Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

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hoodedreeper
Posts: 337
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:13 pm
Location: Norwich,Norfolk
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by hoodedreeper »

Received the second package from Garage Star,this time a pair of door bushings and a Thermostat sandwich plate.

Got the door bushings fitted. The doors definately have that nicer shut noise,but on the odd occasion they need a firmer push to shut them. I guess in time they'll wear abit and it wont happen so much.

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Over the past week or so i've been busy making more DIY parts for the car. I first started with another sheet of Dibond and made the front splitter,followed by some front Canards out of some thin aluminium (it may be too thin,but will see how i get on)

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I decided to curve the splitter into the corners of the bumper rather than having it the same width all the way around. Made some brackets from some 25x2mm steel plate and mounted to where the OEM undertray bolts to (i used the front stud).

I originally left the centre of the splitter and used the two threaded parts on the bottom of the intercooler to mount it,but this pulled the splitter down leaving a gap underneath the bumper. So i cut the a section out of the middle so the intercooler fit snug-ish and made some brackets (will need to re-do them at some point as they're not the prettiest). Lastly i used a couple of adjustable turnbuckle rods for the centre.

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I have noticed the splitter has pulled over to the passenger side since re-fitting the bumper. I'll get it up on a ramp and see if i can pull it across. It was a very very snug fit fitting the bumper back on,hopefully theres enough give in the brackets (once slackened off) to move it back across.

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Next was fitting some tension cables to the wing stands. I used some 4mm wire cable with some 6mm clamps and eyelet bolts. Its definitely made a difference,its not swaying from side to side as i'm driving now :)

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I haven't had the chance to drive it 'properly' yet due to all the rain we've had recently. From what i have driven it,it does feel more stable and the front hasnt gotten much lift (from what i can tell)

After taking the above photos,i notice how badly i need to adjust the suspension,another thing on my to-do list :)

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hoodedreeper
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by hoodedreeper »

Finally got round to adjusting the coilovers (lowered the front 10mm and raised the rear 5mm). The Works were catching on the rear arches,rather than fitting new tyres (going from a 205/50 to a 195/50) it was easier to raise it.
So the Works went back on the car to test for clearance and so far no issues

** I am aware the tyres are fitted incorrectly,the wheels will be coming off again soon for a good clean and a coat of wax **

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The rear diffuser will be removed shortly,i've got another one coming :)

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After taking the photos,i noticed i need to adjust the turnbuckle rods on the front splitter,as its pulling up on one side

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I really need to clean the car lol

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hoodedreeper
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by hoodedreeper »

My other half bought me a new steering wheel for Christmas,was a good excuse to order some new bolts too

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Just before Christmas i headed over to a local company that sells spares and performance parts for Lotus. I guess a perk of where i live is the Lotus factory isn't too far either. I asked to look at their available diffusers as i wasn't 100% happy with the DIY one i had made. So i drove away with their GT3 diffuser,just so happens to be the largest diffuser they do.

Before i get told a million times about the placement/angle of the diffuser,i know it needs to be angled up more to be effective. The people of Facebook have already kindly shouted this at me many times already

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As i've said in the previous posts,i hold my hands up to the Aero not being functional,and that it is mainly for aesthetics

I've also rounded the corners off the Garage Star Wing Stands and had them powder coated Gloss Black

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I've also re-made the Wing>Wing Stand brackets to tilt it abit more (for those extra scene points yO)

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Two track days booked,one at the Lotus Test Track in February and then my local Track Snetterton in April

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hoodedreeper
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by hoodedreeper »

While out driving i noticed some steam coming from the front of the car,originally thinking it was the car in front being abit smokey. After some inspection it was the hose coming off the Water Pump,i knew it was close to the manifold,but didnt realise it was touching. I've been lucky as its been like this for quite awhile and never had any issues.

Ordered a new hose and found out that the metal tubing from a vacuum cleaner is the exact same size! Sorted

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You may remember Adam at RevLimiter making me some bespoke gauges with a Purple Monster logo and purple diamond stitch in the backgorund. I asked him if he could make me some for my AEM gauges. I sent over some templates and he's done an incredible job as always!

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A week or so ago i met up with a few MX5 owners for our monthly midnight meet. Took the camera with me,would have been rude not to take some photos of the 'ol gal

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I do my best to keep on top of things,but sadly one thing that has always been neglected and thats the Coilovers. I've never cleaned them,never greased them or serviced them. When i adjusted them a month or so ago,i think i've buggered up the pre-load and it knocks on the passenger side. Good excuse to buy some news one 'ey?

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These will be fitted this week (weather depending). Will bed them in and get it laser aligned along with some new alignment bolts

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Stuart
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by Stuart »

How did your track time at lotus go mate?
http://www.auto-genie.co.uk
07733 527430
stuart@auto-genie.co.uk
Valeting, detailing and undersealing

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jap.slapper
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by jap.slapper »

It's been a while since I read up on this build, but I have to say mate that's looking pretty special now

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hoodedreeper
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by hoodedreeper »

Lotus track day was awesome! Was great to clear the cob webs ready for Snetterton in April. Lotus are veeeery strict when it comes to photos/videos,that strict that you aren't allowed any at all! I'm waiting on their photographer to sort the photos out,those will be in the next update along with a new part thats in the pipeline ;)

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hoodedreeper
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by hoodedreeper »

Small update

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I finally got round to replacing the front Rota RKR 8js for some 9js

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The HSDs got bedded in,new RKRs fitted and then a full geometry done

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I've got the car booked in next week for a new exhaust back box to be made along with some other bits and pieces i've done,but i'll save those for the next update

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hoodedreeper
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by hoodedreeper »

Oh i forgot to add that i received my photos from the track day at Lotus Test Track. I'm not happy with the quality of the images,tried to improved them with Adobe Lightroom but when the original image is bad,theres not much you can do.

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hoodedreeper
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Re: Hoodedreeper's MX5 The Purple Monster

Post by hoodedreeper »

Made some new Canards,this time out of 2mm aluminium and 2mm steel for the brackets (previous ones were 0.8 aluminium for both). Made them abit bigger too,now i need to re-do the splitter and make that bigger too haha

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Had a change around with the hard top screen and purchased some slap stickers. Either the stickers are bigger than i thought or the screen is alot smaller than i thought,or both lol

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I got my friend Jack from J's Garage to fabricate a new exhaust,as the previous one was hidden and looked crap with the diffuser

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And a short video,its quite echoey,will sort out a better video at a later date

https://vimeo.com/159149689

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