then. Lip completely transforms it! Nice work looks cool as fuck! Are those grid v's 15 x 9?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave

You can take off the towing eye and mount the tow strap directly to the chassis in place of the eye and it won't stick out as far then. Lip completely transforms it! Nice work looks cool as fuck! Are those grid v's 15 x 9?

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Cheers man. Yeah 15 x 9's. Awesome wheels.
That's what I wanted to do with the strap, but it looks like a mission to remove the tow arms, and I didn't have much time. Might have another look at it when I have a spare weekend.

Cool looking car!!
Did the nct men say anything about the wheels poking out?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rob_180sx

Cool looking car!!
Did the nct men say anything about the wheels poking out?

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Good question i wasnt sure if they would on mine so stuck standard wheels back on for the test

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rob_180sx

Cool looking car!!
Did the nct men say anything about the wheels poking out?

---

Had different wheels on for it man. Didn't want to chance it. Knew they weren't going to pass it.

Finally got the car lowered down and sitting the way I want it. It's not as low as it could go, but I love this ride height, and it has to be driven daily, so I don't want it to be hitting everything on the road.. Still low enough for me to reach out and touch the ground though, which is nice. :D Also added some pressed jap plates.

Few before and after shots today:

Before:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pse82559d2.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psae19805d.jpg

After:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps2b64915b.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psf861936c.jpg


I'm tall anyway, but this is just mental:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psd616e22b.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps22d55a52.jpg

Plates fitted, tow moved to the left, and another wash/wax:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psd55af808.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps4efc4506.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps32c55ded.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps1824385b.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps1b67097c.jpg

Never liked mk2's that much until now! Fair play, looks class now!